GTKY: Baby “Don’t Needs”

tuxielove93

The other threads made me think this could be helpful: 
STM+ moms: What are the baby things you have that you didn’t use? 

The things you never had that you don’t miss?

FTM: any purchases you are questioning the usefulness of? 

stardustskies

Definitely didn't need the shopping cart/ high chair cover back in 2018. Although now with Covid, maybe? 🤔

jellie603

I definitely didn't need the Diaper Genie. We just used grocery bags or dog poop bags and tossed 'em in the regular trash or the outdoor trash bin for really gross ones. I actually found myself being lazy and/or forgetting to empty out the Genie bag and the smell got gross really fast.

We didn't get one but most moms say that the wipe warmers are pointless and a time-suck.

Honestly, the cute outfits weren't really all that practical. We were changing for spit up or diaper explosions so frequently that 1. they were wearing them for 7 seconds and 2. there are so many pieces that they don't make for quick changes. I liked the Carter's 2-piece outfits that had the cute design on the butt (like for specific holidays) and called that cute/dressy enough haha. Otherwise, he wore sleep and plays in the colder months and rompers in the summer. 

A non-backpack style diaper bag was wicked annoying. I got one of the big one-shoulder bags and hated it. I am definitely going with the backpack this time around.

cmhme

LOL! I second the cute outfits- they are only for special occasions or picture taking events. Everyday my first wore 1 piece zip-ups most of the time- so much easier and easier to "fold" laundry!

LJMoon6

@stardustskies I see people with the cart covers all the time now and thing they are super useful. But I couldn’t imagine spending the time getting it in place with a baby in my arms lol.

@jellie603 I love our diaper genie (although it’s a different brand)! But we will use the doggie poop bags too if we’re out visiting friends or family. Those definitely come in handy. I agree with the cute outfits. Besides, they only fit into them for about a month lol.

I rarely used the baby bouncer that we had. We used the swing more. The bouncer made me nervous. I think it’s at an angle that can cause breathing issues. They’re definitely not meant to be slept in (but that’s a whole other topic for safe sleep that I’m sure we’ll get to later).

Wipes warmer. Not necessary.

I'm sure I'll come up with more later.

feather_heather

Baby bum diaper cream applicator - never used it and it now lives in DD's toybox   

inthewoods23

@jellie603 haha my brother had gotten my sister these 2 strapless dresses with a tulle skirt and sequins on the top for my niece and I still wonder if my sister ever had an occasion for my niece to wear them! There were no weddings to go to the year she was born.

I've heard some people say a trash can with a lid is good enough. Thoughts?

LJMoon6

@inthewoods23 That’s basically what this diaper pail is. I would think if the trash can seals well enough it would work just fine.

https://www.amazon.com/Ubbi-Required-Awards-Winning-Registry-Must-Have/dp/B00821FLT4

sunshineandlemons

It’s fun reading what works for others and what doesn’t. Some of the things mentioned above did work for us.

Agree: shopping cart covers and cute outfits. I also was terrible about putting bows on my daughters. Wipes warmer- this is nice in theory and I will still probably use one just to take the edge off in the winter but it’s not warm by the time you get to baby’s bottom. 

Along the lines of cute outfits, baby shoes were pretty worthless for us. Since they aren’t walking, socks were always good enough. We would just put thicker ones on if we were going to be outside more than just warm car to warm house. I would also highly recommend a backpack diaper bag than one that’s like a purse. Also, baby nail clippers. We found manicure scissors to be easier to use and less of a chance of cutting baby’s skin.

And for formula feeding, a baby brezza is totally not worth it for the price but it sure is convenient!! I bought one used from a friend for $30 to use with my second and it was wonderful for motn feeds (I always had to supplement formula). It broke and was out of warranty so I will not be getting another. They’re not something I’d buy used unless you really know and trust that person due to hygiene issues.

We also registered before we knew better for breathable crib bumpers and received them- they don’t even work with kind of crib we have. My oldest never got stuck and my youngest did one time and she was over a year old. 

stardustskies

Oh!! @sunshineandlemons The Baby Brezza!! I'm hoping to breastfeed this one, but the last was formula fed and I got a Baby Brezza on Marketplace for like $70. Worth every penny in my opinion (and my husband's). To literally just push one button and have the perfect amount of formula come out at the perfect temperature, perfectly mixed. Ahhh

zwink1

So funny what some people love and other people never use!  Strictly speaking, a lot of the "must have" baby stuff isn't really necessary.  

