Before the Baby Comes

You really do not need any furniture for a new baby. You can buy stuff later when you know what you want.

Diaper changing tables are generally a waste of money. Learn to use the floor; there's always one handy and baby can't fall off it.

Tag sales are a great place to stock up on equipment and toys -- the best ones are in high income neighborhoods.

Soak cruddy used baby stuff overnight in a full bathtub with a cup of bleach added.

Due dates mean very little -- this is your first lesson in not being in control. (You can expect comparable frustrations and uncertainties if you are planning to adopt, so you won't escape this valuable instruction.)

Try to meet all your delivery care providers beforehand, including "backups."

Some activities, like going to the theater or foreign travel, will be harder when the baby comes. Indulge yourselves now.

Learn good lifting technique. Your back is the first thing that will go. A squirming 10 pound baby is harder on your back than a 25 pound toddler who knows how to keep its balance.

If this is your first child, there is no way you can fully prepare yourself for what is about to happen. Try to relax, get some rest and don't panic.

You can hear the baby's heartbeat when it's big enough by placing your ear against the mother's lower belly.

The baby will seriously disrupt your love life. Talk about this now.

To learn how to deal with childbirth and the medical community, get a copy of Sense and Sensibility in Childbirth by Judith Herzfeld, Ph.D. You should also check out the midwife option.

You should buy a car seat before the baby comes. Some hospitals won't let the baby out without one. Check up on the latest advice about how to use car seats safely, particularly if you have a passenger side air bag.

The Internet is a great source of information on medical and other problems. Yahoo has a good directory. Google can find just about anything. For information on breast feeding, visit www.GotMom.org.