Useless:
All the increased sizes of bottle nipples. LO is almost 5mths and still on number 1s
Any Velcro swaddler, he screamed in them
Manual breast pump
Love:
A+A blankets
Nb clothes- he was in them forever since he was early and I appreciated the warmer clothes since I turned out having a March baby
Advent bottle warmer
Here are the things I found useless, hated or regretted
0-3 month size sleepers. People kept buying these for us but it's summer, we don't have AC and his room never gets below 77. He sleeps in a onsie and sleep sack. I have a stack of unused sleepers, including fleece ones!
Breast pump (controversial i know) but LO is EBF and I'm on mat leave for a year. The few times I've used the pump it's messed with my supply and created an overactive letdown. My current freezer stash is 2.5oz and I don't plan on increasing it. Maybe I'll use it in future if I have to leave him for any length of time??
Swaddle sacks. He always kicked himself out of the leg pocket section. We found it easier to use A&A type swaddle cloths and do them up nice and tight, now he's in sleep sacks
Our travel system. We have the Baby Trend ELX jogger travel system and while I love the stroller the car seat was awful for the first few months. The seat has a really steep incline so he was always far too upright. It's ok now he has better head control but as a NB his head used to fall dangerously forward. We put too much focus on the stroller and not enough on the car seat.I wish we had spent a little more and got the BOB/ Britax combo
Disposable breast pads. Have whole box sitting in the closet unused. For the first few weeks I liked the reusable cotton ones and after that I haven't needed any at all. i hated how they felt and made crinkly noises, like wearing a period pad in my bra
Soft carriers. We have a ring sling and moby. DS just about tolerates being worn in he structured carrier (Lillebaby) but only if I'm moving, as soon as I stop or sit down it's fuss and cry. He cries as soon as he's put in the moby or ring sling. As a NB he was happier hanging out in his bouncy chair than being worn
So lets hear your hated, regretted or never used baby items
These are basically the same as mine except for the travel system. We have a Chicco jogging stroller/car seat system, and we love it! Otherwise all the same. I was packing DD's 0-3 clothes, and we have an ungodly amount of sleepers that she's never worn. She also doesn't like being worn, and I have TWO slings and a Moby. Ah there's always the next child, right?
Also, along with a pump, we never use bottles/breast milk storage bags (I'm a SAHM now). She doesn't like bottles anyway (probably bc we rarely make her use them), and I really hate pumping.
Why bother: Co-sleeper Manly second diaper bag Breast milk storage bags Nursing pads Sleep nursing bras (I need something I can pump with on, too) Shoes Frilly dresses people gave us
Love: RnP (she doesn't sleep well anywhere else yet. Not looking forward to the transition to crib.) a+a blankets Carter's onesies Old Navy socks (the only ones that stay on -- and LO tends to have cold feet) Baby Bjorn bouncy chair and toy bar (worth at jeast an hour if entertainment at a stretch) Baby Einstein reef reef playgym Lamaze peacock Angel Care bath support Simple Wishes hands free pumping bra
Like: Boppy Medela PISA swaddleme swaddles - LO hated them early on, so we used the a+a blankets until she was busting out too easily. She tolerates the swaddleme now, and she (and we) get much better sleep because we can still swaddle.
Hate/didn't use: breast friend pillow (LO ended up not nursing I EP'd for awhile). Hats, bibs (for now seems like we have hundreds and they're just taking up space for the time being). Honestly didn't get a lot that we hated. Oh a ton of pink stuff, everyone knows I hate pink but seems like that's all she got even tho we didn't reveal she's a girl until the shower.
Love: angel care bath support (can use two hands!!) bumbo (given to us as a hand me down. DH n I use it while we eat breakfast before he goes to work and she loves to sit there n talk to us). I know this one has been controversial but DH bought the baby brezza formula maker. We love it. Perfect temp everytime. Always measured consistently (you just have to clean it every other day at least). A lot faster than the bottle warmer n we don't get bubbles that upset her tummy. Also love our britax travel system. And my breat pump helped me give her BM for a solid 8 weeks for every feeding and enough stash to give a 5 oz bottle a day for the next 2 months on top of that. Oh and who doesn't like A&A blankets! And she loves Sophie!