I never even bothered with diaper genie or other bin.  We did the same thing @jellie603 did and just bagged them and tossed them straight into the outdoor trash when particularly stinky.  

Agreed on the no wipe warmer thing.  We also didn't have a bottle warmer for ages.  DS wasn't picky and didn't really care.  He did start to get a little more particular when he started daycare and they warmed his bottles for him, but by that point my sister had given me her hand me down warmer.  

Now the baby bum brush is a different story for me!  I actually loved that thing, lol.  It got in all the little nooks and crannies way easier than my finger ever did lol.  

Given babies notoriously picky personalities, we also went for more multi-taskers.  We got a bouncer/rocker/swing 3 in one figuring that would guarantee satisfaction with at least one option (and saved space).

skilouise

Would "buy this cheaper thing instead of that expensive thing" fit here too?

If so, in lieu of the Keurig style Baby Brezza, their mixing pitcher is a lot cheaper, and can make a day's worth of formula in a single batch (unless your Baby has an absurd appetite like my son did lol):

https://www.buybuybaby.com/store/product/baby-brezza-reg-one-step-formula-mixer-in-white/5280132?skuId=66940722&store=3113&mrkgcl=611&mrkgadid=&mcid=PS_googlepla_nonbrand_feeding_local&product_id=66940722&product_channel=local&adtype=pla&enginename=google&adpos=&creative=263691805886&device=m&matchtype=&network=g&utm_campaignid=71700000087012545&utm_adgroupid=58700007417728639&targetid=92700066543741577&&product_id=66940722&product_channel=local&adtype=pla&enginename=google&adpos=&creative=263691805886&device=m&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=Cj0KCQiA_c-OBhDFARIsAIFg3eze4U7kiOsi7ZcThJFyXq_9jaqdhXENakOErSVxuD0NNKHDifDGemAaAn0zEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Other options are to shake individual bottles or use one of the manual mixing pitchers.  But I found the Brezza pitcher to be a good middle- ground option because (1) it allowed for making a pitcher of formula in one hand while holding a screaming infant in the other, and (2) it mixed much more evenly with essentially no bubbles, which was much better for DS's awful reflux.

If you don't want to forgo a diaper pail entirely, Ubbi > Diaper Genie.  You can just use regular trash bags with it, versus the $$$ Diaper Genie inserts. 

I wouldn't recommend buying baby blankets, because you will inevitably be gifted with more than you could ever imagine.  You will think you can't possibly need that many, which is mostly correct.  However, they will come in handy when you are sleeping on the floor beside your fussy AF toddler's bed, and you piece the tiny blankets together over your body like a patchwork quilt to stay warm. 

Similarly, I wouldn't recommend buying full crib bedding sets. You won't need anything but the fitted sheet until your baby is big enough for a toddler bed, at which point they will have their own very strong opinions about what bedding they want. 

Other completely unnecessary (and extremely dangerous) sleep- related things: 

- Crib bumpers (all of them, whether padded or mesh.  "Breathable" is a marketing term, and all crib bumpers are death trap strangulation hazards)

- Any type of sleep positioner.  These are often marketed as "preventing SIDS," which is the opposite of the truth.

- Baby hammocks.  These should not be a thing. 

- Any sort of inclined sleeper

- DockATots, SnuggleNests, and similar "sleepers"

twentythree19

Agree with pretty much everything here! I’d say the most useless stuff I got was onesies that snap or don’t zip from top to bottom. If you can get the ones with either a double zipper or that zip from top to bottom, it makes night tone diaper changes so much easier/less likely to wake baby. 

Also food for thought- I don’t have a full sized high chair. I have two “travel”/collapsible high chairs - one just goes on one of my kitchen chairs at home and the other is actually used for travel. 

sunshineandlemons

@twentythree19 I’m glad you said full size high chair- I was debating on mentioning that. It was nice to put the baby in before they could sit up real well while the rest of us ate dinner but as soon as they can sit up on their own, into the travel chair on a kitchen chair they go. 

jellie603

@twentythree19 and @sunshineandlemons (which I freaking love your name, it reminds me of summer while it it is currently 4 degrees and snow-covered outside haha) I agree with the high chair. We had a full sized one where the seat part could slide out with our first and it was so cumbersome and took up so much space. We were also on the go a lot so we had a collapsible like camp chair for him. This time around I'm skipping the full size and getting the ones on the chairs or the camp chair type, especially since we need 2 - ugh!

cmhme

This might be due to covid but i registered for two travel changing stations that i still have not used once. They store diapers and wipes and it folds up with a changing pad and i thought i would keep one in each car for emergencies. The diaper bag (which i totally agree backpack all the way) always go so they have never been handy. 

bumblebee0210

Second (or third, or fourth):

- cute outfits (and for summer babies-- I will raise you pants! They are useless. This kid is getting a couple of onesies and a couple of bamboo sleepers in NB size and that's it).

