As new parent you are overwhelmed with all the information and products available on the market. All the people you know have these items and all the sales ladies tell you that they are must registry item. Do not feel bad by not doing what everyone does but make your own decisions based on some advice from people who have been there. This list will save you thousands of dollars that you can use for many other things for your baby, such a first birthday party, vacation or a college fund to name a few. Do you think your child will complain that he did not a have bassinet, but they will for sure remember their first Disney trip for a lifetime.
1. Convertible Crib
Cribs that can be converted in toddler and double beds, the toddler part is good but the double bed convertible kit is a waste of money. Do you really think you want your 8 year old kid sleeping in the same bed they sleeping when they were first born.
If you are to buy the toddler converter kit make sure to buy at the same time you buy the crib or you might find them discontinued when you need one.
Do not spend crazy amount money on a crib. Ikea for example has plenty of healthy and attractive options that are cheap and practical. Save that money for when your child can you choose their room furniture.
2. Change table that cannot be converted in to a dresser
You will soon realize that the change table is only really used for the first 6 month and once you get to 1 year it is almost never used for its designed purpose. You change the baby on the carpet, sofa, bed, basically anywhere but the change table.
Do not get tall dressers, they are a safety hazard. Also you got to make sure that the drawers are roomy and not shallow. This will you will be able to fit bigger clothes as the child grows up. Do not open shelfs as it becomes a dust trap.
There are plenty of dressers that can be used with a separate change pad on top while the baby is small and then used as a normal dresser. Make sure that the dresser looks like a regular dresser and is not really designed as designated change table.
3. Crib Mobile
For the first few months a lot of the times babies do not even sleep in their crib. They sleep with their parents in different types of sleeping arrangements. The amount of times the baby will use the mobile the investment is not worth it.
Make sure that the alternative to mobile has an adjustable connection that can attach to any width of the crib wood top.
There are many toys that could be used instead of mobile and then converted to a toddler toy or have attachment that can be used between cribs, car seats, or play pens.
Budget
Tiny Love Take Along Mobile
Splurge
Tiny Love Soothe ‘n Groove Mobile, Blue
4. Nursery blanket and bumper set
For the first year you will not use these items. The bumpers will probably never be used as they are a suffocation danger at any age. The blankets that often come with those sets do not have removable washable cover which is a must for any baby.
If your baby really starts getting stuck in between the crib bars, the breathable bumpers are a good alternative.
Once your baby turns one and needs a blanket the Ikea blanket is a really good option. It is warm, washable and you can buy many different cover designs.
5. The Original Jolly Jumper
Only really useful for the first 3 months and even then not all babies like them. They are expensive, consume tons of space and just do not provide any real benefit for mom or baby for the investment.
Make sure that the swing has an option to connect to electricity. Batteries will consume at a crazy rate and those batteries are very expensive.
You can buy a convertible rocker that converts in to a chair once the baby grows up
6. Baby Swing
There have been many warnings posted against these items of many injuries. I am surprised it is still on the market. It also damages your doorway which will need to re-painted after no matter what the box says. The amount of times it will be used it is not worth the efforts.
The convertible option is definitely the best. I wish I have known about those options when I was starting out. I would have saved a lot of money and space.
There are many options for saucers that can be converted to tables, mats, etc
7. Bottle Warmer
They are hard to use and prone to brake. The milk is usually too cold or too warm unless you buy the top of the line warmer, which can get to be expensive. They often require distilled water and weekly cleaning.
If you give baby milk in room temperature from birth most babies will not care if it is re-heated. You should only have to warm milk if it is from the fridge or freezer. Since my kids were never exposed to warm milk, they never needed it.
Using hot water from the kettle or the faucet to warm the milk will produce the same results but it is a lot more practical and is not expensive. You can just use a small cheap pot
8. Electronic Toys
Most hi-tech, talking and blinking toys do not really provide much educational benefit but just a distraction and take up tons of space. A lot of private preschools do not allow these types of toys in their classrooms. Children often might press the buttons a few times but often lose interest very quickly.
Most education experts insist on reducing electronic distraction from kids as much as possible to reduce dependence on them later on in life. If you really want to have some of those toys make sure that actually get the child involved, like drawing.
Wooden toys, toys that promote thinking and discovering on their own without all the noisy distructions.
9. Bassinet
Used for only the first 3 months, expensive and major space huger
Buy something that will have more than just a single use or can be converted to something later on. This way you only need to buy one set of bassinet sheets that will be used.
Use the bassinet that can be purchased with playpen.
Use the bassinet that can be purchased with the stroller.
10. Wipes Warmer
This is an item that you can definitely be without. It requires a power outlet and you need to buy replacement cartridges. You will also not have multiple of those units: one on the first floor and one on the second floor. Once your baby gets used to having warm wipes he/she will demand them all the time but my kids never knew they existed and just used regular wipes.
Just rub the wipe in your hands for a few seconds just to give it a bit of warmth if your child dislikes the cold feeling on their body.
Having an attractive, easy to dispense and durable wipes box is a great alternative.