OT: Baby items you don't really need

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I think the list of things you do need is shorter. For me the useful things in the first 6 months included:

Mommy
Mommy's bed (we used a crib with one side removed, but only because he was on an apnea monitor. Otherwise I wouldn't bother buying one)
Something waterproof to lie on the bed when changing his diapers.
Diapers (cloth or disposable)
Clothing -- sleepers for when it was cool, onesies for when it was hot, pull on pants and socks -- if he'd been born in another season I'd add things like a jacket and hat, but he was a spring baby.
Board books/books of poetry
Carseat (one place I wouldn't skimp)
Nice stroller (we live in the city and don't have a car so we literally wore out multiple strollers before I decided to splurge on the McLaren -- this was handsdown the best item I bought)
Bottles/formula (because he was adopted so no BFing -- he drank the formula straight from the fridge, or room temperature)
Medicine syringe
baby washcloths
a couple of small towels
bouncy seat and/or high chair
Camera

Everything else, crib, bedding, swing, changing table, playpen, baby bath, baby carrier, fancy clothing, turned out to be unnecessary.

 

[JennCa]

No wipe warmer.

Baby washclothes, use the adult uses!

Don't buy many 0-3 months clothes, you get given lots of them and then your child may grow out in only 1-2 months, depends on their size when born.

Didn't need intercom, have think walls at our house.

No stuffed animals, people tend to bring them no matter what so no need to buy.

I absolutely think a side to side swing is essential for littles ones as well as the bouncey chair. Thought I'd vote! The forward and back swing is more for older kids and if it is just a swing, not as much fun, but I have the Fisher Price side to side but converts to a front to back aquarium swing with mobile, soothing lights, etc. Thought it was worth every penny!

Spend a bit extra on the extra safe, plush carseat if you plan on using it for a long time. If it is just the little infant to attach then go cheap since it is for a short period of time.

Jenn

 

[PollyannaMom]

boppy pillow, unless you breastfeed

- boppy pillow (I didn't nurse, but I heard it's good for that purpose)

Have to add a funny comment on those. - I used mine some for nursing when DS was really little (though two pillows worked just as well), and he sat in it when I wanted to pose him up a bit for photos, which was nice - but our cat got by far the longest use out of it! After DS outgrew it, she claimed it for her own, and it was her favorite sleeping place for ages.

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

For me, most baby items were unnecessary. I had my baby's room all set up and when we brought her home, she never went into that room until she was 2. Both of my daughters were never in a crib, i never used a changing table or a diaper wipe warmer or a diaper geenie. I never used a diaper bag either. I just have a large pocketbook that i put all my baby needs in. I also never used a pack and play, a baby bathtub or a swing. Now i am moving and see all my brand new baby stuff in my attic that i just cant seem to get rid of that we never used.

Imagine all the money spent on items that i never used. The waste.

I used a stroller, a high chair, a jumpy thing. I had a huge archway so i felt it was safe enough. I used a boppy pillow and i could not go without have a breast pump and the disposable bags for the breast milk storage. I used that so much. These were my staple items. I couldn't have survived without them.
I also used the rubber mats for under my babies in my bed. Those were a life saver.
I would never suggest putting a baby in a bed, it is so dangerous, but it worked for me thank god. My husband worked nights and i had a King Size bed. I hardly move around so i felt it was ok. I also put my babies in a wedge on their side so they couldnt turn over when they were infants. I put pillows on the floor on the other side of the bed in case they rolled out which i felt was impossible since i was at the edge of one side and they were right next to me so that would take alot of rolling for them.
Actually my oldest is 8 and is sleeping right next to me right now. She always seems to come back in.Thats ok because its still just me in the bed too.

 

[frtchr]

It's definitely better to wait and see with each baby. Most of the stuff other posters deemed unnecessary was fantastic and used a lot by me. It's all just a matter of opinion, and no one should ever feel bad about using anything they have to use to make a baby happy or comfortable.

 

[BeckyScott]

Stuff we didn't need:
wipes warmer (totally useless)
diaper genie (used it about a month, more hassle than it was worth)
bassinet (cute but not necessary)
changing table (people either love em or hate em, but after the first couple of months, or by the time you get to Kid #2, you just change them on the floor anyway)
baby tub (we had one and used it a couple of times, then I gave it to my mom and she used it in her yard for a mini-pond , like a PP I would take the kids in the shower with me, DH stood by for the hand-off, that worked much better for us)

Stuff we couldn't live without:
the bouncy seat (in our case, the #1 must-have)
when they were a bit older, that exer-saucer thing
a good thermometer (which is a great shower gift) along with a good snot-sucker (we never found one as good as the one the hospital gave us)

Strollers:
We had 2 cheapie umbrella strollers that lived in each car just for the normal day-to-day, and the one Huge stroller for when we were going out to someplace larger- special trips- places where we knew the kid would be in the stroller most of the day. That worked for us.