- cart cover thing

- wipes warmer

- butt paste applicator (but butt paste is the best)

- Ubbi>diaper genie, but also agree you don't really need this. 


Also:

- Infant bath. We never had one. We honestly didn't bathe my first that much in her first ~6 months of life, and if we did she could go in the bath with us. We actually changed her diapers near the kitchen sink most of the time and washed her butt off under the water, and sort of spot-cleaned  or sponge-bathed the rest. Once she could sit up we bathed her in the kitchen sink, and then moved to the full bath. 


- (Almost) *ANYTHING* new. Seriously-- friends, fb marketplace, whatever the used-item-market in your area, you can get *everything*-- cribs, strollers, bassinets (even the snoo), carriers/backpacks, gliders, furniture, etc. 


One other thought-- the size of your house matters a lot. We live in a very big old farmhouse and my daughter's nursery was upstairs and on the opposite side of the house from the kitchen. So we weren't going to go up there to change every diaper-- we had a "diaper station" in the kitchen with just a blanket/towel to pet her on, plus wipes/diapers/butt paste. I also liked having a moses basket in addition to the bassinet for the same reason-- it was what she slept in downstairs. But if you live in a 3-room city apartment, you have no need for duplicates of any of this stuff.

This logic also applies when thinking about strollers. My city friends were all in on their uppababy vistas because they put like 1,000 miles on those things walking to daycare, the grocery store, the park, etc. We live in the country and drive everywhere, so we only needed the stroller occasionally for things like the zoo, and when she was really little, we used it a lot just to hold the infant car seat when she inevitably fell asleep in it. So we got the cheap one. (By the way, YMMV, but when my dad saw the "travel system" carseat-stroller combo, he said it was the single greatest advancement from the 80's when he had kids. He couldn't believe you didn't have to wake the kid up if they fell asleep in the car)

rubyrose_0919

I'm nervously stepping a toe in these waters and fully prepared to get roasted here 🤣 but there were two things I bought that I barely used...

The first was an actual change table! Thankfully bought it for cheap on FB marketplace! I found it much more practical to just lay a change mat on the floor and change tables take up so much room! If you are tight on space, go for a nice rocker instead! My son started rolling/army crawling/jumping off of anything EARLY in life, so even if I had used it, it would've become scary/dangerous at 4 months old.

The second was.... a breast pump. (I know this will be 'controversial' but hear me out!) First, I live in Canada, so I had an 18 month maternity leave. As a result, we only needed a handful of bottles for when I wasn't physically with my son. And early on I discovered the haakaa style pumps and this was the BEST. I would just pop it on the breast I wasn't nursing on and it would catch any leakage and draw a little more and we put away plenty of breast milk (way more than we needed!) and this was like waaaaay cheaper and easier to use and clean(!!!) than an actual breast pump. 

My only other product-related advice is to...

A.) Make sure your stroller fits in your car
B.) Use Facebook marketplace/kijiji/or whatever second hand sources you can find. Babies grow fast and don't wear out these items in the short amount of time they use them. There is a chain of stores called 'Once Upon a Child' where you can get lots of great second hand items (including the cute outfits of your baby dreams) without feeling bad about how much they cost or how much poop gets on them!
C.) Try to remember that babies go through lots of phases, and change very quickly! If you are going to invest $$, spend it on items that will last 2-3 or more stages, and save on items that will be helpful for under 3 months.

skilouise

Another thing to avoid: 

- Any baby outfit that includes buttons or snaps.  Don't do this to yourself.  When you're delirious and drunk with exhaustion, snaps and buttons are the devil.  Especially for sleepwear. 

