You might be tempted to add all the latest high-tech baby products to your shopping list, but some products aren’t worth your time or money. Taking into account all the expenses of a newborn, it is wise to save as much as possible so that it can be used for savings or retirement.
If you’re a new parent, some splurges are worth it, but others take up space in your home and can be a hassle once thrown away. Here are the baby products you should avoid spending money on, and which ones you should buy.
1. Changing Table
It’s a piece of nursery furniture that you can definitely skip. It takes up valuable space in your baby’s room and is expensive. The reality is that since you change all your diapers throughout the day, you probably won’t go to the nursery every time your baby needs to change, especially if you have stairs in your home, which you can do where it’s most convenient, such as on the couch or even on a rug.
If you want a changing area, buy a diaper pad and secure it to a low dresser that you can use even if your child doesn’t have a diaper.
2. Wipe Warmer
Shannon Duffy, mom of two from Palm Springs, California, said, “I remember how excited I was when I got the wipes heater and proudly plugged it in. “But it turned out to be one of those things that didn’t make sense. The wipes seem to dry quickly inside, which defeats the purpose.”
Wet wipes warmers may sound fancy, but there are plenty of reasons to skip this non-essential baby item. For example:
- A warm, humid environment is an ideal breeding ground for bacteria, so it’s not a good idea to place something in this enclosed space that will touch your baby’s private parts.
- Between 1997 and 2001, 500,000 wet wipes heaters were recalled due to a parent’s hand being electrocuted or the product melting, which gave the product a poor safety record.
- Babies who are used to hot wipes may lose their temper and need to change diapers while you’re out and about, unless you plan to travel with a heater all the time.
3. Diaper Disposal System
“Do you want to keep your dirty diapers at home for a few days?” said Kathi Bertsch, a mother from the intersection of Owens, Alabama. “If you empty your garbage every day, a regular household trash can will suffice. For poop diapers, you can flush solid waste down the toilet, which will solve most of the problems.”
Imani Powell-Razat, a mom from New York City, hated handling diapers so much that she ended up throwing them on the sidewalk. “Old diapers would be in there because I tend to forget they were there. Then I spent some time cleaning this thing, by which time it had collected a whole shipload of filthy fumes.”
Suppose you’re worried about a bad smell in your diaper. In that case, you can buy disposable diaper bags, which lock in moisture and bacteria and keep household waste odorless.
4. Baby Detergent
Once your baby is born, you’ll spend a lot of time in the laundry room washing piles of clothes that have been spit out. Seriously, it never seems to end! Contrary to what you may have heard, you don’t need a special (and very expensive) detergent to wash your baby’s clothes. All you need is a “free and transparent” brand, which means it’s free of perfumes and dyes that can irritate your baby’s skin. Choosing the regular free and transparent products on the supermarket shelves can save you money and time because you can throw away your baby’s laundry along with the rest of the dirty laundry in your home.
5. Bassinet
“I received a beautiful bassinet for my son, and it was so beautiful that it looked beautiful in his nursery,” said Christy Cook, a mum from Toronto, Canada. “But my son refused to sleep in it! We tried everything we could to make it attractive, but he wasn’t interested. I think it’s wiser to invest in a safe crib and definitely a better deal.”
Samantha Kemp-Jackson, another mom from Toronto, agrees: “While it may save you money not buying a crib in the short term, you end up having to do it, so why bother with a cradle?”
Still, many moms are confused about cradles, especially if they want their children to be in the same room as them for a few weeks after birth. Moses basket or Pack-and-Play may be a better and more affordable alternative. If you must own a cradle, see if you can borrow one from a friend or family member – just check the CPSC website for a recall to make sure the model is still safe.
6. Expensive Crib Bedding
You don’t need to spend $200 on crib bedding to make your babyroom look stylish. “My doctor advised me not to put the crib bumpers on the bed because experts believe they may cause sudden infant death syndrome, and the blanket/quilt that comes with the kit is too big and heavy for newborns,” Brianna said Welke, a mom from Hastings, Minnesota.
In fact, according to the U.S. Product Safety Council, crib bumpers have resulted in the death and injury of dozens of babies 2 years of age or younger. Studies have found that many babies lack the motor development they need to release themselves when they are sandwiched between the bumper pad and another surface. If the pads are too soft, the baby’s nose or face may be compressed, leading to choking. If they are too hard, the baby may climb onto the mat and fall out of the crib.
Instead, opt for cute sheets and crib skirts. If you want a bumper, try the breathable mesh bumper sold at most retail stores that sell baby products.
7. High Chairs
Babies do need a place to eat, but those huge freestanding high chairs are expensive and take up a lot of space in your home. “If I had to do it all over again, I would never buy a high chair,” says Laura Beck, a mum from Austin, Texas. “They are big and difficult to store between the kids. In addition, they can become disgusting, covered in food, and turn into something that you constantly clean, scrub, and find random pieces of food sticking.”
Kim Kempinski, mom of three from Phoenix, Arizona, recommends the Space Saver high chair that attaches to a chair. “It’s a lot cheaper, it takes up less space, and you don’t have to buy a booster chair later. We bought a traditional high chair for our eldest son and donated it when Space Saver launched – our kids were still inside.”
8. Baby Food Processor
“Now, come on, why do I need a special food processor to make baby food?!” Belch said. In addition to the extra cost, these small appliances can make a mess of your kitchen counter. The regular mini food processor functions the same as the baby version, and you can use it well after your child stops using baby food. You can also use a regular blender or a Magic Bullet blender, which many parents love because of its small size and easy to clean.
9. Diaper Bags
While you do need a few things to carry your baby’s belongings, you don’t need the ultra-expensive diaper bags on the market. In fact, it’s just to sell something to the parents, and the baby can inflate the price of the item. Some diaper bags may look pretty, but most don’t have any special features that are particularly suitable for babies. “A backpack or messenger bag will do, thank you!” Kemp-Jackson said.