Pockets.

I don't think either DD has used any pockets in any clothes until the age of at least.... oooo.....let me see.....er......never.

I have to admit to being very upset when DH wouldn't let me Something to do with the thought of clearing my little boy's airways!

Has anyone actually tried a snot sucker device on themselves?

It REALLY tickles and feels HORRIBLE and despite being the sort of weirdy perv who looked forward to trying it on that tiny little nose, once I had experienced the feeling of your nostrils being hoovered I really would never do that to my worst enemy.

Honestly, it is that bad - wait till you have a cold, and try it. And you will NEVER do it again to your baby!

moses basket, grew out of it in, ooh, 2 weeks.

Nappy bin, much easier to put used nappy straight into outside bin. Emptying a full nappy bin is a job invented by Satan himself.

Baby lotion, ended up using it myself.

Expensive buggy which I stopped using at 6 months because a McLarens buggy is so much easier to manoeuvre.

I hated the baby sling as it gave me a sore back.

However, I loved the baby bath seat. Was great for DS2 as I just ran a normal bath and plonked him next to his big bro.

Blimey, I'm still using muslins 10 years later!

Nappy wrapper thing was useless. No - worse than useless, because it stank the place out as well.

The snot-sucker thing sounds amazing and hilarious!
Why have I never heard of it before?!

Can't really think of any useless baby items though... Maybe the top'n'tail bowl... Oh and the little knives, I've got a few of those lurking about...

friend was given armani leather trews for her 6-9m old!!

new moses basket and cot...should have kept the ones that were passed on

btw dd loved the door bouncer...i used to put on some cheesy disco music (for dd...ahem..) while i peeled the veg...

fabric bibs, those light show things that revolve, moses basket (posh lovely one from JOhn Lewis), baby thermometers (room and bath) baby shoes....loads of stuff!

A cot. Been slept in twice in 18 months.

My worst buy (although there have been so many as I am terrible at buying things) was a towelling cover to go on my large changing mat. It wouldn't be too bad but it always needed washing within seconds of putting the thing on (DS would pee on it or worse!) so it wasn't on very much. It would have been better with just muslins laid on top of the mat instead.

Actually the bottle warmer I found useful although I didn't think it would be and waited months before getting one. I exclusively expressed so I worried about warming EBM, but ds's reflux improved when the milk was slightly warmed. I would put it on and then change the nappy.

Yeah, the sort of shawly blankets that aren't much good for putting on a cot or crib. Ds was either on the floor on his play mat, in his cot or pram, or being held, and he liked to have his hands free. Blankets were useless. The only time I really used one was when he was a year old and had a really bad stomach bug - it was just easier to wrap him up and cuddle him rather than dress him, because he would have needed changed so many times.

Not enough time for blankets?!
Actually now I think about it, DS was rarely in clothes for the first 6 or so months, sleepsuit or vest every time - so most clothes.

I used tons of bibs, and my ds loves hats, so always wants to wear one . He also loves his baby sunglasses - utterly pointless, but cost 99p so why not!

Useless things I had - anything Johnsons, as it irritated his eczema. Blankets - had hundreds of these, and there just aren't enough opportunities to wrap them up in one. Any safety equipment apart from socket covers. Scratch mitts.

baby lotion

everyone seemed to give me some I have bottles and bottles of it and never used it. At least I could palm the baby oil off onto dh for his hobby (bet thats got you wondering )

oh and Johnsons lotion is good for emergency cleanser (asn the baby oil is a good eye make up remover, also gets sticky labels off bottles)

dummies

mobiles

scratch mitts

but the bath seat was v useful and now on hand for no. 2

Muslins are great! They are used as DS first nappies, and for wiping up vomit, and drool now he's teething and for wrapping round the other boob while feeding braless at night.
Haven't used a bib yet, and will probably not use a normal one as planning on getting those overall style bibs for blw.
Bought one of the yellow sponge baby-shaped bath supports which gave me the confidence to actually bath him when he was tiny and wriggly. Now he's bigger and doesn't mind being bathed anymore I have stuffed it in the cupboard. (Would love to have bought a Tummy Tub bath, but DH believed that this would be me crossing the line into madness)
The two lots of dummies we bought him were a complete waste of money, he was not having any of it.
Moses basket hardly got used, so glad we were leant it and didn't fork out the cash ourselves. He was in his cotbed at one week old.
My pram is very big and expensive and will need to buy a buggy in a couple of months but I wanted a proper pram! Why does noone make a basic pram for a reasonable price?

xx

Bath seat worked for DD2 as a tiny baby. Not for DD3 who wriggled a lot more so you may have to buy one and just find out. Had a builders bucket for DD2 briefly and it worked!

why do people not like the bath seats? I was thinking of getting one.

i never had one fo those. i just used nappy sacks and a little waste bin, emptied to outside bin daily or it HONKED.

I still use muslins and dd is 3.9. I don't know how I lived without them.

Those stupid Sangenic nappy wrappers.

