apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Loved the book "Baby Bargains" which helped answer your question.
Flannel receiving blankets are great for swaddling (they don't slide).
Bouncy seat is something we use constantly.
A couple of non typical items we found helpful after baby arrived are a white noise machine and a humidifier.

thank you for this post! I'm about 9 wks along and still trying to figure out what I will actually use.

A sling and a carseat.

I think that those are the only absolute essentials.

The rest is a matter of preference and lifestyle.

I think that the only thing you definitely don't need is socks. If your baby is born in the spring or summer, it'll be too hot for socks. And for winter babies, they usually wear footed sleepers. When they get older, sure then they need socks. But infant socks just wiggle off and get lost in the laundry.

Congratulations! If you're only five weeks, you have plenty of time to do research. I found the Baby Bargains book to be an invaluable resource--it's not just about bargains, it tells you what you need and how many, and how to get the best deal on what you want. They don't advise the cheapest item, but the best item for the cost. The real essentials for a baby are easy: a place to sleep, a rear-facing car seat, a stroller of some kind, clothes, diapers, the accoutrements of a feeding system (whether formula or breast feeding) such as bottles or a breast pump. Most other items are non-essentials. But they tend to be the more fun ones. ;)

My daughter's two months old, and I already have a bunch of stuff that hasn't been used. Some things, though, you won't know until you have the baby. Such as--my baby doesn't like the swing, but I hear it's a lifesaver for a lot of new parents. We've found feeding pillows, both the Boppy and the Brest Friend, to be more annoying than anything else. One thing I wouldn't be without is the Miracle Blanket, which is a swaddling blanket from which even the wiggliest of babies can't escape. I love Zutano's booties, which are the only things she can't shuck off her little feet within five minutes (amazing in a baby with almost no control over her limbs yet.) And she loves her floor gym.

Congrats to you both!

Suggestions:

Try to borrow/buy used (craigslist?) items you don't know if your baby will enjoy. For us, neither a bouncy seat nor swing were soothing and I was glad we hadn't purchased them new. Our baby did, however, enjoy an on-the-ground play gym with lights and music. All babes are unique and if you can buy or borrow items in good condition, that is ideal.

Also, as a breastfeeding, stay-at-home mom, I didn't use bottles. Ever. Bought them with a gift card from my shower and returned them (unopened) after a month when I realized we wouldn't be using them.

Obvious, but we needed more infant-sized diapers and wipes than I planned for. Diapers.com often has good details (especially if you use Google for a promo code).

I used a few different carriers: Moby wrap, Bjorn, and Ergo. Try them, see if they work, and if not, sell them on craigslist.

Best wishes.

aside from the no-brainers:

if youre nursing, plenty swadling blankets and burp cloths, unless you dont mind your messy eater getting milk evverryywhere. you may want to invest in a nice pump if youll be doing that. be careful not to just get the cheapest thing out there.. they range in price because some are meant for multiple daily uses and some are meant for rare use.. youll need nursing pads for a while too.

a swing can be a life saver if your baby takes to one. id also get some sort of baby carrier. it makes doing normal people tasks waaay easier when youve got your two hands and a baby who doesnt enjoy alone time.

...yup.

A car seat, a couple of onesies/pajamas, and some type of diapers (cloth or disposable, unless you're thinking of practicing elimination control) are the only essentials. But that doesn't mean there aren't dozens of items that you might find useful, convenient, or even downright lifesavers. Much will depend on your lifestyle, budget, and baby's temperament. The important thing to know is that you don't need everything the day you deliver.

I did my research by primarily looking at the top reviewed and best selling items on Amazon an a few other niche sites. If other parents are raving about it (or complaining, for that matter) there's a good reason why.

here's a baby shopping list i put together for my girlfriends who became new moms.
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dmwn7g2_2j6sxd4

I had twin boys 4 months ago and I did not buy much beforehand. I opted to wait and see what we needed.

For the first month or so, the boys pretty much only wore those little white side-snap t-shirts (carter's makes good ones), diapers, and flannel swaddling blankets (also carter's). It was July so there was no need for pants or onesies. Try not to get tempted into buying a lot of cutesy clothes for newborns. It's a waste of money.

If you can borrow a swing, play-yard, floor mat/activity gym, bouncy, etc. I'd recommend that over buying them. You never know what your baby will like. I really was tempted to buy all new stuff but I'm glad I didn't.

