Swap shop

Welcome to 2008. With every New Year come new resolutions and the promise of a fresh start. What better way to begin than to clear out all the outgrown baby clothes and gear that's already starting to clutter up your nursery and attic?

Swap Baby Goods is a fantastic and free site that allows parents to register their baby products to buy, sell or exchange. It’s a great place to scout for gently used or second-hand items and also to pass on those Xmas gifts that weren’t necessarily what you were hoping for. Swap Baby Goods features everything from Moses baskets and baby slings to bedding, clothes and books. Brand New Mama cautions customers against buying items like car seats and pushchairs second-hand in case they don’t meet safety standards. Visit Swap Baby Goods to find sites for customers in the US, Canada or the UK.

New Pregnancy Checklist: Get the Bible

There are tonnes of books out there about the waiting game, but the undisputed bible of first-time pregnancy is What to Expect When You’re Expecting. It’s practical and reassuring advice although, like the Good Book, some may find it a little alarmist in places. I bought this along with Pregnancy for Dummies which appealed to me mainly because of the title. Even if you’ve witnessed pregnancy, birth and the whole shebang up close, there’s something about going bump yourself that makes you feel quite clueless. For a wittier, hipper and downright ruder take on going belly up, check out The Girlfriend’s Guide to Pregnancy by Vicky Iovine.