One of the best parts of having a new baby is having a new excuse to shop. After all, there are so many things baby truly needs — and so many interesting and cute things that baby might want. The baby industry is booming, largely because manufacturers have finally figured out what motivates parents to buy for their babies: ego. They all want their babies to have the best and to look their best. But what do you really need to buy, and how much should you expect to spend at each stage of baby's development?

Buying clothes for a growing baby is a bit of a challenge at first; because none of the sizes printed on the label correspond to the baby's actual age. If the baby was large at birth (eight to nine pounds or more), you might have to skip the 0-to-3-months size right from the start in favor of the roomier size of 3-to-6-months.

What to Buy, and When to Buy It

One of the most perplexing things about buying things for baby is what to buy and when to buy it. Since you already have your layette in place by now, you should be okay for the first few weeks. What to buy after that time depends on the baby's growth spurts and your financial limitations. Not everyone can afford to buy brand-new clothes every few weeks, and not everyone can afford state-of-the-art baby toys. New or used, be sure you wash all clothing with a gentle laundry detergent before putting it on baby.

Buy It Gently Used

You would also do well to shop at consignment stores; most major cities have these, and they are well worth it, since they screen out the worn clothes in favor of the “gently used.” There's also the added advantage of being able to return good-quality items for resale to get even more of your money's worth. You could spend $20 to $30 per month on clothes and slightly used toys, but you stand a chance of getting 20 percent back on a resale of the same item.