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Original poster

When you had a new baby, what was your biggest waste of money?

77 replies

liquidclocks · 19/08/2006 09:10

Don't know if this has been done before but can't find a thread if it has. I'm curious to know because I just seem to be tipping money down the mothercare drain and want to feel I'm not alone! Also that this thread may be useful for some mums-to-be...

Mine was a crib that I used ONCE!
Also wish I'd not bothered buying a travel system because it was too heavy, a baby bath, and the cute litte hooded towel that was so thin it didn't dry. Along with blankets because I ended up using a gro bag, the baby bjorn because couldn't get DS's legs over the top to get him in....

I could go on (and on and on) but more interested in what MN wisdom will tell me

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
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waterfalls · 19/08/2006 09:14

I was terrible at buying too many bottles, while pregnant with dts, I bought 18 Avent bottles and never used them as neither would drink from them, they would only drink from standars neck bottles.

babyonboard · 19/08/2006 09:15

Baby bath, bottle warmer, expensive room thermometer, changing unit, nappy stacker..

The most laugh out loud waste of money baby item I've seen though is a baby wipe warmer! what!? why!? and who's going to stand there waiting for it to warm giving baby more of a chance to wee all over you

babyonboard · 19/08/2006 09:15

Oh and the small baby bottles too, we got hardly any use out of them.

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ja9 · 19/08/2006 09:17

baby wipe warmer lol!!!

i think that we were able to borrow so many things from friends that spared us from the trap of buying not using...

ja9 · 19/08/2006 09:18

'buying and not using'

emily05 · 19/08/2006 09:19

so much stuff! When I had ds I was so pleased that I think that I got carried away! The most unused items:
One of those blow up baby rings that are supposed to prop the baby up - ds learnt to roll out of it very quickly!
Baby bath - in the end I would just have a bath with ds - so much less hastle!
designer baby clothes - brought loads when I was pregnant - he grow out of them - well in about 2 weeks! and the ones he didnt grow out of he puked on.

mamas and papas buggie - thought spending the extra money would mean it would last and be good quality - it took 6 months to finally be delivered and fell apart after a year

waterfalls · 19/08/2006 09:19

babyonboard
I bought A load of the small bottles too, ended u using them as food containers while weaning

Original poster
liquidclocks · 19/08/2006 09:20

A baby wipe warmer???!!!

I too am guilty of over investing in avent bottles/teats where it turned out DS would only use the cheap pink hospital teats and boots cheapest bottles

OP posts:
amateurmum · 19/08/2006 09:20

Oh YES the swinging crib that ds1 NEVER slept in and a nappy changing station that was rarely used (why didn't I just buy a changing mat?). I would like to say that I learnt from these mistakes but with ds2 we bought a baby sling - the sort that goes over one shoulder and has baby lying down in a cradle of fabric - and I could never get it to feel comfortable for me or baby - used it about twice. Was a bit better with dd1 but still ... lots of 'educational baby toys' (baby einstein) that we hardly looked at.

I wonder why new babies inspire so much purchasing? Maybe life is such hard work with a newborn that you are prepared to buy anything that promises to make it better!

babyonboard · 19/08/2006 09:22

I wish I'd taken my mums advice too and exchanged some of the newborn clothes we got as gifts for bigger sizes.
We have a huge family and obviously everyone likes buying the tiny stuff, but he grew out of them so fast.
Actually, sorting through drawers last week I came across some newborn baby gap and next clothes still with tags on, I'd totally forgotten we ever had them whoops...hehee

Flumpybumpy · 19/08/2006 09:23

The moses basket!!! Bought a stand, sheets, mattress etc... and DD slept in it once then bawled her head off every time we put her in it. She much preferred her cot.

MaloryFascinatorTowers · 19/08/2006 09:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

babyonboard · 19/08/2006 09:26

why oh why?

hermykne · 19/08/2006 09:27

the buggy i bought for dd at enormous expense only to have to get a double one 22mths later.

Original poster
liquidclocks · 19/08/2006 09:29

OMG it actually exists! So has anyone actually bought one....? (would anyone admit it!)

OP posts:
WishICouldGiveUpWork · 19/08/2006 09:30

Bloomin nappy wrapper-fine for a couple of weeks whilst they are still tiny but boy did it pong once she was a coupleof months old.Stupidly bought about 12 cassettes for the damn thing too.

CarolinaMao · 19/08/2006 09:33

£18 on a pack of towels from Mothercare that must have cost them about 7p to make, judging by the shocking thinness of them.

£30 on a baby bath and "luxury" towel set (Mothercare again). We used the bath for about a month before ds outgrew it.

babyonboard · 19/08/2006 09:33

Silly isn't it!

Those 'baby' food processors (around £40 )are silly too, whats wrong with a good stick blender!?

CarolinaMao · 19/08/2006 09:34

ROFL babyonboard - "a cold wipe closes pores, trapping harmful bacteria inside"

waterfalls · 19/08/2006 09:37

Depends if you keep the wipes in the fridge or not really does'nt it

babyonboard · 19/08/2006 09:40

'The ONLY wipe warmer to not cause hardening or browning'
so more than one company came up with this brain wave of an idea..lol!?

CarolinaMao · 19/08/2006 09:42

hardening or browning? are there people out there making wipe toasters??

babyonboard · 19/08/2006 09:44

lmao at this thread...teehee

Original poster
liquidclocks · 19/08/2006 10:14

so no-one accidentally bought the wrong car then? Or house?

OP posts:
babyonboard · 19/08/2006 10:18

Hehee.. we kind of did, we are on the third floor so lots of stairs to haul buggy and baby and 'junk' up and down!
I guess it's good exercise though..lol..

I'll never forget setting out with our huge 4 x 4 of a pram on one of my first post birth outings alone, buying loads of stuff which fit neatly under the pram, including a bloody heavy whole watermelon, then getting to the front door and bursing into tears when I realised it wouldn't be all that easy to get everything back in..hehe
Luckily a neighbour came to my rescue!