The only real must-have item that we purchased is the Baby Bjorn Baby Sitter bouncy seat. You can't use it until they are at least 6-8 weeks old, so that's something you can buy later. But I totally recommend it. The baby can sit up straighter once they are older and it converts to a little chair once they are old enough to walk. Also, it folds flat and you can take it anywhere. Great for when you are visiting someone's house.

Oooh, another thing I love is my Patemm changing pad. It's round which is nice so the baby can wriggle in any direction and not fall off.

Buy everything except for the car seat from Craig's List or eBay. Don't count on people to get you what you need at your shower.

I'll rate these as 5 = MUST have, 4 = really nice, 3 = nice, 2 = luxury, 1 = just fun.

- Car seat, if you're trying to save money get a convertible one (goes from infant to toddler seat), but if not get an infant one (it may also click into a stroller) (5)

- Stroller (Daddy likes this. Mommy could care less.) (1)

- Baby Bjorn (Daddy likes this. Mommy could care less.) (2)
- Get a swing and a bouncy seat, but don't expect more than one of them to make your kiddo happy. We do use both, but the bouncy seat is more of a chair. (3)

- A swaddle blanket - Miracle Blanket is great, but we find that we use the SwaddleMe (and only $10) more. (4)

- Flannel and/or cotton receiving blankets (4)

- We got an Arm's Reach co-sleeper but we didn't use it for the first week. Baby slept with us in our bed. As he got more wiggly, we were glad to put him in the Arm's Reach. (3)

- Someone gave us a crib. We're still using it as stuffed animal storage. (1)

- We use BumGenius 3.0 cloth diapers. We used 7th Generation diapers for the first 2 weeks tho. (5)

- Washcloths (doubled as baby wipes) (1)

- Boppy, but we don't use is as a breastfeeding pillow, rather just somewhere to put kiddo. (2)

- I didn't think that I'd need a breast pump, but we ended up needing it because DS was in the NICU. If you know that you're going to be pumping anyway at some point, it might be worthwhile to get one of these now. (4)

- Plain white onesies (3)

- Pants (2)

- Cuter shirts/onesies (1)

- Socks (3)

Whatever you do, don't get sucked into getting a pricey stroller just because its fashionable. Consider your lifestyle & choose from there.
Now, onto the absolute necessities:
*Side-snap shirts, onesies and pants. If you have a washer/drier at home buy less. If not, buy more.
Do NOT buy Newborn sized clothing. Start with a few 0-3 months but aim for larger sizes. Especially since the stuff is cotton & will shrink and also because babies grow so fast.
*Swaddle blankets! For bedtime & for crying fits. Can also double as nursing covers.
*Changing pad & cover. You don't necessarily need a changing table. As long as you have the pad, anyplace will do.
*A bouncer will help keep baby secure & entertained while you take care of your business (do house chores, bathe, relax).
*An Ergo Baby carrier. The Bjorn brand is uncomfortable and not good for the baby's back. Not only good for going out, but also good for around the house to soothe a crying baby (they like the closeness to you).
*A Boppy to help with feedings. Also can be used for "tummy time".
*I always think of a playard as a crate for human babies, but they keep baby safe & you'll be able to relax.
*Don't get a breastpump until you're absolutely, 100% sure you'll be able to breastfeed. Those items are SUPER pricey and usually non-refundable. Many new moms send out their hubbies to buy one while they're at the hospital just to be sure.
*Don't get a mobile based on its looks alone. Get one that'll help baby settle to sleep. A great looking mobile that only plays music for 30 seconds will do you no good.

Ok, I guess that enough for now. Most moms register around the 4th or 5th month so you've got oodles of time! Good luck!

Congratulations, Janine! What an exciting -- and overwhelming! -- time for you and your husband.

Lots of good advice posted already, so I'll just add this one: a comfortable chair for nursing and/or rocking Baby. We got a glider at Babies R Us that was super comfortable (although not much to look at). It had a high back, so even my tall husband could rest his head against the back of the chair as he rocked our son. It also had padded arms, which was a giant help during nursing. We also splurged and bought the matching gliding ottoman, and I am so glad we did. If you think about how much time you'll spend nursing and rocking the baby -- or how many catnaps you'll catch here after middle-of-the-night feedings or when Baby finally, miraculously falls asleep for a nap -- it's worth careful consideration and maybe even a splurge. I wouldn't have made it through my son's infancy without my glider and ottoman!

