Baby gear

The arrival of a new baby brings you joy-and mountains of stuff! Some of it is essential, much of it is useful, but you'll find some items just take up space and you'll gladly unload them at your next garage sale.
What follows is advice for making wise choices on some of the big-ticket items that you'll need in the first six months of your baby's life. The essentials are a crib, a high chair, a stroller, and a car sear. Buy the best you can afford, because you'll use these items every day for the longest time. For more information on products, contact the Infant & Toddler Safety Association (ITSA) It offers safety fact sheets on many types of products.

The crib
Cribs range in price from $150 to several hundred dollars. Because their specifications are strictly regulated, the higher prices don't mean that the crib is safer, just that the crib has more styling or features. Avoid buying a used crib, unless you're very sure its in good condition and was manufactured after October 1, 1986, the date of the most recent government safety regulations. Look for an adjustable mattress support and a drop-siderail that you can manoeuvre quietly, using two separate actions. If you plan to keep the crib against a wall, you may only need a single drop-rail.

The mattress should be new unless you're certain the secondhand one was well maintained, was not stored in an attic, basement, or garage, and you have the manufacturer's label information and warranty card. Look for a firm, flat mattress ($40-$160} that makes a solid sound when you knock on it. If it sounds hollow, the firmness probably comes from being wrapped in cardboard and you might surmise it was made with cheap materials. Some newly designed mattresses have corners that pop up so you can change the sheets without taking the entire mattress out. .

The change area
The change area can be as simple as a washable pad on the floor. Avoid plastic change pads-they don't launder well. Waterproof nylon is better. Other options are a stand-alone change table ($130-S400) that can be used later for toys or for the laundry room; a changer that's incorporated into a dresser or fits on top ($150-$300); or a small table with a change pad hooked on top ($30) that can function as a bedside table or desk later. Changers that fit on top of the crib tend to be too small and are useful only if you have very limited space. Whichever change option you choose, make sure its the most comfortable height for you.

Nice-to-have Cradle or bassinet (about $70) to keep your newborn close. Make sure it has a firm, snug-fitting mattress, and a stable base. If it has folding legs, they should lock securely. Cradles should have slat spacing no wider than 6 cm (approximately 2.5 in.) and some means of limiting and locking the swing mechanism.

Nursery monitor ($50-$70; $300 for a video monitor). Hang onto your nursery monitor; it's handy when older kids are bed-bound with illness.

Comfortable chair or rocker. A glider rocker is highly recommended. Avoid squeaky wicker.