You have been waiting for this month since the first trimester began and you got your positive pregnancy test! At the end of this month you will be holding your precious baby in your arms. But are you ready for all that labor and delivery will bring?

You have probably had at least one baby shower, or if you already have kids you had several “left over” items you can use for this baby. Before you bring the baby home there are several essentials that you want to make sure you have waiting for you.

Infant/Convertible Car Seat
There are no ifs, ands or buts when it comes to having a car seat to bring your baby home in. If you have your baby in a hospital then you will not be allowed to leave the hospital without having your newborn secured in a car seat.

There are two types of car seats you can buy for your baby. One is an infant car seat. It is specifically designed to hold babies up to approximately 22 pounds and 26 inches, and being portable so you do not have to disturb a sleeping baby to get him out of a car. They are also convenient because you can strap your baby in while in the house and then just lock the car seat in the base.

The other type of car seat you might buy is a convertible car seat. This kind stays in your car all the time, but is designed to face backwards until your babies first birthday, and then sit forwards until your baby is about 40 pounds. Some convertible car seats can hold your baby till they are about 60 pounds.

Supplies
Before you head to the hospital, you should make sure you have your house well stocked on all the supplies you will need when you bring your baby home, so that you do not have to run to the store immediately. Make sure you have plenty of diapers, diaper rash ointment, baby powder, diaper wipes, wash cloths, scratch mitts, and gowns for your baby to sleep in. You will be tired upon arriving home from the hospital so having the supplies close at hand will help save time and save your energy.

A Place for Baby to Sleep
Make sure you have a plan for a place to lay your baby to sleep. There are many choices out there. You may choose to co-sleep with your baby in your bed. If so you might want to buy a sleep positioner to help keep your baby safe. Other choices for sleeping arrangements include a crib, a bassinet or a travel yard. Bassinets are designed to keep your baby close by you and can often be moved throughout the house.

Travel yards are often designed with built in bassinets that can be removed when the baby outgrows the weight limit. Travel yards are nice because not only can they be taken around the house, but they can be packed up and taken to Grandma’s for the day. Some babies will remain in a travel yard until they outgrow it and move into a toddler bed.

The majority of babies are placed in a crib at some point, whether it is when they are first brought home, or when they outgrow a bassinet. The crib is normally the center of a nursery, and can come in many styles and colors. Crib bedding that you pick will lead to the entire design of your nursery.

Baby Bath Tub
You want to make sure when you bring your baby home that you have a safe place to bathe him or her once the umbilical cord falls off. Newborns are too small to be placed in your bath tub and they will need support to keep from falling over. Some people choose to set their baby in a sink. If you choose to use the kitchen sink, you will want an infant bather to set the baby in, so that your baby doesn’t fall over. You can also set the bather up in the bath tub as the baby gets bigger and wash him there. There are several different types of baby bath tubs normally ranging between $10 to $40.

There are probably other products that you will find that you can’t live without once you get your baby home. If you find that you have forgotten something don’t panic. If possible send out a friend or family member to pick up the item for you so that you can concentrate on settling in with your new baby.

My daughter is now eight-years-old. Over the years I have spent thousands of dollars on baby clothes, educational toys, baby furniture, books … all the best that I could afford to buy. I shopped online, I shopped in-store, I shopped I shopped I shopped. But then I discovered Ebay. Now don’t roll your eyes and click off this article like I did for years – read on! There is nothing that you can find in a store that you can’t find on Ebay – sometimes gently used, sometimes very used, often times brand new – but almost always at an unbelievable price. I mean pennies on the dollar – literally. See for yourself if you don’t believe me!

If it’s too good to be true it probably is
Yes and no. As a seasoned Ebay shopper, I have gotten some deals that seemed too good to be true (those are the ones I especially love). But I’ve also learned some lessons, and I’d like to pass them on to you. Here are some tips that I suggest you pay attention to before jumping into the Ebay World.

1. Pay Attention To Feedback
   Every item you see on Ebay is offered by a person, a “seller.” When viewing an item, you will see the seller’s handle, followed by a number in parenthesis. This is the seller’s feedback rating.

   When someone purchases an item from a seller (a buyer) they leave “feedback” about how their transaction went. Each feedback left consists of a rating (positive, negative, or neutral), and a short comment. The number is how many buyers have purchased an item from that seller, so right off the bat, you now how long a seller has been doing business. Someone with 1 feedback rating obviously hasn’t been around as long as someone with a 5,648 rating (and yes, you’ll see that often!)