(Side note: newborns take several weeks to fully "uncurl" after birth. Trying to get a newborns curled up legs into a straight pajama pant leg at 3 am is a PITA.  Gowns are the BEST for sleepwear for the first few weeks.  They make MOTN diaper changes SO much easier the first few weeks.  You can pair them with a swaddle or sleep sack for warmth. )

zwink1

@rubyrose_0919 I live in the great USofA, so I got a whole whopping 8 weeks of maternity leave (just another reason I won't be returning returning my present job after this baby) and used my breast pump wwaaayyy more than I wanted to.  I hated that damn thing by the end of it.  It honestly was part of the reason I stopped pumping when I did and contributed to the decline of my breastfeeding.  Luckily, the Haakaa is an amazing, amazing device and I had a pretty good stash built up by the time I chucked the obnoxious pump thanks to the Hakaa.  

Love that thing.  Haakaa 100% over anything else.  

LJMoon6

I had DS in the fall of 2019. I went back to work in January, and then a few months later the country shut down. I try to look at that as a blessing since I got to spend more time with DS and exclusively breastfeed for a couple extra months. Maternity leave in the US is horrible. IMO, minimum should be 6 months. Not 6 weeks. It's so ridiculous. It makes me angry.
I got a Haakaa but could never get anything more than a few drops while BFing on the other side. I did use the Haakaa in the shower many times to unclog a duct though. I would still recommend getting one.

rubyrose_0919

@LJMoon6 @zwink1 - I'm sure at some point in time we will have a whole thread just on breast pumps! The haakaa does seem like it is kind of hit and miss (depending on supply, maybe?) but those who it worked for LOVE it.

But, yea for the FTMs here, if you are planning to SAHM, even temporarily, maybe consider that instead of a super expensive pump. And also God Bless formula! Don't feel pressure to spend all your days and nights pumping of that doesn't work for your life!

I really hope that your federal government mandates paid parental leave for your folks soon! It is bananas that the USA doesn't have a better policy. In the meantime, I'll still be jealous of better weather/gardening zones and the fact that you have Target! 😭❤

LJMoon6

@rubyrose_0919 No Target!? Omg, how did I not know that? I love Target so much. I would be so sad lol. There are 3 within a 10 minute drive from my house. Maybe even a couple more lol. And I agree, thank god for formula! I know we'll get into this conversation later but I am firmly in the boat that fed is best. Breast feeding is soooo hard. Physically AND emotionally.

zwink1

Agreed all the way around with both of you @LJMoon6 and @rubyrose_0919

runnergirl2018

Some of these may have been mentioned:
anything with full body snaps. Don’t do that to yourself. 

Baby shoes 

Muslin blankets. Everyone was like- their the best. No. My kid was a ninja and they were unhelpful to swaddle. I found Lou Lou swaddle blankets which are amazing and have stretch and are big enough for my toddler to still use. Also loved zip up swaddle sacks but you only need like 2

nested bean sleep sack / waste of money and didn’t help my kid sleep any better 

wipe warmer - I got one on clearance when babies r us closed. Didn’t initially use it because everyone told me it was silly but then my baby freaked out every time with a cold wipe so we did use it for a few months and found it helpful until he adapted or was less sensitive to cold wipes. So mixed answer I guess. We’ll use it again for a bit but is not necessary. Get hand me down if you want to try

Bouncer. - really here the thing is every baby is different. We had a swing and bouncer and my kid didn’t like either. He liked the side to side swing at daycare but not the front to back one at home. He just wanted to be held. I pretty much used it in the bathroom to set him in it if I had to pee. I DID get a good price on a mamaroo for this babe and Hopi the multi movement helps,  I definitely sold the swing and bouncer we had


re the not needing infant car seat - I actually found it super helpful , especially for daycare. If using daycare I would check with them. Also I lived in FL with my first and although I love baby wearing, sometimes it was nice to use the infant car seat and adapter on our stroller for walks and not have another body on me when it’s a million degrees and humid. 

Changing table - get a dresser for your kid to use until they move out. Get a topper for it. We are using the same topper on a different dresser for new baby even though they won’t match. 

Crib - get one that converts to toddler and full bed and save yourself money. Get all the extras at the same time - like toddler rails and full bed conversion because you will not be able to find them later 🤣

baby bedding set - waste of money. Just buy 2-3 crib sheets. 

Also, we were encouraged to do 2 mattress protectors and layer them in crib for accidents but it was totally unnecessary. Maybe because we cloth diapered but we didn’t have leaking or blow out issues 🤷🏻‍♀️

Don’t get suckered into a million baby toys. They will be minimally interested and grow out quickly. 