(I even slept in the chair a few nights when I was enormously pregnant because it felt more comfortable than my bed!)

This is great - I'm 17 weeks along and just starting to make my lists! One thing re: breast pumps that my doctor told me - a lot of hospitals rent them. Makes more sense than buying and they sterilize them in between rentals.

i agree w/the ergo carrier... get one on ebay if you dont mind used because they arent cheap.

we had a boppy pillow & yup... didnt use it for breastfeeding but he was in it ALL the time.

the boppy vibrating seat... LOVED that

calendula oil for the changing table (badgers brand or weleda brands are organic i SWEAR by this stuff, no diaper rashes)

used crib

LOVED my snap n go for the first few months... actually the first 6 or 7 months.

some people SWEAR by swaddling (i'm one of them) i HATED the kidomatamus velcro swaddlers... the velcro used to wake him up all the time... seriously... use a stretchy blanket, and if he (and you) gets used to being swaddled from the get go, you might not have a houdini on your hands... and wont need anything more than a blanket

i would also suggest renting a breast pump, instead of buying them because you dont really know if the whole breast thing is gonna work out for you the way you want it to. and if it does THEN you can go get a system...

oh & dont forget to get extra bassinet fitted sheets

the kimono style shirts for the first few weeks (so you dont pull things over the lil belly button) are also very helpful.

Congratulations!

Lucymom's list is great.

Do not buy any blankets/ clothes/ towels. You will receive more than you know what to do with.

Cannot stress craigslist/ borrowing items enough. I know it is tempting to go out and buy stuff, but you will really only use them for a few months (arms reach sleeper, bouncer, swing, playmat).

Only thing I would add is a pack n' play. We used the basinette feature and kept our daughter in our room for the first two months before moving her to her crib. And now we keep it in the living room, for the occasional nap/ quiet time/ don't go anywhere while I go to the bathroom time. And it is perfect for anytime we have traveled (yes, you will travel).

it doesn't make sense to rent one, if you're planning on using it for more than one child, or continuing to pump for awhile after you return to work.
essentials are different for every baby. my two were like night and day!
here's what you DON'T need:
wipe warmer
changing table-so much easier to change them on the living room floor/bed/etc.
bottle sterilizer

my essentials:
breast pump-hand pump to express a quick bottle so dad can feed baby. medela pump in style for when i went back to work
good nursing bras
digital camera/camcorder
bugaboo frog -i know someone said forget the expensive stroller, but it really depends on where you live. I would die without a stroller that grows with the kids, and can withstand the potholes of our urban environment EVERY DAY. if you're in the burbs, you'll probably use it less, and not need an expensive one.
flannel receiving blankets-we got a bunch of cheapies from ross. they double as burp cloths, wash cloths, baby wipes, beneath the baby & i to soak up spills from either end during the night.
aden & anais blankets-great for swaddling, tummy time, stroller, breastfeeding in public
boppy-i had one in the living room and one in the bedroom.
papasan swing

i tried a million bouncy chairs, neither one of them liked the same one. neither wanted to be rocked in our fancy glider rocker. only one wanted to be swaddled. etc. etc. i agree with the buy on craigslist or borrow and see what he/she likes!

ergo, carseat with handle...so nice for transporting, a breast pump, evenflo glass bottles (they are classic), lots of cloth diapers for burps and feeding, we love the funzi bunz cloth diapers, ear thermometer, a cotton hat you love because it will make you happy, a few pacifiers if you plan to use them, a stroller (get a cheapo used one to go with your car seat and then in a few months you can upgrade and resell the cheepo one) as an upgrade we LOVE the Bob revolution, a baby book because it really is worth remembering all this stuff and a great camera with an extra battery pack. Best of luck.

It's so hard to say! Everyone likes different things. I hated any doohicky swaddling blanket and preferred just using a large plain one, and I wasn't a fan of side-snap shirts either. Also, I heeded the "no newborn size" clothes rule and ended up having nothing to wear for baby because she didn't anywhere near fit in 0-3 mos, and she was a big baby too! I also couldn't live without a changing table (well, we actually use the dresser top)... we have hardwood floors and bad backs and changing baby on the floor sounds like torture. My baby doesn't like being slung either. So take all advice with a grain of salt!!