   But just as important as how many people have left feedback, is the percentage of Positive Feedback … 100% is the best! But of course, you can’t please people all of the time, so even a positive feedback of 95% can be good. You can read the comments left by buyers by clicking on the feedback rating. They will tell you if the product was received, in what condition, how promptly, etc., which will allow you to make a decision on whether or not to trust the Ebay seller.

2. Shipping and Handling
   Almost all items have an associated Shipping and Handling charge. Most sellers assign a reasonable fee to cover their cost of packaging, and of course, the delivery fee. But sometimes they jack that price up in order to make the low cost of their item appear to be a better deal than it is. Most of the time the S&H fee is prominently posted on the item page, so be sure to look for it! If it is not listed, contact the buyer and ask them what shipping fees will be incurred before you make a bid! Be sure to calculate the cost of S&H with the cost of the item to be sure you are indeed getting a great deal.
3. Don’t bid immediately!
   Ok, so you’ve found an item that you want. It’s a great price, and the S&H fee is reasonable. You want to bid on it, now. DON’T! All items listed on Ebay are there for a specified amount of time. You can see how much time you have to purchase the item by looking at how much time is left on the auction (see Time Left: under the current bid cost). If there are four days left until the auction ends, wait. Bidding now is going to cause someone else who is interested in the item to bid too, which in turn raises the price of the item. What you need to do is Watch the item, and come back the day the auction ends (preferably within a few minute of the end time) and bid then. This doesn’t give other buyers as much time to out bid you and make the cost go up!

   How do you “watch the item?” There is a link that says “Watch This Item” for every product offered on Ebay. All you need to do is click it, and that product will be saved in a list for you to come back to later. You must be a registered Ebay Member to take advantage of this, but registering is FREE and easy. So I suggest you register right away, that way when you find a great buy you’re ready for it.

4. View seller’s other items
   Once you find an item that you like at the right price, see what else the seller is offering. Odds are, they have many other items that are closely related to exactly what you’re looking for that didn’t come up in your product search. Check it out! And if you like the buyer and their products, save the buyer as a favorite!
5. Pay attention to the item description
   Some items will be listed with words or phrases that you don’t understand. For instance, “NIB” means new in box. If there is something that is in the description that you don’t understand – ASK THE SELLER! Once you win the auction it is too late to clear up unanswered questions, so rather than be disappointed, be safe.
6. Don’t get stuck in a competitive mindset
   This was the biggest lesson that I needed to learn in the early days of my Ebay-hood. I’d find an item that I’d like, bid on it, then be outbid. So then I’d bid again. It was a viciuos cycle and I ended up paying more for the item than I should have, simply because I wanted to win. You must keep in mind that you are trying to get a deal. If the price is no longer a deal in your mind, wait. The item will be listed again eventually at a price you want to pay.
7. Don’t limit yourself
   You can literally find *anything* on Ebay: Books, furniture, household products, clothes, shoes, collectibles… it is rare that I search for something and don’t find it.
8. Don’t just buy – SELL!
   As your baby grows, you’re going to find yourself with boxes full of clothes, toys, and other items that you no longer need. Use them to finance your new shopping sprees! Become an Ebay Seller and have a garage sale from the comfort of your living room! You’ll be amazed at how easy it is, and how much money you can make doing it! Many of my friends go to weekend garage sales and pick up antiques, collectibles, etc. and then sell them on Ebay for a tremendous profit. If you’re looking for some extra money, this is one easy way to do it!

Ready to check out Ebay now that you know the ins and outs a little bit? Type anything into the search box below and see what kind of deals you can get, or view our Discount Baby Products section for baby product categories to browse through. Happy Saving!

Do you have tips that you’d like to share with our Members? Let Us Know!

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Having a baby can be expensive, but there are ways to cut down on your expenses. When you become overwhelmed, remember this: if you waited until you had enough money, time and energy to have your baby, you would probably never have children. Here are a few ways to ease the strain on your budget, so that you can enjoy your new bundle of joy.