As far as larger purchases go, I got some advice that worked for us. See if they can borrow the bigger things from someone else, just for a week or so. Lots of other moms have that big stuff, and hanging onto it for more children, but not using it at the moment. Borrow and try, then buy. I borrowed my SIL's swing and neither kid liked it at all. Borrowed a door-jumpy-thing and that didn't go over well either. Borrowed the bouncy seat and it was magic. So I knew what we needed to buy.

 

[HerdOHuds]

Well said! I know my situation was different, I have never had just one baby to cope with at a time.

But for what it is worth, we loved our bouncy seats. I said the kids would be standing up with the thing still snapped around their waist before I would get rid of those!

And don't get me started on changing tables! We still use ours as we are potty training! They are so worn out! The doors are missing from below. The kids found a marker one day and 'decorated' them both!

And the whole 'wait til you meet the little one' idea was not something I was willing to do. There were so many uncertainties that I couldn't control, having a crib set up was an area within my control!!!

What I didn't need but desperately needed for about a week, was the bassinet. So I would recommend borrowing one. I borrowed a couple and had one of my own too. We ended up lending ours out again and again and to me, that was money well-spent.

My dad always says, "It makes the job a lot easier when you have the right tools!" and the right tools are different for everyone.

 

[TexasBee]

I totally agree!! Every baby is different and those who say scornfully they didn't need thus-and-so may have found with the next baby they DESPERATELY needed what they turned up their noses at.

 

[Camno's Mama]

I found that I used a lot more of the "stuff" with my first one, although he really wasn't that into it!

1. Diaper Genie...GROSS! I ended up just putting it in the garbage and taking it outside at the end of the day.

2. Bassinet...my babies ended up sleeping with me or in their crib which I kept in our room at first.

3. Bouncy seat...all I really used that for was to put my older ds in it while I took a shower in the bathroom. (He really could have stayed in his crib for a few minutes!) Otherwise, they serve the same purpose as the swing.

4. Baby Bjorn...ouch! Go with a sling or something like it instead!

 

[MiniGirl]

As oters have said, it all depends on the baby, but it also depends on the parents. I knew a lot of people feel a changing table is a waste of money, but I loved mine. Changing my babies on the bed or floor was too hard on my back, so this was the perfect height. I also didn't have a dresser, and even some I looked at were still a little on the low side. We ended up with a changing table that converts to an easel. My baby turned 6 last month and we still use that, so for us, it was $$ well spent.

I agree with others though. It doesn't take a lot to keep baby safe, healthy, and happy, and they're all going to like different things.

 

[toesmom]

good baby carrier with excellent back support (bjorn active carrier is ideal - also ergo carrier - but I still like bjorn active for little babies especially).

diapers... probably one of the best gifts you can give new parents, because almost everything else can be bought second-hand. 1 years' supply of diapers is great idea

 

[Relish]

My votes for most useless are:

#1 Socks.
Baby socks stay on no infant. Only use footed sleepers.

#2 Infant car seat/baby bucket.
Buy and use a good convertible car seat from the start.

#3 Tummy time mats.
A total racket. Put baby on tummy on your chest. Scatter toys on a blanket. Don't leave baby on back all the time. Pretty simple and no need to spend $40-$100.

One good thing we did: buy the 1st year's worth of clothing before birth. 0-12/18 months. Babies grow over night, and it was really nice not to have to go shopping when we discovered suddenly nothing fit. I could just open up my 'next size up' drawer and presto, all the clothes we needed. Yes, I bought more after he was born, but it was great having things already.

All the rest are baby specific. Ds refluxed badly so a changing table/pad on a dresser was great for us. No bouncy seat or swing.

