The best plan is to stock up on 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 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 odds dictate that as soon as you fasten that last cute little button or tie final adorable pink bow, baby is going to spit up all over that precious little outfit. While planning and preparing for arrival of your newest family member, forego a few cute outfits so you can stock up on more of practical essentials. The guests at baby shower can provide cute stuff while you ensure that you are truly prepared.

Anne Geddes

One of latest names in baby clothes is that of famed photographer Anne Geddes. Apparently inspired by popularity of her famous photos of babies dressed up as bumble bees, ladybugs, sunflowers, and rosebuds, Geddes has launched “annegeddesbaby,” a line of clothing for infants that will allow parents to dress their newborns as, well, bumble bees, ladybugs, sunflowers, and rosebuds. Included are pieces like Ladybug Jacket ($39.50), Bunny Suit, Hat and Booties Set ($69.50), and Rosebud Quilt ($29.50).

Designer baby clothes may not be easiest thing for more frugal parent out there to comprehend, but they’re for real and they’re being purchased in droves. The one nice thing about phenomena for all of parents who can’t afford such infantile extravagancies (or who just won’t pay those kinds of prices) is that babies wearing these labels today will outgrow them tomorrow and a lot of items will grace shelves of your local Salvation Army or Goodwill store sometime after that, bearing a pinned on price tag that reads $1.50.