Which baby paraphernalia have you found actually worth the money, and which do you think is a waste? Please share!

[detachablehoof]

There's so much baby stuff available (and new parents like me are definitely vulnerable to throwing money at problems to make life easier!). I was very determined not to spend money on things which I wouldn't actually use so have tried to be restrained in what I've bought. I'd be interested to know what other people have bought and feel is (or isn't!) worth the money?

For me.... the things which I would 100% buy again are:
Perfect Prep machine (literally cannot understand how you could FF without it!!)
BabyBjorn bouncer (bought this second hand as they are SO expensive but I can now see why. Very well designed)
White noise machine (we have Ollie the Owl but TBH I might just buy a plug in one!)

And the things which I didn't buy / wouldn't buy again:
Nappy bin (why on earth would you not want to get nappies out of the house ASAP?!)
Stretchy sling (just a huge piece of jersey which wasn't comfortable for me or baby)
Baby bath (kitchen sink did the job initially, and now I would like a seat really)

I appreciate this will be different for everyone but interested to know :)

Things I liked -
Perfect prep - lifesaver for night feeds!
Sleepyhead expensive but it’s the only place dd naps during the day so worth it for us.

Dislikes
Pram suits - I had a winter baby and it was freezing and I still found these awful. Hard to get on and off and never fitted right. Would rather have just wrapped her up more.
Babygrows without poppers or a zip up the front- who the hell wants to wrestle a newborn into a babygrow by putting it over their head.

Giant muslin squares for public feeding (I like to cover), stretchy sling was an absolute life saver and later a connecta and Tula (genuinely would not have survived the last 3 years with out my slings)!
Waste of money - baby bath, cot top changer, Sophie the giraffe, nursery furniture!!

Yes to the glow in the dark dummies!! Love those! And the MAM ones come in a steriliser box which is amazing!

Isofix was one thing we wanted but I felt we couldn't justify the cost of (baby goes regularly in two cars so would need two bases at £175 ea) 🤯
I figured we'll be buying a stay-in-car carseat when she's about 12 months anyway so it's a lot of expense for a short time...
Adapters so the car seat can go on the pram wheels however, they have been used a LOT!

Oh and Ewan the dream sheep and glow in the dark mam dummies also saved my life on more than one occasion

Sling.
Bigger bed! Or a cot that joins on.
That's it, basically.

I think I'm the only one that has never used, wanted or needed muslin cloths. Hate them.

Never bought any cloths with last dc after complete baby novice dh shouted how many Muslim cloths should he pick up in Mothercare....while we were in Mothercare..
Mortified ....

I’ve sworn by different things for different babies!
Baby 1: Muslins. Reflux baby, we got through around 12 a day. Haven’t used a single one for babies 2 and 3!
Baby number 2 loved the stretchy sling. It was a life saver. Number 3 hates it.
Babies 1 and 2 wouldn’t take a bottle so the expensive electric pump I bought was pointless. Baby 3 is happy with a bottle so the pump has got a lot of use.
Used our changing table lots with baby 1. It has barely been used with 2 and 3 as I just change them on a mat on the floor so I don’t leave the older ones unattended downstairs for too long.
All three have loved Ewan the dream sheep!
Angelcare bath support has been useful.
Nappy bin complete waste of time.
Bought a tutti bambini bedside crib for number 3 and wish we’d had it for all of them.

Perfect Prep for me was a massive waste of money. Ds had reflux and had to have reflux milk which couldn't be prepared with the prep. When dd came along I didn't bother with it even though she didn't have reflux as I was so used to making bottles up.
Sophie the giraffe. Son didn't understand it. Sophie got flung at our heads more than used for it's intended purpose.
Gro egg thermometer. The ideal temperature according to that thing was Antartica.
However, loved dd's mini crib. It's from Mamas and Papas. Basically a half sized crib that I put her in from birth. She is still in it at 11 months old. Far better value than a moses basket that my children seem to grow out of within a month.

It was the Phil n Ted one. Worked brilliantly for us, used it for all three (close in age). We had it for 6 years day in day out. Gave it to someone after as did they. It is on it's third family now

Super king sized bed for inevitable cosleeping (have co slept for a few months with all three of our dc)
Slings - used a baby biorn ?sp to start with then moved onto a soft structured sling
Jumperoo
Door bouncer
Bumbo seat
Baby sleeping bags.

