Even before the first child is born, expectant attachment parents may begin to notice that they do things a little differently than many of their other pregnant friends. In a forum with other pregnant women, it is not uncommon to see pictures of gorgeously decorated nurseries or to have friends ask you what your nursery theme is going to be. While some mothers who practice attachment parenting may have a nursery for their little ones, many will not or will simply use that room to house baby’s toys, clothes, and other belongings. As many attachment parents know, babies actually require very few things and take up little space.

The biggest consumers of space are also frequently topics of conversations among expectant mothers and those who know expectant mothers. Cribs have become larger and more extravagant over the years. They now come coupled with dresser/changing table combinations and they are often capable of converting into toddler beds for future use. I have seen many debates among expectant mothers over which crib is the safest, prettiest, most durable, or deemed best in some other manner of selection. With the variety in crib options comes a large variety in price tags as well. Cribs can easily cost a new parent a couple hundred dollars for the frame, which will still require the purchase of a mattress, bedding, and whatever accessories the new baby “needs.”

The next big-ticket item that is commonly discussed is known as the travel system. It is a car seat that is designed to go straight from the backseat of the car into the giant, compatible stroller. Like cribs, these often cost over a hundred dollars and are often not as “necessary” as many advertisers would like you to believe. For as large and expensive as they are, and for the short duration with which they are normally used, it may be best to save your money for other things the baby will need.

With the money saved on nursery décor, cribs, travel systems, and acquiring a supply of disposable diapers, expectant attachment parents have several of fun shopping trips of their own that they can make during the nesting stage. Some parents may want to purchase a cosleeper or bassinet for their new baby and there are always the cute outfits, burp cloths, etc. However, the real fun begins when expectant mother begins looking into cloth diapering and baby wearing gear! While there is a bit of a learning curve with each of these parenting practices, with a little help or reading up on the subject you will be ready to hit the market or the internet to find the perfect-fit items for you and your baby.

Pregnancy is an exciting time for many expectant parents. While the nesting phase may look a bit different for attachment parents than other more mainstream parenting practices, that does not mean that attachment parents get left out of the fun and anticipation of preparing for their new little bundle. This is a great time to explore your local community, either in person or online, and to seek out other like-minded parents. Parents who have older children can be a valuable resource and other expectant mothers can become close friends for the exciting adventure ahead of you.