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If you've ever had a baby or are expecting a baby you most likely have heard of a baby registry. When you go to register for your little bundle of joy, you will most likely receive a list with a ton of baby items on it. These are all items the companies believe you need for your little bundle of joy.
It can be very overwhelming and you may have never heard of some of the items listed - wipe warmer, butt paste, boogy wipes, nipple shields, Wub-a-nub, Bumbo seat...
Or you've heard of the item but are overwhelmed by how many options are out there - car seat stroller, full-size stroller, a double stroller, jogger stroller, umbrella stroller, lightweight stroller, travel stroller...
As a mother of three, soon to be four, I can tell you that YOU DON'T NEED EVERYTHING ON THE BABY REGISTRY LISTS.
Some of the baby items on the list are needs.
Some of the baby items on the list are wants.
Most of the baby items on the list are just a marketing scheme to try to get you to buy more baby items helping the company's line their pockets with more money. It's sad but it's true.
When I first received the list I freaked out thinking "How can we afford all of this?". When I looked a little closer I realized several of the items on the list I didn't need. Yes, you may want them but you don't need them - who really need a wipe warmer?
The baby isn't going to know the difference whether you did or didn't have a certain item or if the item was top of the line. A baby doesn't have a taste for high end or pointless products, it just wants to eat, sleep, poop, and cuddle.
The baby isn't going to know the difference whether you did or didn't have a certain item or if the item was top of the line. A baby doesn't have a taste for high end or pointless products, it just wants to eat, sleep, poop, and cuddle.
Here is my list of baby items you DO NOT need:
1. Wipe Warmer
I never used a wipe warmer and honestly don't know anyone that has. Unless you set the baby wipes in front of the air conditioner, they are going to be at room temperature. None of my kids jumped or reacted to the room temperature wipes.
2. Baby Shoes
Baby shoes are super cute, but super pointless because a baby can't walk. Baby shoes are a waste of money and only make the baby uncomfortable. I recommend using baby shoe socks aka socks that look like baby shoes instead.
I wanted scratch mittens because I thought they were cute and I didn't want my baby to scratch themselves, well, they only fit baby for a few weeks, the baby will chew on them and pull them off and then proceed to scratch themselves so there really isn't a point to them. Save the money and just use baby socks on their hands instead.
You don't want the water to be too cold and freeze the baby but you don't want the water to be too hot and burn the baby. I get it, but you can feel the water yourself and get a pretty good idea if it's too cold or too hot.
5. Baby Powder
Back in the day baby powder was a necessity but now it is said to be unsafe for your baby's lungs. Plus it is messy and I'm not exactly sure what it does aside from getting all over the place because it didn't seem to keep the diaper dry.
6. Crib Bumper Pad
Crib bumper pads are cute and come with most crib sets but they are dangerous for the baby because the baby can get tangled in them or lay their face against the material which can lead to suffocation and/or increase the chance of SIDS. I've never used a bumper pad and have never had a baby fussy about hitting their head on the side of the crib. Bumper pads are really just for decoration.
7. Infant Laundry Detergent - Dreft
I used Dreft with my first baby and continued to use it with my other babies just because I had a bunch of it. I loved the smell of it because it made the baby clothes smell like a baby but honestly, you can use any laundry detergent you want.
Natural or sensitive skin detergents are best and you can test it out on your baby by putting them in an outfit washed in the detergent to see how their skin reacts. The whole point of infant detergent is because a baby has sensitive skin and could be allergic to scented detergents so if you test it out and the baby is fine, you don't have to spend extra money on special baby detergent.
Natural or sensitive skin detergents are best and you can test it out on your baby by putting them in an outfit washed in the detergent to see how their skin reacts. The whole point of infant detergent is because a baby has sensitive skin and could be allergic to scented detergents so if you test it out and the baby is fine, you don't have to spend extra money on special baby detergent.
8. Baby Bullet
Do you have a blender or better yet a food processor? Guess what, it's the same thing. A Baby Bullet is just smaller and more expensive.
9. Diaper Genie
I have used this for all three of my kids and love it because it is convent but at the same time, it is pointless. I put all the pee diapers in the regular trash to save on room because the refill bags are super expensive. I did come up with a hack for the diaper refills to save money so if you want one, buy one for cheap at a consignment store and hack it because diaper pails are made cheap and break easier then you'd think.