That said, I loved...

-Plain 42 x 42 swaddling blankets!! In flannel or muslin depending on season/climate... these are perfect for everything.
-infant gowns for late night diaper changes
-the Skip Hop changing wallet thing
-SOOTHIES for breastfeeding!!!! These saved my life!!
-bouncy seat
-infant carrier car seat
-Halo Sleepsacks
-footed pajamas with zippers instead of snaps

I was never able to use a boppy, if you're a size 4-6 or smaller, it will probably be too big for you as well. They make a baby one that was nice to sit on after giving birth and I think I used it breastfeeding. Also, my kids (age 2 and 4) still play with it. The baby one is good for tummy time since the regular one is way too big for an infant to be propped up on. Maybe my kids were small.

You do get a ton of blankets, don't buy any till you know you need one. Once your baby has one that he/she is attached to, I'd recommend buying a couple, when one is in the wash, they know.

I loved California Baby products when my kids were babies. We still use the lotion and shampoo, but it is pricey. Since mine were sensitive, they were a must when they were tiny. Also with sensitive skin, skip out on the Dreft it is loaded with allergens and smelly stuff that your baby can react to, All Free is a much better choice.

A thermometer is a great suggestion, if I was buying again I'd get the kind that work on their forehead, its more expensive, around $40, but trying to hold their head steady (to get it in their ear), especially when they are 3 years old, is pretty difficult and mine hate the ear one.

Once you start solid foods, the Bumkins super bib is the only bib you need. It washes up perfectly and isn't stiff like some others. The only thing the cloth ones are good for, in my experience, is protecting an outfit when they are drooling bunches when teething.

A cd player in the babies room playing some nice soft music helped them tune out the other noises outside and in the house, but it isn't a necessity. We like Nada Himalaya and Baby Genius Classical Series: Bedtime Beethoven by Ludwig van Beethoven

Congratulations and good luck. Don't forget to take some time for yourself!

you will have a shower and every single person will buy you clothes that they think are cute. chances are you will like very little of it. you don't really need much for quite a while, so try to hold off and you can exchange those clothes for items you really need.

used and loved - arms reach mini co-sleeper, all products by TinyLove (playmat and mobile - previous poster was correct - don't get a modern, pretty, simple mobile because trust me you will need one that the baby likes. babies love the tiny love mobiles. in general babies love colorful, lit up, loud things that don't look that pretty in your house, the sooner you accept that the happier you and the babe will be!), playpen, silicone booby pads to soothe your nips

so useless and frustrating - the boppy pillow. so expensive and so useless. i also thought i would love slings - hated them. its easier just to hold her. if you have back issues after childbirth or large breasts they are especially uncomfortable. i have like six and they just waste space.

It sounds like the sling is getting yeas and nays. I would give it a huge thumbs up! It allows you to carry the baby, but still leaves your hands free to do other things - a lifesaver for those mornings when baby needs you, but you also have stuff to do. Also, "babywearing" is a recommended practice for bonding with baby. I have a BabyHawk Mei Tei carrier, and love it immensely.

Also, if you want to know more about the benefits of babywearing, and just want a good reference book for the first few years, The Baby Book by Dr. William Sears is great. My babe is 3 weeks old, and I look something up in the book every day.

In my culture, it's bad luck to assume you're going to give birth to a healthy baby. So we don't keep things in our homes for the unborn child. Most Americans do not ascribe to this kind of thinking, however, and 99% of the time, they are fortunate enough to deliver a living, breathing baby.

You're 5 weeks along? I don't mean to come across as overly grim or alarmist, but I'd encourage you to wait until you've heard or seen the baby's heart tones at your dr/midwife's office before you make any big purchases.

As for the things you truly need? Diapers - possibly newborn size, or if baby is bigger maybe size 1-2. Wipes/cloth that won't irritate a newborn's skin. BPA-free bottles if you plan not to breastfeed. Somewhere for baby to sleep if she's not going to co-sleep with you. You will be given so much stuff - just wait & see what you actually still need once baby arrives.

Wow - How exciting... If I were starting over then I would start by reading absolutely everything I could lay my hands on - this would help to define our parenting style and will knock off a whole heap of unnecessary clutter. Really all you need is a pair of loving arms and a car seat.

