It happens to every new mom. You are so excited about the pregnancy you go a bit overboard with your planning and buying. Of course you should plan and prepare for the newborn, but many of the large baby stores seem to insist you need everything the moment your first contraction hits. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Newborn Essentials
There are most definitely newborn essentials such as a place to sleep, blankets, diapers, bottles, formula (if necessary), a breast pump, and much more. There are even some items that aren’t necessary, but still nice to have around such as stroller travel systems and swings. Other items, however, can easily wait until you actually know what parenting is all about. You might be surprised how your preferences change.

Skip This (For Now)
The Exesaucer – Your baby doesn’t need it until she’s at least four months old and has great head control. Skip it for now or leave it in the box to save on storage space until you need it.

The High Chair – Even reclining highchairs swallow up newborns. Keep the highchair in the garage or just put off buying one for a few months. Your baby won’t start eating solids until close to six months, although she might like the high view a bit earlier than that.

Baby Proofing – Baby gates, outlet covers and cabinet locks are completely essential – once your baby can move, that is.

Convertible Carseat – Unless you’ve opted to skip the bucket carseat, which is a great idea for some families, you can put this one off for almost six months to a year. It will just collect dust in the garage until then.

Jogging Stroller – You’re not allowed to jog for at least a few weeks, and most jogging strollers are for babies who can sit with assistance. Unless yours has a space for a newborn carrier, skip it until your baby’s neck can handle the pace.