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

The worst thing we ever bought for our first DD was a HUGE, VERY EXPENCIVE changing table / dresser. Now that shes 3 what are we supposed to do with it?!? Besides the fact that I never changed her more than twice on the darn thing!!
The swing is another thing that neither of my girls liked - plus some babies have a tendency to stop breathing while in them - at least thats what I've heard.
The last thing that we waisted money on what our Baby Bjorn carrier - it got used like 3 times at most. It always made me nervous because if its the middle of the summer, and I'm walking around and getting hot, how hot is the baby getting pressed up against me? Plus DH wasa big baby about it and always complained that it hurt his back/sholders.

 

[mericletwins]

The biggest waste of money for us was ONESIES. We didn't use them at all. I hated them and I had piles of them. I can't say enough about how much I disliked these things.

Other huge waste for us was the Diaper Genie. It is just the dumbest thing ever. It would be full in a day and then we would have to go to the trouble of emptying every day. Giant PITA! It was so much easier to throw in the kitchen trash. Wet diapers would go right in and stinky diapers would go in a cheapie plastic food storage bag and tied off. We empty our kitchen trash at least once a day, so there was never a problem.


Changing table. Way expensive and takes up too much room. We always changed the babies on whatever surface was handy. Usually the floor, but also the bed or couch. We had one of the dressers that has a changing table on top and a stand alone changing table. Never used either one to change a baby.

High chair. We never used a high chair. We used the bouncy chairs until they could sit up and then used the chairs that you attach to a regular chair. High chairs take up way too much room.

Bottle warmer- Never used this either. I pumped for the twins and would only get the bottles to about room temp in the microwave and then when we did formula we made sure our bottles were room temp. We didn't want to have to rely on heating up bottles when we were out somewhere or when we traveled. That was probably the best tip I ever got!

Wipe warmer-no, never.

Baby bath tub, Used once, thefirst time and then never again. We just used teh kitchen sink. Stuck a towel in the bottom of the sink for softness when they were really little.

Bay hats-my kids never wore them, wouldn't keep them on

Could probably have lived without the big bulky double stroller



Things I couldn't have lived without-

Bouncy seats
Johnny jump up
exersaucer
Feeding seat that attached to a chair
Cribs (three in cribs at once)
Mylicon!!!!!!
Fisher Price Peaceful Planet Aquarium
Pacifier for one out of the three long term (2yrs), but all three had them for the first 9-12 months
Umbrella strollers with the things that hooked two together
Sing and Dance with Barney video (twins were mesmerized with it @ 9 months, yea I could shower )
Blankets from Gymboree My kids still sleep with them ( get doubles and hide one in case one gets lost or worn out, rotate them in and out of use so they get evenly worn) In fact anything that you see your child get attached to, move heaven and earth to get a duplicate. That is probably the best tip I could give to a new mother.
Medela electric double pump-twins would only use the bottle. They would not breastfeed.
My dog - My DH was a GM of a Ruby Tuesday at the time and drove 2 hrs round trip to get there and worked 60-90 hrs a week. I had all these babies at home and I would talk to my dog. I think it kept me from tumbling over the insanity brink.
My DH-when he was home, he was very involved. With twins, there wasn't much choice, so when we had the third the next year it was the routine.

 

[mericletwins]

I totally agree!! Every baby is different and those who say scornfully they didn't need thus-and-so may have found with the next baby they DESPERATELY needed what they turned up their noses at.

I agree, of the twins one didn't like the swing at all one liked it on and off and my third loved it. Those kinds of things are so dependent on the individual baby. There is really no way to tell. Also, it can change from age to age with each baby, what a baby may hate one month, they may love the next (like my twin with the swing). Some things seem to be almost a consensus on the boards like Diaper Genie, wipe warmer and changing table. These things don't really have too much of an impact on the baby's likes and dislikes though. Swings, bouncy seats, exersaucers do.

 

[Marla Hellwig]

Stroller and crib were musts, didn't have changing table, diaper genie, etc - we used cloth diapers for the first 6 months or so, but I had won that service

She didn't like swings, bouncy seat, used sink for baths, once she was in the tub did have one of those seats that was good for awhile - but a friend had passed that down to me

Pack n' play we used on and off - but it ended up being a toy box until we got rid of it

We had one car seat - it was a convertible one - cost more in the beginning but it went through until she totally outgrew it - it just kept converting

We did use a harness on her - it went over both shoulders and zipped up the back - she wore that a lot since she was a darter

 

[emh1129]

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!

That is THE best baby carrier well, in my humble opinion, anyway

We never used our crib (familybed), but I know a lot of people like theirs..
we never used our stroller.. I found it to be a pain & we just use a baby sling.
we never used the pack & play.. etc.

