From the article: Top 7 Baby Needs
Baby shower gifts galore. Shopping trips as soon as you get the big fat positive. There are tons of things that you buy for baby. The truth is that many of the are unnecessary and worthless. Save your fellow mothers some money and share what you purchased or got as a gift that simply wasn't worth the money spent when it came to baby. Share Your Advice
Crazy
- Its crazy to me that people say don't buy a crib... Unless you want your 4 year old sleeping with you and your spouse, get yourself a crib! We never used a Wipes Warmer, Bottle Warmer, Sterilizer, Bottle Drying Rack, Changing Table, or Play Mat. They don't need warm wipes, hot water from your tap can heat milk/formula, dishwashers can sterilize, as can a pot on the stove, bottles can dry in a regular dish rack, the living room floor is a perfect place to change a diaper, and a blanket with some stuffed animals is a great way for your baby to play on the floor. Save your money on those other items, but a box of diapers instead.
- —Guest T
So Much Junk
- I hate the boppy. It doesn't work any better than your average pillow. If you want a nursing pillow, buy the "breast friend" instead. It's ugly and has a dumb name, but it REALLY helps. The boppy's a waste of space. I also did not get, nor did I miss, all of those baby play stations. They take up a ton of room, and a baby develops better from just lying on a blanket with a grasping toy or reading a board book with mom. We didn't have a swing, and didn't miss it. We didn't have a high chair, and didn't miss it. We got a really big fancy stroller, but use our cheap umbrella one all the time. The big one only comes out in the snow. We do use our carseats all the time, but they do not live up to the long age span we spent the extra $ on. Get the lightest one you can, then upgrade. We use our changing table. We got a million blankets and I thought, "we'll never use these" but we used them all! She wore footed pjs in the winter and rompers in the summer for her whole first year
- —Guest KateC
Highchair
- Our dining room is not large and the highchair took up so much space. We replaced it with a strap-in booster seat on one of the regular kitchen chairs. It took up way less room and the baby was at table level, so was more a part of the family dinner. Also, I don't agree that a crib is a waste of money. You don't need an expensive crib, as long as it is within safety standards. The crib is the absolute safest place for your baby to sleep. Bumper pads, however, are unsafe and unnecessary. We have the crib in our bedroom and the baby like being able to see us through the bars.
- —Guest Twyla
Crib bumper pads
- They are not recommended and a waste of money to purchase.
- —Guest olivia
PacNPlay
- I have seen so many people swear you *need* these. It was a complete waste of $. I used it while babysitting to contain the second baby while feeding/bathing the first. It then became a toy box for quick cleaning of the playroom. Completely useless & I pitched it after a couple months. I can't believe people suggesting putting their baby to sleep in these b/c they are way too low to the ground to be comfortable for this purpose.
- —Guest TBM
Do You Really Need That?
- When my daughter got pregnant she was a nanny for a doctor's first child. This baby had a baby wipey warmer and Julie had to have one. I didn't understand why it was so important to have a baby wipey warmer, my babies did just fine with only a warm washcloth. Of course, I made sure one of the first things she got was a baby wipey warmer. Guess what happened? The baby wipey warmer collected more dust than anything else.
- —womenshealth
Clothes
- We got to many clothes in the small sizes. Baby started small. Not much over 6 1/2 lbs when we brought him home. 4 months later he weighed 20lbs and wore between a 9m and 12m depending on who made them and shrinkage. A lot of his clothes he only wore once before outgrowing them. Love my stroller, cloth diapers, sling and bassinet.
- —Guest sonya
First time moms
- We do have a few things we haven't used yet (crib, stroller, high chair), but you're not really going to know what your baby likes or dislikes until she is born! You'll have your baby shower before then, when you get lots of the free loot you registered for. After that, your on your own for good! Register for everything you think you need, keep the boxes and receipts, and wait to open them until you have a baby to try it out on.
- —Guest Sheila
cot/crib/pram/breast pump/bath/monitor
- We kept things to a minimum really. We ended up co-sleeping so both crib and cot have gone unused. I returned to work when DS was 8 mths....and have a short enough day, the pump was not used at all as DS slept a lot while I worked and visited me for lunch. the travel system was too bulky and we switched to a stroller asap and made use of our sling too. Baby bath not used much but we play with it in the garden these days.baby monitor not used...I like to keep him close 24/7. No walkers, no swings, no bouncers. Did invest in a great changing table/chest of drawers. Some plain white towels are hand to keep clothes dry. A sponge for the bath was fab for a newborn and it's been chopped up and used for cleaning. Car seat essential. Play mat essential. Loads of blankies....not used. Cellular are all we used for bedding.
- —Guest deaniedarling
We had too much stuff...
- Our daughter loved the vibrating bouncy seat and hated the swing. Some kids are probably opposite. Wait and see what type of motion your infant prefers before spending the money and taking up space. Also, we could have skipped the high chair and gone from the bumbo seat to a booster seat with tray. The high chair took up a lot of space even though we went for a slim model! We originally swaddled in a regular stretchy blanket, but I have to say the Swaddle Me products are awesome!
- —Guest Wendy
things we never used
- Little sweaters for newborns: getting floppy arms in and out of sleeves sucked! Much preferred easy-zip or snap onesies. Kimono styles were best! Sterilizing stuff: dishwasher was easiest. Bumbo seat: useless after a week Hand-knitted booties Or just about any newbie shoe: they don't stay on!
- —Guest callipyg
Pack n' Play
- The main use the family I nanny for has for this little box...is as a disciplinary tool. It serves as a more effective "time-out" than a chair or corner. Also, I use the sling carrier with their baby (8 months) more frequently than the mother, but I have found it useful when the little one is fussy but doesn't want to be put down for a nap and you have things you need to do (sweeping, mopping, putting away dishes, etc.) this is also helpful when tending to toddler playing in yard. Helpful tips for when hubby and I have our own little ones.
- —Guest Nanny
Wardrobe
- I think once you have space it's wise to get one cause it would last very long. Your child could have as a new born straight into an toddler and even older.
- —Guest 1st time mom
Buy a new car seat
- Buying a new car seat for each child is a must. Even a little damage can make for big problems in an accident. Always completely check your car seat after you check it with an airline (they cracked 2 on me). I did not discover one of the small cracks until I went to a car seat check clinic (@ the fire dept to check to make sure it is installed correctly). To save $ check with your car insurer some offer a cash rebate when you buy a new car seat. Mine gave my $25. The $25 did not cover the seat, but it was $25.
- —Guest Ann
Boppy pillow
- Don't bother with the Boppy pillow for nursing purposes if you are petite or very short waisted...it ends up being too thick & raises baby above your breasts rather than just below them.
- —Guest Colleen
1-15 of 34Next
