OT: Baby items you don't really need

[Conservative Hippie]

Two of my friends are recently pregnant, and one has asked me for advice on what baby gear I like. I thought it would be more helpful to also tell her about the baby items I didn't really need. What are your baby items you didn't really need?

 

[melancholywings]

The bassinet, she LOVED to sleep in her car seat and when ever we put her in the bassinet she'd scream foul and kick the sides.

 

[rt2dz]

My first two hated the baby swing. My third only liked my sister's baby swing. None of my kids liked the bouncy seat either. Two of my kids never used a pacifier, but I thought my middle one would have to be surgically removed from it. I'm not sure if I really ever used the baby monitor either.

I could not have survived without my front pack and sling. My expensive, top-of-line, almost hospital grade breast pump was worth every last penny, too.

 

[Zeebs]

oh where do I start.....

Before I start a disclaimer this is my list and others may disagree

1. A baby bath, waste of space and money. Just put a small amount of water in the bath and use that.
2. A bottle warmer, I breastfed so really wasn't required and on the odd occassion I did think I could use it it would take sooooo long. I know you aren't suppose to but the microwave is so much better.
3. Clothes other than baby sleep suits and vests for under three months. Nothing harder than putting clothes on a wee wriggling baby. Plus they look so uncomfortable when dressed up that little.
4. a ton of new born nappies, they grow out of them so fast and the brand chosen may not suit that particular baby.
5. Bumbo seat. Cullen hated it try one before you buy one.

Probably many more but this is what I can think of off the top of my head.

Kirsten

 

[bumbershoot]

I think that most gear should be bought AFTER you meet the baby and find out what baby is like and what baby needs. It also depends, of course, on how the parents want to parent and how they end up parenting.

For us a crib was totally unnecessary, because have a family bed. I know of many people who don't think they will co-sleep, then end up doing so and have an expensive clothes-holder.

We never owned a stroller until he was 2 and we got a jogger, so I don't think an infant stroller is needed.

The only extra "gear" we had was the Fisher Price baby papasan, and that was purely extra, and was used every so often until he was barely 6 months, when he could wriggle out of it (I took the most hilarious series of pictures of him doing that...it resulted in him being upside down, too funny).

No jumper thing, no "exersaucer", no walker (are those even legal anymore? or maybe I'm thinking about Canada)...no pack and play....we did, after he was 1, get an on-the-floor Graco "playpen" sort of thing, from my FIL. We anticipated using it for camping, as a place for him to play and be safe, but he learned rapidly how to climb OUT of it so there went its usefulness for camping! (though he's almost 4, we still have it, and he's been using it this week, LOL)

I'm a sling-addict, but I only started ordering them AFTER he arrived.

I agree with the baby bath sentiments. We thought quite a bit about it, and finally decided on this mesh sling-y sort of seat...I knew that I was always washed in the kitchen sink as a baby, and I love those pictures, and we figured we would do the same...but my childhood sink wasn't near a window, but ours was, and it was drafty. DS hated that. Used the seat thing once in the tub and it was insanely hard on his and he hated it too. Ultimately we just took baths WITH him, and it was all much easier.


I think the way to go is to meet your baby first, and then buy what you think the baby might need. Except for the carseat, assuming the friend uses a car. Other than that, generally some clothes (the simpler the better...short and long sleeve onesies, cotton sleepers, some socks, that's pretty much all we needed) and some dipes (cloth or disposable) and lots of film or memory cards, and that's it until you start getting to know baby and your parenting style.

 

[clairemolly]

It definitely depends on the baby.

Both my girls slept in a bassinet for the first 3 months, loved both the bouncer and the swing (although not until about 1 month old) and also loved exersaucers and jumperoos. The boucer saved my sanity with both girls...turning on the vibration and putting them in the bathroom in the exhaust fan worked to get them to sleep when fussy many times.

But not all babies like the same things. Maybe borrowing or buying a newer, gently used item until they know their baby likes it may be better. Just have them make sure there have been no recalls on the item.

One a separate note, there have been various studies floating around on how babies are suffocating from sleeping for extended periods of time in carseats...car rides and trips out and about seem to be safe, but not extended periods of time, like overnight.

