birthTIPS
Australian safety standards
What is needed - baby checklist
Preparing for your baby's arrival is very exciting. The joy of setting up a cot or bassinette and putting everything in its place in readiness for after the birth can make having your baby feel closer and perhaps more realistic.
Much time can be spent researching all the different equipment, often taking up many weekends shopping (or hours surfing the net) to compare products and prices. However, buying for your baby can also feel overwhelming and confusing. With a seemingly endless amount of products to choose from, in a wide range of styles, colours and quality (as well as price range). Many people also find it emotionally difficult to resist buying 'everything', especially when looking at miniature baby clothing! They all seem so cute, tugging at your heart strings and bringing feelings of excitement and wonder about the baby you have created, which will be here soon!
In the commercial world, babies are BIG business and parents are major consumers, as you will soon find out! If this is your first baby, there is usually a huge temptation to buy every conceivable item and gadget for your precious new baby! However, if you have budget constraints it is important to work out what you really need and can afford, perhaps leaving what may be 'nice to have but not necessary'. One mother's motto was "Before you shop, remember that in about 2 year's time, most of what you buy will be lying in a spare room or the garage." However, you may need to keep your purchases for baby No. 2 (or more), so the quality of what you buy can be fairly important, like a long term investment!
It helps immensely to talk with other parents or perhaps your own parents about what you might need.