To ask what baby item(s) we shouldn’t waste money on?

[Mummytooobe]

What did you buy but never used or thought was pointless?

We were looking at picking up a Moses on marketplace but by the time we’ve done that and bought a new mattress, we might as well have bought an entirely new one. Happy to do so but not if you didn’t use it.

What DIDN’T you use?

On our must-have list we have:

• Brand new mattresses for all baby sleeping places
• Ultra safe infant car seat (looking at the Avionaut or Maxi Cosi models)
• Supportive baby carrier like the ergobaby
• Compact buggy for after 6 months

We have also picked up a second hand Mamaroo swing for very cheap, so we’re pleased with that. Planning on breastfeeding so not getting any bottles or prep machines unless we need to.

What don’t we need? Please de-influence me!

Even if you don't want or plan to, read up on safe cosleeping.

We launched into it unprepared on day 4 because it was the only way the baby slept. A ridiculous number of parents end up cosleeping, so it's best to know how to do it safely.

It's irresponsible IMO that the NHS won't even say how in England, which probably leads to deaths from unsafe cosleeping.

Muslin squares. Made to purchase new pack for each baby by health visitor, still no clue what I was supposed to do with them
Expensive branded cup as required by health visitor. It's literally just a cup with a lid
Expensive food processor as required by health visitor for weaning. Used maybe twice

Think I'm echoing other posters but you need surprisingly little, could have saved a fortune instead of buying pretty much everything on the market!

• Pram/buggy (we had an iCandy peach, loved it!)

• Car seat

• Changing mat (use on drawers, bed or floor, no need for changing table)

• Bedside crib (loved as didn't like not being able to see baby during the night, but the ikea cot with side removed pushed against your bed if it wouldn't have a gap is a great idea)

• Stretchy sling

• Muslin cloths

• Nursing pillow

• The love2dream swaddles were great in the early days, but some cellular blankets or other sleeping bags would do the job

• Vests and sleepsuits, few hats, few cardigans will do clothes wise (we have a big family and pretty much didn't buy any clothes until baby was going into 18-24 months)

• Cheap clip on reading light for night feeds/changes

• Nappies, water wipes, your choice of nappy cream (aveeno baby bath products were the best I tried). I liked the caddy thing for keeping everything organised and close to hand

• Shnuggle bath (kitchen sink a close second)

You see, I woulsnt be without the rocking chair in my dd's bedroom. I've and my other half spent hours in it soothing her (and oursleves!) when she wouldn't sleep. My friend has also said if she has another she would get a rocking chair. Just to offer a different perspective! Doesnt need to be a super expensive one.

Crikey, HVs can't demand this stuff?! I only saw mine twice in five years and she never mentioned purchasing any products!

you don't need much and you can get most 2ndhand

And to echo a couple of PP above. The Clare Byam Cook breastfeeding book - practical and realistic advice!

Do not bother with the awful La Leche League one "Womanly art of breastfeeding" - misogynistic and made me feel absolutely rubbish, it's written in a nauseatingly patronising way. Plus no actual advice in it for the breastfeeding problems I encountered!

We didn't bother with a moses basket, they grow out of them really quickly.
Didn't have a nursing chair second time around, takes up a lot of space.
Snuzpod was really good, lasted until baby was 6 months.
Lots of muslin cloths for sick and dribble.
Don't bother with a nappy bin!
Don't buy too many newborn nappies, they grow out of them really quickly.
Change mat and nappy caddy, we had 2 of each, one for upstairs and one downstairs.
Don't spend loads of money on a mamaroo, a simple swing seat will be fine.
Baby monitor with a light show and music on it. You don't need to spend loads, a basic £50 one will be fine.

Agree with this, but surprised to hear the NHS don't advise on it any more? They did when I had DS1 in 2008. I got a leaflet from Unicef. I did some graphics for them when I was pregnant and I remember it being Lullaby Trust (fsid then) advice.

having just had my third baby, breastfed, the things I wouldn’t be without are:

• a next to me/ co-sleeping crib
• a stretchy sling for early days then sling library to try out what suits
• a Rockit
• a baby Bjorn bouncer (borrowed from a friend but has been grand)
• a schnuggle bath
• totter and tumble mat

even though I’ve breastfed before I had some of the little pre-filled formulas with teats on in the hospital bag. And dummies. I was a snob first time around and having a couple might have saved my nipples some trauma. Second and third child would not take a dummy much to my dismay but feeding much easier!

good luck with your baby x

Have a box of the made up newborn formula that comes with teats so that if you need to at 3am or this is your only option not to be readmitted, you are not having to negotiate how to sterilise bottles.
A packet of the microwave steriliser bags.
A packet of sleepsuits.

