1. Wipe Warmer
There are so many reasons why I think this is not a good product. First off, anything that is warm and moist is an ideal breeding ground for germs and bacteria. Keeping wipes that will touch your baby’s private areas in a place that could be contaminated is not a good idea. This could cause issues for your baby in the future. Also, more than 500,000 wipe warmers have been recalled because of electric shock to parents’ hands or melting of the product. And, not to mention, a baby who gets used to warm wipes will probably throw a fit when you’re out-and-about and need to change his/her diaper. Overall, I do not recommend this product.
2. Diaper Stacker
Filling this thing up with diapers and then fumbling to get them out is actually more of a pain than a help. I recommend putting your baby’s diapers in a drawer near your changing pad or in a basket that you can take around the house with you as a portable caddy.
3. Pee-pee Teepee
Now this is obvious. These are just silly. If you are wanting to avoid getting peed on while changing your son’s diaper, just put a wipe to cover your baby’s penis while you are changing him. You don’t need a Pee-pee Teepee. I’ve also heard of boys shooting their Pee-pee Teepee across the room, so they don’t even always work.
4. A Changing Table
Save your money and get a changing pad and secure it to a low dresser. This way you can still use the dresser even after your child is out of diapers. A changing table takes up too much space and is a waste since it can’t really be reused. Unless you have another baby. Most of the time when you’ll be changing diapers, you won’t go to the nursery to change them every. single. time. Especially if your home has stairs. Most parents do what’s convenient and they do diaper changes on the floor or on a bed.
5. A Diaper Genie
If you tend to take out your trash daily, I recommend using your regular trash can to toss out your baby’s wet and dirty diapers. I mean, honestly, do you want to keep those dirty diapers in your house for a couple of days? I would think not. Diaper genies (or whatever you use) do help keep smells at bay, but not if you let the diapers sit and pile up inside for a while. Gross. Again, if you’re emptying the trash out regularly, then what’s the point of having a diaper genie?
6. Diaper Bag
It’s important to have all of baby’s things with you as you are on the go, but you really don’t need to have one of the super-expensive diaper bags that are out there on the market. Some diaper bags might be pretty to look at, but most of them don’t have any special features, besides a lot of pockets, that make them particularly special. If you’re going to spend the money, just buy a nice purse for yourself. That way you can continue to use it even after you need a diaper bag. Or you can use one of your big purses (and maybe an organizer) and you’re good to go!
7. Baby Timers
I’m surprised that people still even sell these! It’s a portable device that keeps track of baby’s feeding, changing, and sleeping schedules. It’s a great idea, but the reality is you don’t need to spend $30 on a timer when you can just as easily keep track of all of those things with a simple pen and paper. There are also tons of apps that do the exact same thing at a fraction of the cost.
8. Bassinet
Bassinets are beautiful and seem so sweet in the baby’s nursery, but once your baby is here, it does not guarantee he/she is going to want to sleep in it. More than likely, he/she won’t. While you might save money in the short term by purchasing a bassinet instead of a crib, you will eventually have to get a crib, so why bother?
Many moms still want their babies’ in the same room as them during the first few weeks. I would look at getting a Pack and Play instead as a more affordable alternative that can be reused in the future. Some Pack and Plays include bassinets too!
9. Expensive Crib Bedding
You can make your nursery look stylish without dropping a ton of money on crib bedding. In fact, all you really need are fitted sheets. According to the U.S. Product Safety Commission, crib bumpers have caused a number of deaths and injuries in babies 2 years old or younger. It’s also not recommended to have blankets, top/flat sheets or stuffed animals in the crib since they have been lead to increase the chances of SIDS. Instead of bedding, opt for cute fitted sheets and a crib skirt.
10. Baby Bathtub
Most people do buy a baby bathtub for their little one, but they find out quickly that their kiddo will soon outgrow it. Instead of getting a bathtub and trying to find a place to put it and have it dry each time, you can just take a bath with your baby. They usually prefer that anyway and it saves you the $30.
11. Bath Thermometer
Yes, these things are helpful and it can be nice to know what the actual temperature of the water is, but really, you don’t need this. Just test the water with the inside of your arm or your elbow to see if it is warm enough or too warm for baby.
12. Hooded Bath Towels for Babies & Kids
The towels that you use for yourself will be just fine for your babies. Yes, yours don’t have cute themes or animals on them, but they get the job done. Your kids won’t be missing out if they don’t look like an animal or pirate after bath time.
13. Baby Detergent
Parents seem to think that they have to have a special type of detergent just for their baby. You really don’t. All you need is a brand that is “free and clear,” meaning that it is has no perfumes and dyes that might irritate baby’s skin. Choosing a regular free and clear product will save you money and time because you can throw baby’s laundry in with the rest of the family’s dirty clothes.
14. Lots of newborn sized clothes.
It’s so fun to buy clothes for your newborn, but I hate to break it to you… They won’t be in newborn sizes for very long, if at all! Some babies are born already wearing sizes 0-3 months! Only purchase a few newborn options otherwise you will have a bunch of clothes that your baby grew out of that he/she never wore.
15. Clothes That Go Over Your Baby’s Head
If you didn’t know this before, now you’ll know. Babies HATE clothes/onesies that have to go over their head. Instead of buying clothes that have to go over their head, find clothes that snap up the front or back or side. You both will be so much happier.
16. Designer Baby Clothes
Babies outgrow their clothes so quickly that they may only wear that designer outfit once. When I see a onesie that costs $75 or a dress for a newborn that’s $300, I just don’t understand it. You’re better off shopping at Target since your baby is also going to spit up and poop probably all over it.
17. Baby Shoes
News flash: Babies don’t walk. They won’t walk until they are 9-18 months old. This means those incredibly adorable baby shoes that you want to get are pointless. All your baby needs are socks until they start walking. For now, they are just cute props.
18. Small 4-ounce and 5-ounce bottles.
Instead of getting the smaller sized starter-set of bottles, go for the larger bottles like 8 oz, 9 oz or 10 oz from the get-go. The bigger bottles work just as well with slow flow nipples as their smaller counterparts, and your little one is eventually going to need them anyway so you’ll avoid having to buy more and more sets of bottles.
19. Bottle Warmer
Bottle warmers can be nice when you need to heat up some milk quickly. But really, it’s not so hard to warm your baby’s bottle in a bowl or big cup of hot water. So if you’re trying to save money, you can skip this.
20. Formula Mixer
I know that this baby Keurig is so precious, but shaking a baby bottle isn’t so hard. For $150, save your money and mix the formula yourself.
21. Baby Food Processor
Now, come on, why do you need a special food processor to make baby food?! Aside from the extra cost, these little appliances clutter up your kitchen counter and cabinets. A regular mini food processor will do the exact same thing as the baby version, and you can use it well after your little one is off baby food. Or, do you have a blender at home? If so, congratulations! You’ve already got a baby food maker.
22. Pacifier Wipes
Instead of buying pack after pack of these pacifier wipes, it’s easier and more affordable to use a self-closing pacifier when you and baby are away from home. You can always bring more than one pacifier with you as well if you don’t have self-closing ones.
23. A Pricey Stroller
I love a cool stroller. I’m a gear geek like that. But you don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars to get a good stroller. As long as it fits your budget and lifestyle, then it’s the perfect stroller for you!
Again, if you’re able to afford all of these options without breaking the bank, then go for it! But for some of us, we want to know which items we can really skip out on and save a buck or two. What other baby products did you think were unnecessary? Listen to our podcast episode where we talk more about baby products that you can do without.
