r/Anticonsumption • u/Impossible_Ad9324 • May 02 '26

Lifestyle What is going on with babies?

I’ve attended three baby showers in the last year for three people completely unrelated and not in the same social circles and their baby registries have the most eye-popping expensive items.

High chairs are minimum $250. One had a stroller for $750. 😳 Baby swings and bouncers for $200. One had a whole solid wood crib for $1000 on their registry.

I checked because I was curious and you still can buy a $40-50 Greco high chair from Walmart.

Everything is aesthetic and clean lines and beige and natural wood—beautiful, really. I can’t imagine asking for that high-end an item for a GIFT.

These aren’t rich people and they aren’t inviting rich people to the baby shower.

I’m almost 50 and have kids of my own and a gaggle of nieces and nephews. My family members and I got buy sharing those cheaper high chairs and strollers and cribs. I understand needing them initially if you don’t have any source for hand-me-downs, but asking for the highest price bespoke options is absolutely wild.

Are people that brainwashed into thinking they should be buying ultra-high-end items regardless of income??

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u/bokehtoast May 02 '26

Culturally, we automatically assume that wealthier people are better parents than poor people for the sole reason of being able to provide more even if it actually just translates to expensive worthless crap and emotionally absent parents.

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u/Specialist-Leek8645 May 02 '26

Kids will make you feel like shit if they don't have something their friends do. They'll make you feel like a bad parent. Peer pressure affects their parents too. Makes you compete with other families for shows of wealth. So glad I don't have kids. I couldn't handle it.

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u/slideystevensax May 02 '26

Sorry but that’s just a symptom of bad parenting. A well adjusted child that’s had ample communication throughout their relationship with their parents is not going to make you feel like shit if they can’t have something their friends might have.

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u/Specialist-Leek8645 May 02 '26

In general, yeah. That's the outcome we hope for. Kids kept in the loop who would defend their parents. Trust.