**Lighting a candle in memory of our angel babies and angel mama in heaven from May'14**
Blankets galore. I took back so many. And got so many homemade ones. I love the sentiment but ds isn't a blanket kinda guy and some aren't my style. I hope to have a use for them one day.
Love kickee pants pajamas. Soft light bamboo. Perfect for summer.
Love these too. Nice pajamas and sleep sacks are things I splurged on this time for the small sizes, because I figure if I'm up in the MOTN holding a squish I want them to be in nice soft fabric while I'm holding them...
I just ordered 6 to 12 mon for ds and I was slapped with a 50 duty bill. DH was not impressed.
Yep. That's Canada for you. And children's items are supposed to be duty free. I sent in the appeal form so I hope I get some $$ back. Otherwise those are come expensive jammies!
So annoyed with the Bumbo! My little guy is 11weeks Friday and I just took the Bumbo out yesterday to try it out since his neck is almost stronge enough for it. Well, his little fat legs just fit in it and get stuck as I try to take him out.he a little chunky, but not huge. So I am going to guess that he will fit in it for another week or two!!!
I'm going to return it, I think. He really liked it when I put him in it so I'm kind of bummed about it.
So annoyed with the Bumbo! My little guy is 11weeks Friday and I just took the Bumbo out yesterday to try it out since his neck is almost stronge enough for it. Well, his little fat legs just fit in it and get stuck as I try to take him out.he a little chunky, but not huge. So I am going to guess that he will fit in it for another week or two!!!
I'm going to return it, I think. He really liked it when I put him in it so I'm kind of bummed about it.
The Mama and Papas one is better for chunk. But harder on the wallet. I got one of the first ones, and they are a bit bigger. I tried him at a friends in a new one and he barely fit!
@deanna1313, I've heard there is a larger size for babies with thicker thighs?
Me-41, Hubby-40. 1st BFP-8/17/12!Missed Miscarriage discovered @ 8 week US.D&C. 2nd BFP-2/13/13!Blighted Ovum discovered @ 8 week US. Natural miscarriage. 3rd BFP-5/22/13!By
early June, progesterone plummeting.Another loss. August 2013 - started Donor Egg process, but surprise BFP with my own eggs.
Dear Son born 5/28/14
@florasecret@QOTR thanks! Good to know. He has a little chunk, but really isn't over the top big so I was really surprised when he didn't fit. I'll try to return this one and get another type.
So far we've used our B-Ready all of one time. We wear more often since it's more convenient, and we're just now getting to a point where I would let her be in the actual seat. We may use it more in the future, but right now it's collecting dust.
The activity mat/gym. A HATED it for her first six weeks of life. She enjoyed it for about a week until she started being pissed off that she couldn't move around. It too, is sitting, collecting dust.
Lil Joey's newborn diapers. They. Suck. She blew out of one the very first time she wore it, and she outgrew absorbency within a week. I'm SO glad I didn't pay full price!
I'm in the middle of the road on the My Brest Friend. On one hand, it saved my life the first few weeks and I can't imagine not using it, but now that she's older and we have the hang of things, we're chill with just a regular pillow if anything at all.
The Halo Sleepsack/Swaddle contraption. A will tolerate a regular sleep sack, but she HATED this one, most especially the swaddle part. She spent five minutes attempting to bust out before she finally cried and I saved her.
Things I LOVE:
RNP. She loved sleeping in it and it fit perfectly next to my bed. So easy to fold up and move, or to take somewhere with us. Once she hit three months though, she thought it was a toy and started to push/launch herself with her legs and feet, so now we're team PNP
Her fake Wubbanub (aka momma is to cheap to buy something she can make herself) It makes driving in the car so much easier because she can hang on to it. She's learning to use it to put her pacifier back in. I have a much larger thing to find when fishing for it when it's the two of us in the car. She loves loving on it.
#allthecarriers ... Oh, except my Ergo. I hate it.
