At my daughter's recent baby shower, every other gift she opened was met with "oohs," "ahs" and "Why didn't they have things like that when our kids were babies?"

Even though it may be impossible to have too many burp cloths or disposable diapers, is it really necessary to have four different items to either help the baby sit upright or soothe him with motion? Do those high-tech gadgets really do a better job than what our parents used?

There are a few items that are absolutely essential for the new baby: a car seat (in many places you can't even leave the hospital without one), diapers and clothes. Baby items are expensive, so new parents, especially those on a tight budget, need to make careful decisions when completing the nursery.

But the choices in the baby aisle can be overwhelming, with every item billing itself as essential for the complete nursery. (Learn what items are the best of the best by visiting www.iParentingMediaAwards.com.)

Buying new is one of the most expensive ways to complete a nursery.

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