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May 2018 Moms
Poppy0419
member
STMs: Best and Worst Baby Gear Buys
Poppy0419
member
I thought the STMs could chime in here and give some perspective to those working on baby registries/planning baby gear/budgeting.
What are the top 3 BEST things you bought for baby? Why?
What are the top 3 WORST things you bought that were a total waste of money and why?
What are the top 3 BEST things you bought for baby? Why?
What are the top 3 WORST things you bought that were a total waste of money and why?
Re: STMs: Best and Worst Baby Gear Buys
1. Solly Wrap! Perfect for the newborn days where baby wants to be held but things actually need to get done too. I would even put her in it for walks (stroller and 2 dogs was too hard).
2. A comfy glider I could live in. Because some days I did just that.
3. Pack N Play with the changer on it. It was awesome to be able to keep in our bedroom for the first few months and have an easy place to change diapers and store things.
Worst:
1. Mamaroo. I swear it's a hoax to take $300 from you. Baby HATED it and mama could have bought a ton of wine to drink while holding baby.
2. Wipe warmer. No clue where that thing is now but it just dried wipes up and wasted them. Pass.
3. Tons of brand new expensive clothes. Im still guilty of this one. But she looks so stinkin cute so.
- Aden and Anais Swaddling Blankets- they were great for everything when DS was a baby and now he has one he calls his titi and is his comfort item of choice.
- Wubbanub pacifier- It didn't get lost. It took up a year to lose one and it was when DS chucked it out of his stroller when we were on a run and I didn't notice. Plus it is easier for them to maneuver into their mouths once they gain some hand control
- Tula Baby Carrier- I wish I had bought this earlier, but it is so comfortable to wear and it lasts so much longer than a lot of the other carriers. I need to get the infant insert for this time around.
What are the top 3 WORST things you bought that were a total waste of money and why?Also, a pumping bra. If you plan on pumping, get a hands free bra. Otherwise you have to hold the things on there and can't do anything else with your hands.
And a play yard thing with a gate. With two of them, it was so nice to have somewhere "safe" they could play so we didn't have to baby proof the entire house.
Married June 2012
BFP June 2013- blighted ovum, D&C Aug 2013
BFP Oct 2013- twins! A&H born May 2014
BFP Aug 2017- EDD 5/8/17
I had a bottle warmer which was crap. When we had to switch to formula I got a babybrezza and that thing was a lifesaver. Hoping it's going to stay packed away this time but if you use formula it's awesome.
1. Baby carriers. I'm a huge babywearer, I have tons, but you definitely need at least one
2. Rock n play - ds2 never used it but it was a life saver with ds1
3. A really good water bottle with a straw that you can use one handed
Worst
1. Baby toys - seriously, stop the toy explosion before it starts!
2. Wipe warmer - it was a gift, we never used it
3. Pacifiers - we tried so many kinds but neither of my kids ever took them
@sandbar517 I also second a pumping bra. Made my life so much easier!
Baby mitts. I just kept my girls' nails short so they didn't scratch themselves. They took too long to try and get off and on.
Other things I haven't bought myself, but it was because I didn't think I would need them. A baby/infant snowsuit thing. You're not supposed to put them in their car seats with them on anyway.
Married June 2012
BFP June 2013- blighted ovum, D&C Aug 2013
BFP Oct 2013- twins! A&H born May 2014
BFP Aug 2017- EDD 5/8/17
1. Rock N Play. Love it.
2. Good baby wraps or carriers. I like my moby. I wanted a ring sling.
3. Aden and Anais blankets. Or muslin knock offs. I LOVE them. Especially for littles in the summer. Perfect for breastfeeding covers because they actually breathe.
Worst
1. Wipe warmers. So dumb.
2. Super expensive clothes or bedding. They will get pooped on, peed on, spit up on, ruined and grown out of too fast. Not worth it.
3. Bottle sanitizing station thing. So unnecessary.
I lost my angels 07/2010, 04/2017, 10/2017
Meimsx no more
Rock n' play: my son slept in it for about 3 months and it was a life saver!
Swaddle me/sleep sacks: because sleep is obviously a trend here haha
Baby swing: we had the Fisher Price Snug a Monkey and he loved that too. Awesome for naps!
WORST:
Pacifers: My son never took to them so I had a bunch of unused ones I gave to friends.
