Leave the cute outfits to the shower guests – these are the things you need.

Having a baby is a time of combined joy and stress for most people. Nothing compares to the joy that a mother feels when she’s holding her new baby for those first few days after bringing the little tyke home or that of the proud father showing off pictures of the infant to his friends and family. Unfortunately there is also nothing quite like the stress in worrying that everything is going to be all right and that the family is properly prepared for their joyous new addition.

New parents often fall into the trap of being unprepared when it comes to suitable clothing for their baby. In the months and weeks prior to the mother’s due date the couple will be preparing for baby’s arrival by setting up the baby’s room, buying necessary items like a crib, playpen, changing table, walker, and, of course baby clothes. The problem introduces itself when the parents (and this usually comes from Mom’s side) focus too much on purchasing the “cutsie” baby outfits and ignoring the basic essentials that babies will need.

Cotton bodysuits, absorbent baby blankets, bibs, and baby booties are items that a new parent can never have enough of. Babies are messy simply by their nature. For all the cuteness and adorability that they possess they are essentially little drooling, slobbering, spewing, waste producing machines for about the first year or so of their lives. As such, their clothes get messy quickly and often. So often that a parent may find herself changing her baby’s clothing almost as often as she changes baby’s diaper – sometimes more.

The best plan is to stock up on the practical “onesies” suits, baby tees, and mess-cleaning cotton blankets so that you always have plenty on hand. Buy plenty, but not so many that you’ll quickly be stuck with a pile of baby items that no longer fit the baby. A good rule of thumb is to have at least five clean outfits at any time. Pack extra when taking baby on an outing, and always make sure that you have plenty of clean backups. This may require a good deal of additional laundry duty, but that is just one of those fringe benefits that come along with a little bundle of joy.

The cute and adorable baby outfits are fine for taking baby to church or to visit grandma’s house, or for taking family photos, but keep in mind that the odds dictate that as soon as you fasten that last cute little button or tie the final adorable pink bow, the baby is going to spit up all over that precious little outfit. While planning and preparing for the arrival of your newest family member, forego a few cute outfits so you can stock up on more of the practical essentials. The guests at the baby shower can provide the cute stuff while you ensure that you are truly prepared.