What gadgets were you convinced you couldn't live without and actually they're a waste of time and/or money..?

[bigredtractor]

There! I threatened to do it so I'm starting this thread.

Mums Netters - come and tell us preggers ladies what not to waste our dosh on!

I'm going to start with.... A top & tail bowl - oh PLEEEASE!!! Just wash your baby's face first - then the rest of them. Voila!!

Waste of time and storage space:

Top and tail bowl - we were on wipes after about 2 weeks
Sling - I developed a prolapse after 6 weeks so couldn't carry him
Pram - would have been had I bought one, luckily I borrowed one then bought the amazing McLaren buggy at 5 months which is so much lighter and easier to get about.
Bloom fresco highchair - used for about 6 months, now he refuses to go near it
Blankets for the cot - he went straight into sleeping bags
Baby weighing scales - I laugh about them now, but verged on obsession with his weight and should have stepped well away
My breast friend feeding pillow - I hated it and he hated it, but my bf LOVED hers and having worn her first one out, she was very pleased to have mine for her second.
The vast majority of his toys - he is far more interested in my blackberry, plug sockets, the vacuum cleaner, feather dusters etc
Weaning bowls that allegedly stick on to the table of the high chair - they don't stick, he figured out how to pull them off the first time we used it
Over priced maternity pads - night time sanitary towels worked just as well

Worth their weight in gold:

Baby bath - our bath is too deep to lean over, I wouldn't have been able to reach him
Chest of drawers with change table on top - still using it at 20 months, never had a rolling issue but I do stay with him
Nappy wrapper bin - smells considerably better than my sister's 'normal' bin
Steriliser - used for EBM
Electronic breast pump - used every day to get a stash of EBM in the freezer for emergencies/nights out/decent nights sleep. I actually wore mine out after about 6 months so had to take it back and get a new one.
Coco Bloom baby lounger - he adored it and still climbs in it now sometimes
Feme pad gel pads - go in the freezer, wrap in a gauze, then go in your knickers to help with the stitches, god they were fantastic.

Useless:
Gro Egg
Tummy Tub baby bath (used the sink!)
Swing chair
Baby books (whisperer, gina ford etc? who has time to read these with a newborn baby?)
Steriliser, bottles etc. BF'd only and DD never took a bottle. Wish I'd waiting as I could have send DH to buy if necessary.
Popup cot - ditto about DD being like a hamster in a ball once she could roll!
Most baby toys
Dresses- ride up when baby is lying down, get trapped under knees when they crawl. I wouldn't bother until they can walk.
Newborn clothes- DD was 8lb 4oz, so straight into 0-3 months.
Hats/booties/scratchmitts- DD was big, head full of hair, hot summer. Never used any of these.
Mamas & Papas furniture- the chest of drawers was crappy flatpack and we still have to keep gluing drawers together. Wish we'd got ikea!
Matching nursery stuff from Mamas & Papas- bought the whole lot. Don't see the point in most of it now! (nappy holder anyone? Cot bumper?)

Useful:
Lansinoh nipple cream - best £10 I spent!
Granny pants - pack of 6 from M&S. So comfy post CS.
Muslins - for sick, spillages, sunshield, use as a nappy if you run out, million uses
Baby gym
Fisher Price mobile - ugly but effective, plus didn't have to wind it up