Basically, we found only a few things essential: carseat, baby sling, clothes, diapers.
It is nice to have one gadget-type item, a bouncer, for example, so you have a nice safe place to set baby while you go to the bathroom. I bring our bouncer into the bathroom with me while I shower and I keep an eye on her that way
Our youngest does enjoy her swing once in a while, whereas my older dd didn't care for it.

 

[blessedby3]

It is funny to see what people cant do without and must have. Everyone is different. One thing that I have consistently used that many others have not is the baby bathtub. Our kitchen sink is most of the time taken up with some dishes and I cant imagine bathing my baby there!! She seems to pee everytime I put her in water. I cant imagine if she pooped in my kitchen sink GROSS!! I am an older mom(41) and I dont want to have to start bending over the tub just yet. I put the baby tub on my vanity counter and bathe DD there. She also gets to look at herself in the mirror at the same time which she loves.
I also couldnt do without her exersaucer. She has a musical one that keeps her entertained forever. I can actually get a chore or two done!! Another thing that I love is the dresser/changing table. I use it everyday and it is handy to have all her clothes right under where I am changing her. Once she is too big to be changed on it the thing will still house all her clothes. My lifesaver would have to be the Boppy Pillow. It was great for nursing, but with my DD having reflux she has to be propped a bit to sleep better and she has slept in the Boppy from the beginning. Couldnt do without it!! We even carted it to Disney this past Jan!!

She does not like the bumboo seat (luckily it was borrowed) or the swing (borrowed too). She would sometimes sit in the bouncy seat. Actually slept in it some because of reflux. She also has not taken a liking to the jumpy seat. Maybe with time as she is still small for her age and it seems so big with her in it. We also never used the bassinet (a loaner). She sleeps with us. We dont have a crib up either. Diaper Genies- stinky and a waste of time. Wipe warmers- just dry out the wipes!

All of these things were either borrowed or gotten from the second hand store. That would be my best advice. They dont use the equipment very long and it is very expensive. The only things I bought from my list above were the Johnny Jump Up ($6.50) the saucer ($35) the dresser/changing table ($90 at a used furniture store- gma bought). The bouncer and Boppy were baby gifts and the other things were loaned to me. I also love to get her clothes from Once Upon A Child (same place I get equipment). The prices are great and I can get Gymboree and Gap for less than Kmart/Walmart prices new. I just got her Gym short sets for $5.50 and Gym and Gap dresses for $5.50-$6.50. They look brand new since the babies dont wear them long. I also get lots of hand me downs from a friend at church who had her DD 4 mos before me. So nice.

 

[emh1129]

My lifesaver would have to be the Boppy Pillow.

Don't know how I could have forgotten this! I love my Boppy.. makes nursing so much more comfortable. I actually have three

 

[las3888]

Wow! I guess it's a good thing people can register because there really is a wide variance of what people use(d)! I can say that many of the things that people got that seem to really dislike, we really appreciated. This includes:

Boppy pillow (and I did not breastfeed...we bottle fed him while he snoozed on it on our laps...much easier on the arm than holding him for an hour in the middle of the night), he also sat in it when he was old enough and we propped him on it for tummy time.

Diaper genie - we have 2 and still use them.

Tummy mat - DS really got a kick out of it and was drawn to it

Baby bathtub - we didn't use it forever obviously, but it definitely had its use when he was small

Bumbo seat - we thought it was fun, although he didn't use it for too long and sometimes I suspect it made him spit up (not sure if that was good or bad)

Bassinet/playpen - ours was actually both and it was vital to us. DS's bedroom is very far away from ours, so we put him in the bassinet portion of the playpen near us for the first 4 months of his life or so

Swing - was crucial to have for naps until 4-5 mos. Bouncy seats were a waste for us

Baby bjorn and other baby carriers - it was the only way I could get chores done around the house. I couldn't put DS down without him getting fussy after about 15 minutes. I used that until he was just too darn heavy.

These are just a few things...everybody is different...all babies are different, but all moms/dads are different too.

We did skip wipes warmer and for sure the gift I got too many of was baby blankets. You can only use so many.

One thing I did appreciate that was not on our registry that was a nice gift was a few handmade blankets (large) to lay on the floor to let him roll around on. I had no idea we would need something like that and it was great for catching spit up, plus we figured we could wash it and it would be much cleaner than the carpeting. The ones we got were nothing fancy...just fleece material with characters from Walmart or fabric store with the edges sewn. Hope that helps.