As valuable for new parents as "What to Expect When You're Expecting" is for pregnant women.

No matter which diaper pail you use, I'm sure the day you empty it is one of the worst days of your week. A couple sprays of this stuff on the diaper before it goes in the pail and life is good again. I also use it as air freshener after particularly bad blow-outs.

I didn't cloth diaper with my 1st; so glad I did with my 2nd. Fewer diaper rashes, faster potty training, and SO much less money than disposables ($1500-$2000 on disposables before your baby is potty trained.) This particular brand is absorbent, good looking, soft, contains messes, and is really easy to clean.

Our baby had super sensitive skin as a newborn, so this detergent was great.

My baby strongly preferred the Avent nipples to the standard, rubbery yellow ones. He seemed to get less uncomfortable tummy gas when we used these, too. We originally bought several sizes of bottles, but he never really drank more than 4 oz. in a sitting. Since you’re supposed to dispose of remaining milk after they stop eating, the 4 oz. bottles work just fine.

Any brand of exersaucer will probabably do. We didn't buy one; we opted for a swing and bouncer instead. Then my sister loaned me her exersaucer...which my 1st baby used way more than the swing or bouncer. My second prefered the swing and bouncer.

This is the style (not brand) of wrap I love. It distributes weight evenly and prevents backaches. Initially, I tried to do household chores one-handed while I carried a baby in the crook of my arm. I got the wrap and no longer had arm and elbow pain at the end of the day, plus kept my baby and I snuggled up together. You can use this wrap from newborn until baby starts walking (and after).

I tried the disposable pads and they were fine, but I got the washable ones to save packing space for a long vacation. Surprise! I liked the washable ones a lot better. They stay in place better than the disposable ones, which tend to fold as you move them in and out of place for nursing.

If you're going back to work, you'll probably need an electric pump. The lactation specialist at the hospital recommended this one and I love it.

I wish I'd gotten these sooner instead of hand washing pump parts all the time.

Also good around 7 months. An awesome way to feed baby fresh food without stressing out about him/her choking. My baby liked cantaloupe, plum, and nectarine in this. Top row dishwasher safe.

We love how this high chair rolls, but has breaks. The entire seat reclines (not just the backrest), so if your baby gets sleepy while watching you cook or something, you can lay him/her back. It also has dual trays, so the top one can be removed and stuck in the dishwasher while the other one is still usable.

Our baby loved this starting at about 7 months. It's the best toy we've gotten for him.

This is a simple little gadget that keeps your munchkin from bumping or scraping themselves on the tub spout. The hat lifts up so you can put bubble bath in it; the gel then slowly drips into the running water. Also available in a more girly version.

The lullabye CD I have is branded from Parents Magazine, but I think it's the same as this. The artist is Timothy Frantzich. Puts baby (and me) in a very calm mood while in the rocking chair.