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There is a difference between necessities and luxuries which many magazines, books, and even mother's don't realize. Being poor most of my life, I have done without many luxuries, but always seem to get the things I need for myself and my family.

When thinking of a new baby, the cost is high, tension to get things ready is high, and a huge deal is made for everything to be perfect. Have you ever thought what our grandparents, great grandparents, and beyond did with their children? They most likely didn't have fancy burp clothes, convertible cribs, or changing tables. Here's what you really NEED to bring your baby home and get through the first couple of months.

Diapers and wipes are a necessity. Cloth or disposable diapers - it's up to you and your baby, and a highly discussed topic. There are pros and cons to each. If you opt for disposable diapers, please don't think the more expensive, "name brands" are better! They did horribly on my own children. The brand I have bought, used, and enjoy the most is actually one of the cheapest out there... Parent's Choice, which is carried at Wal-mart stores. I also use parent's choice wipes. They are fairly thick, and come in three choices: scented, non-scented, and cloth (for more sensitive buttocks).

On the other hand, cloth diapers have a very high start up cost. I don't suggest them unless you have your own washing machine and dryer or clothes line. You may be able to make your own cloth diapers (there are many free sewing patterns on the internet), or another option is to hire a diaper service which some people claim comes to about the same price. You will have to use trial and error as all babies are created differently and one thing may not work as well as the other for your child.

Food is a necessity. Breast or bottle is another heated topic. I have tried both. My first child and I had a hard time communicating with the breast. She simply could not latch on correctly. We both became irritated. She was hungry and my boob hurt. She did however take to a bottle wonderfully. Breast feeding is obviously the lease expensive option, and claims to be better for your baby. There are many sources from your nurse and doctor to online videos to help you with any issues that arise with breast feeding.

My second child latched immediately and although there were no issues with her breast feeding, we decided to formula feed simply because it was easy. I wished later that I had continued to breastfeed because she didn't take

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