Here are some tips to follow when you want to save as much money as you can while decorating your baby’s room:

1. Secondhand does not always translate to old and dusty. If you have never ventured into a consignment store or perused online auctions then you may not realize that just because something is “used” it doesn’t mean that it has been used all that much. Some items that wind up getting sold used were obtained as gifts and were actually never used, or were used a little but well-maintained.Don’t be scared to buy things secondhand! You can find some really great deals and will probably get a lot more for your money. Check local consignment stores as well as classified ads, online resources, and even garage sales.

2. Coupons and sales are great. Some things you shouldn’t - or may not want to - buy secondhand, so for these instances it’s a good idea to wait to make your purchases until there is a sale or clearance. Watch the ads and check online to find out when the best sales are for stores offering nursery decorations. Keep in mind that you don’t have to buy all the decorations for your baby’s room at stores that are specific to baby stuff. Any store that offers decorative items will probably have suitable items for purchase.Join the mailing lists for the stores you like and you’ll start receiving coupons via e-mail or regular mail as well as being notified of sales and clearances.

3. Don’t get carried away. Before you make your purchases, take a step back and see if you need to censor yourself a little bit. Remember that your baby could care less whether the wallpaper trim is expensive or cheap, and frankly the baby won’t even care if there is any wallpaper trim at all. Try to think in the terms of what the baby wants: a safe, comfortable place to sleep. All the extras are usually things that the parents add to make something aesthetically pleasing to an adult eye.Keep the decorations simple. By not getting carried away with purchases you’ll inevitably save some money.

4. Make your own decor. Even if you aren’t particularly crafty you can still pull off some pretty impressive decorations by following a kit or using your own imagination. Making something on your own almost always costs less than buying it brand new in a store. Take a look at some photos in a catalog to see what kind of decor you want for your baby’s room and then figure out what you can create on your own.Decor for a baby room that you lovingly create yourself is not only more frugal than purchasing it elsewhere, it also makes for a unique room.

Always keep in mind that your baby isn’t born expecting a designer nursery. The nursery should be functional and pleasing to the eye, but not something that you need to take out a second mortgage to finance.

1. Loss of employment. Even the healthiest women can wind up on bed rest at some point during their pregnancy, and if you were planning on working right up to the point of labor then this can have a huge effect on your budget especially if you were counting on that income. Most parents brace themselves for one parent to consider staying home after the baby is born, but when that time comes sooner than expected it can be a huge financial issue.

2. Maternity clothes. You may tell yourself that you’ll get away with sweats and huge t-shirts for your pregnancy, or that you’ll buy a few things and that’s it, but then your sister announces she’s getting married and you’re the matron of honor or you just can’t stand wearing the same clothes over and over again. Whatever the cause, you can expect to pay more for maternity clothes than you initially budget for. Just be sure to try to get them on sale.

3. Last chance for fun. It’s a realization that most expectant parents have at some point during the pregnancy: This is your last chance to be together alone for quite some time. Even if you hadn’t planned on (or budgeted for) a quick vacation or getaway, don’t be surprised if you get the sudden urge to pack your bags and have one last trip before the baby comes. Most new parents will agree that this is one pregnancy expense that is definitely worth it.

4. Relentless cravings. Not all pregnant women get cravings, but some women get them so relentlessly that they must indulge in whatever they crave every day. This may not seem like much of a financial drain, but if you crave a $5 blended coffee drink (decaffeinated, of course) twice a day for seven or eight months that’s more than $2000. Really. You’ll either need to budget for this expense or find something a little less expensive as a craving substitute.

5. Fun extras. Even the most frugal expectant parents can get taken aback by all the really fun things available during this time. Expectant moms can get casts of their bellies. Parents can pay out of pocket for a high resolution ultrasound and send copies of the session to family members. Pregnancy portraits are popular as are spa times for expectant parents. You’ll probably talk yourself into one or two fun extras during the pregnancy, but if you indulge in every little thing available then you’re heading for financial trouble.

Pregnancy is an ideal time to save up some money because once the baby arrives it becomes much harder to balance a budget. Try to avoid frivolous spending, but if circumstances beyond your control force you to spend more money than you anticipated then just try to get back on track as quickly as possible. Having a new baby can be stressful enough; don’t add to the stress by piling up debt.

