becahdawn's Profile

I think the best, and greenest, advice with baby gear is to buy second-hand. If you live in a big city, chances are the mother's groups (or CL) are great resources for second-hand gear. If not borrow what you can. You might genuinely find you use the gear, but you're unlikely to use most of it for more than the first year. My twins are 14 months-old and my garage looks like Babies R Us. I think it's ridiculous now, but during those long days when I was running on very little sleep and completely unsure what I was doing, it was nice to have a (bumbo, vibrating seat, baby tub, high chair, co-sleeper, breast pump, monitor, wool carseat cover, fancy stroller, white noise machine, blackout blinds, library of books, bouncer, baby food maker, nursing cover, boppy, breast friend, glass bottles, anti-colic bottles). The first year is the longest and it just might take you 12 months to figure out what you actually use. So learn to be okay with second-hand gear and spend the cash on a night nurse so you can get some much-needed sleep and advice in those dark, early weeks!