Have a baby on the way? Along with the excitement of wondering what your little one will look like and what kind of personality they will have, comes the fun of shopping for all those cute baby things. That fun can quickly become overwhelm, though, unless you have a clear plan of action. Baby stores have so many options these days, it can be hard to know what you really need.
Before you start shopping, take some time to think about your lifestyle and what kind of parent you plan to be. Are interested in having the latest baby gadgets, or are you more of the laid-back, keep it simple type? If you like things clutter-free, be especially careful not to buy into the hype about all of the latest products.
Babies need to be safe, warm, fed and clean. They need a place to sleep, clothing appropriate to your climate, and safe car seat. As long as you can provide all of the above, your baby will be just fine without all the latest stuff. On the other hand, if your budget allows for it, plan to get at least a few things that are just fun and cute. You only get so many chances to welcome a baby into this world, you might as well enjoy every minute.
Register for the baby items you need well in advance. That will allow family and friends time to plan what to buy for you. There are many different baby stores with registries - you can even register for those cute, modern cloth diapers at a store with a cloth diaper registry [http://www.cloth-diaper-registry].
Used baby gear can also save you a lot of money, just be sure to check for safety recalls. Many babies have been injured or killed by defective products - and there have been millions of baby items recalled in recent years. Safety is more important than keeping a tradition by using an old crib or saving a little money with an outdated car seat.
When shopping for baby clothes, look to see how easy they items will be to put on your baby. Changing a newborn for the 10th time that day will be a lot more fun if there are easy to use zippers or snaps in all the right places instead of having to pull a shirt over babies head or thread tiny, wiggly legs into tight pant legs.
Be sure to look online as well, there are so many cute little boutiques owned by work at home moms who make unique items for babies. You'll also find that many online stores have great prices since they have lower overhead.
Make sure you enjoy this precious time to prepare for your new baby - nesting is one of the priviliges of pregnancy!