“Having a child is surely the most beautifully irrational act that two people in love can commit.” – Bill Cosby… Getting ready for a new baby can be expensive – and overwhelming! I remember the first time I walked into the baby section to shop for my new baby-to-be… I had NO idea where to even start. How many tiny socks and onesies did I really need? How do I choose which type of bottle from the 30 options available? And which one of those “must-have” products did I truly need? If you’re not careful, you can quickly get caught up in the frenzy of excitement when shopping for a new baby – and find yourself surrounded by piles of things you never used, didn’t need, and now need to get rid of, around the time your bundle of joy turns 6 months old.

To help make your life a little easier, I’m going to share some of the tips and tricks that I’ve learned during the past two years of motherhood – which products you really need, and what you can skip. Great alternatives to some traditional items, that will work from infant to toddlerhood. Ideas on what to do with baby gear that you no longer need – how to reuse it, recycle it, or sell it to help build a budget for the things you need later on.

Trust me – you need a lot less than you think!

When I was getting ready for Abby to arrive, my life had suddenly changed drastically – in the space of 3 months, I’d gone from living on my own with a cat, to having my boyfriend and a dog move in, my mother come to live with me in my spare bedroom, and my brother and two nephews remodel my basement to move into too! Whew, right? {Read the whole story here – Why Bloggers Have Messy Homes.} All of that change meant that Abby wasn’t going to have room for a nursery – she’d be sharing a room with Daddy and I. I had to redo a hall cupboard and create a new closet space for her. Our room was small, so there was only room for a changing table and small shelf – no changing table. But this all turned out to be a blessing in disguise, since it made me really evaluate each new purchase, since space was limited. And I learned how lucky I was to not have purchased so much stuff when I saw friends later on donating bags of unused gear and clothing that they never even needed.

So – stay tuned! I’ll be posting at least once a day for the next few weeks, with the best products to take you from baby to toddler, so you invest in the pieces that will last you the longest. I’ll share some great tips that I’ve learned, brands to watch for, trends in kids style and decor, and those ideas on reusing baby pieces into later childhood years too.

And of course – we’ll have some fun giveaways too!

If you have any great tips to share, leave me some comments – What would you say the Top 3 Must Have’s are for new moms, that you still use into the toddler years? What do you wish you’d skipped? Share your advice below!