Shoulder diaper bag: I found it so much easier with a backpack style one then an over the shoulder one. We ditched our traditional one pretty early on. Especially if you're walking around somewhere for a long time.
Baby food maker: I preferred my food processor and regular ice cube trays to the Baby Bullet
pack n play
my breast friend pillow
rock n play
Worst:
Jumparoo
Too many super cute & complicated outfits for a newborn.
Any bathtub toy organizational item.
best:
A&A swaddle blankets: linen over cotton, more stretch
carters swaddle blankets: a little thicker and have great stretch
Nose Frida- way better than those little bulb things. I thought it was nasty when I first saw it but it's a life saver
Ergo 360- looove
Pumping Bra
Back up power cords and pump supplies- can't tell you how many times I forgot something at home. After I kept a stash at work, never had to worry about that again
Dohm sound machine- best sound machine out there, hands down. I even bought one for myself.
Worst:
Playtex Vent air bottles- we could never get a proper closure and lost so much milk because of it
Baby shoes- they are adorable but resist the temptation!! I promise you will barely use them, if you use them at all
Baby carrier. I used the k'tan and loved it!
Muslin blankets. We used them for everything!
Pack & play with bassinet and changing area, that was in our room and basically all we used for 6 months.
Worst:
The fancy matching crib set of sheet, bumpers, and comforter. You only use the sheet, it's a total waste.
Shopping cart cover. I only used it once, it was more annoying than it was worth.
Two for one: the boppy pillow & the bumbo seat. I never used either more than once.
Bobby pillow - I honestly don't think I could have successfully breastfed without mine!
Mei Tai baby carrier - two ties and you're off!
Velcro swaddlers - my DD could squirm her way out of the best swaddles, these kept her nice and snug
Worst:
Wipes warmer - it got cold by the time it got to her bum and also dried out the wipes
Store brand diapers - I could tell they were cheap, they didn't feel like they'd be very comfortable to wear either
Tons of clothes - we were given lots at showers and I bought when I thought was cute, too. DD didn't even wear all her newborn clothes before she outgrew them!
BFP 2/25/14 EDD 11/5/14 BD 11/4/14
BFP 8/26/17 EDD 5/5/18
-Woombie brand swaddles.
-Sleep gowns/sacks - the ones where the bottom is open and all you have to do is pull up and down for diaper changes
-video monitor
Honorable mention: Dr. Brown bottles. Both my kids were almost EBF, but those few bottles they would both only take Dr. Brown.
WORST:
-Pack n play - it became a glorified laundry hamper. Neither of my girls enjoyed it for sleep or play.
-Baby bath tubs - they get moldy and are a huge PITA. We use just a sling-type thing and put it in the bathtub.
-Real clothes for newborn babies. Plan on having your baby live in ZIP UP pajamas or sleep and plays (read: ZIP UP). Return any impractical baby shower baby outfits and buy some more pajamas.
Dishonorable mention: Any infant car seat. Both my girls screamed and screamed until they sat more upright in a convertible seat. Both were switched to one at 3 months old. Plus, they are HEAVY. I should have saved the money from an infant seat to put towards a nice convertible from the ride home from the hospital. That being said, this baby being a third will be in an infant seat for convenience.
Im a Rock n Play hater, BUT I own one because you never know. It's SO hard to know what babies like and they don't like.
Merlins Magic Sleepsuit also needs to be on best because it's the reason I got any sleep during the 4 month regression.
Halo Swaddles, Woombie...yall the real MVPs.
Nose Frieda...the best and most disgusting thing you'll ever love.
Snoogle. That's for you. Perfect for pregnancy. Also perfect for building a wall to keep your husband away.
Yall are reminding me of everything I'm thankful I have.
Yes, it is impractical. However, DW and I spent 50% of our maternity leave dressing DS in adorable outfits and taking his picture. They're tiny squishes for like, 5 minutes. Capture their cuteness with cameras and adorable baby clothes. To make it cost-effective, shop at consignment stores because so many of the outfits are $1 and have only been worn once or twice.
We even sprung for the Honest Company diapers because they had little skulls on them!! SO CUTE!!!! And balloons! And boomboxes! And little rainbows!! Ah, my boobs are doing that sympathetic tingly thing when I think of newborns.
/re-lurk
But I might be back. Maybe.
