I am also overwhelmed with Baby products...

There is so much out there, and to know which is the best, which is the worst? Does anyone else feel that baby furniture is too pricey? I just can't see us spending $500 on a dresser? Of course you want the safest products, but with all the ratings (true or false), they just make you feel that you're not a good parent if you don't spend the most $ on the best products! I mean I would LOVE to be able to buy the best of everything, but with that comes the $$$, and honestly, with all the stuff you need, and will continually needing, we just can't afford 'THE BEST' and it's just making us feel like we're horrible people. Anybody else feeling this way? Sorry, just a vent!

Oh the guilt we parents have to deal with!!
Sweetie I'm right there with you. My sons crib was borrowed. His dressers we got at kmart. My husband found himself out of work due to a major injury just a few months b4 our son was due we could not see spending a fortune on furniture for two years of our sons life when we did not know if my husband was ever going to be able to work again.

15 months later and we are worse off than ever finanacially and are constantly panged with guilt b/c I cannot shower my son with all the things I want. He has what he needs but I still feel like a crappy parent.

The truth is our children are far better off than most. They have love and parents who provide them with emotional support, stabilty, self-esteem values, morals and a family they will always be able to go to. Our children may not have the most expensive toys or baby clothes but I say they got the best parents!!

I know you already know this but as a reminder, the best things you can give your child are free: love, security, a safe home. The best entertainment is YOU for the first year of life. Beyond that, books/music (free from the library) and ordinary household items work just fine (I can give my 4 month old a set of plastic teaspoons and it will entertain him the entire time I make dinner and talk to him! I actually think there is too much 'stuff' out there and it ends up substituting for what a baby needs most, conversation and playtime with their parents.
As far as furniture goes, just be sure whatever you use is safe--your child doesn't know the difference btw. expensive or cheap and therefore DOESN'T CARE. As long as mommy and/or daddy are there to see them off to sleep...

Melissa, do not worry. Do what your budget will allow for. Just like with the wedding, you cannot put yourselves in debt with a new baby coming into your lives. I am sure you will get some nice gifts from your family and friends....the rest, you'll have to budget for.

My son had a humble beginning too....we bought a $99 porta-crib for him to sleep in for the first year of his life. We used two night stands pushed together with a pad on top for a changing table. We bought his chest of drawers at Target for $60.
Your baby does not need expensive furniture and toys to be happy....the other women are absolutely right....all a child needs is YOU and DH to love them and make them feel safe and secure.

Claud is right. Spending the most money, like with many things, does not always mean better. All cribs must mean a federal safety standard. Just be careful is you borrow a very old crib since they do not really met current guidelines.

The most important thing IMO is the car seat. You should never borrow one unless you know how old it is and that is was never in any accidents and that is meets ALL current guidelines. I think that is something you should really buy for yourself IMO.

Also, you don't need a highchair for months. You don't need a walker for months and months.

There are A LOT of things that you really do not need right away.
I know a lot of people who get an inexpensive dresser and then put on cute knobs (sold at tons of hardware places and online) to make it 'cute' and put just the changing table pad on top of it.
Also, if you get a bassinet for the beginning you will not need a crib for 2 months or so. Many pack and plays actually come with a bassinet and changing table top- so you get 3 for 1, plus you can bring it to your families since they live out of state.

If you really do a bit of research you will see, that you don't need a lot of gagets or expensive 'things' to have a happy and healthy baby.