I just gave birth to my baby (Jack) 5 weeks early. I was still working, had not had a shower, and we'd just moved, so I didn't yet buy ANYTHING for the baby.. the furniture was ordered but not here yet. This is all you need:

Onesies - get carters
some 1 piece sleepres - carters
receiving blankets - little fuzzy ones
burp clothes
I really like swaddle me - blankets.
Diapers and wipes
a basinett - borrow one
a baby bathtub
Sheets for basinett
The carseat - I got the graco snugride
a carseat frame
a sling or carrier (I like the ergo carrier). Its like the bjorn but better for your back.
People are going to give you clothes.. so if I were you I'd buy the basics, let people give you all the cute stuff. They will grow out of the infant clothes anyway.
My breast friend is a great breastfeeding pillow, I would not worry about pumping for early on.. just get the hang of breast feeding and then tackle pumping.
--The best book: baby bargains - like a consumer reports on baby stuff, tells you what you need and what you don't. I also really like baby 411, by the same author.

Good luck!
Michelle

Congratulations, Janine! I'm pregnant, too -- it's so easy to be overwhelmed with all the choices and information out there, especially as a first-time mother. Right now, since you're not very far along, you might want to focus more time and attention on yourself -- your health, prenatal vitamins, diet, financial habits, mental state (only slightly kidding ... also including educating yourself on pregnancy, birth, parenting, etc.) -- and your relationships with your husband and family rather than on buying or choosing baby products just yet.

Best wishes for a healthy, joyful pregnancy!

I agree with the post that said to read as much as you can get your hands on. Someone gave me this advice, and I'm so thankful that I read so much before my son was born. I would recommend the Baby Bargains book for products. For caring for a newborn, I found "Heading Home with your Newborn" (by two women pediatricians, I don't recall their names) to be straightforward and helpful. Like the previous poster said, sleep philosophy books will help you to identify your parenting style and help govern your product choices. In the end, all you really NEED is lots of love, patience, and diapers : ) Congratulations, babies are such a blessing.

Car seat, burp cloths, onesies, sleepers (for cool nights) & nightgowns (for warm nights--changing dipes is a breeze with these, too), a bouncy seat or swing, a baby bjorn or similar carrier, diapers, wipes, and baby nail clippers. Something for bathing baby (I used a plastic dish tub the first few months then upgraded to a spongy float that went it the big tub. $5, worked great). And something for baby to sleep in, based on your preference: bassinet (which I used next to my bed the first 3 months), crib or co-sleeper.

If you are given a shower, you will likely receive many blankets and onesies and sleepers and outfits, so don't buy too many yet. Just a few. Congratulations, it's such a fascinating and sweet time. I will say this: Motherhood brings with it great clarity and peace, despite its oft overwhelming nature. Newborns really aren't that difficult--they just need to be fed, clean, and loved!

You've gotten lots of good advice. Just remember that moms and dads have been doing this since the beginning of time with a fraction of stuff that people say we "must have."

Focus on the basics, how to feed the baby, where the baby sleeps, carseat, diapers and some basic PJ type outfits. It's likely that you will get more clothes, blankets and cute toys than you know what to do with. (Especially if you are having a shower.)

A sling to keep baby close to mommy (ie content), a breast feeding book and Boppy (or similar pillow) are at the top of my personal list of items that I used the most. I liked a cosleeper as we had baby room in for at least the first 6 months. We got a basic, safe crib without all the bells and whistles and I was very happy with it.

Congratulations!

I know this has already been covered, but...

-car seat
-baby monitor (i didn't think i'd want one because we could hear her fine from our room, but we couldn't hear her well when she napped and we were working in the office, so a baby monitor was helpful)
-oversized flannel receiving blankets. my mother-in-law made them for me. the ones from stores are often just too small
-lots and lots and lots of baby wash cloths. we cloth diaper, and only use wipes when out of the house. so they were necessary for us. but they're so handy for wiping up spit-up, bath time, etc., and then when yours is old enough to eat solids, you'll want them then too
-a bouncy chair of some description will be helpful for when you and your husband want to sit down and eat. though it's not really an essential right away
-ergo (not for right away though, so you don't need it before your baby's born)
-breast pump and bottles. you'll figure this out at the hospital though, and your husband can run out and buy what you need

I don't think you need a change table. We had a pad to go atop a dresser, and that was helpful at the very beginning, but we pretty much always change her on a blanket on the floor.