Must buy:
A REALLY DAMN GOOD NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHER. It's worth every penny, I promise. And start looking soon and book ASAP because the good ones book up FAST.
Don't buy:
Baby books. I'm sure I'll get hate for this. I do a book every year to document my girls lives, and do it all on Shutterfly. It's way easier and better looking and less of a boring time suck.
My favorite baby items: jogging stroller, pack & play, cloth diapers, disposables for nightime, car seat, a bunch of one-zip sleepers, Avent bottles, dishwasher, washing machine, sleep sacks, waterproof pad, kitchen sink for bathing, thick blanket for tucking around baby when outside in the winter, rattle, mobile.
My least favorite baby items: crib, snap-together sleepers, whale-shaped tub, baby carriers that kill your back and are impossible to put on correctly, diaper pail, walker.
I think the two most useless purchases for us were the Swing, my son hated swings. He liked to bounce, we never did buy a bouncer though for fear that he would hate that too.
Also I have to say that the Moby Wrap was horrible for me. It looked like such an amazing baby wearing option but when it came time to use it, I had a C/S and that thing was horrid. I greatly preferred the sling I had. Less pressure on the middle region.
The best purchase was by far the boppy pillow. I didn't use it for nursing, it just became my son's favorite pillow, he had acid reflux and it really helped to have him sleep in it, I know, it's not recommended. But he didn't seem to choke on his own vomit being up right
Now there is a few things that I wish I bought or at least bought before birth.
I planned on BFing, so I didn't care about buying pumps or bottles or anything lol. Well that plan didn't work as well as I wanted. My son wouldn't latch or stay latched so 3days after birth and a C/S, we made a trip to Wal-Mart to find a pump. It was hell and I won't make that mistake a second time!
Also, being young, I didn't think I needed a changing table. Again. Pain from C/S made learning over on the floor to change baby, excruciating. We changed him mostly on our bed and he projectiled poop across my entire bed at least twice. So that's a must this time!
I also plan to get a co-sleeper. It was so much easier for me to co sleep than it was to use a crib. I suppose his crib was a useless purchase as well
yes's:
We didn't use a boppy, we used the Dr Brown's Gia, and I loved it. It's shaped like a shrimp, so that's what we call it. My sister has it right now because my niece is still tiny, but you best believe I'm getting that back!
Tula Blankets. They're so soft, and they're huge enough for swaddling, and as a toddler blanket later. Also not thick, which is super important to us in Florida.
A wrap until your little is big enough for a structured carrier. I had a Boba wrap, which was a stretch wrap, and I had a love hate relationship with it. I would normally just wear it topless which was great for breastfeeding, and not sitting all day, but he got too heavy for it super quickly. We use a lillebaby now, and he loves it. I'm sad that I haven't felt up to wearing him since I got KU.
I loved the nose frida. It was a life saver.
We used the rock and play on trips, but he didn't sleep in it very well outside of that, so we gave that away. He hated the swing most of the time, and would bawl his eyes out if he was left in it. Ever. Unless my mom was there, then he'd sleep in it for hours. (Baby's are assholes, don't let them fool you)
We love having a designated changing table, and we still use his bathtub. But I'd skip the newborn tubs, and just use the sink. A comfy glider rocker.
If you decide to cloth diaper then I highly recommend a diaper sprayer, and a high quality wet bag, or pale liner. If we could go back and cloth diaper all over again form the beginning, we would have gone straight to organic cotton, and not used synthetic at all. (So many unnecessary rashes
We had a sleep sack that we used when he sized out of the blankets we had at the time for swaddling. It was pretty great.
No's:
Wipe warmer, bottle warmer, pacifiers (he used them for about a week then decided I was a better option)
Baby book or calendar. You're more than likely going to upload everything to Facebook, or instagram, anyway so just make a Chatbooks account and use it.
Toys. Just get a playmat and don't worry about anything else.
Clothes. I plan to make a capsul wardrobe for the newborn and 3m size this time of like ten onesies and four pairs of pants. Outside of that people are going to give you a bunch of crap anyway.
UO: a baby monitor. We used it once, heard the ghosts in our house, and never used it again.
A nursing cover.
