Beyond the basics, babies really don't need a lot of gear to thrive. This is great news, especially since your finances might now be stretched more than ever before. But not all baby products are meant exclusively for the baby — some tools can make a mother's life a lot easier. More expensive products are a bit of an investment, but getting what you need and paying for high quality is usually worth it in the long run.

A Good Sling or Baby Carrier

Don't buy a cheap version of a sling or baby carrier from the discount or department store — they often don't provide your back or neck with enough support and are difficult to get in and out of. The Baby Bjorn front carrier, Maya Wrap baby sling, and the Moby Wrap sling are all popular tried-and-true carrier and sling brands you can purchase in specialty shops, through catalogs, or online. There are plenty of styles out there, so look around online for one that looks good to you. Keep in mind that when it comes to slings, styles with padding are sometimes more comfortable, but are harder to stuff in a bag or wear under a coat; ring styles are more adjustable but often have extra fabric; and pouch styles are easy-on, easy-off, but don't allow you to tighten or loosen the sling for a better fit. If you don't want to pay full price, check consignment stores and eBay. You may want a couple of kinds of slings for different occasions.

A Slow Cooker

Fill a slow cooker with food in the morning, turn it on, leave it all day, and eat at night. Slow cookers can make a variety of meals from soups and chili to dips to slow-cooked meats, and they make meal planning manageable for even the most stressed-out mom. There are lots of great cookbooks out there that have recipes tailored specifically to the slow cooker. You can also refrigerate or freeze leftovers for quick and easy meals to eat days later.

A Central Calendar

Now that you've got not only you and your husband's schedules to keep track of but also doctor's visits, shot records, mother's group meetings, the babysitter's phone number, and a million other baby-related nuggets of information, you're going to need a place to write all this information down. A calendar that both you and your partner check daily can help the two of you stay up-to-date when it comes to appointments and the like. You can use an interactive online calendar that both of you can access from your own computers, like the one at www.google.com/calendar, or just hang a regular paper calendar in a central area, like the kitchen. A calendar with an attached dry-erase board will give you a place to scribble notes to each other, whether it's “I love you” or “Need more milk.”

A Good Stroller

Any stroller will get you and your baby around town, but a really good stroller can make walks to the park much more enjoyable. Cup holders, a sunshade and rain bonnet, a roomy basket, a handle that reaches far enough up so you don't have to bend over to reach it, wheels that can handle a variety of terrains and absorb shock, and a feature that allows the stroller to fold down easily so you can throw it in the back of the car are all features that can mean the difference between getting where you have to go and strolling in comfort and style.