Baby Stuff

What Does the Baby Need?

By Mary Kay Dirickson

Baby baths. Swings. Play pens. Play mats. Monitors. Changing tables. Baby-wipe warmers. Baby perfumes. Baby perfumes?

The amount of baby gear available to parents today is enough to shock your great-grandmother right out of her shoes. The number of products targeted at parents is comparable with the amount of free advice.

Well, almost.

Still, the assortment of things for infants and toddlers can be mind-blowing. How do you decide what you and your baby need? "The first thing you need is a car seat," says Barbara Morgan, who has owned The Kidz Shoppe in San Jose, Calif., for more than 10 years. "If you don't have clothes, you can wrap them in towels. But you can't take them home from the hospital without a car seat."

Your philosophy and your budget are going to be the starting point for thinking about your needs. Some parents avoid anything that comes between them and their babies: playpens, cribs, swings and even strollers are eschewed so that the baby can be held as much as possible.

Other parents, however, think that gear and gadgets make baby-rearing easier. Especially if one parent is frequently home alone, it can be necessary to put the baby down in something safe and confining.

And of course, your budget and living space may help inspire you to a less-stuff philosophy.

Unless you're lucky enough to be surrounded by a gaggle of other young parents, the Internet continues to be a great source of advice about current products. Scrolling through archives of chat rooms and message boards can give you a pretty good idea of what your fellow parents can't live without. For example:

• Stroller – Many infants do well in a sling, but if you're talking about long walks or shopping, a stroller helps manage all your bundles.
• Carrier/Sling – Keeps baby close while keeping hands free.
• Floor gym/Playpen – Because sometimes you need to go to the bathroom.
• Glider rocker – Mothers swear by these and Morgan says they are very popular.

Want to see more?

• Baby Gadgets: Are They for You?
• Cuddle Up! Slings and Baby Carriers
• Indispensable Baby Gear: What You Need for Baby, Mom and Dad
• Talk about it!