Best and worst baby item?

[MrsLilac]

So there are a million baby items that companies try to persuade new mums are a necessity. Just thought it would be great to get a list of the best things you used as a parent to a new baby and what are the things you bought and didn't really use? I am due in 5 weeks and haven't really got that much stuff. I'm trying to keep it to a minimum but is there anything you couldn't have lived without? Best and worst - GO!

[katandkits]

Apart from the actual essential stuff the most useful thing recently has been the jumperoo. Least useful is changing table in her room, she doesn't use the room yet so we never change her in there. It is just a glorified shelving unit.

[wheresthelight]

best - bright stars harmony swing as was the only thing that dd would sleep in when a baby

worst - bumbo seat - massively over priced and dd hated it

[Thurlow]

Worst - top and tail bowl. Still have no idea wtf that is for. Specifically the fact that it has two parts to the bowl. I did 'top and tailing', but never worked out why I needed a bowl with two sections...

Best - jumperoo/walker thingy, when baby was a bit older.

(Actually, I would say you won't know what's going to be good until you've had your baby and start to work out whether they might like sitting independently and so an expensive bouncer would be useful, or whether they want to be on you so a sling will be useful. My advice is don't buy anything other than something for them to wear and somewhere for them to sleep!)

[TwiggyHeart]

Sling and co sleeper cot, both brought for second DC and wish I had them for my first....

[WienerDiva]

Best EVER is a Jumperoo.

Worst is a top and tail bowl. Just a normal receptacle is fine and was the arse last.

[talulahbelle]

Best - the ergo sling
Worst - gro egg

[ilovehotsauce]

Best Jumperoo & ergo carrier!

Worst mothercare sit me up ring utter crap never used and still massive when deflated!

[curiousgeorgie]

Best ever is the same - the jumperoo. Saved my sanity. And saved DD1 from a life of 'I can't right now I'm holding dd2!!'

Worst was the sling. She hated it and it hurt my back. Although I know some people absolutely love them.

[Thurlow]

I'm with you on the sling, curious. I know everyone raves about them and I spent loads on a Moby wrap but DD absolutely hated it, I ended up giving it away. She only liked the BabyBjorn...

[mrsmugoo]

Worst -
Breastfeeding pillow - never used it
Carry cot for pushchair - never used it
Wrap sling - DS hated it
Moses basket - wish I'd just co-slept from birth rather than stressing out for the first 8 weeks about why he'd never sleep in it!

Best -
Phil and teds lobster clip on highchair
Bumbo
Cheeky wipes washable wipes
Snooze shade

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

Best
*Gro Swaddles - I also use thin sheets and blankets but have a preference for the Gro swaddles
*Tiny Love 3-in-1 Napper - for the living room. Lies flat for daytime sleep, sits up, rocks, vibrates, has an activity arm etc. Its been well worth it even after only nine days

Worst
*Baby jeans - admittedly only bought by others. I prefer sleepsuits and just have a ton of them in various sizes
*Baby bath - we opted for a little ramp that sits in thw big bath and just put a couple of inches of warm water in the big bath.

[CobbOnn]

Best. Home bargains muslin cloths. We had about 30 at one point and would still run out!

Worst. Overpriced fisher price jungle animal baby mobile and batteries. Same effect on baby as waving one of said muslin cloths about!

[callamia]

Best: good sling, ergo or similar

Worst: too and tail bowl

[JammyTodger]

Best: Miracle blanket + SlumberBear + Babyhawk sling = a brilliant sleeper!
And another vote for Cheeky Wipes (though cheap flannels would be just as good)

Worst: baby bath and travel system were bought but never used.
And my DS was never impressed with the Jumperoo.

[BrassMonkey84]

Best - jumperoo, ikea antilop highchair, baby bjorn sling (really useful for supermarket), iso fix base, feeding pillow.

Worst - moses basket (although we weren't to know ds would hate it!), baby bath, swaddling cloths.

[Finola1step]

Best: BT digital baby monitor, City Jogger prams, Medula breast pump, Baby Bjorn carrier, Maclaren sport buggy, gro bags, coloured muslins.

Worst: nappy wrapper bin, slings, baby hammock, bumbo seat.

[BrassMonkey84]

Another good buy for us was cosatto changing table on wheels to move between bathroom and bedroom.

[thisismypassword]

Best: Jumperoo -- my friend for life!

Worst: Bumbo -- oh my days did LO look uncomfortable in the that!

[lornathewizzard]

Best by far - Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep Machine. Saves so much hassle with bottles.
Can't think of a worst thing!

[Mrsgrumble]

Best - chest of drawers / mama papa changing mat
Medella swing

Worst - moby wrap - don't like it, can't figure it out. Still has lables on

[FoxSticks]

Best - morrck travel blanket kept both dc warm and cosy and was safe to use withcR seT unlike a coat.

Worst - bumbo

[LurkingQuietly]

Best - perfect prep machine. Those night feeds would have been horrific without it!

Worst - the beautiful Moses basket DS just point blank refused to sleep in. Even if he was asleep when we put him down, he'd wake. Every time.

[BikeRunSki]

Best - sling
Worst - massive travel system and Bumbo

[GinnelsandWhippets]

Best - miracleblanket, skip hop pronto changing bag (the mini one), hooks for hanging shopping off your pushchair handles, jumperoo, ikea antilop highchair (we also have a trip trapp which was definitely a case of emperor's new clothes), second hand maclaren triumph bought for 50 quid and still going strong after 3 years of rough treatment. Summer infant video monitor (helpful on many nights when we could just switch the camera on, see that DS1/2 was actually lying still and just having a little dream-cry, not awake or that he was moving around and needed us to go to him). 'Teeth are not for biting' book when Ds1 was going through a 'phase'. Medela swing breast pump and also avent hand pump for avoiding engorgement when out without baby. 'Threepenny bits' breastfeeding pillow & a nursing cover - lots of people don't want/need these but I really did.

Worst - top/tail bowl. Gro egg. Easel - gift from BIL - who wants fucking chalk all over their house? Weird 'constructive eating' cutlery (also a gift) - just a pain to clean as far as I can see. All breastfeeding clothes - just get a load of vests or a nursing cover. Bababing baby change bag. Car bottle warmer.

Gosh we bought a lot of shit .

[GinnelsandWhippets]

Oh yes, Bumbo. Massive waste.