Comments on the Baby Shower

Okay...Betina here. After reading Deb's post, I would have to say I agree with her. I don't know how children survived without all of our lists of things to do or have. I mean, even the baby section in the store is a complicated area. You have so many different types of formula, diapers, food (from 1st foods to graduate foods), toys that supposedly helps brain, eye, or prefrontal cortex development. It makes you wonder how people made it before there was walmart or grocery stores...when you actually had to make or grow your own clothes and food. Whenever I am invited to a baby shower, I feel overwhelmed with what I should get. Here are some tips if you ever feel like you are at a loss on what to buy at a shower.

1. Diapers. Yes Deb was so right on that one. Warning: children tend to grow quickly and newborn diapers don't fit for very long. Perhaps buy a size one or get a small package of newborns and a small package of size one. For newborn diapers I prefer the diapers that have a little cut-out where the umbilical chord will be. 
2. Clothes. Sometimes buying a super-cute outfit is nice. But on the other hand, buying clothes that are practical make sense to. Usually you can buy a set of clothes. WARNING: once again, children grow fast, so try to buy things slightly older like 3-6 months. If you can, try to think of when the baby will be born (summer) and how old they will be in six months (winter) so you can buy accordingly.
3. Bottles. Now, I agree with Deb that breast feeding is the way to go. There are so many advantages: the baby will receive immunities passed on through the breast milk, mothers will burn more calories, and I think it (my opinion only) breast feeding decreases the risk of postpartum depression. But sometimes it is not feasible. With my second child, I couldn't breast feed for very long because of complications. 
4. Baby Wash
5. Diaper ointment
6. Baby blankets 

There are so many things you can get at a baby shower. But I have found the more high-tech a gadget is, the less-likely I will use it. It just gets to confusing.