I’m a fan of Moses baskets (but with a stand) and actually bought a second one for my parents house for £10 on Facebook but you don’t know whether your baby will tolerate them.

I had far too many muslins and was given even more - start with a few and get more if needed.

Most sleeping bags can’t be used by newborns (lots seemed to start at 4.5kg).

I found a Growegg useful as I had a November baby and no idea what the room temperature was.

Baby bouncer chair upstairs and downstairs was a game-changer. Cheap ones off marketplace were fine.

Wouldn't be making any decisions about a light-weight stroller yet. We got one eventually but our travel system was much better in many ways until about age 2. Between 2 children it's been in almost constant use for getting on 6 years.

We were actually shown how to side lie feed in the hospital with baby 1, it's saved our sleep and sanity. Maybe it wasn't NHS official guidance but a very sensible midwife!

But yes I completely agree about having the information in advance. @cosleepy has some great advice about safe cosleeping. Likewise getting the number for local breastfeeding support if you are planning to breastfeed, not having to google numbers in the thick of it is useful.

Changing table thing that fit over the cot - literally never used it once. Bottle warmer - fine, but nothing that sticking a bottle in a jug of hot water can't achieve.

Breastpump - had a hand me down one that was so much faff to clean and seemed to take forever and you had to hold it on -

bought a haakaa instead for less than £20 and you just suction it on the the opposite boob from the one you feed from - seemed to fill up faster than the electric pump and hands free other than to get it on and off. (Wouldn’t work if you had to pump all day back at work but is perfectly fine if you just need the odd bottle for Dad to do a night feed).

Unfortunately no matter how much you plan you may have some wasted items e.g. my baby hated her carrier and wasn't a fan of a sling but fortunately loved the carrycot in her pram. Some people use loads of muslins depending how sicky their baby is, that sort of thing-- it does vary. But there's always online delivery! Your list sounds good to me overall.

Oh yeah and breast pump for me was a waste as my boobs don't like to express much -- she feeds fine directly from the source though! Of course you can't know until you try. But I wish I'd borrowed or rented one first as I wouldn't then have bothered buying one.

No they don't, some may do because they're never put down so it becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy.

Sorry for a third post but I think a playmat with hanging items is an essential item for when they are around a month old onwards. My baby loved hers. I also think a bouncer is handy to pop them in e.g. while you're having a shower with them in the same room. My baby is 6 months and I wouldn't want a lightweight stroller yet, I'd worry about her getting bumped about. We have a sturdy pram/travel system which has been worth its weight in gold. They often have them on FB marketplace.

Moses basket was our biggest waste of money. He slept in bed with me until I eventually got him in the next2me and then cot.

Agree with the PP who said you really don’t need as many hats as you might think.

buy more muslins than you think is reasonable - like, think of a number and then double it. I think we bought 36 and still felt like I was always running out - they’ll be all over the house!

We just used the carrycot off buggy instead of moses basket.
Definitely don't buy any sleep suits (or maybe any bottoms) without feet- then you'll need socks that they just kick off and lose (don't buy socks either).

I had a Moses basket that turned into a rocker. Was ace.

And the baby Bjorn bouncer

I’ve never been able to put a baby down in the day in all honestly. They were either on me, in the stretchy wrap (essential), pram if still asleep from a walk, swing/bouncy chair (essential), or bedside crib/co-sleeping if we were able to get a nap in.

We never used our Moses basket, next to me crib or cot- our three all coslept, wasn’t the plan but there you go. People always say get loads of muslins, but we never used any of those either. I did love my snuz pod, are these actually ok now though? Was great to easily move baby from room to room- I guess the bassinet for the pushchair would have done a similar job though. Loved our Baby Bjorn bouncy chair too, was second hand and was just amazing, always settled all three of ours.

Don't buy a changing bag- consider a decent backpack instead as much easier to actually carry