The Baby Gear You Shouldn't Buy Till You Meet Your Baby

While you're expecting (and especially if you're prepping a registry for a baby shower), it may be tempting to load up on the tremendous range of gear that's available to new moms. But every baby has his or her own likes, dislikes, and nuances, and you won't know yours until they're out of the womb and into your arms. Here, nine things to hold off on stocking up on (no matter how much it pains you!) until you've met your new arrival.

01
Baby Bottles
Flickr user shevoo

Baby Bottles

Baby bottles sound straightforward enough, but the array of options and nipples (slow flow! fast flow! medium flow!) is dizzying. Buy just a couple of newborn bottles, but wait until you know your baby's specific needs to fill the cabinets.

02
A Swaddle/Sleep Sack/Sleeping Bag Inventory
Flickr user chrisandrhiannon

A Swaddle/Sleep Sack/Sleeping Bag Inventory

It's lovely to think that we as parents have control over our babies' sleep patterns, but the reality is, they've often got plans of their own. Bring your bambino home from the hospital with their standard-issue swaddle, then see if you can borrow a few different "sleep solution" options from friends to test out what works best for your own baby.

03
A Big Kid Car Seat
Flickr user evilpeacock

A Big Kid Car Seat

My suggestion in the car seat department is to start with an infant seat that attaches to a base and can easily be transferred in and out of the car. Wait till the baby's actually big enough to use their convertible/toddler car seat to make that purchase. New and improved models are constantly being introduced to the market, and you may discover that your priorities are different in practice than they were in theory.

04
Pacifiers (at Least Not a Whole Slew of Them)
Babies"R"Us

Pacifiers (at Least Not a Whole Slew of Them)

Not every baby wants a pacifier in their mouths, so before you stock up on the little suckers, get to know your little one's preferences.

05
An Entire First-Year Wardrobe
Flickr user aliedwards

An Entire First-Year Wardrobe

It may be tempting to look ahead to your baby's year of firsts with a wardrobe to match, but it's a lot harder to predict what size he or she will be wearing months down the road than you might think. Some babies wear 6-9 month clothing when they're actually 6-9 months, others when they're just a few months old, and still others not till they're past the nine-month mark.

Be prepared to shop on an as-needed basis, but know that you'll actually be saving money this way — the less little outfits that they outgrow while the tags are still on, the better!

06
A Baby Monitor
Flickr user alexhung

A Baby Monitor

Depending on your home's layout and how frequently you travel, new parents' monitor needs can be very varied. Since your baby's likely to start out in his parents' bedroom anyway, you may want to hold off for a few weeks to assess your needs.

07
Stroller Accessories
Amazon.com

Stroller Accessories

It's totally tempting to want all of the bells and whistles that are made to match your new stroller — an umbrella, an organizer, a phone holder. But will you really use them all? Try a few spins around the neighborhood with just the bare minimum first, then decide what add-ons will improve your strolling experience.

08
The Whole Baby Food Prep Suite
Amazon.com

The Whole Baby Food Prep Suite

Making your own baby food is an awesome and somewhat ambitious endeavor. Sure, you may become the Martha Stewart of pureed fruits and veggies, but you also may need to surrender to reality and buy one of the (healthy, organic, and totally acceptable) options on the store shelves. So don't clear out room for a new appliance and matching accessories just yet — give yourself a few months (babies generally don't start solids until 5-6 months anyway) to see if this is actually something that you want to embark upon.

PS A standard food processor does the same exact thing as a "baby-food maker" — we promise.

09
A Fancy Bouncer/Swing
Amazon.com

A Fancy Bouncer/Swing

This is a case when having really good friends (who are willing to share) comes in handy. Rather than doling out big bucks for a contraption that takes up half of your living room from the get-go, give a few options test-drives once your little one arrives. The device that one new mom deems a total waste of money can be another's saving grace — and vice versa, so if it's an option, try before you buy.