 

[barnaby1]

oh where do I start.....

Before I start a disclaimer this is my list and others may disagree

1. A baby bath, waste of space and money. Just put a small amount of water in the bath and use that.
2. A bottle warmer, I breastfed so really wasn't required and on the odd occassion I did think I could use it it would take sooooo long. I know you aren't suppose to but the microwave is so much better.
3. Clothes other than baby sleep suits and vests for under three months. Nothing harder than putting clothes on a wee wriggling baby. Plus they look so uncomfortable when dressed up that little.
4. a ton of new born nappies, they grow out of them so fast and the brand chosen may not suit that particular baby.
5. Bumbo seat. Cullen hated it try one before you buy one.

Probably many more but this is what I can think of off the top of my head.

Kirsten

I agree with the above but would also add:

A moses basket (I don't think they are called that in the US - it is the little tiny crib / basket they first sleep in). They grow out of them in minutes. I'm a fan of own cot in own room from day one.

A big expensive stroller system. We swapped to an umbrella stroller at 8 months when we went on holiday and have never used the big one since.

The things I found really useful were a baby sleeping bag and an insert for the bath (mine was a molded plastic one). It holds baby securely and leaves your hands free.

 

[Matt'nMeg'sMom]

In my vociferous opinion:

Number 1 most useless item: a baby bath tub. There is absolutely no reason to own and store one.

Followed closely by:

2. Big honkin' strollers. Why does the smallest person in the family need the HUMVEE of prams? Answer: he doesn't.

3. Playpens/bassinets. These are expensive laundry baskets.

4. Changing Tables. I'm referring to the item of furniture that is made expressly for that purpose alone. They usually look like little open-air shelving units. Much more practical: a dresser that they will use for years. Put a changing pad atop and voila multi-use changing table. And since you won't have open-air shelves -- the little carpet crawlers can't reach in to play with the Huggies and spread Desitin all over your walls.

5. Swings/Johnny Jump Ups. hmmm.. I think they're a waste of space and completely unnecessary, but some babies may like them. Liking it doesn't make it necessary, though.

 

[Matt'nMeg'sMom]

I'm a fan of own cot in own room from day one..

Ditto. Both my babies were in their own cribs in their own rooms on the first night they came home from the hospital.

 

[Minniemouse07]

Dd loved her swing and tolerated the bouncer.

Ds was lukewarm on the swing and was lukewarm on the bouncer.

It really depends on the kid.

Skipped the baby tub w/ ds...put him in the sink instead!


We skipped:

Wipe warmer
bottle warmer (I breastfed, but pumped when I worked... running the milk under warm water was just fine)
Elaborate travel system (got the infant seat that worked best for our car and then got the stroller that worked best for our lifestyle)
walker (too dangerous...banned in Canada)
doorway jumper (don't have any doorways that would work w/ it)
Baby Einstein DVDs (dd hated the one we had ....and we did too!)

I second waiting until you get home w/ the baby. A car seat, some simple infant clothes, diapers and a decent sling/carrier (I loved my Kangaroo Korner Adjustable Fleece Pouch!) and your good to go!

 

[MousekaMaddi]

we got two diaper genies and returned em both we sent diapers right into the outside cans....

 

[Minniemouse07]

Swings/Johnny Jump Ups. hmmm.. I think they're a waste of space and completely unnecessary, but some babies may like them. Liking it doesn't make it necessary, though.

Dd's swing was essential to her. Most nights early on she slept in it!...and until she was 5 or 6mo it was the only place she would nap!

We didn't purchase a swing before she was born (our first), but at four weeks old daddy was up nights swaying back and forth w/ her every night. We picked up a Fisher Price cradle swing (back then they didn't sing and dance!) and she would only use it on the side to side setting!

She would sleep in that swing whenever she was fussy, overtired or teething until she was 18mo!

Now if both my kids were like ds who was possibly in the swing 3 times his entire life... I would tend to feel the same way!

 

[Princess-in-Training]

never used - diaper genie or changing table. The changing table has only ever been used to hold stuffed animals!!

we also never used our pack n play, but I think that's just us.

 

[KibbyCat]

Changing Table - we put a pad on the floor in the living room and change him there. Since that's where we are, there's no sense lugging baby all the way back to the bedroom to change pants.