Cloth diapers. I always knew we'd use them, but I really do love them.
Receiving blankets. I use them for everything. Baby is cold? Receiving blanket. Baby needs to be swaddled because she's acting a fool? Receiving blanket. Boobs are shooting like Old Faithful because baby unlatched mid suck? Receiving blanket. Love them.
@deanna1313 my daughters legs are really wedged into her bumbo too, I just recently ordered a Summer Infant Activity Seat, its just like a bumbo but allows for chunkier thighs and has toys and activities on it and can be used later as a booster seat, they're only $40-$50 depending on which one you get. You could look into that instead
@deanna1313 my daughters legs are really wedged into her bumbo too, I just recently ordered a Summer Infant Activity Seat, its just like a bumbo but allows for chunkier thighs and has toys and activities on it and can be used later as a booster seat, they're only $40-$50 depending on which one you get. You could look into that instead
We love this thing! Plus it's such a bonus that it grows with them!
Someone told me that they put a blanket down (like an A&A blanket) before sticking their kid in the bumbo and it's easier to get them our when their legs stick.
There were a few PPs who said they loved the angel care bath support and I've been looking for an alternative to our current bath tub so I bought this and we used it for the first time tonight- LOVE it! Thank you for posting ladies! Made bath time so fun, DD was happy the whole time kicking her feet under the water.
We also bought the 4moms spout cover to monitor the temperature which also worked fantastic.
Regret:
All the pacifiers. LO won't take any, I bought several different brands/styles but no.
My Brest Friend. Maybe I got a bum one but it's very lumpy. Plus it's not very comfy when sitting in the glider with that part that wraps around the back. I could only tolerate it on the couch. I'm much happier with the Boppy. At least I got the MBF at a clearance price.
SwaddleMe: LO ended up hating her arms swaddleD. used these briefly with her arms out but if was a pain to get her wrapped. Also the Velcro was so loud it would sometimes wake her back up after a feeding if I fumbled with it.
Love:
Boppy. I nurse with it all the time, and am starting to use it to help LO sit up. We went OOT and forgot to bring it, after a couple days I had to get another one.
RNP. She slept in it much better than the bassinet.
Ergo. We had some days that she just had to be held at all times. The Ergo made it possible for me to get a few things done, like eating.
OBall. This is the only toy DD has held to play with so far. It's lightweight, colorful, makes a little bit of noise, and is easy for her to hold on to.
Safety 1st Nail Clippers with Light. They are great! Makes trimming her nails not so scary.
It’s not that I don’t like you, it’s that I don’t know you. Stranger Danger.
Re: Just for fun - things you never used, hate or regret
Also, along with a pump, we never use bottles/breast milk storage bags (I'm a SAHM now). She doesn't like bottles anyway (probably bc we rarely make her use them), and I really hate pumping.
Co-sleeper
Manly second diaper bag
Breast milk storage bags
Nursing pads
Sleep nursing bras (I need something I can pump with on, too)
Shoes
Frilly dresses people gave us
Love:
RnP (she doesn't sleep well anywhere else yet. Not looking forward to the transition to crib.)
a+a blankets
Carter's onesies
Old Navy socks (the only ones that stay on -- and LO tends to have cold feet)
Baby Bjorn bouncy chair and toy bar (worth at jeast an hour if entertainment at a stretch)
Baby Einstein reef reef playgym
Lamaze peacock
Angel Care bath support
Simple Wishes hands free pumping bra
Like:
Boppy
Medela PISA
swaddleme swaddles - LO hated them early on, so we used the a+a blankets until she was busting out too easily. She tolerates the swaddleme now, and she (and we) get much better sleep because we can still swaddle.
ETA: because phone and MOTN feeding
Love: angel care bath support (can use two hands!!) bumbo (given to us as a hand me down. DH n I use it while we eat breakfast before he goes to work and she loves to sit there n talk to us). I know this one has been controversial but DH bought the baby brezza formula maker. We love it. Perfect temp everytime. Always measured consistently (you just have to clean it every other day at least). A lot faster than the bottle warmer n we don't get bubbles that upset her tummy. Also love our britax travel system. And my breat pump helped me give her BM for a solid 8 weeks for every feeding and enough stash to give a 5 oz bottle a day for the next 2 months on top of that. Oh and who doesn't like A&A blankets! And she loves Sophie!