Loved:

Perfect prep
Tommie tippee nappy bin
My hummy
Sleepyhead
Play mat
Mam bottles
Baby Bjorn bouncer, carrier and travel cot (bought second hand)
Bugaboo bee buggy and baby zen yo-yo buggy ( was gifted the bee and bought the yo-yo second hand)
Changing mat and drawers
Cot
Milton cold water steriliser
Sleepytot
Tummy tub bath
Bath mat
Braun ear thermometer
Ikea high chair
Lobster high chair
Angel care monitor with breathing monitor - reflux baby would only sleep on their front, and we moved them into cot at 12 was, so was reassuring to have it
Books - toddler can never have too many books

Things we never used

Moses basket and buggy bassinet - baby refuse to lie flat because of reflux
Nipple pads - bf for 6 months and never even opened the packet
Same for nipple shields
Tripp trapp high chair (bought second hand but only use ikea high chair!)
Nappy bag with a shoulder strap - ended up just using a back pack as was much easier to carry bag on back and baby on the front!
Muslins - baby had silent reflux so never needed them and people gifted me hundreds of them
Cot mobile - just kept baby awake so had to take it down

Things change for a second baby though too. DD2 is 13 weeks. I’ve used the car seat on wheels once. The pram has been in the car for weeks unused. The electric pump is a godsend (but DD1 didn’t take a bottle!) and I seem to actually use Muslims this time - never used them with DD1!

Oh and most definitely the ikea high chair. How I GROANED when I see those wooden things walking into somewhere. Useless!!!!

What do people think of slings? Worth it or not? I didn't need one last tome but I have a toddler this time.

*time

Baby box (only paid postage of £4), so useful for downstairs naps
Many many muslins (got a puker)
stretchy Mori swaddle wraps
Nappy storage things www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07G2WCNQK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_zDQ2CbNKFB4XA?tag=mumsnetforu03-21
Knitted blankets, one upstairs and one downstairs
Lightest car seat we could find
Lansinoh nipple cream

Got given a changing table, not used it once

Our baby box arrived when dd was a few months old, despite ordering it on time. We kept it for no. 2 but somewhere along the line it turned into a cat bed.

Car seat
Sling
Muslins
Lansinoh
Audible

Terry nappies (the proper old fashioned kind that you fold) they wash so easily, dry quickly, and have so many uses beyond just being nappies
Washable breast pads
Woven wrap sling
Bigger bed for co sleeping
One of those bouncy seats, only way I could shower in peace for the first couple of months
Insulated coffee cup (so I can actually drink coffee while it’s still warm!)

Waste of money: baby bath or bath support. Easier to put them in the big bath and support under their heads. Also, nappy bin. Just bag them up and put in the dustbin outside, unless you live somewhere with lots of stairs.

I liked my cot top changer. It was cheaper than a changing table and could be stored under the cot when you needed.

Also, cheaper sleeping bags are just as good as gro-bags.

Worth the money:

• decent pram that is not super heavy/a pig to steer. Ours was Cosatto and I really liked it.
• (later) Joie 360 or similar carseat you can spin round so you don't knacker your back lifting a toddler into the seat.

Waste of time:

• baby bath. Literally pointless - the sink is a much better height and then they can go in the bath with you.
• slings. Great for some, I know, but not ideal if you end up with a section.

Never bothered with and never missed

• White noise machine. Too many stories of people whose baby won't sleep without it.
• perfect prep.

And YY, changing table/nappy bin probably only useful if you live somewhere with loads of room and loads of stairs. DD stopped co-operating with lying-down changes before she learned to walk, which may colour my perspective here.

Best things:

Close Caboo Lite - means I can do stuff around the house with both hands free but DS is happy being carried. Plus great for dog walks on rough ground.
Tuppence & Crumble Star Wrap - cotton, towel and/or fleece. They are so, so useful and I wouldn't be without them now!
Gro Swaddle for the newborn days. Easier to use than a blanket and definitely hip healthy.
Gro snugs for when they're bigger as stops DS kicking his blankets off and getting cold.
Sheepskin liner for the pram. Keeps him warm when it's cool and cool when it's warm, he naps so well on it. Also provides me somewhere to lie him down if we stop for a break or a picnic out walking but he wants to be out of the pram.
Breast pump - means I don't worry so much about going out for an evening without him as he's fussy about formula but will take breast milk from a bottle happily enough.
Isofix - much easier than faffing around with seat belts and I felt more confident in its safety.
Baby Bjorn bouncer - he loves it and means I can pop him down occasionally if I need to do jobs or eat my dinner.
Galt play nest - ditto.
Loads of muslins, socks and long and short sleeved vests.
Good quality pram. It goes off road well but is manoeuvrable enough for cities too. I find a long walk in it works when he's struggling to nap otherwise.
Diffuser - he sleeps well with the lavender scent in and it really helps when he's congested.

Wouldn't bother with again:

Bibs - he's not a particularly sicky baby so we've never really used them.
Nappy bin - we do use it but, in hindsight, it isn't super necessary.
Teething mitt - he has no interest in it and would much prefer to chew his own hand.
Ollie the Owl/My Hummy/any white noise toy - did absolutely nothing for his sleep and just irritated me because they kept me awake.
Manual nasal aspirator - electric one is much better.