Also, my baby was about 6.5 lbs. Nothing in the 0-3 size fit her when she was born. My mom bought us a little preemie sleeper after I'd mentioned it, and even that was big. So although I agree with the advice not to stock up on 0-3, if you have a wee little one, you might want to expect a quick trip for just a couple of things that fit a bit better. It doesn't matter if s/he is swimming in clothes, but a few things that fit well are nice.

Everything else is an extra.

Planning for baby can definitely be over-whelming - I'm the mom of a 10-month old and am still amazed at the endless number of things that you constantly want to throw at the top of your 'must-have-for-baby' list when in fact they need very little.

A few things I've learned along the way:

1) Don't be afraid to buy certain things used such as swings, jumperoos, bouncy seats, toys and clothes - you can save a LOT of money by picking up these items gently used at yard sales, consignment stores and on places like Craigslist. You'll quickly learn that it's not worth spending a fortune on things they out-grow so quickly.

2) Get to know your local consignment shops. Our local consignment store gets lots of great new items all the time - from clothing and toys to bottles and furniture, even formula, baby food and diapers (new on these items of course). One thing I love about our store is that by bringing your items in to them for sale and using the money earned as store credit to purchase more items our local shop adds an extra 5% to the amount that you earn. I can't begin to count the number of brand-new newborn outfits my daughter had and never got to wear before she out-grew them. Now 90% of her clothing and several of her toys come from the consignment store and she is none the wiser and just as happy - and I'm happier because I get to stretch my dollars further and buy more for her.

3)If you plan on bottle-feeding don't invest a huge amount of money one 1 brand/style of bottles right away, but buy a few different kinds. We went through several different brands and styles before settling on the kind that worked best for my daughter and that she liked and that we liked (Born Free).

4) Read reviews online for expensive items you plan on purchasing such as cribs, car seats and travel systems before buying. Get input from moms you know about their items. Go to local stores and really look at display models of things like strollers, compare features and pricing.

5) Sign up with different baby companies for samples, rebates and coupons. You can sign up for most of these before the baby is born and start getting all kinds of offers and freebies - Pampers, Huggies, Gerber, Earth's Best, Luvs, Enfamil, etc.

6) If you formula feed ask your baby's doctor for free formula samples at every visit. Most people don't know you can do this and most doctors for whatever reason don't offer them - all you have to do is ask!

7) I suggest waiting until after the baby shower to buy items you want but didn't receive - you never know how many of certain things you might end up with, or what large items you might receive but want to exchange for something else.

That being said - a few items that I consider 'must-haves' for my little one:

-a humidifier in the winter time
-a baby monitor (it will give you peace of mind so you don't feel the need to hover over the crib all the time)
-baby gates (all it takes is for your back to be turned for a moment)
-sleep sacks - these are little zippered sleeping bags for the baby that don't pose a safety hazard and they give you peace of mind knowing your baby won't come uncovered in the middle of the night or get all twisted up in a blanket
-a convertible car seat - most babies outgrow the small infant ones faster than you would think, had I known I just would have invested in the convertible one we now have, it's not a 'must' have to have a car seat that fits into a matching stroller, it's just a convenience

A few items that I could easily have done without:

-bottle/food warmer (stick them it a dish of hot water - it warms more evenly and it's FREE and easy to use)
-bottle sterilizer system (you can boil bottle parts in water for a few moments and they will be sterilized)
-wipe warmer (I hold the wipe scrunched up in my hands for a moment to warm them a bit before using them on my daughter-by not using the warmer the wipes stay moist, the heat from the warmer can dry them out)
-expensive Dreft laundry soap or other 'baby' detergents- not worth the hassle or expense, within two months time we were tossing the baby's laundry in with our own and using dye/fragrance free All Clear for all of our clothes

I could go on and on with tips, ideas and suggestions but I'm sure you're already getting overwhelmed with those. Don't be afraid to ask for suggestions or help from family and friends but at the same time don't be afraid to trust your instincts when it comes to being 'mom' - you will know your baby better than anyone else.

I love reading these things!