Bloody rubbish and the nappies semlt worse when wrapped than they did fresh off the baby

ilove - -we had hundreds of the sodding things with ds1 - needed at least 6 on the go so could always reach one at amoments notice... washing machine fiulled with them alone almost daily.
never been touched since on the whole, even through 2 more babies.

scratch mitts.
baby socks, endless baby socks in my quest for ones which stay on.
baby gym thingy for dd1 - was useless as ds kept trying to join her.

Fantastic tip about talc and sand. We are moving to somewhere with beach access in two months so I am busting to try this and look all smug at my mother, who exfoliated us down to the bone to get the sand off when we were kids.

I still have 2 bottles of johnsons lotion and oil from ds1 (now 5) - i have resorted to using it on myself.

Great big travel system - too heavy to push!!

well I used mine as vomit wipers
bibs
quick towels when out and about
general toddler wipes

muslin cloths

don't get it.

apparently an essential???

Bottle warmer
Baby wipe warmer

Baby bouncer. That thing you hang on the door and they're supposed to bounce. DD2 is 8, suspect they're illegal now.

One sling and TWO baby bjorn carrier things (one a gift and on bought). None of them ever used - we have hills round here and a freakishly large baby.

Bumbo -mine just leant forward and was out of it.
Hats especially sun hats.
Sun parasols
blankets we used sleeping bags from early on
Biggest most expensive thing I regret buying was the Phil&Teds. It was useful for 6 months and then a maclaren with a buggy board replaced it. 'Luckily' we sold it quickly and only lost £100

Oh yes, heavy denim summer dress from gap 3-6 months - as if.

Also bumbo - DD was like buckaroo and always flipped out. Everytime I see a new parent buying one I have to bite my lip not to tell them they're wasting their money.

Steriliser and bottles, my pump came with both.

Talc! loads of people gave me talc!
Great tip though expat.

Coat for 0-3 month old, pregnant madness and first time mum sydrome, i did't know how unpracticle it would be.

Summer dresses. Haven't had the opportunity the last 2 summers

emalushka I hear you on the egg thermometer thing- I took mine back as I was convinced it was faulty! its not that bloody hot in my house (1970's ex council with crap insulation!)

about a million non drip sippy cups that DS systematically rejected in favour of a cheapy ikea beaker!

Rattles, buggy bar thing that just fell off got in the way, parasol need to adjust everytime you cross the road after two days pegged a muslin to pram hood, snowsuit and hats for DS he was born in august, newborn size clothes for DS he was big and long and popped out of them like the incredible hulk when he streched, a hea hugger it never did anything apart from slide down the car seat, expensive funky bottles, nappy wrapper, reins, vibrating bouncy chair baby monitors house was so small could hear them sniff from any room also they picked up another baby.

Most of the toys I bought him, he prefers an empty biscuit tin to bang on and roll around.

I bought 2 boots bottles which have never been used as the steriliser (Avent) came with 2 free
Why do people never TELL you these things?

Yes BIBS! Was bought hundreds of cute cotton ones
Rarely used them when he was tiny. When weaning and now use great big plastic things I bought myself for about £2 each, or a muslin

I liked the bath and baby snot thingies. I never used the bottle warmer. How do people know when their baby is going to wake up so that they can get bottle ready in the (neverending) 10 minutes it takes?

ooh I bought a snot sucker which DH wouldn't let me use in case I damaged his tiny nose
Also stockpiled Johnsons
Bumbo - legs too skinny, he kept spinning round. Once he'd chubbed up, he could sit.
Sling - another PFB moment for DH - I fully intend to use it with the next one

This brings back some memories....
one of those grow bag egg thermometer things that I thought was essential. It was always glowing red and left me in a state of panic that my baby would over heat.

A million bibs - never used any.

Muslins - everyone told me these were essential. I think I used one once.

Scratch mittens - never used.

A really expensive swaddle blanket - never used.

Ok i'll stop now- all this inspiration is because I got all DS's baby stuff down from loft today and had a good cackle at some of the most ridiculous stuff that we were given. I'm not ungrateful but some if it is really wtf?!

ok last one- baby converse with huge long laces....

dungarees with no crotch poppers...

Whats with those tummy tub things, glorified bucket if you ask me, I mean why? really? Also those nappy wrapper jobby's, how hard is it really to put nappies in a nappy bag and the into a carrier bag and the put it in the outside bin every night .

I did look at those jumperoos for Ds, then decided I'd obviously gone a bit mad at around £80 a pop, along with those tripp trapp highchairs or whatever, I mean £100+ on a bloody highchair erm kay.

baby puffa bodywarmer aged 3-6 months. He looked like a stuffed caterpillar in it! (came as part of an outfit)

Who designs this stuff?

baby sunglasses (no I didn't buy these either)

baby waterproof jacket- age 3-6 months! as if he would need a raincoat at that age . It wasn't even fleecy inside- just like a waxed cagoule!

(yep- another lovely gift from my old (child free) city workmates)

Baby adidas trainers, which were a present from DS's uncle. They are very cute, but i just don't see the point in shoes when they are just lying there! Same for some mini baby booties (0-3mths) from MIL, with LACES!! Who designs these things??