• The blood that remains in your baby’s umbilical cord after it has been cut is called cord blood which is rich in stem cells. These valuable cells which are genetically unique to your baby and family, can only be collected in the minutes after your baby’s birth.
• Preserving your newborn’s stem cells is called cord blood banking and allows you to have your baby’s cord blood saved for potential medical uses to treat life-threatening diseases. If you do not choose to bank your baby’s cord blood, it will be discarded after birth.
• You have only one chance to save your baby’s cord blood for your family since it can only be collected immediately after birth.
• Many expectant families choose to bank their baby’s cord blood for peace of mind, knowing that stem cells can be lifesaving to their baby and family.
• Saving your baby’s cord blood is important since using your own family’s cord blood, if needed, has been shown to have significant advantages compared to using cord blood from an unrelated donor.
• Your baby will be a perfect genetic match for the stem cells as will the baby’s mom due to her carrying the child during pregnancy.
• Dad will share at least 50% genetic matching with the baby.
• It is twice as likely that siblings will be able to use each other’s cord blood stem cells compared to each other’s bone marrow.
• First and second degree relatives may also be able to use your newborn’s stem cells if they are a sufficient genetic match.
• Cord blood stem cells have current and emerging uses in medical treatment:
• Today nearly 70 diseases have been treated with cord blood stem cells including leukemia, other cancers and blood disorders.
• Doctors are working to develop stem cell treatments for heart disease, juvenile diabetes, brain injury and more.

“My family does not have a history of diseases, so my doctor did not recommend.”

• Genetic history is only one risk factor for disease, and doesn’t guarantee immunity. Many other things, like environmental factors, can contribute heavily to disease.
• Ultimately we can’t predict what our future health will be and one advantage of saving your own cord blood stem cells it gives you access to a wider range of treatment options in the future should you need it.
• The science of cord blood stem cells is changing very rapidly. In fact, just last month new physician guidelines recognized the value of cord blood stem cells and encouraged health care providers to educate all expectant parents on their options for preserving cord blood stem cells.
• It is fairly typical in healthcare and medicine to see a range of opinions; however we continue to see progress being made in this area
• Your baby will be a perfect genetic match and may use these stem cells to treat nearly 70 diseases including cancers and blood disorders. Doctors are working to develop stem cell treatments for heart disease, juvenile diabetes, brain injury and more.
• Your baby’s biological siblings are twice as likely to be able to use your newborn’s cord blood stem cells for treatment of cancers or genetic diseases versus bone marrow stem cells.
• Mom will be able to use her baby’s stem cells due to a compatibility that occurs during gestation.
• Dad has a 50% genetic match with the newborn.
• First and second degree relatives may also be able to use your newborn’s stem cells if they are a sufficient genetic match.

What provider do you recommend?

• We recommend Cord Blood Registry (CBR) because it is the leader in the industry, the world’s largest and most experienced cord blood bank.
• CBR has significantly more experience in providing samples for transplant than any other family cord blood bank.
• CBR is recommended most by Ob/Gyns and chosen most by expectant families.
• CBR saves more cells for your family with the highest published rate of recovering cells from cord blood (99%) which is important if you ever need them.
• CBR has a highly safe lab and storage location in Tucson, Arizona.
• CBR has a proven track record of financial and long-term stability, and its lab has been processing cord blood since 1992.
• CBR has programs to make cord blood banking affordable:
  • A payment program available that makes the monthly cost less than the average cell phone or utility bill,
  • A Gift Registry program that allows your family and friends to help in providing this gift to your child and
  • The Designated Transplant Program where certain families qualify for free cord blood banking. More info

Diseases Treated

Doctors and scientists, world wide, are revolutionizing new areas of medicine with stem cells. By banking your newborn’s cord blood, you can provide your baby with exciting new treatment options to:

• Repair nerve cells to heal brain and spinal cord injuries or brain damage caused by stroke.
• Regenerate cells to form new blood vessels: to treat heart and circulatory disease.
• Replace damaged cells to improve recovery from cardiovascular disease, heart attack, or injury.
• Regenerate brain cells to treat Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

These exciting advances are in addition to nearly 70 diseases already being treated by stem cells, saving kids from leukemia, cancers, and blood disorders right now.