In preparing for childbirth I loved Birthing from Within (England) and The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth (Goer). For baby care I love The Baby Book (Sears), Baby Whisperer (Hogg), and Dr. Spock.

A loving family, diapers, and a carseat are the essentials obviously...I like my Graco SnugRide and Britax Roundabout.

A good pump is really helpful for milk supply, whether you have too much and need to relieve the pressure or don't have enough and need to build it up. I have a Medela Pump In Style.

You'll do lots and lots of laundry. I recommend white clothes for little ones because you can bleach out spit-up and poo stains. Plus if you don't know the gender, white works for either. It's hard to find white things though...maybe Gap, thrift stores. I LOVE Gap First Favorites nightgowns. They are the absolute best, a little pricey but so soft and comfy and last forever.

Lastly, for the first several weeks after the baby's born, you will want to surround yourself with people you can call either for company or for help. Take all offers of both! Especially if you have a "high-need" baby.

And amen to the people who said you'll get blankets as gifts. I have so many blankets. It's ridiculous.

Congratulations! Babies are so wonderful!

Down the road, when the time comes to consider the lesser essentials of nursery furniture and decor, keep Wal-Mart in mind (if you are at all open to shopping there). The Baby Mod cribs and changing table/dressers are modern and sturdy (and better reviewed than Target's similarly priced options), and the Sumersault bedding lines are totally cute. You can order online and have things shipped to your nearest store for free.

Looks like all the essentials have been covered, so I will just reiterate and add a few specific links...

Do get newborn sized clothes. I was convinced I would have a 10lb. baby, and he was 6lbs7oz and could barely fit into the newborn stuff.

I prefer actual large blankets for swaddling - once you get the hang of it, I think they work far better than the Kiddopotamus thingies. Anais ones are lovely, but expensive. Walmart has some good basic cotton ones that are oversize and work great. They are called George receiving blankets. http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=9863554

Slings are lifesavers. Bouncy chairs are great too.

The simpler the better. In fact, I found that to be the case for most baby stuff - just get the simple ones - bestselling items are often a good place to start. I was way too obsessed with getting thing off the beaten path and ended up discovering that babies like really simple baby-ish things, and don't care about my stylish high chair.

Long sleeve onesies with fold over mittens.

Thermal receiving blankets. They are a little larger and stretchy; perfect for swaddling.

Baby Bjorn sitter.

We've actually covered off this list several times, and the responses have been very good. Unfortunately, the previous posts on this topic are not listed under "related links" -- ohdeedoh, couldn't you track down the previous posts on this?

Actually, since it comes up so often, maybe it could be listed on the left somehow (since it is so difficult to do an actual search for it, given that the topic gets titled differently each time!)?

I remember there were some very good answers when Sarah Kate and Maxwell were expecting Ursula, and since then it has come up more than a few times...

One piece of advice -- everyone needs different things, and find different things work better for them.

Some people don't like boppies, I found ours to be indespensible -- so much so, I had one for downstairs and one for upstairs. Although I no longer breastfeed, the kids still cuddle up in them too, so definitely got my money's worth.

My firstborn came early, and we didn't have much stuff, and I didn't really have a shower (just a book shower, which was great), and found, amazingly, I didn't need half the stuff most people -- like my next door neighbour -- insist that you have.

We cloth diapered, and made sure to get the newborn ones -- the best fitting ones were Kissaluvs. If you don't start out with cloth, chances are you will not take it up later (you get in a comfortable routine). We bought cloth wipes, and set up a wipe station.

I was told by everyone that I needed lots of receiving blankets -- at least a dozen. Didn't use more than maybe 4. And never used a burp cloth, drool bib, or any of that.

Had a pump for emergencies (like when I wanted to go out in the evening!), but rarely used (was too tired to go out in the evening!).

Never needed the quilt or bumpers in the bedding set, and sold them new on ebay.

Needed a really good comfy rocking chair -- we bought one from Finland and had it covered in a Designer's Guild fabric so that it would be a piece we could use elsewhere. In fact, we loved it so much, it never made it into the nursery -- it was always in the living room!

And I'm going to say it: we love our Bugaboo. We've had it for both kids, still in great shape and looks great, despite using it several times a day. I walk a lot -- over cobble stones, muddy paths, gravel paths -- it is great! It does stairs well (you can roll down instead of having to carry it), fits into tiny European elevators which are as large as a phone booth (the only stroller). We've taken it to hike up cow paths in the Alps, done Paris, well, it's been everywhere, and is our single best buy.

