I need to start buying baby things, but I'm having a hard time finding receiving blankets. I know it sounds strange, but the only things I find in the stores are blankets that cost a boatload of money. So, I decided to look online with no luck. I want to find the small blankets that I could get in packets of 3 to 5 at about $10 a pack in the US. Is there another word for them beside copertina?
Baby stuff in Italy is EXPENSIVE I am so shocked as their seems no way around the expense (no Target...) and diapers, clothes, all the gadgets, and toys are really pricey. Have you tried UPIM? Auchan (spelling?)? I see you are American, so if any relatives are coming for the birth I would have them bring you blankets, onesies, boppy pillow, etc...- basically the basics. You can go on target.com and tell your family exactly what you want? For the record, Italy does have some very nice and good quality baby stuff $$$.
We recieved several receiving blankets from my mom and sister in the US. I looked up here for them, but found nothing at all. Ikea does have a nice collection of small blankets however... not sure if that is close to you or not tho.
Wow - I'm glad I bought a bunch of baby stuff in Australia in January. Baby stuff here, as you say, is just ridiculously expensive. Maybe that's one of the reasons why the birthrate is so low?
I agree with the others that if you have any relos coming out from the US you should ask them to bring what you need. I've also found ordering stuff online from other European countries to be cheaper. For example you can get some great deals on UK ebay and many sellers will ship within Europe (and if you order within Europe you do not have to pay dogana charges as you would if the stuff was shipped from the US).
Yes, I too have found that it's very expensive. That's why I haven't bought anything yet even though I'm due in June.
I'll have to check ebay in the UK, haven't done that yet although I have checked some of the other UK sites. And, I do have my parents bringing some stuff, but they're getting here right around when the baby's due, so I have to have some stuff ready in case he comes before they do. Besides, with the new weight restrictions on the airplanes (only one suitcase per person even on international flights), I don't like to ask for too much.
Like you said Ramona, maybe the prices are one of the reasons why the birthrate is so low.
I always order stuff from the stores online and have it shipped to my mom in NY. She then sends me a box with everything every 3 months or so (about 3 or 4 orders worth). She marks it as 'used' or 'ebay stuff' and we have never had to pay anything. Is this an option for you? (instead of an actual christmas present, she tells me that I have however much $ for us to use on shipping)
It depend on what is being shipped, but in most cases, it costs still much less than buying it here. For example, we bought Dr. Browns bottles in the US, and with the shipping, etc, we still spent about 30% of the price here (mebby). As far as the clothes go, from OldNavy, the shipping is $5... no matter how big the order is. Once we have a bunch of stuff put together, my mom then sends everything to me. On some things, it is not so worth it, but when there are sales, it really is a lot cheaper.
Baby stuff here is very expensive. Luckily we only had to buy the big ticket items like a crib and stroller here and the two nonnas brought everything else from the U.S. (OMG, strollers here are insanely expensive!!!) We joked with our mothers that the airlines should have a special discount for extra baggage for grandmothers that have grandchildren living abroad! They both packed mainly baby and kid stuff and basically nothing for themselves. I am good until up to 6 months and when we go to the U.S. this summer I can stock up on bigger size baby clothes. I never saw receiving blankets here. I don't think that they are used here judging from what I saw in the hospital I gave birth at. In the U.S. hospitals babies are wrapped up very tight in receiving blankets have on little cotton hats. In the hospital I was at in Milan the babies had no hats and they were tucked into their little plastic bassinets with a thicker type blanket. I was all worried about having recieving blankets because I used them with my other two kids that I had in the U.S. Well I never used the ones that my mom brought for me this time around because my son seemed fine without one and he even seemed to dislike being wrapped when I tried it at home. Maybe because he spent his first week in the hospital without one? Who knows. www.anythingbutdull.blogspot.com
Posts: 486 | Location (City & State): Milan | Registered: 18 October 2004
Oh and don't feel bad about having nothing bought for the baby. I had only one onsie and two outfits up to the day I went into the hospital for my scheduled c-section. I was waiting for my mom's arrival and only got those clothes in case I had to go in earlier than planned and before my mom came. I went to Upim. It was the cheapest I found around and the clothes were decent quality. www.anythingbutdull.blogspot.com
Posts: 486 | Location (City & State): Milan | Registered: 18 October 2004
A Dutch friend recently had a baby and wanted all the things you all seem to want and as they were so expensive in Italy, she ordered from England www.mothercare.com All the stuff arrived safely. No problems. Check the site to see if it is of use. Stores like Globo and 3 Prezzi sell stuff for babies, it cheap but after all babies don't wear clothes out.
