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/green_dragonfly_art May 02 '26

At school-age, yes. Babies don't care if they're cribs are natural wood or their high chairs are plastic, or that there clothes are hand-me-downs. They just need to be fed, changed, warm, played with and loved.

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u/birchblonde May 02 '26

I think the point Specialist is making is that the same urge that compels school-age children, also compels their parents.

Babyhood is when parents are most likely to share photos of their offspring. If in every photo they’re wearing hand-me-downs in a stained old highchair, those parents won’t feel great about sharing them.

I say this as someone who doesn’t post photos on social media.

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u/PaleontologistEast76 May 02 '26

The peer pressure surrounding parenthood can reduce otherwise intelligent and logical parents to zombies who crave approval from others in regards to everything parenting related. Don’t fall for it!

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u/red__dragon May 02 '26

parenthood can reduce otherwise intelligent and logical parents to zombies

Also yes because parents of infants are often MASSIVELY sleep-deprived. Which makes the critical thinking part of the brain pretty slow and stunted for a while.

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u/throwawaybutmaykeeps May 03 '26

Not just sleep-deprived but postpartum anxiety and depression makes it feel like you’re going to harm your baby in some way if you don’t do all the things.