...and a cot. I had no idea that would be one of the most useless things. Only spent one night in it after 16 months. Finally getting some use out of it now we have taken the sides off.

SIL gave us a baby hammock that I could not bear to put PFB in as I was terrified she would fall out. It looked like it would flip right over.

ALL safety shite, cupboard locks, table corner covers etc. Fridge lock. DS was able to open it before we even worked it out.

use talc on sandy kids and the sand brushes right off, even wet sand.

johnson's baby shampoo is great for hair and makeup brushes also for getting the pukey smell off hair if they puke on it.

mix the conditioner with water in a spray bottle and use as a detangler.

scratch mitts - has any baby kept them on?

Yes, snot thing
bath thing
blue wrap around cozy thing
more hats than was sensible
and a bath towel shaped like a dragon that has hung on the back of the door unloved and useless.

baby Levi puffa jacket as given to DS as a gift- Age 0-3 months. I couldn't bear to put him in it as it seemed so uncomfortable looking for him-starfish like!

Those cot light show/lullaby things- made DS go hyper if it was switched on (another gift)

Johnsons baby lotion (another gift) At 22 months I still can't find the need for it.

baby crocs (why o why?)...yep- another gift from MIL!

bath thermometer duck that said everything was too hot- even when it was out of water

One of those plastic boxes meant to store all your stuff in...Got bought one by work - jst a dust gatherer!

And I am still using the same bottle of shampoo I bought when ds1 was born - he is 5.5!!

I tried to use it once, ds2 screamed the place down and wouldn't keep his head still. That was £6 well spent.

yes, me too the nose snot thing. And I didn't even realise it, but now you mention, I also have Johnson's stock pile. Lotion (mine had eczema so no chance). Baby shampoo - it will take you 5 years to use a bottle and people kept buying me nicer organic type products for presents so I've never got to it. Ditto the bubble bath (again, eczema).

stinkyfeet...I wouldn't be without my snotsucker

cat net
natal nurse (had c sections)
mobiles galore....the wind up music didnt last at all long enough

Some contraption to suck snot out of their nose

NOO! The hardron collider is working!
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

<descends into black hole>

God the Johnsons products I hgave stockpiled.

My Grandmother won't stop buying it.

Baby bath.
Talc.
Baby hairbrush and comb set.
Hats for a baby over about 4-6 months (they just pull them off don't they? Or was that just mine?)

Something weird happened I think - a short break in the space time continuem or something...

Woo freaky! How did i manage to post Porto's post twics as well as mine?

Brief disconnect there i think.

I used my bath thing too - nearly drowned dd the first time I gave her a bath - they're slippery these babies - and rushed out to buy one. I have still got the most enormous unopened bottle of Johnson's baby powder under the sink - and a mostly untouched large tub of vaseline.

Hats...Oh so many hats he will not wear

Coats for older ds. Jumpers also. Treated with utter disdain.

Two cots, neither of them used!!!!


car seat toys that are so complicated to fix into the car that you give up.

Stick on corner cushion thingys that come off as soon as baby can pull them.

Cupboard latches that nobody can understand how to fit.

I used my bath thing too - nearly drowned dd the first time I gave her a bath - they're slippery these babies - and rushed out to buy one. I have still got the most enormous unopened bottle of Johnson's baby powder under the sink - and a mostly untouched large tub of vaseline.

Hats...Oh so many hats he will not wear

Coats for older ds. Jumpers also. Treated with utter disdain.

Two cots, neither of them used!!!!


car seat toys that are so complicated to fix into the car that you give up.

Stick on corner cushion thingys that come off as soon as baby can pull them.

Cupboard latches that nobody can understand how to fit.

LOL Ladyofwaffle. Our nappies literally sit on top of our nappy bin until they start falling on the floor.

Sometimes I can be arsed to push, but NEVER to twist!

Ooh, squeaver, that's tres interesting - I used mine until the sucker cups came off. Yours must have been a real wriggler!

Teething rings, wrist rattle, nappy bin (great at first when I had time to stand twirling nappies for hours), crib and a jumparoo!

I had pink baby converse! Oh, and someone bought her some kind of baby uggs from Australia.

great big ugly baby swing in desperation with my screaming newborn.
he hated it, of course. now it stands there smugly, teasing me with what a waste of money it was.
I hate it

One of those seat things that they're supposed to lie back in in the bath so you don't have to hold them. Yea that'll be right.

i brought some teeny tiny leather shoes

No, not my DH.

For a bit of lighthearted Friday night chat, I'm interested to know what useless bits of crap we have all bought for our babies and never, EVER used.

I'll start with:

Teething rings/teething dummies: DD/DS couldn't even hold them properly when they were teething, let alone cotton on that it could help their teeth feel better if they did. They'll always find some appropriate household object to suit their needs in any case.

The knives that come with Toddler cutlery sets. Have finally just thrown 4 out that have never been used. Surely by the time they can use a knife, they will need one that can actually, um, cut?

A swaddle blanket. Ok, had a big baby, but mine was about as much use as a roll of toilet paper for holding DD.

Any baby shoes (for the under 6 months). Approx time they will stay on foot - minus 10 seconds.

Your turn now...