You’re not getting ready to climb Mont Blanc. You just want to get to the other side of town.

You have cuddle bunnies, strollers and car seats to organize. Then there are baby clothes to consider, baby carriers to compare, playpens to mull over, and the tedious task of getting it all to your flat and put away perfectly.

Baby slings look good in the celeb mags, but is it possible to find one that doesn’t make you feel like a wigwam mama?

And which stroller can you heave up most easily in the 4.5 seconds it takes a Strassenbahn driver to curse at you and hit “door close.”

And please, take no comfort that the search for gear will end as your child grows. Where do you kit a 6-year old out for ice hockey (couldn’t he have taken to swimming???). Who can help you decorate for that Halloween party?

These are the challenges you will face. These are the mountains you must climb…