The most common items listed in the search were things like a crib, crib mattress, stroller, infant carseat, highchair, playpen (pack-n-play), changing table, rocker, diapers, formula, and the list goes on and on and on. It is incredible the amount of stuff that Google thinks babies need! Okay, so maybe not Google - but the fact is - babies really don't need all of the stuff that the world seems to think they do.
Babycenter.com offers a baby cost calculator that estimates the one-time costs that most parents will have in preparing for their baby. The average total amount of these items is $2058. By adding a few luxury items the one-time costs rise to a staggering $3031! Sadly, this amount does not include ALL of the items that are suggested (or needed) by first time parents- things like a convertible car seat (used after baby reaches the 25-30 pound weight limit of the infant carseat/carrier), or a breast-pump- required of breastfeeding moms who return to work!
How are parents supposed to navigate these giant lists of things, the advice of well-meaning friends and family, and end up with enough to adequately care for baby without breaking the bank? It's actually quite simple. IGNORE all of it. This doesn't mean that parents should not prepare for the arrival of their baby or that there is anything wrong with accumulating things that will be required. But the trick is to accumulate things that YOU will require. Not that others require or suggest, and certainly not what major merchandisers so kindly suggest that you will need.
The best way to prepare for YOUR baby is to talk about how you plan to raise your baby. What parenting style will you use? What do you wish to teach your child? What kind of lifestyle do you want your baby to have? What expectations about things do you want to foster in your child?
If you intend to follow the guidelines of attachment parenting, you may want to forgo a crib and purchase a co-sleeper for your baby instead. If you want to keep your baby close to you to help her adjust to the world then you might choose a baby-wearing device such as a sling, wrap, or soft-structure carrier instead of a stroller.
If your family is concerned with saving money and reducing waste, perhaps cloth diapering- at least part time- is an option for you. Likewise, if you are concerned with using only organic, chemical-free, and other natural products for your baby you may consider exclusively breastfeeding and using cloth diapers full-time.
If you are concerned about raising a child who is overly preoccupied with (and over-stimulated by!) things and wish to foster creativity within your child rather than entertaining them with battery-powered toys, look around your home for items that are safe and practical for your baby to play with as he/she grows. There are very few parents who don't recall wiht humor at least one instance of their child cleaning out a kitchen cabinet full of pots and pans or plastic ware!
Beware of the temptation to buy all new things for your baby. Having some new things is lovely, however, having ALL new things is absolutely not necessary and does not contribute to your baby's well-being as much as happily involved parents do! And it's difficult to be happily involved if you are worried about money. Consider purchasing items second-hand at baby-themed consignment sales or stores, online through sites like Ebay, or from other moms you know (Don't know any moms? Attend a La Leche League meeting!) Even if money is a non-issue for you, consider purchasing some things second hand anyway- finding a good deal gives a great sense of accomplishment AND you'll be truly surprised at the exceptionally short amount of time your baby uses (or is interested in) some "necessary" items.
Following are a few items that we have not found useful or necessary and some of the items that we use instead. Some things we found we simply not useful at all.
Crib: Our daughter has not slept in it. Not even once. We use an Arms Reach co sleeper instead.
Stroller: Carrying baby leads to better attachment and bonding. We like to use an ErgoBaby or a ring-sling carrier like a Maya Wrap.
Baby Bath Towels: Regular bath towels work just fine. But they aren't quite as cute. ;)
Baby Bath Robe: We've never used this....and can't figure out in what circumstance it could be easier than dressing the baby...or why we would want her to be without a diaper after a warm bath anyway!
Boppy Seed Lounger: Our baby fit in this for about 15 minutes. Not worth the $30 investment!
One of the easiest (and hardest!) ways to stay out of the baby-stuff-trap is to wait until baby arrives to purchase things that will not be used right away. It's very easy (and fun!) to get caught up in buying cute baby gear, but parents might find later on that the $150 pack-n-play or a $160 baby swing weren't really as necessary- or as convenient- as they had hoped. Waiting to purchase things are they become necessary can result in substantial cost savings and can keep the accumulation of expensive baby things to a minimum.
Don't miss out on the enjoyable parts of preparing for the arrival of your baby. But don't get caught up in what the world thinks you need either. The best way for new parents to prepare for baby is to talk about how they want to raise their baby and how that effects the things they will need to be prepared for his or her arrival. These conversations and preparation go much further than a crib set toward helping baby to succeed in life; parents who agree on a parenting style are much more prepared than those who only agree on a nursery theme.
Go ahead and enjoy getting ready for your little one, but think about all of the cash you can free up to dump into a college fund if you can avoid the baby-stuff trap!
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