See a List of all Treated Diseases

Saving your baby’s cord blood is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. To help you make as informed a choice as possible, here are answers to some common uncertainties:

Q: Since we don’t have a family history of disease, is banking cord blood really necessary?

A: Family history is only one risk factor for disease, and doesn’t guarantee immunity. Many other things, like environmental factors, can contribute heavily to disease. And cord blood holds tremendous promise for treating injuries like brain damage, spinal cord repair, and tissue growth – possibilities no one can rule out.

Q: My OB didn’t mention it to me, so can it really be that important?

A: Many states now have legislation that requires OBs share this important information with their pregnant patients. Your state might not have passed this law yet and/or your doctor might not know a lot of details.

Q: We want to bank our baby’s cord blood, but how can we afford it?

A: CBR has three programs to help: payment plans as low as $48 a month; a Gift Registry that lets friends and families contribute to your enrollment; and a Designated Transplant Program where certain families qualify for free cord blood banking.

We asked OBs to answer the top 3 questions pregnant women have about cord blood banking.

Q: Should I bank my baby’s cord blood?

A: Yes, I recommend it. Research shows that cord blood stem cells have the potential to develop into – or repair – almost all types of cells and tissues in the body. So saving your child’s stem cells secures your best treatment options today and tomorrow.

• Dr.Karen Smith, Ob-Gyn and Mom to Emma and Sarah

Q: What are the odds that my family will need to use stem cells?

A: The odds that a family will need to use stem cells have been reported as frequent as 1 in 200, however these odds do not include the anticipated use of stem cells to treat disorders such as heart disease, diabetes, brain injury and other common disorders. As advances in medicine continue to increase, so too will the expected use of stem cells.

• Dr.Brian Bernick, Ob-Gyn

Q: Which family cord blood bank should I use?
A: I recommend CBR to all my patients. They’re the most experienced bank in the world, they recover the most cells, and they’re stable – meaning they’ll be here to protect your family for a lifetime.

- Dr. Kim Powers, Ob-Gyn and Mom to Terrence and Laura

What are Stem Cells?

Stem cells are considered to be the body’s “master” cells because they create all other tissues, organs, and systems in the body. The stem cells found in cord blood are the building blocks of your blood and immune system and most readily reproduce into:

Red Blood Cells - which carry oxygen to all the cells in the body
White Blood Cells - which fight infection
Platelets - which aid in clotting in the event of injury

There are three sources where stem cells are commonly found and they are:

• Bone Marrow Peripheral
• Blood (the blood that circulates through your body)
• Umbilical Cord Blood

The ability of cord blood stem cells to differentiate, or change into other types of cells in the body is a new discovery that holds significant promise for improving the treatment of some of the most common diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and Alzheimer’s.

There are many exciting advances happening with stem cells. Right now, doctors are focusing on newborn stem cells and their potential to:

• Regenerate brain cells—to treat Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease
• Repair nerve cells—to heal brain and spinal cord injuries or brain damage caused by stroke
• Regenerate cells to form new blood vessels—to treat heart and circulatory disease
• Replace damaged cells—to improve recovery from cardiovascular disease, a heart attack, or injury. By saving your newborn’s stem cells, you provide your child with options to benefit from these emerging therapies.

Although they are routinely discarded, newborn stem cells have unique biology that is important in medical treatments. Newborn stem cells are 8-10 times more proliferative than adult cells, and are much more compatible with family members versus adult cells. For example, siblings are twice as likely to be compatible with their newborn cells compared to their same adult stem cells. And unlike adult cells, newborn stem cells are “healthy” in that they have not been exposed to viruses, pollution, or disease in the vast majority of cases.

Cord blood is the blood rich in stem cells that remains in a baby’s umbilical cord and placenta following birth.

Parents have the choice, immediately after the birth of their baby, to preserve their baby’s cord blood for use by their own family, or donate it to a public bank (if available), or to throw it away. Regrettably, this amazing resource is being discarded, its potential benefits lost forever, due to lack of knowledge by parents nationwide.

Since your baby’s stem cells are genetically unique to your child and family, and using cells from a relative is the best source of stem cells in treating diseases, cord blood banking has been called a type of “biological insurance”.