This is an article highlighting some of the issues with the bumbo seat.
https://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-03-15/health/ct-met-bumbo-posture-20120315_1_physical-therapists-developmental-benefits-babies
1. Rock and play
2. Nosefrida (if your kid will be in daycare, knuckle under and get it)
3. Ktan wrap (with my second)
4. Manual pump (again really only with my second but saved me)
5. Breast friend pillow- I loved this when baby was tiny. Boppy was better when older. I had the breast friend only for my second and having both was awesome so I had one in the nursery and one downstairs. Get one of them second hand so you don't feel guilty about it!
6. Some sort of sound machine (sleep sheep)
also my first was also about the swing and my second all about the bouncer and never the two shall switch so good luck figuring that out!
worst:
1. Receiving blankets- wtf are these for? People use them as burp clothes I think but idk, I found them pointless and we got tons. I returned a lot and still had too many.
2. Bottle drying racks that take up tons of room. We have decent counter space and I was still just bitter
3. Baby hats because my kids have giant heads
4. Diaper pail
1. Baby carrier- swrioalubhest thing ever! I have a Solly stretchy wrap I love for the newborn stage and a lillebaby which is great for bigger babies and I can still wear my toddler in mine.
2. Arms reach cosleeper. So much easier to get baby in and out then a bassinet or pack n play.
3. Swaddles. The miracle blanket is great for super strong, big babies.
What are the top 3 WORST things you bought that were a total waste of money and why?
1. Baby bath tub. We coshowered with my son and will with this one.
2. A bunch of baby bottles of on brand. Babies are picky and we had to try several before my son would take one.
3. Baby jeans. My son screamed whenever he wore anything other then stretchy pants...I feel like that too lol.
Best:
Pack n play with newborn napper is where did slept in our room till she sized out. It was the only way she could sleep with her reflux because the incline helped.
Boppy! Still using it at 15 months
Swing and bouncer so baby can nap wherever and give you a rest
Muslin swaddles are great for summer for out and about
Ubi diaper pail. Hello stink sealer!
Graco modes travel system made going out with baby easy
Stroller hook to hold shopping bags for quick run to the store
Play gym. DD loves hers and started grabbing toys and rolling over from playing in it
Skip Hop Owl sound machine and night light. DD loves hers!
A comfy leather nursing chair. DD spit up constantly(reflux) so clean up was easier.
Cart/highchair cover. I saw other moms bash them, but my DD had only had one cold in her 15 months. We have a neoprine one from BRU
Silicone table place mat, silicone scoop bibs, and sippy cup strap make going out to eat a breeze
Ask for books instead of cards at your shower. My DD has a fully stocked library and she's book obsessed.
Worst:
Halo and swaddle me swaddles. DD busted out of them after a couple weeks and I woke up one morning and she had worked the strap over her face!!!!!
Nursing covers. DD refuses too nurse under one. Get nursing tanks to layer underneath instead
Expensive pump bags. I picked up a great purse at the maxx for $30 and it's inconspicuous.
Boon grass drying rack. A drying mat works better.
We skipped a lot of the nonsense stuff like wipe warmers.
LOVED: pack n play, baby carrier, nursing stool (I am splurging this time on a glider/recliner), halo swaddles (want to try woombie this time), sound machine, and Tommee tippee pacifiers. My kid also LOVED his jumperoo.
NOT SO MUCH: pumping bra, bumbo, rock n play (for us, but I want the auto rock this time around!), SNAPPED CLOTHES- DO NOT WANT
Married June 2012
BFP June 2013- blighted ovum, D&C Aug 2013
BFP Oct 2013- twins! A&H born May 2014
BFP Aug 2017- EDD 5/8/17
I find it such common practice that I no longer look at is as an extra gift. Have you looked at the price of cards?? I just bought my daughters classmate a gift and spent $6 on the stupid card! I can't find good cards for under $4. I'd much rather have it go towards a book.
Also, I don't save cards.
Worst: wipe warmer, baby mittens (I used socks on my baby's hands when I needed to stop scratching because they don't fall off like the mitts), baby clothes (FYI you'll probably have your baby live in footed pjs for months), pjs that snap up instead of zipper (That's just asking for me to have a breakdown in the middle of the night when I can't make them match).
What I find "gift grabby" on baby shower invitations is requiring a package of diapers. I've had one say it was required for entry. Bitch, this is at your house, this ain't no damn club with a cover charge. Usually I see them as "optional" for a raffle. But, yeah, I don't like being told exactly what extra to bring.