1. Health Insurance. This is one area which is a HUGE concern. Yes, insurance can be expensive, but you will need it. You simply can not afford to cut this cost from your budget. You can reduce insurance costs by checking into HMO policies which have lower premiums and out of pocket expenses. Many states have free shot clinics which can help lower your expenses. If you can’t afford to carry insurance, see if your state has insurance for people in your situation. Many states will cover insurance premium costs if your income is under a certain level.
2. Breastfeed your baby, if possible. If you can’t breastfeed, there are ways to save money on formula. Try to apply for WIC (Women , Infants, and Children), a program designed to help middle and low income families with educational resources and food. You can also save money by buying formula in bulk, clipping coupons, and accepting free samples whenever they are offered. Check with your doctor to see if you can feed your infant a generic formula.
3. Diapers. Store brand disposable diapers can be just as good as the name brand, for several dollars less than their name brand counterparts. Experiment until you find a store brand that works for you and your baby. Clipping coupons also can help to lower diaper expenses.
4. Baby food. You can save a lot of money buy making your own baby food. You can use a blender or a baby food grinder to grind table food for baby. Simply put the puree into an ice cube tray and freeze. Then place the cubes in a labeled freezer bag. When your baby is hungry, you can microwave the food cubes.
5. Clothing. There is no need to buy expensive designer clothing for you little one. You can get most of your baby clothing at yard sales or second-hand stores. If you have a neighbor or friend with slightly older children, ask if she would be willing to send some “hand me downs” your way. Remember that many discount stores also sell inexpensive clothing.
6. Toys. Don’t feel pressured to get the latest and most expensive models. I remember buying expensive toys for my first child one Christmas only to find that she spent the entire day playing with boxes and wrapping paper. Kids don’t need a lot of toys; quality is more important than quantity.

What other suggestions do you have for reducing baby expenses?

Author: Michelle Schaefer

With all the furniture, toys, clothing and other gear on the market for baby, what are the essentials when it comes to raising your baby? Many new parents ask this question when they are standing in the baby store preparing their registry and feeling a bit overwhelmed. While the truth is your baby could sleep in a bed made out of a drawer, or in bed with you, and could be carried around 24/7 in your arms, there are items like cribs and strollers which are great to have.

Cribs
Traditionally the place that a baby would spend most of his time while asleep, a crib is a big purchase made by parents. A crib in many ways is a baby’s only spot that is all their own. When you buy a crib for your baby you not only buy the frame, but you must buy the mattress and crib bedding as well. This can become an expensive purchase.

Pack-N-Play’s and Play Pens
Some people choose to use a pack-n-play in place of a crib, or buy a pack-n-play or play pen for trips and to give their baby a safe place to play and be alone. It can easily be used as your baby’s main bed during the first few months of life while you want to keep the baby close to you in your room, before you move him to his own room down the hall. It may not be a necessity, but it is a great item to have when you bring your new baby home.

Car Seats
One of the only true “must haves” in a baby’s world is a car seat. There are many different types of car seats on the market including infant and convertibles, all of which have their pros and cons. It is against the law to not have your baby in a car seat when in a moving vehicle so do your research and pick the best car seat for your family.

Strollers
Whoever invented the stroller should be given a Nobel Prize. The invention of a stroller had to have saved many arms from being broken from carrying around heavy babies and toddlers. There are so many different types of strollers, from travel systems to umbrella strollers, in so many price ranges that just about everyone can afford a stroller.

Dresser/Changing Table
A dresser is definitely nice to have for your baby. Just like you need a spot for your clothes, your baby needs a spot for his. The dresser can grow with your baby, but a changing table will only last for a little while. As your baby gets older, even while still in diapers you may find that you don’t using the changing table as often to change him. A good way to get the essential but save money is to get either a dresser/changing table combo, or just get a changing pad to place on top of the dresser while it is needed.

Entertainers
There are several different types of entertainers on the market. Years ago it used to just be walkers but now there is variety to choose from. Walkers have gotten increasingly less popular by experts and pediatricians with there being some concern on the safety of your baby being able to walk around the house and get hurt. Because of this they have created exersaucers where the baby can sit in the middle of a bunch of toys and spin around. The latest entertainer is the Around We Go which has all the toys in the center and your baby on the outside about to walk his seat in a circle to get to the toys.

Swings
A swing is a great way to rock and calm your baby when your arms are feeling tired. Swings today come in all shapes and sizes including the newer take-a-long swings. There are so many designs now that they range from simple to complex with toys attached for your baby to enjoy. They even have swings that go side to side, instead of the traditional back and forth.

Highchairs
Once your baby starts eating cereal and other baby foods it is important that you get him his own chair to pull up to the table. Not only will your baby feel more like part of the family as he gets older but a highchair makes it much easier to feed your baby. There are many more options today for a highchair than there were 20 years ago. There is the old traditional chair that stands on its’ own legs, but there is also a seat that can be strapped onto one of your dining room chairs, or a chair that hooks onto the table that can be taken with you when you go out to restaurants.