Banking cord blood is an important investment that you can make in your family’s health and helps ensure the best chance of survival when the cells are used. In fact, newborn stem cells from a relative have resulted in more than double the survival rates compared to stem cells from unrelated donors. And your child and family may have significantly better options in medical treatments or cures for cancers as well as common conditions like heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s.

In addition, they can be immediately available if they are needed which can minimize disease progression. Because the cells found in cord blood are “naive,” or undeveloped, the cells do not have to “match” the patient as closely as bone marrow and therefore can be used by siblings or other relatives in many circumstances where bone marrow stem cells cannot.

Lastly, unlike the adult stem cells in your body, your newborn’s stem cells are “healthy” as they have not been exposed to environmental contamination or viruses.

Considering that nearly 70 diseases are already being successfully treated with stem cells, and the fact that the number will very likely increase in the coming years, cord blood banking is a prudent investment in your family’s health.

Family Banking & Public Donation

Many parents wonder what the differences are between Family Cord Blood Banking and Public Donation of their newborn’s stem cells. The following comparison table provides a brief view of these two important options.

The reasons given for children being left in hot cars range from parents forgetting that the babies were there to children playing around and getting accidentally locked in. Statistics from the Department of Geosciences at the San Francisco State University Web site indicate that from 1998-2007, 51 percent of deaths resulting from being locked inside a hot car occurred because the caregiver forgot the child; 30 percent resulted from children playing in a car unsupervised; 18 percent were due to adults knowingly leaving the child in the vehicle. Many adults tend to leave a child in a vehicle to run an errand which they figure shouldn’t take long.

How to Improve Car Safety

Although accidents do happen, as parents there is a lot we can do to try and minimize them. These pointers can go a long way in avoiding having to deal with the death of a child due to suffocation in a hot vehicle:

• Don’t leave car keys where small children and reach them and get into the car
• Do not leave your car doors open when at you are at home
• Place a reminder on your dashboard that you have a child in the backseat, especially if you are not normally the one taking children to daycare etc. Make sure that it is big enough to be easily seen.
• If you fear you may forget that you have a baby or toddler in the car, set an alarm on your phone or PDA to remind you
• Ask someone to call you and remind you to drop the child off if necessary
• Get cars with or install a trunk release latch on car trunks; this will prevent children accidentally locking themselves into the trunk and being unable to get out
• Make getting children out of the car the first priority when you reach your destination
• Tell children not to get into a car while playing without an adult being aware

While some of these tips may seem trite now, they can save a life and help you avoid prison and the loss of a beloved child.

If at all possible, new parents should try to avoid using credit cards. Why? Here are ten reasons:

1. You spend more with credit cards. Most people find that when they shop with credit cards they’re more likely to spend more money than if they use cash, checks, or a debit card.

2. You buy things you don’t need. It’s so much easier to make impulse purchases when you have a credit card in your hand. Every new parent knows how easy it is to buy every cute baby item you come across.

3. You obligate future income. When you use your credit card you’re basically saying, “I know I can pay this in the future,” but nobody really knows that for sure. Take care when obligating yourself to pay something down the road.

4. You pay interest. Unless you pay your credit card balance each and every month you’ll wind up paying interest charges. Even if you have a relatively low interest rate you may still wind up paying close to $100 a month in interest if you have a high balance.

5. You might pay fees. Send a payment in late or exceed your spending limit and you’ll wind up paying costly fees. You have better things to spend your money on, like diapers or teething rings.

6. You start to rely on credit cards. If the costs associated with a new baby have you using your credit cards more than usual, beware. It is all too easy to fall into the pattern of using credit cards for every day expenses, and this is a dangerous situation.

7. You don’t budget. Turning to credit cards to make purchases means that you don’t have the cash to buy the things you need, and that means you probably aren’t budgeting. If you don’t have a budget in place then now is the time to write one.

8. High balances can hurt your credit score. If you are piling up your debt then your credit score may suffer, even if you make payments diligently every month. You’ll want a great credit score for when you finally give in and finance that minivan.

9. Spending habits as a new parent endure. The way you spend money right now will have a lasting effect on your future spending habits as a parent. Set the precedent now to only use credit cards when you really need to.

10. Before you know it, your baby will start to pay attention. Do you really want your child to grow up thinking that every time you want to buy something that you can’t afford you simply reach into your wallet and pull out a credit card?

