Another thing I feel when I go into any superstore is temptation to buy a ton because so many things are cheap. Unfortunately, much of the stuff on big-box-store shelves is not necessarily of good quality or it’s designed to be disposable. A huge amount of these superstore goods will end up in a landfill in just a matter of  days or months. I’m sure this is even more true with baby stuff that isn’t used gently. If I indulge in buying a lot of cheap stuff at a superstore I usually feel wasteful in the end.

Combining my environmental awareness and the overwhelmed feeling I get from baby superstores, I’ve resolved to get as many of the supplies and gear I’ll need for my baby boy second-hand. Enter PregTASTIC Episode 197 “Saving Money and Going Green Baby Guide.” This particular show made me feel supported in my green efforts, inspired to get things used, and alerted me to what I would be wise to buy new.

Armed with information, the concept of going green and buying used baby gear was simple enough for me. I enjoy a good yard sale, am happy to accept hand-me-downs, and am pretty savvy on Craigslist. But now that baby showers are being planned and gifts are starting to show up, I want to guide my family and friends to the used treasures that I actually need and not leave them to buy me duplicates or things I don’t really want. After throwing out many ideas of how to do without a superstore registry, I came up with a plan. I would make a wiki instead of a registry.

With my well-researched list of things one needs for a new baby, I created a wishlist on a website called Wikispaces. The first thing you see when you go to my wiki page is a letter to friends and family thanking them for wanting to buy us stuff and then explaining that generally my husband and I would like to receive second-hand baby gifts. I also provide instructions on how to use the wiki editing feature like a registry and mark off used items that they want to pass on, have found, or have purchased for us so others don’t give us the same thing. The wishlist is divided into categories such as feeding, clothes, and safety. I did succumb to creating a small registry at a nationwide baby superstore for the items I really don’t want used, like a crib mattress or toiletries, and linked it in my wiki. I guess I couldn’t totally avoid the superstore registry. And I understand that there isn’t always a good selection of used items to be had, so I added to my explanation letter that I would love to receive money or gift cards for high-quality things I will need to end up buying new.

I’m really hoping I’m not making things more complicated for my friends and family with this wiki business. When the people planning showers for me send out invitations I’m asking them to include the web address for my wiki wishlist. Then, I’ll just sit back and see how it works.  Just like a registry, I probably shouldn’t look at my wiki after it becomes public knowledge and thereby know what I am getting, but there is a chance I’ll have to go in and edit it some myself….

Have you asked for second hand baby gear or planned a green shower? I’d love to hear what has worked for you and what hasn’t!

In this episode: Sunny (host), Jenna, Jane, Theresa, Mercedes and Jenn.

Jenn, Jane, Mercedes and Theresa

Sayer and Sunny