Also, people buy too much stuff for their babies in advance anyway (in my opinion). I agree receiving blankets are great, but referring to all the gadgets and "stuff"- I bought the basics and never needed all the fancy stuff. Also, when the baby arrives try out things like baby carriers, swings, etc... before you buy to see if they are even useful or if your baby likes them (maybe at the store or friend's stuff). The commercialization has made parents feel they "need" all this stuff, but think of how few things our parents needed.
Yes generally here the childrens clothes are tat and expensive, that was one of the motivators for my shop along with the fact that I could not find washable diapers.
Believe me, I'm keeping it to the basics, but don't want the baby naked either. The only things I plan on having beforehand are some clothing, a car seat, crib and some blankets. I'm having mom ship the blankets and some onesies to me. I just can't believe the prices here. Onesies cost about 5 euro apiece (4,90 seems to be the price no matter where I go) and I can get a 5 pack in the US for 10 bucks. The bigger stuff I'll have to get here, but most of that will be afterwards.
MB I am in Florida now and am due back in Italy June 2. I would love to do some baby shopping. Let me know what I can bring you...it will much easier to have me carry them back then trust the post with an overseas package...not to mention it will be free.
This will also force me to get off my butt to come visit you.
Thanks Giovanna! My mom already put the stuff in the mail, so I can't think of anything else that I really need at this point. I appreciate the offer though and you can come visit any time.
Onesies cost about 5 euro apiece (4,90 seems to be the price no matter where I go) and I can get a 5 pack in the US for 10 bucks.
That's a bargain! I ordered two onesies from a store where my MIL had bought me a bunch of stuff. They do have some handmade designs on them, but basically they are two white onesies with flower petals in the shape of a heart on the back for the bargain price of 50 euro (for both)! I couldn't believe it, but I had already ordered them, so I had to take them. And that was with the sconto, scary!
I know, 4,90 is a bargain. So, I'm just going with plain jane American onesies. Thank goodness it's summertime and he won't need to wear much more than that. I may need to take a trip to the States with an empty suitcase and stock up. LOL
I have to ask, what are reciveing blankets and what are onesies? Would a onesie be an all in one? - aka a body?
I can feel your pain having to buy baby things here, so expensive. I can't think of any UK sites which deliver here either - apart from the aforementioned Mothercare.
Yep, a onesie is a body. As for receiving blankets, I couldn't find them on the UK site either (they probably have another name), but they're a small blanket that's usually made out of really soft flannel. They're handy for covering the baby when he's in the car seat, stroller, playpen, etc. or for putting on them before putting the baby in.
The receiving blankets I believe are called 'baby blankets' or just blankets.
Onesies (AKA 'body' in italy) are called bodysuits in the UK.
I just did a search on the mothercare site and they have lots of blankets for sale (cheapest ones at £7.99 - not that cheap IMO), most come in two sizes: 70 x 90cm (moses/ crib) 120 x 155cm (cot/ cotbed) The former being good for when they are v small or as a leg rug etc while in pushchair when they are a bit older.
Expats in Italy Forum 
I am so shocked as their seems no way around the expense (no Target...) and diapers, clothes, all the gadgets, and toys are really pricey. 
The only things I plan on having beforehand are some clothing, a car seat, crib and some blankets. I'm having mom ship the blankets and some onesies to me. I just can't believe the prices here. Onesies cost about 5 euro apiece (4,90 seems to be the price no matter where I go) and I can get a 5 pack in the US for 10 bucks. The bigger stuff I'll have to get here, but most of that will be afterwards.