Diaper pail - we put our wet ones in the kitchen trash and the dirty ones wrapped in Wal-Mart bags (or any grocery store plastic sack) in the big outside garbage bin.

Baby food - it's better for the kids and your budget to just nurse until they have enough teeth to serve table food. Start with soft things like oatmeal and mashed potatoes, fruits and veggies put through food processor, and soft breads. Plus, baby food in jars smells funky and tastes pretty bland.

 

[coolbeans]

we skipped the diaper genie and used the regular trash can.
no wipe warmer because you can't use it in the car so I didn't want him to get used to that warm luxury if we traveled.
the changing table is a waste, I changed both kids on my bed, their bed, the couch, floor, any available chair...
I bought a boppy for feeding but used a pillow instead, I guess I am short between my lap and feeding area and it was just too much bulk.
no baby tub, we used towels and I know y'all will flame me for this but once his belly button fell off we had him in the shower and two years later he still loves the shower.


DS hated his bouncer, but DD loved her's (they are all different)
DS also hated his swing and DD loved her's too.

 

[gibsontrio]

I think this is a matter of opinion. Both my kids loved the jolly jumper, and I had a mesh type baby bath thing I used till they could sit up. Here's the things I think are a waste of money:
I agree with the diaper pail, they just stink up the room . I always kept grocery bags close by to tie up and toss.

I agree with the bottle warmer, took WAY to long.

Bulky strollers, If I wouldve known then what I knew now I wouldve spent a good amount of $ on a nice umbrella stroller, because thats all I ever used

baby toys.. because they dont play with them!

boppy pillow, unless you breastfeed

wipe warmer.. just dryed them out

baby shoes

 

[JerseyMamaBear]

Agree with the diaper genie and want to add the wipe warmer to the list. It just dries out the wipes and turn them brown.

 

[waltskids]

Things we didn't use:
- wipe warmer
- bottle warmer (DS drank his bottles room temperature)
- boppy pillow (I didn't nurse, but I heard it's good for that purpose)

-baby food-used it only when we traveled, I made my own, then DS went right to table food (mashed and then finger foods)

DS loved the swing, bouncy seat, and exersaucer. The pack n play is important now when we go out in the evening and he is with a sitter at their house. He likes sleeping in it, but we didn't use it in the beginning. We also like the baby bathtub and diaper genie. Alot of people I know say the diaper genie was useless to them though.

 

[AUDramaQueen]

Dd's swing was essential to her. Most nights early on she slept in it!...and until she was 5 or 6mo it was the only place she would nap!

We didn't purchase a swing before she was born (our first), but at four weeks old daddy was up nights swaying back and forth w/ her every night. We picked up a Fisher Price cradle swing (back then they didn't sing and dance!) and she would only use it on the side to side setting!

This is exactly what happened with us (except it was mommy up LOL)! Same swing and everything. All 3 of my kids loved it!

We used a pack-n-play frequently as we travel a lot.

As others have said you just never know what your baby will like. My friends swore by the bouncy chair but mine never really liked it that much. Although I would put them in it when I took a shower until they were smart enough to wiggle out of it!

The big strollers were a waste for us too.

My first two were hardly in their bassinet one night but my third one stayed in it for quite a while. (This was pure laziness on my part as we moved and his bedroom was on the other side of the house and I was too tired to walk that far during the middle of the night to feed him)

Never used a bottle warmer or wipe warmer. Just stick the bottle in a large cup of hot water.

Was given a diaper genie and used it for the first two (see a trend) but by then it stunk despite cleaning it often. We just use plastic grocery sacks now.

We had a changing table because it was given to us but as others have said you can totally use a dresser and buy the pad with the sides a little higher.

I never give newborn sized diapers as gifts. They grow out of them way too fast. We are still using our left over newborns for my daughters dolls!

I'm sure I'll think of others later. Just remember stuff like the swing, chairs, jumpers, pacifiers, etc will totally depend on the baby.

 

[scrapquitler]

Things you definitely don't need:
80 % of the overpriced stuff they sell at Babies R Us.

To me, the silliest things that I received as gifts (and returned) were a wipes warmer and a Diaper Genie.