One of the most expensive tasks involved in preparing for the new arrival is shopping for baby furniture. With so many different varieties from which to choose, it’s a major decision to choose a crib. Add that to the task of choosing all of the nice things that you want your new little one to have, and you can spend days simply making selections.

On the other hand, don’t you get a smile on your face as you look at all of the baby furniture and get visual ideas of how it will look in the room you have selected as the nursery? Doesn’t browsing just make you feel giddy inside when you think of the day you will be using the furniture you buy for your baby? Use some caution, though, and don’t make the mistake many new parents make and buy more furniture than you need for your baby. It is not necessary to fill the nursery with furniture; there will be plenty of time for additional furniture when your baby becomes a toddler and has the need for more space for clothing and toys. Many first time parents spend more money than is necessary to furnish the nursery, and often times it cuts into the budget for other items that are of greater importance.

Instead of trying to buy all of the things that you think your baby will need from birth until he starts kindergarten, concentrate on things that he will need for your child’s first year such as a crib, dressing table, bassinette (optional), and dresser for clothing. Even when you set up your baby gift registry, do not include things that your child will not need for several years. Not only will it be something you will need to store, but with the way baby items change, it may be obsolete by the time you need it.