Strollers - I guess know yourself here. We had 2. I have a BOB that I use all the time. We also got a Chico one that was part of a set with our car seat that we kept in hubby’s car. Used both and I baby wore. Sometimes it was too darn hot or we were going to be out a long time and they both got used often. We are not likely doing a double stroller. Kiddo one will be 3.5 and plan on doing a wagon that can also be pushed and has an infant seat option. If you have kiddos close together or think you’ll have more than one I recommend checking out mockingbird strollers. If I had gotten one of those the first time we would just use that. 

Get some stuff used if you can - bassinet, pack n play, etc. things that aren’t used a long time. We had a bunch of things we borrowed from others and hope to do that again. 

Also know your house best. Our last house was one story, open concept, 1900 sq ft and everything was close enough to each other to not need stations in different rooms. Now our house is bigger and 2 stories with a basement so I’m likely to have a little changing caddy down there since my other kiddos main play area is there. 

Also, it took us way too long to set up a changing station in our bedroom even though baby slept in there for 6 months. Hubby would walk to the front of the house to nursery to change diapers during the night for 2-3 months before my tired brain was like, that’s silly 🤣

If you plan on having more than one kiddo, but as much neutral clothes as possible to reuse. 

last don’t buy a cute fabric hamper. Babies are gross and they can’t be cleaned and will eventually smell 

runnergirl2018

@LJMoon6 I’m with you. I got 8 weeks short term disability with my first and took 4 more unpaid weeks off. I have NO paid leave for anything at my current position (no sick leave or vacation let alone maternity because we are such a small business) so we are living tight so I can save up to take 8-12 weeks off. 

runnergirl2018

Ugh I have so many feelings. 

Also breastfeeding pillow was a waste. Just use a throw pillow. 

Backpack diaper bag all the way - pro tip to find something you love that you might use as a purse longer term. Got a cheap one on Amazon at first and gifted myself a nicer one and love it and use it all the time. 

Did LOVE my snuggle me lounger and used for holding baby or supervised naps. They areNOT safe for unsupervised sleeping but we really liked it and wish I had it sooner. It actually helped us have our kid take naps not being held and was a game changer to transition him to naps in crib

i don’t understand why some products are sold that are not safe - like crib bumpers. Even my crazy kid never got his limbs stuck in the crib. Also if you think you may ever want to use a seat protector under a car seat , know that the only safe ones are sold by the manufacturer and not all car seats are safety tested for them so choose your seat wisely

one more thing I wish I knew was information on selecting a good High chair for good feeding posture. Ours was not ideal and we sold i before we moved. Planning on getting a Tripp trap or similar that can also convey to toddler chair. High chairs should not lean back and should have an adjustable foot rear and a seat that’s not too low compared to tray 

thegeekymom

I don't love baby slings for carriers, didn't use them with either even though I had them. A confusing baby carrier isn't any fun with an inpatient baby. Instead I actually used the Tula from newborn on, so expensive, but worth it. 

The dumbest things are baby towels and robes, they're only good for a cute picture that you'll probably forget to take anyway. Just use regular towels. 

I love the Ubbi diaper pail, it does need to bleached here and there though, but it just uses ordinary diaper bags and keeps the smell in one place. That being said I can't handle opening it right now with morning sickness, I always hold my breath when I open it now. 

Buy a stroller with good tires, I need a stroller with off-road tires just for my darn driveway. I didn't want a bulky stroller last time so I bought a nice Joovy umbrella stroller and boy is it bumpy. 
 

sunshineandlemons

@thegeekymom yes! Baby towels are so worthless! They’re thin, not overly absorbent, and they grow out of them so fast. 

It gets tricky with registries. We ended up with a bunch of things we didn’t really need because we didn’t want our registry to be full of expensive things and wanted to give people a range of options at different price points. This is how we wound up with baby towels! 😂 Part of the reasoning for filling the registry was also to avoid getting a bunch of clothes and it did help with that, but looking back, I think I would have registered for diapers because even if I got 10 boxes of newborn diapers, I could exchange them for a different size.

runnergirl2018

Re towels - we got 2 hooded baby ones from target that are thick and it’s still the primary bath towels we use for our toddler 🤷🏻‍♀️ But we had super thin ones gifted as well that we didn’t register for that are worthless 

stardustskies

I like the oversized bamboo toddler towels- hooded but are a rectangular shape, not triangle! Just read the reviews on what you register for.

creativesoul63

Similar to what other folks have said but I didn’t use:

Boppy/BFing pillow, just didn’t work for me or make me more comfortable 

Muslin blankets - swaddling is impossible just get the zip up/Velcro ones (btw the hospital sent us home with one)

Pacifiers - DD just never took them 

Half the newborn clothes I had - DD outgrew NB size in about 2 weeks. Also she really wasn’t all that messy actually and we’d sometimes have her in the same onesie for a couple days.

