If you already have kids...

funmaker · November 2008

what did you register for the first time around that ended up being a waste of money?

shaysmom05 · November 2008

I didn't register for it, but I got a wipe warmer. Don't bother with it. The wipes get cold, they're bulky and get in the way. Also, a diaper pail. Just use saved grocery bags or bread bags work even better. Just pop the diaper in it, and tie it off. Also, don't get the bottle brushes with sponges on the end. They break apart and are a big mess. I liked the Munchkin brand from Target. Changing tables were also a waste. We changed DD on the floor or on our bed.

JOEBunny · November 2008

Those swaddle blankets. They never worked for DD at all. Bottles, though I got mine as hand me downs, DD only took them a few times, then I had to go buy a whole new set of platex drop ins because DD would not take Dr. browns or Avent (she was bf, but got bottles too). Cloth diapers. Hated that.

JennR · November 2008

we got some stuff from others that we didn't register for and never used - like bottles and a bottle warmer, wipe warmer, etc. But the only thing I registered for and regretted was the bouncer....and only because of the kind i registered for. It was beautiful and tasteful and had music and vibration......and no colors or toybar to actually do a darn thing for the baby. She liked to sleep there...but that was it. This time, i"ll be getting a new, 'ugly' one with all the bright colors and a toy bar

Bellisimo · November 2008

Multiple receiving blankets and multiple hooded towels. I ended up only liking to use the thick terry cloth hooded towels which I have about 4 of. And the receiving blankets were ridiculous...I must have received about 10 packs.....most are still unopened. I swaddled DS with the hospital blanket because it worked the best...and used sleep sacks and such once he was able to break free of the swaddle. I also only used the Pack N Play for the first few days of his life....he ended up loving his crib and we loved him sleeping in his own room even better! I originally planned on him sleeping in the Pack N Play in our room for the first couple of months. After we started putting him down in his crib and took the Pack N Play down, we only used it once more on a trip to SIL's house. Otherwise, we'd use portacribs and such in the hotels that we stayed at when we'd travel with DS. I used the crap out of the prefolded premium cloth diapers as burp cloths! I have LOVED my Space Saver high chair rather than a separate big high chair taking up so much space! Love my wipes warmer even though you'll hear others say it's not necessary. I still use it and will with #2. I NEVER used the bottle sterilizer or a bottle warmer. DS was breastfed, but I did pump and use bottles. We just hand washed all bottles and sterilized them in the dishwasher or boiled them on the stove.

mommiella · November 2008

Funny - I loved ALL of the things that the pp mentioned! I used my changing table until dd was 2, never wanted to risk her getting the bed messy and hauling her up and down off the floor was a pain. We used a changing pad on top of a dresser. I only used bottle brushes with the sponges on top because they really got into the small spaces and didn't scratch my bottles. I replaced them a lot. I use a diaper champ to this day. And believe it or not, I used my wipes warmer in the winter. Or house is really chilly at night and I can't imagine having someone strip me naked and then wipe me with a cold wipe. Brrrrrrr.

I never used a bottle sterilizer, the bumbo seat, the baby bathtub or the positioner. I had about 20 more receiving blankets than I needed and way too many clothes. everyone is going to see things differently, good luck!

luckyluvr · November 2008

I never used the bouncer (though people swear by them), a changing table, the swaddle blankets (I lost the directions and couldn't figure it out), and we didn't bother with a diaper disposal system (just recycle plastic grocery bags and throw away). Plus, I bought a Baby Bjorn and never really used it. DS was too large by the time I got it. I'm hoping to get more use out of it with this baby (she's measuring smaller than DS). The PnP was hardly used, either.

Dontblink · November 2008

Diaper Genie...to me it is the dumbest invention. I just put the diapers in little plastic bags and put them outside if they were poop in the garbage if not.

Bellisimo · November 2008

mommiella:
Funny - I loved ALL of the things that the pp mentioned! I used my changing table until dd was 2, never wanted to risk her getting the bed messy and hauling her up and down off the floor was a pain. We used a changing pad on top of a dresser. I only used bottle brushes with the sponges on top because they really got into the small spaces and didn't scratch my bottles. I replaced them a lot. I use a diaper champ to this day. And believe it or not, I used my wipes warmer in the winter. Or house is really chilly at night and I can't imagine having someone strip me naked and then wipe me with a cold wipe. Brrrrrrr.

I never used a bottle sterilizer, the bumbo seat, the baby bathtub or the positioner. I had about 20 more receiving blankets than I needed and way too many clothes. everyone is going to see things differently, good luck!

