Quote:
Originally Posted by UnexpectedError
I'm getting to the stage in life when friends and family start having babies. I know that there is an endless list of essentially useless items for infant care, but I'm wondering what you considered surprisingly useful when you had little ones.
So what was something you didn't realize you'd need so badly? And along the same lines, what is something you got that barely got used?
|
Most useful items:
1.large changing pad with extra covers that we could put anywhere. Didn't think we'd need it at first bc we had a changing station, but it was great to have something we could put anywhere, like on the floor, which is where we ended up changing him the most. We used it for a long time.
2. motorized swing - didn't think we needed one, but it was the most important thing. If not for the swing, I'd have spent all day, every day rocking him so he wouldn't cry.
3. Bottle brush - about two dollars, didn't think I'd need it at first, and the baby is now 5 years old and doesn't use bottles, but I still use that brush when I do dishes. So useful. Great for coffee thermos.
4. Huge box of newborn diapers and wipes. I didn't put it on my wish list, but someone gave it to me at my baby shower and thank god they did. Naturally, when we came home from the hospital we hadn't actually gotten around to buying any diapers and wipes, and didn't really understand what to buy anyway. Same people gave us a tube of Desitin. Another save.
5. You can never have too many blankets.
6. Likewise sleepers, onesies (various sizes), burp cloths, wash cloths.
7. Monitor - as someone pointed out, you can use it for years. Make a good one-way intercom for the home office, too.
8. Swaddlers. Some people do and some don't, but it definitely worked for us.
Totally useless things we wasted money on:
1. Diaper genie or similar - seriously, don't bother.
2. Pack and play - never used it. Not once. Maybe the diaper changing part, but that's it. Baby slept in a co-sleeper next to our bed, and then our bed. Come to think of it, never once used the crib, either (good thing crib converted to bed - he uses that now).
3. really cute, but uncomfortable clothes (tiny shorts, tiny button down shirts, tiny sweaters, etc. - really, the onesies and sleepers are it for a while and after that it still has to be comfortable).
4. bottle sterilizer. Doesn't actually clean anything - you have to clean it first, then sterilize. I'm pretty sure that's not necessary, and anyway our dishwasher has a steirlize setting.
5. high chair - didn't need this until about a year (don't know why we thought we needed it before he was born), and probably could have used a little booster with tray or something instead after that. Minimal use.
6. Toys. Babies don't seem to be interested in toys, no matter how cute.
7. Mobile. What is this for, anyway? Looks dangerous to me.
8. Fancy bedding, pillows, crib bumpers, things that look nice but have no real use.