Last weekend, my husband and I forayed into the world of baby furniture shopping. I have to admit, it was overwhelming. We walked into a store and saw before our eyes a plethora of cribs, dressers, cradles, and changing tables. Where do we begin? What do we really need? Fortunately for first-time parents, you can get help right here at the library.

The seventh edition of Baby bargains : secrets to saving 20% to 50% on baby furniture, equipment, clothes, toys, maternity wear and much, much more! by Denise & Alan Fields is on order for the parenting shelf in the back of the children's room. This book offers advice and reviews on various products for not only the baby, but also for the mother-to-be. The authors, who are consumer advocates, rely on their own experiences as well as those of thousands of other parents. They point you in the direction of high quality products at reasonable (relatively speaking) prices. Because Baby Bargains is already listed in the online catalog, you can place a request for this book from the comfort of your own home. Once you are on the library's home page, click on the red box that reads "My Account."

Enter the last five digits of your library card and your pin, which is usually the last four digits of your phone number. Click on the "login button." This will bring you to your record. On the top of the screen, click on the "search" tab to search for your book. Once you see the entry, click on the "request item" button. The library will notify you once the book is available.

If you don't want to wait for the newer edition, take a look at the sixth edition, which was published in 2005. As of today, it is checked out and due on January 24. I promise to return it on time! In the meantime, you might want to peruse the Baby Bargains website, which includes bonus materials, news, and updates that you will not find in the book.

We also own The girlfriends' guide to baby gear : what to buy, what to borrow, and what to blow off! by Vicki Iovine with Peg Rosen. This book is also checked out, so you will have to put a request on it as well. Of course, you can always take a look at Consumer Reports. We keep the circulating copies in the Stearns Room, and we recently moved the reference copies behind the reference desk. If you can't find the issue or topic of choice, try searching the EBSCO databases. Consumer Reports is indexed in MasterFILE Premier (under General Magazine Resources) from to 1985 to present and available full text from 1991 to present with a three-month delay. These resources should at least help you narrow down your options.

Now, if we could only settle on names...