Taking care of a new baby may seem difficult enough, but these days you also have to deal with a whole new set of marketers telling you what you need to buy. The pressure is incredible. The moms around you will usually only make things worse. Let’s analyze some things that people may try to convince you that you need.

Furniture items are the biggest, most expensive items that you'll be told you need to buy. Meaning that this is one of the areas where you can save the most money if you stand up to all the pressures that surround you. A crib is the first item that most people think of when having a baby. But until your baby is crawling, you can simply use a bassinet. You can even construct a makeshift bassinet out of a shallow rubbermaid bin lined with a thin blanket (not a quilt). Once your baby is crawling, you can either continue with the bin and deal with an occasional escape, or you can look for a secondhand crib. You can also consider letting your baby sleep in your bed with you.

People will also tell you that you need a diaper changing table. This is simply not true. Why not buy a second hand dresser, put a pad on top, and then change them on the pad? A dresser will continue to be useful when the baby is older, and you can also shove things in the drawers and not worry about their appearance. Changing your baby on the floor is another possibility.

Another thing you may be told that you need is a baby swing or a rocking chair. Of course these things would be nice, but in reality they are unnecessary. Your baby will get through the first few months without them (and so will you :) ) just like babies have done throughout all of history. Try to keep in mind all the children who don't have adequate nutrition. By refusing convenience items for your baby, you can save money and help those children who may otherwise starve.

Another big ticket item that you'll want to buy is a car seat. If you drive a car, then you will need a car seat. To be frugal, I would suggest that you buy one of the seats that can be used from birth until they’re old enough to no longer need one. So, you’ll only have one seat to buy. The American Academy of Pediatrics has some guidelines for car seats that includes information about buying used seats. Some people will tell you that buying a used seat is always a bad idea, but I disagree. Each parent needs to determine for his or herself how safety conscious they really need to be. A lot of marketing is geared towards our fears. Just because something is safer then a frugal alternative doesn't mean that you should buy it. An absurd example of this would be if stores started selling baby helmets that were to be worn all day in case they fell. Clearly, that would be absurd to buy. Also, if a car seat were to cost ten thousand dollars most people would not even consider buying one. We need to evaluate each purchase of safety items carefully to determine whether the danger of not buying the product truly justifies the product’s expense.

Strollers have become the baby status symbol of our day. There are many models to choose from–economy models right up to the baby SUVs. You should evaluate whether you even need to buy one. A baby carrier, especially a used or homemade one, is much cheaper. Both of my children could walk for about 20 minutes straight by the time they were 18 months. It was slow, but with practice and some gentle pushing, they got much better. Now, at age three, they can easily walk for 45 minutes straight with no problems. With occasional rests and something to keep them entertained, they can walk even longer.

Baby toiletries are another area where the marketers will try to seduce you. Really, all you need is soap (special baby soap is probably unnecessary), perhaps some zinc diaper cream, sunscreen, and petroleum jelly. When your baby is little, they do not need shampoo. Just use soap.

This leads into the baby care products. A baby bath tub is not necessary unless you don't have a bath tub. You can wash little babies in the sink, and then, by the time they grow out of it, they can use the big bath tub. There are all sorts of little things that you can buy. Most of them are just cute versions of the corresponding adult product but are unnecessary. For example, you don't need baby nail clippers, bath towels, or combs.

Babies do not need toys. You can probably find lots of household items to entertain them for hours. Turkey basters and plastic tubs can be great sources of amusement. Toys are nice to have, and you will probably get some as gifts or as hand-me-downs. But don't feel like you need to buy them to stimulate their minds. They do not need toys. Just spending time talking and playing with your babies will stimulate their minds plenty. Not having a ton of toys will help your kids develop their imaginations. Plastic spice bottles can become water bottles. Let them invent their own fun and they'll amaze you with their creativity.

Special baby food and formula (under most circumstances) are also a waste of money. You can make your own baby food quite easily. I strongly encourage women to work through any nursing problems that they might have because nursing is way more healthy and frugal. Also, formula companies are evil and if at all possible you should avoid giving them any of your money. That said, I do recognize that there are times when formula is unavoidable.

Besides the few things mentioned above, here is a list of a few things that you may also need to buy, make or get used are receiving blankets, several sleepers, undershirts if it's the winter, a coat, a hat, blankets, diapers and shoes when they start walking.

I can't make a complete list of all the things that you might be tempted to buy only because the list of products available is endless. Just try to evaluate each purchase carefully and try to think of whether you actually need it or if there is a cheaper alternative.