Face it, half the reason you got pregnant was the too-cute comforters and the to-die-for diaper cozies you saw at your girlfriend's house and needed a reason to buy. Okay, maybe it's not half the reason, but decorating a whole new room in super-cute baby stuff can make a bad meeting with the doctor's scale a little better. I had sterilizers, warmers, things that bounced, things that vibrated, and every gadget available. If someone had told me that buying the Brooklyn Bridge might help me get a baby who slept better, I would probably have handed over a check.

Chances are, you've already stocked up on quite a bit. I can't blame you; I clearly didn't resist the urge either. But the truth is that you don't need to buy up the store before the baby comes. Many things you won't use for several months and you can swap out if space is tight. Now while I've sorted the list into three categories (need to have, nice to have and not necessary), you may feel differently about some items. That's your choice; I'm a modern mom, not your mom. So I've included thoughts on just about everything.

Modern Mom tip: Hold off on buying items you don’t need right away until after you’ve received all of your gifts. When the presents stop coming, recalculate your needs and then go shopping.