Credit cards can be useful if they are used responsibly, but when a new baby comes along you may find yourself much more tempted to spend with reckless abandon. Use your credit cards as sparingly as possible and you have a much better chance of keeping tabs on your finances.

• The best deal for baby gear is free. You’ll probably get offered some hand-me-downs from friends and family, especially if you know people who have toddlers or preschoolers. In fact, when parents decide that they don’t want to have any more babies they can get quite generous with giving away baby items. If you are fortunate enough to have used baby gear offered to you, consider accepting it.Plenty of parents have a desire to give their babies only the very best products, and your first inclination may be to turn down the used baby items offered to you. Keep in mind, however, that by accepting these items you’re freeing up money to put toward other baby necessities.
• Some used items are almost new. Shop at most consignment stores and you’ll quickly realize that the best stores are stocked with items that seem barely used. Why not buy a gorgeous crib at a consignment store for a fraction of the price of a new one, especially if you can’t even really tell that the crib is used to begin with?Garage sales, thrift stores, and classified ads usually feature some great baby products at much lower prices than their brand-new counterparts. Be sure to shop around for the best deals.
• Buy new, but never pay full price. Start buying necessary items early so you have plenty of time to seek out the very best deals. Sign up for mailing lists at baby stores and your mailbox will soon be full of coupons and special offers. Look for clearance sales and other discounted events.If you insist on buying things new, at least make sure you aren’t paying full price for the things you need.
• Ignore labels. Most parents will agree that while extra functions can be quite nice, a crib is a crib, a stroller is a stroller, and a highchair is a highchair. Try to ignore what labels are trendy and instead take time to find the features you like.Buy the trendiest baby gear and you’ll pay the highest price.The more time you have to search for great deals, the better chances you have of finding baby items at a really low price. Remember: Paying full price means you’re paying too much.

The problem with these statistics is that they are designed to scare new parents and make the entire process of raising a child seem financially daunting. Yes, it costs a lot of money to raise a child. Yes, it will at times feel as though you don’t have enough money for everything you want to give your child. The best way to approach expectant and new parenthood with regards to finances is to not look at it as one huge cumulative financial obligation. It isn’t as though your baby will be born and the next day you’ll be handed a bill for the next eighteen years.

Instead, concentrate on the costs associated with raising a baby right now. There are a few expenses you may not be expecting, so keep these in mind and budget accordingly:

1. There may be medical complications. Even if your medical insurance covers all the extra expenses associated with any complications you or the baby experiences, there will be additional costs caused by the situation. Your spouse may not be able to return to work as quickly as originally anticipated, or you may have to pay for extra childcare for other children because of an extended hospital stay.

2. You may not want to return to work. Don’t underestimate your maternal instincts to stay right beside your baby even after your maternity leave has expired. Not every new mom experiences this, but for some women the thought of dropping her baby off at daycare is enough to throw her into hysterics. This isn’t only a female phenomenon either, as there are plenty of dads who experience the undeniable urge to quit work and stay home with the baby. This situation causes obvious financial strain, so if you feel as though there is any chance that you won’t want to return to work you should start adjusting your budget right away.

3. Babies grow quickly. Unless you’re blessed with bags upon bags of hand-me-downs from family and friends you will probably be quick to discover that babies can grow out of clothes really quickly. When you’re budgeting for diapers you should be sure to also budget for clothes for your baby. The first several months of a baby’s life will be a blur of different sizes, but take solace in the fact that growth does slow down eventually.

4. You will have the desire to buy a lot of stuff for your baby. Even if you are notoriously frugal you may be surprised by your amazingly strong desire to buy every cute toy, developmental tool, and adorable outfit you stumble upon at stores and online. You will probably have to stifle this desire as best as you can, but don’t be shocked if you look back on the first year of your baby’s life and realize that you spent an awful lot of money on things your baby didn’t actually need.

The best thing you can do is to compose a budget and stick to it. This is especially important during the first year of your baby’s life when parenthood is new and you aren’t versed in the actual costs associated with having children. Don’t allow yourself to get too terrified about the prospects of your financial obligation as a parent, though. Chances are you’ll muddle through quite nicely.