I've been checking car seat ratings, and the best car seats are Maxi Cosi. Don't take my word for it -- check daddytypes.com for the best and most recent info on this stuff. Maxi Cosi offers side impact protection, which isn't offered by the other seats on the market (and not tested for by North American safety regulators). And 70% of car accidents are side impact. As soon as I learned that, I got rid of our Graco seat and Britax Marathon seats, and replaced them with Maxi Cosi (and Romer Kid Fix).

My kids were tiny, and so I really needed the small size clothes -- it was pointless to even try to put them in the 3 mos size -- they would get lost in it.

Try and find the earlier postings on this topic though -- some of the lists were very good.

And trust me, you won't need as much as you think you do!

If there is one principle that I find key, it is that you should not spend a lot of money for something that you will use for maybe 2 years tops -- a designer crib for example, high chair, or expensive bedding.

We loved the IKEA gulliver crib and Antilop high chair. And that allowed us to buy some art that will endure, and the cool rocking chair. The Bugaboo was a present from the grandparents, but we got to tell them what we wanted. And I've posted elsewhere today on the changing table (it was custom made by our kitchen cabinet maker, but check Craigs list and Ebay)-- we have something that is good for our backs and is central to our organization system.

Good luck, and enjoy yourself! I found it to be the most magical time, awaiting our children and early babyhood.

~ Babybjorn Baby Sitter 1-2-3: invaluable!

~ Dr. Brown's natural flow bottles: a lot of parts, but well worth it. She's never had a gassy tummy.

~ The Miracle Blanket: she sleeps thru the night whenever we use it.

~ Amy Coe receiving blankets: the softest flannel on the market, won't pill after washing.

~ Cool mist humidifier: if you live in a dry, cold winter climate.

~ a TON of burp cloths: we use thick cloth diapers.

~ Snap & Go Stroller: don't waste your money on those huge travel systems, they're a pain.

~ Skip Hop diaper changing wallet, they make great diaper bags too

~ California Baby products

GOOD LUCK!

Oh -- forgot -- products we swear by:

-Imse Vimse AIOs (all-in-ones) for day, and Imse Vimse organic terry contours and bumpy wool covers for night

-yet another vote for California Baby (they don't use nut oils, which many other natural brands do)

-the HopPop diaper bag, which is a booster seat and diaper bag all in one -- great if you are visiting family or friends, so there is nothing to lug. Here in Europe, few restaurants seem to have booster seats, so it is invaluable.
http://www.cheekymonkey.ca/Hoppop.htm

The only socks I buy for my babies anymore are the Hanes white ankle socks. (I could only find them at Walmart.) They are the only ones I have found that don't fall off easily.

Marpac white noise generator. Works for baby or for yourself :)

I agree with all of the recommendations for Baby Bargains. It helped a lot!

Our little guy is 4.5 months old now, and there are a few things that have helped a lot. In no particular order...

-Carseat
-Crib
-a playard with a basinnet to use for the first few weeks in our room and for travel (ours had a vibrate function that helped baby sleep)
-Bouncy seat that vibrates: we got a hand-me-down one and he still loves it
-Flannel waterproof crib pads: way easier than changing the sheet!
-Swaddle blanket: our baby was strong enough to break out of all of them, until we found the Woombie (http://www.thewoombie.com/) online
-Cloth diapers to use as burp cloths and one on top of the changing pad cover---so we don't have to change it so often
-Some clothes that don't go over the head (snaps on front/side)
-Baby Bjorn
-Comfy chair for nursing
-Humidifiier for when baby has a cold (and during winter)
-Chicco Keyfit 30 carseat: lasts up to 30 pounds and is very easy to snap in/out of base

Other nice things...
A big dresser instead of a changing table
Breathable bumpers for when baby started sticking his legs through the crib bars
We love our Kolcraft 4-wheel stroller; it looks a lot like the fancy ones but it's a reasonable price.

I'd also suggest trying someone else's bouncer, jumper, or whatever before buying. Or better yet, get one from a friend for free!

Oh, and read tons of books now---I tried to read a bunch of infant sleep books after our baby arrived and my brain couldn't retain the information, I was so tired.

Good luck!