Preparing for a new baby requires MAJOR shopping. I didn't realize how many new things I would need to buy for my little one. Wait. Back up. NEED to buy? Maybe that should read "how many things I will be pressured to buy by the marketing geniuses at the baby stores."
Choosing where to shop and which items to choose (organic? natural? discount?) is a topic for another post, but here I would like to take a look at how much is really required for baby.
I haven't actually bought much yet, but I am in the process of preparing a registry in case others are kind enough to want to buy things for me. Of course there are large items I'll need--crib, mattress, car seat, stroller (ok, a convenience, but one I'm willing to spend money on), carrier (or two), etc. But in building my registry I need to find smaller items that friends and family may actually want to buy for me.
Of course my little one will need clothes and diapers (I'll be using cloth). I hear the more of these you have the better. But some of the other things? I found myself stressing because I wasn't happy with the hooded towel choices at the baby store, until I stopped to think--is a hooded towel really necessary? Wouldn't a regular towel (small size) work fine? The baby towels I've found look cheap and rough, and cost twice as much as good regular towels.
I'm sure some of the baby-specific items are nice to have for the added convenience they provide. But stressing myself out putting all this effort into choosing products that someone may or may not buy for me just seems going too far.
I generally don't put too much value in possessions and I don't really like to shop that much. Expecting a baby has made me into much more of a consumer than I usually like to be. I think it's time for me to take a step back and reevaluate what is important for me to focus on. And the hooded towels, baby washcloths, coordinating nursery decorations--if any of my friends or family enjoy shopping and would like to choose something nice for me, I will be very appreciative. But it's not worth making myself crazy over.
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