When you put money in an interest-bearing savings account you earn interest at a certain percentage depending on how much money you have in the account and what the rate of return is on the interest. In simple terms, compound interest is what happens when you earn interest on the interest you have already earned. You’re earning money on money you’ve already earned. This is how even the most modest savings account can grow exponentially over the years.

Suppose you only put $30 a month away in your baby’s college savings account, but you do it from the month your child is born. $30 is an amount that most people can manage easily and without really missing the money at all. That $30 per month over a period of eighteen years will grow to an impressive amount, even at a modest rate of return. For example, at an interest rate of 4%, the $30 a month will grow to nearly $9500 in eighteen years. That’s an impressive amount of money for a monthly deposit that you probably won’t even notice being gone from your expendable income.

Of course, your child will probably need more than $9500 to complete a college education, but this is certainly a respectable amount of money to help your child along. Don’t forget that there are school loans, scholarships, financial aid programs, and part-time jobs to help your child pay for the rest of her education. You can always bump up your monthly contribution to your child’s college fund as your income allows. Increase the $30 to $100 a month and you’re child’s college fund will be close to $32,000 by the time he graduates from high school.

Be sure that you put the money into an account that is specifically designed for college savings because there are tax advantages to these accounts. You have plenty of options available to you - such as educational IRAs and state-sponsored prepaid tuition programs - so be sure to do some research and speak to a representative at your financial institution to find out which option is best for your situation.

If the thought of eventually paying for your child’s college education seems daunting, don’t worry. Start putting a modest amount into an account monthly now, and add more as your finances allow. Remember that you have time (and compound interest) on your side right now, so take advantage of it.

Although most new parents are completely shocked by the massive amounts of money they need to shell out upon the arrival of a new baby, there are some steps you can take to lessen the financial burden. The very best thing you can do is to take some steps in order to save money now before your baby makes a grand appearance.

In most instances it is usually much easier to save money before the baby comes as opposed to after the baby comes. Take the time before your baby is born to do some saving, even if you can’t manage to save a small fortune.

Here are some tips for saving money before your baby arrives:

1. Don’t get too frivolous with your spending.

You will have the urge to spend a lot of money on items for your baby, but the truth is that newborns don’t need a lot of the things parents rush out to buy. You can save yourself a ton of money if you concentrate on age-appropriate items in the beginning. Do you really need a safety gate for a baby that won’t even sit up for a few months?

2. Save money on interest.

By paying off as many bills as you can you’re not only freeing up some extra money for after the baby comes, but you’re also saving some money in interest charges. You may be paying more in interest every month than you even realize, especially if you carry a large balance on your credit cards. Make a concerted effort to pay your bills down before your baby arrives and you might even manage to get some bills paid off completely.

3. Earn money with the money you save.

If you have a substantial amount of money already sitting in a bank account in case of emergencies then you should do a little comparison shopping to see if there is a different account that might earn you a higher interest rate, and therefore give you more money. This is one of the less painful ways to save some money before the baby arrives, and it is relatively effortless.

4. Consider a temporary second job.

You probably don’t want to work a second job after the baby arrives unless it absolutely necessary, but now is the time to take on a temporary job in order to pad up your savings account or pay down some of your bills. After the baby comes there is a good chance that you won’t have the energy to work two jobs.

5. Analyze your budget. When was the last time you actually sat down and scrutinized where your money goes? You may be surprised to find out how much of your money goes to unnecessary expenses. By actually taking the time to look at your budget - and maybe doing a little adjusting - you can probably save yourself quite a bit of money before the baby comes.

6. Downgrade. If you are going to lose an income after the baby comes then you may want to consider that now is the time to move to a less expensive home or get a less expensive car. Do what you can now in order to make the transition to parenthood as easy as possible. You’ll have enough on your plate after the baby is born.

7. Lose some extras. Do you pay for premium cable channels? Do you have a gym membership that you never use? Examine what you might be able to do without and start dropping all the extra services you don’t really need. You might lose a little bit of convenience when you do this - for example, dropping your cable modem and going back to dial-up in an effort to save money - but this is one surefire way to save before baby comes.

8. Compare services. You might be able to save a great deal of money by comparing the offerings of other companies that sell the same services you purchase through another source. When was the last time you did a comparison on your auto insurance policy or your cell phone provider? In some instances, switching from one provider to another can be a very wise financial decision and save you quite a bit of money.

