For expectant parents, especially first-timers, that first trip to one of the baby superstores feels like a rite of passage.
But it can be a little overwhelming, too! There’s aisle after aisle, packed with everything you could possibly think of to meet baby’s every need. From nursery decorations to toys to furniture to clothing, there’s everything a new parent could ever want.
But have you ever wondered if you really need all of those things? Sure, you need diapers, clothes, and bottles, but do you need a specific garbage can for diapers? How about a noise machine? Or a rain cover for your stroller?
As a mom of three, I’m going to weigh in on some of the most useless baby items out there — and trust me, there are many! Even if you stick with just the bare essentials, babies are still incredibly expensive.
So save your cash and skip these nonessentials. You’ll be glad you did!
1. Wipe Warmer
I’ve personally never, ever met a mom who used a wipe warmer. Ever. Why? There are lots of reasons (including safety concerns!), but the primary reason is that wipe warmers aren’t very portable. And while it’s noble to think that you’ll do all of baby’s diaper changes in the same place (likely, the changing table), it usually just doesn’t end up that way. Most of the diaper changes I’ve done were either on the bed, on the couch, on the floor, or, as the kids got older, chasing them down the hallway as they tried to run away.
2. Bottle Warmer
If you’re bottle-feeding, you’ll need a device made specifically to warm the bottle, right? Nope! Simply place baby’s bottle in a cup of warm water for a minute or so and voila — warm milk for free! So if you’re creating a baby registry, you can safely skip this overpriced gimmick.
3. Car Bottle Warmer and Breast Pump Adapter
I’ve breastfed for a total of 50 months and never once had to use either of these things. So it’s probably safe to say that you can skip these baby items, unless you regularly take super-long car trips or you’re breastfeeding and you have a really long commute back and forth to work.
4. Expensive Puree Systems
Seriously, these things look so awesome. I totally get it. I can hardly walk by one without fawning over the sweet little baby food cubes and tiny, adorable blender. But the romance ends when I see the price tag. Mamas, I promise, any steamer will do the trick, so if you’re planning on making your baby’s food, save yourself a wad of cash by dropping $20 on a perfectly functional food steamer. Or simply cook baby’s veggies in water, then drain and pulse in the blender.
5. Multiple Beds
I recently came across a registry online that had not one, not two, but three different portable cribs and bassinets for baby to sleep in. And that’s not including the crib. To be fair, it’s possible that this couple simply has a large family and wants to have a place for baby to sleep at (all of the) grandparents’ houses. Outside of this scenario, though, I can’t imagine why you would need more than one place for baby to sleep. A crib works just fine, and at the most, a bassinet is convenient for the first few months before transitioning to the crib.
6. Crib Quilt and Bumper Set
What was once one of the most sought-after items in any baby store, the bedding set, is now becoming passé one piece at a time. First it was the quilt, when the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that babies sleep without any blankets. Now crib bumpers are also a no-no, as they’ve also been identified as a SIDS risk. So as cute as these sets are, you might be better off choosing a mesh bumper and hanging the quilt on the wall, or using it as a tummy-time mat.
7. Stuffed Animals
That image in your head of a crib full of stuffed animals? Unfortunately, that’s a no-go now that we know so much more about SIDS. It’s simply not safe for a baby to sleep in a crib full of well, anything really. Baby’s crib should be bare except for a tightly fitting crib sheet, a mesh bumper (if you choose), and baby herself. But no worries — as baby reaches her 1st birthday, she’ll finally be able to enjoy stuffed animals. And boy, do those plush toys multiply quickly!
8. Diaper Stacker
Meant to make diaper changes more convenient (just grab and go!), in reality, the diaper stacker falls a bit short. After all, who has time to remove diapers from their packaging and carefully stack each one into neat piles? I certainly didn’t! The diaper stacker might not be quite as useless as some of the other items on this list, but you probably won’t use it as much as you think you will.
9. Shoes
Is there anything more irresistible than those tiny, adorable shoes made for newborns? I think not! But it goes without saying that they’re pretty useless. After all, shoes are made for walking, and no newborn I’ve ever met does any sort of walking. Plus, little ones are masters when it comes to kicking off their shoes and losing them. Still cute, though!
10. Infant Head Adjuster for Car Seats
If you’ve chosen a good-quality infant car seat, there’s no need to drop additional cash for an infant head support. They might seem like a good idea, but studies have shown that they don’t keep baby any safer than the car seat itself.
Bringing a new baby into your family is always exciting, but it’s a good idea to try to save as much money as possible. You’ll need it down the road!
