[tomandcate]

Our agency required that we have a carseat in order to take the baby home from the hospital - my understanding is most if not all hospitals have the same requirement, they will not let you take the baby without a carseat. But maybe you already have that...

As far as supplies, we bought beforehand, and we bought everything gender-neutral (painted and decorated the nursery, bought the furniture, stroller, onesies and sleepers, a gender-neutral "coming home" suit, bottles, etc. etc.)

My MIL thought we were setting ourselves up for heartbreak (a long wait having to look at an empty nursery) but our son came home only one month after we were approved and I was SO happy we had most everything done - there was still plenty we had to buy after the fact (especially some boy stuff!) but it allowed us to relax more enjoy the baby instead of being so panicked about getting things done...we were so tired those first six weeks I can't imagine having to do everything I did to get ready if the baby was already home.

Good luck - it's exciting whichever way you decide to go!

Cate

Edited to add - we just moved to a new house in August and one of the first things we did was get the nursery stripped and painted and ready for baby #2 - our son moved to new furniture in his new "big boy room" so the nursery is all ready, even though we realize it could be a year or more before we bring home another baby...heck, we just finished our home study and it will probably be January before we go "active." But for me it is as Natalie said - it makes it real, we all enjoy spending time in there and it helps introduce the idea to Sam, who says "Baby Woom!" everytime we pass by it.