Consider borrowing, then secondhand, then new for major purchases; do not buy everything at once
Strollers, cots, wraps and toys have short useful periods and abundant secondhand supply. Borrow first, then consider used items, then new. The source excludes car seats and mattresses from its secondhand recommendation, because crash damage to seats can be invisible. Wait 24 hours before major optional spending such as postpartum centers or early-learning courses.
What it takes
No extra outlay; savings commonly reach thousands of RMB in the Chinese context. Resist completing the whole shopping list immediately.
What you may gain
Short use periods create ample secondhand availability for strollers, cots, wraps and toys. The author identifies car seats and mattresses as items not to economize on through unknown secondhand purchases; structural crash damage to a seat may not be visible.
Context & considerations
The book neither endorses nor categorically rejects postpartum residential centers, early-learning classes or infant swimming venues. They are large optional expenditures suitable for the 24-hour cooling-off rule in Chapter 5.