It's Not as Much as You Think
When in my eighth month of pregnancy, I was fretting about all the stuff I still needed to buy for the baby; my friend put everything in perspective. She had spent two years as a Peace Corps volunteer in a small village in Togo, and had seen first hand how the women in the village made do with the barest of essentials. She said that all you really need is food and something to keep your baby warm. I'm used to a little cushiness, so I didn't follow her advice completely, but it's something to keep in mind when you're preparing for your new baby.
There's no doubt that the baby products industry is big business. According to the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, the US market for baby products is around $7 billion a year-excluding diapers, food and clothing. With the heavy barrage of marketing, it's no wonder many first-time parents feel overwhelmed when shopping for their new baby.
There'll be plenty of time to buy other things later if you find you need them, so to begin with, just focus on the baby essentials. When you're deciding what you absolutely need before you bring your baby home from the hospital, it's helpful to arrange your baby's needs by category. A newborn won't be playing with toys or looking at books, so instead, focus on his most basic needs-namely keeping him fed, clean, warm and comfortable. The following are things you should have well in advance of your due date.
Feeding
You don't need to buy a fancy glider or rocking chair, but have a comfortable spot, with plenty of pillows handy, to feed your baby. Have a ready supply of burp rags and washcloths. Whether you're planning on breastfeeding or not, you should also have some bottles on hand, just in case. Some mothers find they need to supplement their breastfeeding with formula in the beginning.
Changing
You're going to spend a lot of time changing diapers, so for the sake of your back, you'll want the changing area elevated-the top of a dresser works or you can buy a changing table. At the very least, have on hand a changing pad that you can put on the bed or floor. Make sure you have everything readily available at your changing station. Plenty of newborn-size diapers and baby wipes are a must, and you should also have a thermometer and Vaseline, which is especially useful if your baby boy has been circumcised.
Sleeping
Your baby will do plenty of sleeping when you bring her home, so she'll need a safe, comfortable place to sleep, whether it's a crib, bassinet, play yard or co-sleeper. It's recommended that small babies not use blankets when sleeping, so sleep sacks are useful.
Keeping Baby Warm
If you have a baby shower, you'll no doubt receive plenty of blankets and outfits for the little one. The first few weeks your baby won't leave the house much, so you don't have to worry about fashion. You'll be doing countless diaper changes, so look for clothes that are easy to get on and off your baby. Stock up on onesies and jumper outfits. Side-snap shirts are useful because you don't have to struggle to pull the shirts over your baby's fragile neck. You'll likely get a knit hat from the hospital, but you may want to buy a couple more. And don't forget to pick up some baby laundry detergent to wash all of her clothes and blankets. Everything should be washed before she uses it.
Safety
Be sure to buy your car seat early and learn how to install it. You won't be able to take your baby home from the hospital without it.
After your baby's arrival, you'll likely be inundated with gifts, and may be surprised by the amount of hand-me-downs that come flooding in from friends and relatives. You'll probably end up with more than your baby could possibly use. Now instead of worrying about what you need to buy, you'll be stressing over where to put everything.
