have you bought anything that was a waste of money

[pud1]

i am now 23 weeks and am having to start to think of all the things i will need and the cost. has any one got any tips on things they thought they would need but didnt. i feelt hat there are so many things that you could be fooled into buying.

not to mention you will be bought mountains of bibs
Yes, tesco own nappies are the best

We got given loads of those little bibs that protect that all important two inch area under the chin . Useless for milky puke (muslins all the way) and useless for solid food.

pud1 - although it's really useful to see what others did/didn't buy, I think you need ultimately to make your own mind up as there are quite a few things on this list of things that others thought were a waste of money that I found indispensible - we are all different basically. I thought the baby-shaped sponge thing was brilliant, really good value for money. And wouldn't have survived without a baby monitor - and we didn't live in a mansion. A baby bath is good as you can continue using it for ages and save water, it takes much less water to fill a baby bath than a big bath. And I really liked the Baby Bjorn sling....

However I agree that scratch mits are a waste of time!

Another vote for top'n'tail bowl. How otherwise do you remember which side is which? Yuck. Any bowl for face, and another clearly marked 'bottoms only' for rear end.

Baby-change bag. Why? Use any bag you like - insert nappy paraphenalia and small change map - voila - nappy bag!

I couldn't do without the baby monitor (well I am at the moment as it's broken, makes me realise how useful it it). When he's in bed it's good to be able to shut the door downstairs so he doesn't get woken by the TV. Also reassures me that I would definitely hear him.

I used a small tupperware box to clean his face and never tailed him, just plonked him in the bath. But you wouldn't put the dirty piece of cotton wool back in the water anyway?

oh isee capers, you were voting for not using a top n tail bowl!

hmm - I'd say buy a selection of nappies so you can experiment and find out which brand fits best (eg we found that on our DS, the huggies ones tended to leak).

I wouldn't have been without the monitor (split level house and also useful if you go and stay in someone else's house)

buy plenty of cotton wool. and some olive oil (basic cooking stuff fine) for dry skin - no need for fancy stuff.

and a blanket big enough to do swaddling with for the first four months!

I'd agree no need for a change table as well - someone gave me good advice that it was much easier to change the baby on the floor - no risk of him/her falling off anything.

a swing for the house

a seat for the bath

a bumbo seat for the house

a travel system - i used my maclaren stroller much more - wish id bought second hand pram instead of 'system'

mind you if you make any duff choices you can always sell them at a local nct sale afterwards

a nappy disposal unit - just put them in the bin outside or inside if not too disgusting - why would you want them hanging around in the baby's bedroom?

or wash reusables of course

capers - you've just reminded me of my childless and very stylish friend, who inadvertently bought a change bag because she liked the look of it and thought it was a sensible size. She spent ages trying to figure out what the matching mat-thing in the side was for......

tbh a lot of this depends on - how much money you have to spare/ how much room you have in your house/ which floor you live on and how you access where you live (i.e how portable/ compact do you need your stroller to be?) and the type of birth you may end up having (certain pieces i think are more helpful if c section happens)

I was advised against a changing table/ moses basket and nursing chair, but have them all. Changing table is a godsend. I practically live in the duatalier chair I got - whether feeding my LO or not. And as soon as LO was born, sent DH out to get moses basket so that he could be in whichever room I was in. I am also using the carrycot part of my travel system heaps - practically daily.

i didnt bother with top and tail bowl. or the nappy bin - just put nappies straight out.
also agree with the other poster who advises not stacking up on one type of nappy. I had huggies in, but found that pampers fits him better.

Never used:
nappy bin
changing table (used the floor)
baby toiletries
proper clothes, until 3 months or so
"Proper" pram
bibs

Did use:
Baby bjorn sling
Baby bath - but borrowed one, would not have bought one
Stroller
Borrowed crib

Never used -

Baby bath
Nappy bin
Monitors
breat pump (hated it, it toke forver)

Always used -

Bath support seat
Grobags (found these fab)
Hat mittens if born in iwnter.
Tesco's nappies (found them better than pampers)
Moses basket
Carseat
Don't spend to much on big travel system thing i brought a stroller after 4 months.
cotton wool

baby bath
seat to put older baby in when in bath
baby 'toiletries' (soon realised there was nothing like the smell of a newborn)

Footmuff thing for pushchair
Changing bag
Baby monitor
Scratch mitts

Crap
"Baby nose clear" (nasal aspirator )wipes are better at reliving congestion.
Scratch mitts
Burping cloths
Johnsons products- Dryed skin out loads-used a drop of oliveoil instead

Fantastic aid for breastfeeding
AVENT ISIS Breast Shells
"Lansinoh" 100% pure lanoline

Never used lanisoh, was another waste of money but Iwouldn't have not bought it iyswim
Avent breast shells were a very good buy

Bought and hated...
Bottle warmer (used once then binned)

Nappy bin (stinky and vile)

giant graco travel system (bought maclaren after 6 weeks!)

Bumbo seat - was obsessed with getting one of these but only used it for about 3 weeks!

Bought and loved...

Formula dispenser - measured out all the days feeds at once in the morning then just tipped into bottle of room temp water when out and about. No faffing around with heating up, much easier! Sterlised bottles only need to go in fridge once milk made up hence chucking stupid avent warmer!

Baby sling thingy for bath

muslins - got through tons every day, DD had reflux!

baby monitor - wouldn't have heard her without it and our house is not a mansion!

lots of cheap hand towels for putting on change mat. Stopped DD from screaming whenever put onto cold mat.

I think essentials include a big stash of muslins and maybe a few old fashioned terry squares cos they get used for so many things including wiping up sick/food/mess, blanket, protecting your shoulder/knee when winding, or muslins can be tied around the neck for a very big bib and they all make handy liners for those cold pvc change mats. Another essential is a sling it makes life so much easier.

Don't buy a change bag, just get a bag you like and that is comfy and big, I started off with a change bag which was totally not big enough and used to slide off my shoulder and frequently whacked passers by or my dd in the head or side. now use a plain old rucksack that cost about £6 in my local market.
I personally hated those car seats that are supposed to be used for the first nine months that then clip onto the pram chassis, they are ridiculously heavy and a waste of money, we ended up replacing it with a car seat that does 0-4 years and stays in the car when I just couldn't lift the original one with the baby in.

Muslins were a waste of money for me, didn't use them at all for either dd but I would buy some for the next one as you never know if the baby will be sicky or not.

definately the nappy disposal thing dont bother
put all bottles etc in dish washer not steriliser
top and tail, useless
the formula dispenser was a dream, i had two.
i liked bibs
used foot muff lots in winter
bottle warmers a waste of time

Most useful thing bought...

packet of terry nappies...use them for changing mat (so baby isn't lying on cold plastic)use to clear up absolutely everything, can be washed and washed and washed, not too bulky so easily stored....BEST BEST BUY.

Never used top and tail bowl or cat nets / moses basket nets

Got rid of bottle warmers very quickly (too slow)

Couldn't be without muslins, towelling bath support from Mothercare

Essentials imho:

wrap vests

Sling (kari me and coorie)

changing mat

maxi cosi carseat

john lewis babygros (built in mittens)

Baby cardi

grobags

Nappies (eco-friendly)

cotton wool pleats (lots)

Olive oil (for bathtime)

Breast pads (lots)

Everything else: wait and see what LO is like...