7 Baby Products You May Not Need for Your Baby

Or Baby Care Things I Wish I’d Never Bought

 As a first-time mom, I suffered from an information overload. I read all the books I could get me hands on, including the super awesome What to Expect series.  (See my review here) However, while the information I received did prepare me to a great extent for life with my baby, it also made me go out and buy things. Lots of baby care items that I never did really need or use.

 While decluttering my toddler’s closet a couple of weeks ago, I came across a few of these things, all shiny and new.   And it was a sign. I had to share my newfound knowledge of things that babies don’t really need with all of you. So, here are the 10 things that new parents don’t really need to buy before baby arrives and settles in.

 The list is in no particular order. Also, it may vary from family to family, depending on your own individual needs and requirements. The idea is to assure most first-time parents that they don’t need to go out there and buy everything that the books and magazines talk about. So, here goes.

 1. Shower Cap. Really. It isn’t a shower cap as much as shower ring. Shaped like a dough-nut, it is supposed to go around baby’s head and prevent water from flowing into her eyes when washing her hair. Here is why you don’t need it. First, you’ll not be sudsing baby’s hair frequently. Two, it is super easy to prevent water from flowing into her hair by simply changing the direction in which you pour the water. I would just pour water backwards and it would all flow down her back and not a drop in her eyes.

2. Childproofing Products. I bought those rubber table edges or corners to protect her from bumping into the coffee table edges. She didn’t need them. First of all, she started walking really late and secondly, by then she kinda knew how to avoid bumping into edges of the table. Those rubber things were never used. However, it is important to childproof electrical outlets and potential falling hazards like staircases. But you don’t need to buy all the childproofing products that baby stores and books would like you to believe you need even before baby is born.

3. Baby Clothes in Ten Different Sizes.  Oh yeah. Baby clothes are the cutest looking. And first-time parents are especially gullible, willing buyers. The only sad part is that babies grow at the speed of light, you’ll receive plenty of baby clothes in different sizes as gifts and chances are that baby will end up wearing only a handful of those clothes. So, buy a few clothes for immediate use and shop for the rest as and when needed.   

4. Bulk Packages of Baby Soap and Shampoo. This was a big, fat waste of money for our family. We’d gone to the supermarket a few days before the due date and I remembered we hadn’t gotten baby bathing supplies. So, I see these money-saver packages of Johnson’s™ baby soap, shampoo, powder and lotion and pcik up all of them. Only to find out that our baby had really sensitive skin and none ( I mean, none) of those products suited her a teeny bit.

5. Nasal Aspirator. Again, something I read in one of the books prompted me to pick this up to use when our daughter caught a cold. Did she let us use it on her? No, ma’am. What worked to clear up the clogged nasal passages was good, old, steam. Free yet effective.

6. Feeding Bottles and Sippy Cups.  These items are obviously must-haves if you’ve decided to bottle feed your baby before he or she arrives. In my case, I wanted to start breastfeeding and keep bottles as an option. However, I didn’t use them even as an option and therefore, had them lying around unused and unopened. I breastfed for a year and then, moved her to a regular glass. So, while these items may be needed you may want to hold back on buying them till after baby has arrived.

7. Plush Toys. Babies love plush toys. Right? Umm, not exactly. At least mine didn’t. As a baby, they scared her. A few friends had babies who were allergic while some others had kids who just didn’t want them in the room. So, you may want to avoid filling up the nursery with those cute bunnies and bears till after she’s a toddler and you know she’s neither scared nor allergic.

   These, my dear mom friends, are baby products that were bought, never or hardly ever used and were either passed on to a friend or relative or were donated to charity. Baby products and new baby gear fill up store shelves and call out temptingly to would-be and first-time parents. Moms and dads rush to get the latest baby “essential” designed to make the little one happier, calmer or healthier.

 While at the end of the day, one must do what suits one’s family best it is also important to stop awhile, take a deep breath and ask yourself the golden question, “Does my baby REALLY need this?” If not, time to move on.

 To further pare down your new baby checklist, do read what Tsh at one of my favorite sites, The Simple Mom deems non-essential for a baby.

So, what baby stuff do you deem non-essential or wish you’d never bought?

Photo Credit: gabi_menashe