Trying to save some money before your baby arrives is a wise decision because in most instances it’s much harder to save money after the baby comes. If you manage to save up some money before your baby arrives you will be glad you made the effort.

This is only the start—you’ll receive presents after the baby is born, too. From there, it doesn’t end: baptism, birthdays, holidays. I do believe in sending thank you notes for every occasion and teaching children to do the same from a young age.

My nephews send thank you notes to us without fail for every occasion that we give them a gift, and those cards receive places of honor on our refrigerator. It’s been fun to watch them evolve from notes written by their mom, to the simple words “thank you” in big blocky letters they wrote themselves as kindergarteners, to the personalized, heartfelt notes they now send as young adults.

Thank yous are important, but I digress. Some etiquette experts say you have as long as six months after an event to send thank you notes. The rule of thumb I’ve always adhered to is two months. Unless you have 1,000 people at your gala event, there’s really no reason to take six months to send a thank you note.

But do yourself a favor and get those baby shower thank you notes out as soon as possible, so you don’t create a backlog and find yourself with a long list of cards to write and a crying infant in the other room. If at all possible, get your shower “thank yous” out before the baby is born.

It all begins with the list. If you send Christmas cards every year, you probably already have all your important family addresses well-organized. If not, you may have put together an address list for your shower—or whoever hosted the shower did it for you, in secrecy. Get that list! It will make your life so much easier and keep you from having to re-invent the wheel.

Our article about Baby Shower Ideas recommends having each guest fill in their own name and address on thank you card envelopes as they leave, which is certainly a great idea if the host of the shower thinks to provide thank you cards for the mom-to-be in advance. (And what a thoughtful idea!)

With your address list in hand, you’ll also need the list of gifts you received and who gave them to you. Hopefully, one of your friends at the shower wrote all this information down as you opened presents and everyone ooh-ed and ahh-ed over the adorable onesies and baby blankets.

And, of course, you need thank you cards! For round-two of gift-giving, after the baby is born, you may want to have cards printed with the baby’s picture on it or simply include a wallet-size photo with the card. If the baby isn’t born yet, it might be fun to include a sonogram picture (especially if you have one from a 3D sonogram), but there are also a wide variety of adorable thank you cards to choose from with no baby pictures required, online or at your local store.

Some Web sites and even drug stores will allow you to include your own special message pre-printed on the cards, but this is not enough! Each card should include a personalized, handwritten message, too, along with the gift-giver’s name, and your personal, handwritten signature. Visit the Tiny Prints Store for a great selection of Thank You Cards that you personalize or buy as-is!

The writing… for many people, that’s the hard part. What do you say? The important thing is to be heartfelt and personal. Mention the gift by name, and possibly even the way it will be used or something you especially like about it. “Thank you so much for the adorable outfit. It is my favorite color, and Ashley will be wearing it when we come home from the hospital together!”

If you know the baby’s name, it’s fine to use it, even if the baby isn’t born yet. Don’t forget to sign the card from both yourself and your husband, even if the shower was thrown in your honor. If you feel weird signing a card from an unborn baby, you can definitely skip that, but some mothers think it’s a cute touch.

In addition to commenting personally and positively on the gift, be sure to thank the person for attending the celebration, as well. Let them know you appreciated their presence, not just their present!

What if a gift is positively awful and you plan on heading right back to the store to make an exchange? (Or they didn’t check your registry and you received a duplicate.) Find something nice to say, but don’t be phony. Let the person know you appreciate the thoughtful gift, and emphasize how nice it was to see them at the shower. If you received two of the same item, comment on each as if it were the only one you received; the gift-giver doesn’t have to know whose Diaper Genie went back to the store and which one is sitting in the nursery right now.

Finally, be sure to send an extra special card, and maybe even a small gift, such as a box of chocolates or a scented candle, to the host or hosts of the shower. Let them know you appreciate how much work goes into planning such an event, and how much it meant to you. Don’t forget to thank them for their gift, as well!

Writing thank you cards is not difficult or scary and, in fact, it should give you a warm feeling inside, as you reminisce about the good times you had at your shower and all the love (and presents) you received! You don’t have to be Shakespeare or Miss Manners to write a good thank you card. Take time to truly appreciate the thought, expense, attention and care that went into each gift, and this gratitude will be reflected in every word you write.