ARTICLES IN THIS CATEGORY

Baby Bedding

Baby Blankets

Baby Clothes

Baby Crib

Baby Furniture

Baby Monitors

Baby Registry

Baby Shoes

Baby Sling

Baby Stroller

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When you're pregnant, you and your spouse may feel like you're running a race to the end of nine months when all at once, you must have everything you need to take care of your mysterious new little baby. While getting your ducks in a row before the stork comes is a wise idea, in retrospect, you may realize that a simple trip to the store can remedy most missing items you may have forgotten. So rest easy and get your basics together: Baby Transportation (carseat, stroller, sling or backpack), Baby's Layette (pajamas, outfits, socks and hats), Baby's Bed (crib, mattress, bedding), Baby's Food (Breast pumps, formula, bottles) and Baby Care (soaps, lotions, diapers).

Shopping in the Classifieds

Keep in mind that not only will others be helping you make some baby needs purchases, there are also lots of cheap, local options to choose from when seeking your baby needs. Using the newspaper or online classifieds, such as your local Craigslist page, is a resourceful way of meeting other parents in your neighborhood who are offering great stuff for cheap. Because lots of baby clothes don't get worn, parents are constantly left trying to get rid of practically brand-new clothes for just a few bucks. Ten dollars can get you five or more articles of clothing, and fifty dollars could buy your whole crib bedding set with matching accessories. Since you never know what great stuff you'll find from your neighbors, look there before purchasing expensive items and you could save yourself a whole lot of money and time. Because classified ads sell out quickly, keep checking back every few weeks to see new items.

Consignment Shop Bliss

If you are lucky enough to live near a consignment shop for kids, use this resource to meet your needs. These shops only accept next-to-new items that local parents are encouraged to bring in because they receive a portion of their item's sales price. That means you can find clothes for every size and season that are usually under five dollars and look brand new. A quick hot wash in your machine at home will free clothes of store dust, while soap and water will clean most any plastic toy. Once your little one has grown, you can sell their clothes at the consignment shop for cash or for more clothes in your child's new size.

Registry Pitfalls

Most parents find that establishing a registry at a nation-wide store is fun and easy. Usually, you get to run around the store with a scanner and scan items in the baby section like you're in a Star Wars battle scene with a light saber. Beware of this Christmas-like feeling because if you add too many items, you're sure not to receive all of them. This situation often leaves parents feeling that if their registry list hasn't dwindled down to nothing by the time baby is going to arrive, they have the responsibility of buying those last needed items by themselves. Also, try as you may to tell your friends and family about your registry, you'll still get lots of gifts that you didn't even think of, let alone ask for. Therefore, use your registry list as a big picture of your basic needs and don't expect that all of the items will come from that store. When friends and family call to ask what you need for baby, don't just tell them where you're registered, share a few items on your registry list with them so they have those ideas in mind, even if they shop somewhere else. This will ensure that even if your loved ones don't use your registry, you'll still be fulfilling your baby needs.

Benefits of Shopping Online

There are many specialty items online, such as handmade goods that include anything from personalized baby blankets and pillows to a daddy diaper bag with an electric guitar on it (so that a new dad doesn't have to feel silly walking around with a pink diaper bag). Even specialty bottles, such as BPA-free brands, can be found online if your local stores don't carry them. The advantage to shopping online, especially when you're pregnant, is the ease of finding what you need quickly, not getting in and out of the car to go shopping, and simply walking to your front door to get the delivered item. Especially with bulky items that you'll most likely buy brand-new, such as a crib, paying a little more in shipping fees saves you a lot of time and sweat getting such a heavy, bulky item out of the store, into your car and up the front steps. You'll need to preserve your energy for when it comes time to assemble the many parts and pieces that come with your order.

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