[Saving in So Cal]

When my daughter was born, the conventional wisdom was to try to avoid pacifiers. Since then, pediatricians have started recommending that babies use a pacifier while sleeping to prevent SIDS. I assume this new advice applies to breastfed babies as well, but you should discuss it with your pediatrician and then decide what's right for your family.

As for a crib, we decided to use a portable crib with a removable bassinet. They are relatively inexpensive (around $100 for a new top-of-the-line model, $60 for a basic model), versatile, and, of course, portable. My daughter used it until she was 15 months old without any problems.

Regarding car seats, we learned that one size does not fit all. My husband and I are tall, so our daughter is tall as well. We're on our third car seat because she outgrew the first two. We had trouble getting the straps around her even though the straps were as loose as the seats permitted and she was within the weight limits for the seats. (The five-point harnesses do not allow for separate height and width adjustments. If you use more strap to accommodate height, you have less strap to accommodate width -- a definite problem for a tall baby.) Our current car seat, which will also serve as booster seat when she gets older, has the most adjustable straps we could find. I have read that manufacturers are now making seats for heavier kids. These might work for taller kids, too.