by Jamie Reed posted in Pregnancy

There I stood, right in the middle of the car seat section at Babies "R" Us, trying not to cry or hyperventilate while I took in the options around me. Do I want an infant seat" One that will fit directly into the matching stroller" Or a convertible seat I can use for years" Was this one too padded" Too flimsy-looking" Should I go for the brand I recognize, or the one that costs the most" Will an $800 car seat protect my baby better than a $150 car seat" The questions never ended, and this was just one of the items I was trying to decide on!
So, I left.
There is so much to worry about in pregnancy, from your diet and lifestyle to every new strange physical sensation you feel. Trying to figure out the baby ?stuff? is no different. That day in Babies "R" Us I was so overwhelmed by the choices that I was ready to just do nothing and then wing it once the kid arrived. Women had babies before the days of Pack 'n' Plays and snot suckers, right" I eventually calmed myself and remembered those women of days past probably would have had much easier lives with some of these new conveniences. I was determined not to let the baby registry defeat me. I had to make a plan.

1. Get down to the basics
I found a registry checklist to use as a starting point and made my own list from there. Did I need every item they suggested" Probably not. While I?d like to think I?ll be making my own baby f...