I just ordered 6 to 12 mon for ds and I was slapped with a 50 duty bill. DH was not impressed.
I'm going to return it, I think. He really liked it when I put him in it so I'm kind of bummed about it.
1st BFP-8/17/12! Missed Miscarriage discovered @ 8 week US. D&C.
2nd BFP-2/13/13! Blighted Ovum discovered @ 8 week US. Natural miscarriage.
3rd BFP-5/22/13! By early June, progesterone plummeting. Another loss.
August 2013 - started Donor Egg process, but surprise BFP with my own eggs.
Dear Son born 5/28/14
He has a little chunk, but really isn't over the top big so I was really surprised when he didn't fit. I'll try to return this one and get another type.
The activity mat/gym. A HATED it for her first six weeks of life. She enjoyed it for about a week until she started being pissed off that she couldn't move around. It too, is sitting, collecting dust.
Lil Joey's newborn diapers. They. Suck. She blew out of one the very first time she wore it, and she outgrew absorbency within a week. I'm SO glad I didn't pay full price!
I'm in the middle of the road on the My Brest Friend. On one hand, it saved my life the first few weeks and I can't imagine not using it, but now that she's older and we have the hang of things, we're chill with just a regular pillow if anything at all.
The Halo Sleepsack/Swaddle contraption. A will tolerate a regular sleep sack, but she HATED this one, most especially the swaddle part. She spent five minutes attempting to bust out before she finally cried and I saved her.
Things I LOVE:
RNP. She loved sleeping in it and it fit perfectly next to my bed. So easy to fold up and move, or to take somewhere with us. Once she hit three months though, she thought it was a toy and started to push/launch herself with her legs and feet, so now we're team PNP
Her fake Wubbanub (aka momma is to cheap to buy something she can make herself) It makes driving in the car so much easier because she can hang on to it. She's learning to use it to put her pacifier back in. I have a much larger thing to find when fishing for it when it's the two of us in the car. She loves loving on it.
#allthecarriers ... Oh, except my Ergo. I hate it.
Cloth diapers. I always knew we'd use them, but I really do love them.
Receiving blankets. I use them for everything. Baby is cold? Receiving blanket. Baby needs to be swaddled because she's acting a fool? Receiving blanket. Boobs are shooting like Old Faithful because baby unlatched mid suck? Receiving blanket. Love them.
Stuffed animals. No use!
Someone told me that they put a blanket down (like an A&A blanket) before sticking their kid in the bumbo and it's easier to get them our when their legs stick.
We also bought the 4moms spout cover to monitor the temperature which also worked fantastic.
All the pacifiers. LO won't take any, I bought several different brands/styles but no.
My Brest Friend. Maybe I got a bum one but it's very lumpy. Plus it's not very comfy when sitting in the glider with that part that wraps around the back. I could only tolerate it on the couch. I'm much happier with the Boppy. At least I got the MBF at a clearance price.
SwaddleMe: LO ended up hating her arms swaddleD. used these briefly with her arms out but if was a pain to get her wrapped. Also the Velcro was so loud it would sometimes wake her back up after a feeding if I fumbled with it.
Love:
Boppy. I nurse with it all the time, and am starting to use it to help LO sit up. We went OOT and forgot to bring it, after a couple days I had to get another one.
RNP. She slept in it much better than the bassinet.
Ergo. We had some days that she just had to be held at all times. The Ergo made it possible for me to get a few things done, like eating.
OBall. This is the only toy DD has held to play with so far. It's lightweight, colorful, makes a little bit of noise, and is easy for her to hold on to.
Safety 1st Nail Clippers with Light. They are great! Makes trimming her nails not so scary.
It’s not that I don’t like you, it’s that I don’t know you. Stranger Danger.