After learning that she was expecting a baby {hooray!}, a reader sent me the following question:

“I would love to know of anything you would make yourself over buying.
Things you bought that you realize now that you really didn’t need.
Your favorite carrier/car seat/strollers (jogging/regular) and places to buy them for less if you know of good options.
What items would you buy at a garage sale vs buy new? …
I’m pretty much starting with a blank page and trying to do the best I can without spending a fortune. :)”

Oh goodness…all you Moms out there already know that beginning to navigate the world of baby products can be rather daunting – to say the least! The first time I became pregnant, I went to Target before I had even had my first doctor’s appointment and started scanning things for my registry. I had no idea what I was doing and had researched absolutely nothing. Great way to start out, huh?

And if you enter Babies R’ Us without knowing what you need – prepare to be overwhelmed, Momma.

So what do you need for a baby?

I’m going to propose three lists:

• Baby Basics
• Beyond Basics
• Beyond Buying

I’ll share the basics today & the other 2 categories tomorrow.

Let’s start with the basics, shall we?

1. Food: Whether you choose to breastfeed or do formula, this is something you need to provide for your wee one.
   
2. Place to sleep: Many options here – but whether you do co-sleeping, bassinet, crib, moses basket, pack&play – baby needs a safe place to sleep.
3. Clothes to wear: Even if you plan to wrap your child up in a blanket every day, they need to wear something. Personally, I go with normal clothes instead of the blanket route. And you know what? Babies don’t need as many clothes as the stores would have you believe. I mean, I know – oh how I know – how insanely adorable the teeny outfits are. But you don’t need 50. If you do laundry 2x/week and allow for 1 possible blowout a day, you would have plenty of clothes with 7 outfits. And definitely consider your diapering status – disposable or cloth. We currently use disposable, but there are amazing options with cloth diapering that are so easy to use!

Now, I can hear the baby police racing down the street already protesting that there are other life-saving things I didn’t include. Some people swear by a baby swing. Others by an exersaucer. And still others by a playmat. Join me tomorrow as I share the final 2 categories:

• Beyond Basics
• Beyond Buying

And get ready to share your favorite item{s} for baby!