What *dont* I need to buy?

[BlueBee]

Hello. We are expecting our first in August, loads of people have suggested what we need to get etc but what did you buy that you now realise was a waste of time? What don't I really need?

A top and tail bowl!

Baby bath.

More importantly, do not remove the tags on any item you are given.

You get these cute outfits and go aaaaah and wash them and put them in the drawer... you won't use them. Leave the tags on, take them back, get credits and buy what you then work out you need.

Congratulations! I don't think you need a special nappy bin. We just got a pedal bin from tk maxx and that did the job!

Though one. First time I used the baby bath all the time, haven't used it once with DS2. First time I used the swing loads, this time about twice. First time I didn't use blankets, this time I've used loads. First time I used snowsuits, this time I realised what a PITA they are hence using more blankets this time.
So what I mean is what works for one person doesn't necessarily work for another.
I'll wrack my brains for something I haven't got use out of for either baby

Thanks, I do like the keep the tags on idea! Makes sense!

I WOULD buy a baby bath. Absolutely a lifesaver for you back, as you can use it standing up!

Def top and tail bowls!

Baby towels. I found I used my own towel and hand towels rather than digging out the baby towels. Nice to have one for first few pfb baths but won't be bothering to buy any for imminent baby.

A changing bag. I just used a rucksack after a while. The free one from Boots was far better than any fancy ones anyway. I don't know if they still do it - it used to be free when you signed up to their parenting club.

An elaborate travel system. Barely used it first time. Used a sling then ordinary pushchair second time around.

Scratch mitts - if you need them (I only did when Dd got chicken pox at 9 months) socks stay on much better, and many babygrows have fold over cuffs anyway.

• agree with the top and tail bowl
• cloth nappies unless you are really committed to it
• too many lovely/cute newborn outfits, so much easier in babygrows for the first few weeks to months, just have a couple of nice things in case of special occassions
• specific baby changing table, so much easier with a wedge shaped mat on a chest of draws as the draws can then be used after and everything needed is to hand during changing

Baby bath - we used a little towelling ramp in the main bath.

Hooded towels - last about four weeks then the baby is too big for them.

Baby dressing gowns.

"Proper" clothes for the first six months. Sleepsuits are the best clothes ever, and when you have the baby others buy the "outfits" - agree with a pp dont remove tags!

Changing table - we changed dcs on a change mat on the floor or sat on our bed for the first six months then just on my knee after that.

Never owned a top and tail bowl but then I never topped and tailed mine (not that Id have needed a special pot if I did!)

Baby bath - just use the sink
Changing station - use a mat on the floor, doesn't take up much room, baby can't fall off.

Nursing chair was never used either. Most feeds were done in bed. An orthopaedic pillow or boppy cushion would be more useful.

An elaborate and expensive travel system. Invest in a decent lightweight, lie flat stroller instead. You will get far more use out of it!

I have a controversial one...I never bought a pram. DD was in the sling or the car seat when tiny, then went straight into a buggy at 3 months.

Electric bottle warmer.

tons of muslins. like every thread on MN says you will absolutely need. Sure, handy to have a couple, just in case, but if you have a non-puking baby, you might actually not need loads.

yes to tiny baby outfits. They're cute, but so not practical, and stiff jeans or frilly dresses on newborns don't look comfortable either. Same for shoes - until they walk, shoes have a decorative purpose only.

Room thermometer. Just makes you obsess about a degree here or there - walk into the room, if it feels fine then it's fine.

Fancy changing bag - so fiddly with all the pockets and holders and whatnot. I just use a large messenger bag.

Fancy changing mat to go with the fancy bag - instead of that, a pack of disposable absorbent sheets will do the job very nicely. And you can just throw them away when dirty.

oh and yes, baby towels. They're so cute and tiny, but I didn't understand why newborn DS used to scream bloody murder every time we took him out of bath. Well, poor thing was just cold in his flimsy tiny towel and much happier one we started using full sized big fluffy ones.

Aw, i really want a top and tail bowl this time! I just used a basin from the kitchen last time, and wished for a top and tail bowl so frequently!

I didn't really go shopping, but I was given a few things I never used: hats for a summer baby, baby nest, bath book.

I had a giant baby towel though, only passed in on now DS is 4. It was a duck from TK Maxx.

The hood is helpful on baby towels to dry their hair.....

Ha - were just thinking about dropping using hooded towels and DD is 18 months, and a big 18 months at that.

I'd say you don't need a monitor, at least not to start with. I never had one for DC1, and bought one when DC2 was 4/5 months. If your baby needs you, you'll hear them, and you don't tend to be out of sight of a newborn long enough to need one.

Just remember the shops don't close the day you have your baby. You can still buy stuff, and most things can be delivered next day.

oh, see I did use the baby bath a lot, because it's a lot quicker to put the baby bath in the main bath and just fill that, rather than fill the whole of the big bath (and saves water). I'd actually often wash DCs in the baby bath in the shower cubical, quick to fill, easy to hold them (no leaning over the big bath) and just tip into the shower tray to empty...

I also would say a changing table is worth having, particularly like me you end up damaging your back in labour, having to kneel and lean over to change nappies on the floor would have been a nightmare for the first 2 months when I really needed to stay upright as much as possible.

Wastes of money:

Top and tail bowl, waste of money, any old bowl would do.

changing mat liners, just use normal handtowels.

overly complex breast feeding clothes - always hideous shapes. Go with t-shirt with vest (with stretch straps, ideally a size up) underneeth. T-shirt goes up, vest pulled down, minimum exposure and you can wear real clothes!

Agree not with a special bin, just any old bin and lots of liners - special bins just seem to encourage people to store shit in their houses.

Travel systems. All that clicking bits on and off. We have a baby jogger that folds in one piece and will last from birth to 3 years. Most people abandon their travel systems for buggies after 18 months.

It's really hard to say as a lot depends on baby and you. For example I was told a brush was a waste of money but DS was very hairy. It's no problem though as you can buy stuff after.
As I had a preemie I hadn't bought too much useless stuff luckily but there still were some bits unused

• Breast feeding stuff e.g. cover, pump. I expect I'm an unusual case but my milk never came in so waste of money for me but no way I could've predicted that.
• Shoes, until they can walk too much bother and no point
• Too many clothes - people will buy you clothes so no need for heaps
• Changing table. I was going to get one but just put mat on bed instead.
• Hats, DS hates them! So I put him in a hoodie with the hood up in the winter. Another one I couldn't have predicted
• Books on parenting - never had time to read them or too tired
• Bubble baths etc, I just use water

Baby wipe warmer. Seriously, where's the need?