I DID use

The bum brush - otherwise you have to wipe butt paste off your fingers 12 times a day 

Infant car seat w/compatible stroller - so convenient and I used it as a place to set baby down inside as well as for the car and walks

As other people mentioned, depending on how big your house is, have some kind of place to set baby down in each room you frequent is so key, as well as a changing station on each level.

Remember, you can STILL buy things once baby is here! I was so concerned about “being prepared” and then I realized I had Amazon Prime/a husband that could run to Target and we could just get things as we needed them. There’s really no need to be so concerned about missing something.

peppylilfoxy

Re pants in summer - I would definitely say it is situational depending on where you live. I live north (cough*middle of nowhere Canada*cough) and summer nights can get quite chilly. When I was getting stuff for my son all my friends told me to make sure I had a couple pairs of pants for nights... Especially if we planned on going to the cabin.

twentythree19

So for me, the My Breast Friend nursing pillow and a foot rest were awesome with DD1, but with DD2 the boppy was a better fit. Regular pillows didn’t do it for me. I think it depends on yours and your baby’s proportions. So along that line, get them used if you can so if they don’t work out, you didn’t invest too much $. 

+1 on clothing too. I have *rarely* ever bought clothes for my girls. I’m often offered hand me downs and for the way kids grow and wear & tear, I’ll take all the free clothes I can get! 

Another thing to keep in mind on bottles, swaddles & pacifiers: don’t start out exclusively with one brand. Your LO may prefer/need a different brand and it may take some trial & error to find it. Will also put in a plug in favor of “hip friendly” swaddles. Don’t stress too much about them, but if your pedi mentions the possibility of “loose hips” or hip dysplasia in LO once they arrive, you may want to consider a switch exclusively to hip friendly swaddles. 

sunshineandlemons

@twentythree19 good call on pacis, etc. To add on to that, small bottles and pacifiers usually come in the welcome gift you get from stores for creating registries so that’s a good way to get different kinds without buying them.

Swaddles are great to buy used because they’re so expensive and babies grow out of them and into the next size so quickly. My first hated be swaddled and my second loved it!

stardustskies

With my last, I had like 3 different kinds of pacifiers "in case he didn't like one kind". He ended up not liking pacifiers at all. Flat out refused them lol 😂 All babies are different, I guess.

eyeseerivers

Not sure if it was mentioned already, I tried to read as many responses as possible. I would say don't be afraid of shopping at Once Upon a Child or other children thrift stores especially during the first couple of months when they begin to outgrow onesies left and right. Also, a lot of bigger items like pack and plays, walkers, bouncers, even strollers can be found at these stores in great conditions. 

moreamoozzarella

I promised myself I wouldn't buy anything extra this time around, and now I'm already looking at the BabyBreeza. Thanks guys 😂

Things I used less than 5 times were -
The changing table, I just set up changing stations
Baby blankets, I used the same 5 swaddles and none of the cute blankets
Bottle sanitizer
Baby bath
Baby wearing wrap. I used the Ergo a million times though.
Nipple shields
Baby towels/washcloths
Any pjs that don't open up easily. Those stupid ones that only open up down one leg are the freaking worst
Breastfeeding covers. I had one poncho style one that I did love, but other than that they didn't do much
Pacifier thermometer, such a cool idea. Such a bad reality.
Sweatshirt with a pocket to wear the baby. Another great idea that was just a mess
Bouncer
One I didn't use but I know a lot of moms do was the infant car seat. I used one that stayed in the car and just wore baby around all the time. It made things so much easier to have two hands when I was shopping and she seemed happier. 

The only thing I really used from everyone's lists above was the grocery store cart cover. Maybe I'm just a Monica style clean freak or something. 😂

twentythree19

@stardustskies yep my first kiddo wouldn’t take a paci either. They definitely all have their own preferences from an early age! 

stardustskies

Oh I forgot about the bottle sanitizer. Yeah. Definitely don't need one of those.

runnergirl2018

Also was a fan of the cart cover. I will say hubby used it more than me because I wore baby a lot. I used it more around 1yr old when he liked riding in the cart more than being on me. Given the pandemic and the fact that I won’t likely be bringing baby into a store for a while I might not get one this time if we didn’t already have one. Just something to think about