10. Bumbo Floor Seat
I was told this was a great item to have, you can set it on the counter while you cook to keep an eye on the baby... wrong... the counter is super unsafe for the baby. Although it can help teach the baby how to strengthen their neck muscles and sit up, the baby outgrows it super fast, especially in the thigh area. You also don't want to force the baby to sit up before they are ready. It does make a nice booster seat when visiting family but my kids also found out how to flip out of the Bumbo while buckled in - no idea how - so it became more hazardous than helpful.
I will admit that I had one but I always forgot to use it. I was more focused on getting the kids from the car to the store and would forget to grab the cart cover. Shopping cart covers make perfect sense but they also make it more difficult to put your child in the cart because you have to string the buckle through the slits in the cover. It is just easier to use the sanitary wipes by the door or bring the baby in the car seat depending on how old it is.
12. Baby Bath Robes
I was given one at our baby shower and never used it. What is the point? Dry baby off with a towel, put on a diaper, and put them in their sleeper. Do you really want to change the baby more than you have to?
Little boys, babies in general, tend to pee when they are cold or when you take off the diaper to change them. You will most likely get peed on so learn to change a diaper fast. A pee shield will only make diaper changing take longer and your changing pad/baby will still end up wet.
I see babies wearing these all the time but I never see the baby chewing on it. I personally think it is a choking hazard along with any other baby jewelry and was scared to put it on my kids but some parents swear by them so to each their own I guess.
15. Stuffed Animals / Plush Toys
Everybody and their grandma wants to buy the new bundle of joy a plush toy. I have tons of plush toys and only a handful ever are played with. Most just sit there and collect dust. Yes, plush toys are soft, cute, and baby-friendly with supervision, but it is unsafe to put anything in the baby crib so most plush toys become decor and don't get played with.
16. Baby Mobile
Baby mobiles have been proven to help stimulate the baby's brain and look super cute in the nursery but they also run $50+. The baby can't play with it, they only stare at it. If they happen to hit it, they chance knocking it down or getting it tangled up. Once the baby learns to move more (around 9 months), they have no interest in the baby mobile.
Although they are cute, they are not a necessity. If you decided you still want a baby mobile I recommend buying one that attaches to the crib so you don't have to put a hole in the ceiling or making one yourself from colorful paper/felt.
Although they are cute, they are not a necessity. If you decided you still want a baby mobile I recommend buying one that attaches to the crib so you don't have to put a hole in the ceiling or making one yourself from colorful paper/felt.
17. Bassinet
Bassinets can be cute and were used back in the day but unless you have a super small space, you won't need a bassinet. The baby will only be able to sleep in the bassinet for about three months and then they will most likely be to big.
I preferred a raised pack-n-play to a bassinet because the pack-n-play had multiple uses and grew with the baby. It worked great until I was ready to move the baby into their crib. Plus some pack-n-plays come with attachable bassinets and changing tables to grow with baby.
I preferred a raised pack-n-play to a bassinet because the pack-n-play had multiple uses and grew with the baby. It worked great until I was ready to move the baby into their crib. Plus some pack-n-plays come with attachable bassinets and changing tables to grow with baby.
I recommend sticking to the necessities when it comes to creating your baby registry/buying baby items. Like I said before, a baby isn't going to know what items you did or didn't buy, and honestly, how many guests hang out in the nursery? Most baby items, especially decor items are made for the parents and are a marketing scheme to make you "think" everyone needs that item for baby.
Every baby is different and every parent prefers different products. Maybe you loved one of these products and there is nothing wrong with that but I feel like you can live without several of these products.
Don't fall for the marketing scheme and buy everything on the baby list because I promise you, you don't need it all.
I'd love to know what baby items you thought were pointless? Comment below!
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2 Comments
The baby necklace isn't to chew on. It secretes oils into the skin and is supposed to act as a pain reducer. My son has head one on since 3 months and I swear it works.
ReplyDeleteAs I said above, some parents swear by them but it is a safety concern in my opinion. I'm glad it works for your little one though! Teething can be a very rough stage.
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