Are we too easily sucked into "gimmicks"?

Mrs.Provost

I keep thinking about all these new gimmicky "must haves for baby" and think our society just gets so excited about some new "thing" that does amazing things. When in reality, we just don't need them as badly as the marketing geniuses make us think we do.

Case in point, the Bundle Me things. Travel systems I would add to the list of "don't really need" as well. There are others. I can't seem to think of them off the top of my head. 

I'm a sucker for a good gimmick, I have to admit. If someone can justify hwo badly I "NEED" something, I'm almost always willing to hand over the cash. It's sick really...lol

MrsGo4Hockeychick

yes. especially gimmicks for babies. They love to target the new moms.

Brookie-Cookie

I think that everything for babies is gimmicky   My mom was telling me how my Granny would put the rings from canning jars on her apron strings and the babies were entertained for hours.  Now we need all sorts of plastic landfiller stuff to keep them entertained.

Skipperg82

TOTALLY! ?I was so worked up when I was pregnant, making lists and lists of all the "essential" baby items, reading Baby Bargains, researching cribs, sheets, bottles, etc....

Too bad I don't use HALF the stuff I bought - the baby is just fine with some diapers, wipes, some onesies, the boob and a place to sleep (he doesn't even use the super high quality expensive crib we splurged on since we thought it was SOOO important to have it!) ?You live and you learn i guess....next time I know better!?

I am a tad upset that all those bells and whistles they claim are "must-haves" - vibrating PNP with lights, music, don't work at all when you have a screaming baby (at least it doesn't work with mine). ?He just wants to be held by mom, there's no replacement for that!!?

Joes_love

considering DS favorite toys are a red plastic cup, a wooden spoon, and an envelope....yeah, we're sucked into gimmicks.

Skipperg82

Oh - and I can't forget how entertained he is by the ceiling fan....who knew??

So glad I bought all these rattles and toys - the kid only stares at the fan above him...?

Mrs.Provost

Our biggest "gimmick" suck-in was the stupid Graco SweetPeace swing. Serious. The thing cost us over $300 and we used it for like 2 weeks. Granted, it really was pretty great for those two weeks but all the sounds, motions, speeds, and all that - just don't even interest her now. She's just happy to roll around on the floor or sofa and play with her toes.

Toes are the greatest baby toy ever, once they find them...lol

I bought into it all too with Evan. but this time, other than the swing we didn't really buy many 'things' for Abby. She sleeps in our bed, so no fancy shmancy nursery like Evan had. She hangs out in our arms, or maybe sitting in her Bumbo now, but no "things" to sit her in really. And life is just fine. 

Alligator

Yes! I just got home from a baby shower and commented on all of the "junk" we get for our babies that we'll never use or don't need to use!

mandyclaire579

Totally! Ceiling fans are great!

Any kind of baby DVDs or CDs....not needed. My mom just bought used classical music cds for about $4 for DS. I think those colored packing peanuts for potty training are pretty dumb....and those peepee teepees.....just use a burp cloth.

KittenGator

I agree! I think there's a small part of us that wants to believe that there is a miracle product out there that will make parenting easy.

AlbanyBride33

In defense of the bundle me, I won't call it a gimmick at all.  I think it's great and we use it constantly.  I do agree with the travel system.  The whole thing is a pain in the asss.  As a whole I tend to be a minimalist (we didn't register for a swing, bouncer, bassinet).  I'm not one to buy a lot of crap that I absolutely don't need. 

Mrs.Provost

I guess anything I can get through a day/week without needing, is a "gimmick" to me. So far I've made it through almost 3 years without ever going "UGH Why did I not buy a bundle me?" - but I have found myself a couple of times thinking I should've bought a travel system. Although that usually fades when I'm in the mall seeing some poor Mom slogging through a super crowded store with the big honkin stroller.

goodhartedmommy

Yes, yes, yes.

 

Hey--when are you coming to KY?

Mrs.Provost

goodhartedmommy:

Yes, yes, yes.

 

Hey--when are you coming to KY?

 

As soon as we can get there...haha We want to do something fun for our summer vacay this year, since last year I was ridiculously pregnant. Abby will be almost one, Evan loves being onthe go - so we still want to drive down south and hit KY and a few other places. I got DH all hyped up to go see the sights in KY that it's still all he talks about when the vacation topic comes up (but between me and you, I don't care about sightseeing, I'm just getting ihm down there so we can hang out haha)