Stuff you never bought or bought and never used

[GnocchiNineDoors]

Thought it might be handy to put on here all those things you bought when pregnant / with new baby but never once used or stuff that you never bought (even though bloody money grabbing shops convinced you you should) and never missed.

For example, I never owned a baby bath. I simply put three inches of water in the big bath and dunked DD in. Or, even better, she came in with me

I also never bought a child sized wardrobe. DD has a big chest of drawers and a bookshelf. I cannot be chewed hanging bloody sleepsuits.

I was bought numerous pairs of baby shoes. Oh my word. I feel sorry for those shoes as DD is barefoot or in just socks or tights religiously. She'll get shoes when she's cruising.

Anyone else? (thought it might be handy for PG ladies as to what not to buy, hence why it's here)

Those reusable baby wipes. Still immaculate in their cellophane. After 3 years of bum wiping you have to be joking I want to wash and reuse the damn things!

Top and tail bowl I used another twice. Top and tailing is better than a bath for nbs but why did I think I needed an actual special bowl for it?

Scratch mitts - dd learned to remove them at days old. Get the integrated into a sleep suit kind or don't bother.

Same as WhippingGirl top and tails bowl and scratch mitts, both been used once, then we realised they were useless.

And I agree on hanging sleepsuits, far too much faff.

During pregnancy I bought one of those wedge pillows, but found it made me more uncomfortable rather than less.

Nappy wrapper. Stunk to high heaven..after that I used nappy sacks and a bin!

Do you mean one of these Skip? Because we find ours absolutely invaluable!

We didn't have any of the above apart from a baby bath, which was a tenner from Ikea, - but didn't use it much because it was so bloody heavy filled with water!

We didn't have a change table - used top of the chest of drawers, then bed, then floor or wherever.

No shoes, no top and tail bowl (don't think they sell these in Australia), no mits.

Nothing to add but thanks! I'm due with my first in October, funds are limited and knowing what I should forget all about is invaluable!!!

A bath thermometer - seriously, you can trust your hand to know what warm is and not too hot!

For me it was swaddling stuff. Too much of a faff rolling DS up in it.

I did use a baby bath: filled it up from ensuite shower & bathed DS in there.

Found the wrap-over style baby gro's & vests were brilliant though - much easier to dress DS than over-the-head ones.

OOh thanks and watching with interest. Expecting #DC1 in September! Thanks x

I've heard lots of people praising muslins and how great they are, but I never used them! Bought them with DS but used one once and then they sat in the drawer.

Gnocchi, I noticed you said your dd would get shoes when she's cruising.
What the hell is cruising? I'm perhaps a cynical old trout but I reckon it's another of those terms made up so that 'bloody money grabbing shops' can take advantage.
Get her shoes when she's walking. Top and tail bath and nappy wrapper were our worst buys.

We never bought a baby wardrobe - just used a big chest of drawers for DD's thousands of clothes.

We bought quite a few cellular blankets which we've never used as we were bought/made loads of beautiful blankets when she was born.

And we haven't used any baby shoes yet .

We've also hardly used the car seat adaptors for the pram - since you're only supposed to have newborns in the seat for 90 mins, I preferred to take her out. We used the sling a lot though, so perhaps that's the difference.

We use reusable wipes, but I think they only really make sense if you're washing reusable nappies anyway.

Oh and people gave us so many of the old style bibs - but DD is quite drooly so they would just get soaked and then the fabric would chafe her neck. Far prefer the bandana style bibs which sit much higher and protect her neck...

A baby bath and a medela swing electric breast pump. Was such a waste of money.

Never used cellular blankets (except possibly for the first few nights). Didn't want to buy them either but my mum and sister wailed and rended clothing until I did. DD was a big baby and was in a grobag almost immediately.

Didn't buy a moses basket but think I might this time.

Those bloody plastic backed bibs and a top and tail bowl. Used them all once and got rid.

Am going to a baby nearly new fair in Urmston later so no doubt will buy more crap useful things for when DS3 is born

Never used the moses basket. Thankfully got it for a pound on ebay and just replaced the mattress, but it never got used.

Also the baby bath, never used it. Bathed in sink for a bit, then used an seat in the big bath. Someone has given us one again this time though!

Shoes not needed until walking
Baby bath pointless
Baby under 6 months, just buy poppered vests and sleep suits. They are comfy, easier to change and cheaper

I always use changing table as saves back, and use top and tail but only put water in one half ( just do head down), but use other part for the wet cloth/ cotton wool so can carry away in one hand to dispose

Buy a proper sling not a carrier as can use for years compared to a few months

Only one blanket needed if using sleeping bags

Large Muslins are handy for catching sick/ sunshade on buggy/ blanket to lay them on on grass- great as wash so easily

DS was carried in a sling and slept in our bed. We were given a cot and a lovely pushchair but they only got used once each.

Used the baby bath twice before realising it was more hassle than it was worth.

Never bought any nursery furniture - couldn't see the point. We kept baby clothes in an ordinary chest of drawers and changed nappies on the floor.

Didn't use the re-usable nappies I was given - I was too lazy and they leaked (but a better brand would probably be more successful)

When I was pregnant, a friend told me I would be amazed by how little stuff a newborn baby needed. She was right

Now I did (and still do!) use our cellular blankets - they are a particular fave of DS - he has one over a grobag. Our house is chilly though.

We also did use the moses basket as he slept next to our bed.

Also did use muslins/swaddles but mainly as summer blankets, things to sit on in the park, things to wipe up vom/food etc, makeshift shades and so on.

He had baby shoes from about 7 months when he could stand but only when we were outside, as it was winter.

Teddies. I know it's not a proper baby thing but I hate teddies. Not useful at all.

Scratch mitts

Booties

Hats

Jeans for babies. Must be über uncomfortable. Mine never wore jeans til after six months. Only sparingly then.

Gro egg thermometer.

A rocking stand for Moses basket. A plain stand would have sufficed.

Baby towels with the hood on.

We were bought a baby dressing gown. Never used. Shame as they are (imo) ideal for toddlers / young kids etc but totally unecessary for a baby who gets bathed, pj'd bottled and bed. I did wonder when they were designed to be worn?

I used swaddling blankets, gro bag, moses basket, chest of drawers top as changing unit, all daily.

IslaV 'cruising' is when a baby can sort of walk a bit holding onto furniture or your hand, but can't walk properly. Not really a new-fangled concept, but could be a new-fangled term

Oh, yes, sorry I didn't reply to that. Yes, walking around the furniture etc. but not independently. I don't think it's a new fangled term, it's one my DMum has been using since I was born. Just sort of walking but not quite.

Top and tail bowl defo, had one with dd1 but with dd2 I just used a normal plastic bowl and just washed her bum last lol