Oh yes, I meant to suggest the Diaper Champ. We STILL use it and have no plans to stop. I love it because it takes regular trash bags rather than separate refill bags. The Bumbo was fun for like a week. I would sit DS in it for a few minutes at a time at best. It was good for taking pictures of him sitting up. That's about it! Did I mention that I love my wipes warmer? ;-) Seriously, I wouldn't want my butt wiped multiple times throughout the day with cold wipes when I could have warm wipes!

CubbyMama · November 2008

Cloth diapers as burp cloths. We got a zillion and never used them--DD almost never spit up (she was BF...not sure if that's why?) and they're still sitting in a closet somewhere.

Mistress_Seraph · November 2008

I think it's drastically different for each mom and each baby. It may end up being a waste for some of these items but on the other hand something all other moms hate could save your sanity. You really have to play it by ear and see what YOUR child likes and doesn't like, and what works best for you.

That being said, infant bibs were useless for my DS. We didn't need bibs until he started on solids. We went through about 5 different child care providers in the first 6 months and DS liked a different type/brand of bottle with each of them so we went through a lot of bottles! And the baby swing was useless for him, he only tolorated it for a few minutes at a time.

wellfleet04 · November 2008

It really depends on you and the baby and totally differs from kid to kid. My DD never liked the swing, so I'm glad we never got one. I didn't miss it, or the wipes warmer. As for swaddle blankets, they all suck except the Miracle Blanket, which rocks! My DD was STTN 10+hrs by 10 wks with the MB.

Things I didn't really use: Pacifiers (never took one), Ultimate crib sheets (I have never, in 18 months, had to change her sheets due to an accident or spit up), swing, Bumbo seat, tasteful bouncy seat (she liked the gaudy hand me down one we had), BundleMe carseat cover (she was born in May and was too big for infant seat by winter), the one million tiny bibs and washcloths we received, ANY fancy infant outfits or jeans (she lived in onsies, sleepers and cotton pants).

Things I loved: Ergo baby carrier and Hotsling (both WAY better than Bjorn), Boppy pillow, Miracle Blanket, breathable bumpers for crib, sleepers with zippers not snaps, waterproof lap pads.

Mike&Care · November 2008

Diaper genie. What a hassle and it still stinks.

Wipes warmer. Pointless. Just let the baby get used to a cold wipe.

Bottle warmer. I breastfed, so this was pointless. By the time my DD took bottles I didn't worry about warming it up. She had to learn to drink cold formula, or I just heated the water first. Easy.

Cradle/bassinet. Grow out of it too quickly. Just skip it.

The big 4-wheel stroller/travel system. I didn't realize how bulky that thing is.

This time around I am going to get the stroller frame that you can attach any infant carseat on top of, then a jogger and a nice umbrella stroller.The big bulky stroller serves no good purpose (for me at least). I'll use the frame with the infant carseat until 1 year and the jogger when I run with baby after 6 months. The umbrella stoller can be used from 1 year until 4-5 when they are too big for it. Very practical.

Edited to add: I loved my highchair that just snapped onto our kitchen chairs. I also loved my baby bjorn, but any carrier probably would have worked. I never used the pack and play, it was sooo bulky. I ended up giving it to my parents to use as a bed when we came to visit. I loved the bouncer. DD hated our swing, but loved my parents cradle swing. We never used the burp cloths either. They dont eat solids till after 5-6 months, then you just put a bib on them. Infant bibs were pointless. Frilly outfits were pointless (except for photo ops). I did use my changing table, but have decided to pass on it this time. I am getting a dresser and changing pad on top. Truly, you end up changing the baby everywhere, and rarely on the changing table.

Emerson2007 · November 2008

We use the diaper champ but could totally do without it. In fact by the time Ds started to stand up, he figured out how to move the handle and liked to put his toys in it. Gross. We finally took it out of the room. We only used it for pee diapers bc it never seemed to block the smell of poo out. We never used a wipe warmer, bumbo (maybe twice?), big highchair was a waste, I love my small fisher price travel high chair, used a baby carrier maybe 3-4 times, used the sleep positioner for about 2 weeks, never used a swing although many babies love those, we could have also done without a changing table.

Here is what I LOVED! :

the pack n play...we have used it on many trips, I am not a fan of using hotel ones, we also keep it a lot at the in-laws who live down the street so we can put him to sleep if we are there past his bedtime.

any lightweight stroller, cloth diapers as burp cloths, cheap gerber clear tints baby bottles, pampers diapers that have leaked maybe 3 times in almost 2 years, the jumperoo, the baby papasan, avent pacis, my travel highchair once they can sit up

jenerally · November 2008

wipe warmer, diaper pail, onesies (got waaaaay too many), toys for baby (baby didn't care until around age 1), baby bathtub (used three times).

best things to register for and give as baby gifts ...

baby medicine, diapers, wipes, carseat, stroller, take and toss toddler plasticware.

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