Most Useless Baby Stuff: Newborn Edition

As a new mom to be who didn’t want to be overloaded with a lot of extra junk, I tried to research all the baby items that were absolute musts for newborns.  I made careful notes and was judicious in purchasing. Turns out that some of those must haves just did not apply to us at all.  Like almost everything to do with baby, so much depends on what kind of mom you are and what kind of baby you have. The items that were life savers for other moms ended up being complete wastes of space for us.  So perhaps useless would be the wrong term.  Let's just say that these were least loved items I had stocked up on and ended up not finding all that critical.   With that in mind, I give you ...

The Top Ten Most Useless Least Loved Baby Items
mostuselessbabyitems

1. Onsies.  This one seemed like a no brainer – everyone said I should have lots of these as baby will pretty much live in them. I had several in newborn, 0-3 months and 3-6 months sizes all ready to go.  It never even occurred to me that a baby born in the middle of winter wouldn’t have a lot of occasion to wear a onesie without some kind of pants to go with. And considering the number of diaper changes in those first few weeks, the last thing you want to do is add another thing to put on and take off.  Since she needed to be covered from shoulder to toe anyway, why not put her in a footie outfit and be done with it?  Yea, that’s what we did.  With the exception of one time, I never used those white onesies.

2. Diaper Pail.  I was sort of resistant to this one anyway but many people told me it was an absolute must.  So we bought one and then got another as a gift.  Guess what?  We have two unused diaper pails collecting dust.  Perhaps its my overwhelming aversion to having bins full of baby waste laying around but we simply throw it in the trash and take the trash out as needed.  Duh.

3. Boppy Pillow Not only was it useless at home, it was also one of the things I dragged with me to the hospital.  Everyone told me it (or one of the other products like it) would be critical.  I guess I must be an odd shape because my anatomy just didn’t line up with the boppy.  So it wasn’t helpful for nursing at all.  I thought it might be handy to use to put baby in on occasion but she isn’t a big fan of sitting in it in general.  It does make a pretty supportive pillow when I remember to use it but if I had never had it, I would have never missed it either.

4. Baby Towel  I know I’ve personally bought a lot of these for moms to be along with other cute baby bath stuff.  Never again. Much thinner and not nearly as absorbent as one of our regular bath towels.  It only took one bath to realize that using the cute towel wasn’t worth it. Skip that purchase and just use one of your own.

5. The Happiest Baby on the Block  So many people recommended this book to me so I ran out and read it quickly. I was somewhat shocked to finish it and realize the whole book can be summed up in 5 words.  Sure, those 5 words are very useful and I think its handy to know but save yourself the $10 and just read the jacket. 

6. Bundle Me I thought for sure this thing would be necessary since we were having a winter baby.  We did use it a few times but because we were using the car seat in the stroller for those first few months AND using a bundle me in the car seat is a safety no-no, it just didn’t make a lot of sense to put that thing in and out all the time.  The same cozy factor can be accomplished with blankets.  (That said, if I had used the stroller without the car seat right from birth, I think the bundle me would have been handy)

7. Any Swaddle blanket except the Miracle Blanket  Baby A was a world class escape artist almost from the moment we brought her home.  We were given or purchased nearly every kind of swaddle product that exists and the only thing that could keep her little arms in for the entire night was the Miracle Blanket.  Skip the other products and go right to the Miracle Blanket. 

8. Diaper Bags  I only have a couple of them but so far haven’t found any to be all that useful.  They are all too big and unwieldy for me to sift through while  trying to change baby in a public restroom.  If a good one exists, I haven’t found it.  Until then I’m just using a purse.

9. Baby Detergent Perhaps we just got lucky but this seems like a bit of a racket. Why did she need to have her own laundry detergent?  Baby had no reaction no matter what detergent we used.

10. Bottle washing doo-dads I’m referring to special baskets and brushes to help clean bottles.  The bottles we use were very easy to clean both by hand or in the dishwasher without any special tools.  Just buy the bottles and skip the rest.

So there you have my list.  I hope it will save someone from making the same newbie mistakes I made.

What do you think?  What was your most useless baby buy?    

100 comments:

  1. I so agree with you about diaper bags and diapers pails, I had both but just never used them :)

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  2. I would say a special nursing pillow, the 100 onsies that peopel bought us and burp clothes. For some reason we got tons of burp clothes and she never spit up. So, I have no idea what to do with them.

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    1. You are lucky! We have a very spitty baby so bibs and burp clothes are well used here. Can never have enough!

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    2. With all due respect, I think this just goes to prove that there is really no such thing as a useful "things you will need" or "the most useless" things lists. Some of the things I found essential for my daughter, I haven't even picked up for my son. Burp cloths? Never used one with two kids. Boppy? Always with my daughter, never with my son...and the list goes on like that. I think unfortunately, it's really hard to predict what is going to be useful or not for any particular parent and child. As with most things in life it's a lot of trial an error.

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    3. Thats why I said right in the first paragraph that every baby and mother is different. This is just my view.

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    4. And I appreciate your point of view. As a soon-to-be first time mom, self-proclaimed minimalist and anti-consumer, I need some serious help weeding through all of the unnecessary crap out there. I'm willing to concede there are many things I will need and would prefer not to, but every perspective adds insight.mi never would have considered the impact of winter on onesie use. Clearly, that may not apply to those in warmer climates, but that alone is a useful nugget.

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  3. I liked the onesies b/c I would layer them under the footie pjs... I also liked the diaper pail, though I should be honest that we didn't buy one until baby started on solids. I found that I could smell the used diapers even in a reg trash can, while the diaper genie definitely contained the smell a bit better. But that was just us!

    I couldn't agree more on the baby towels. Useless!

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    1. Good point, this is just what I found true for me at the newborn stage. Once she gets older, all bets are off. I still expect I won't be using a diaper pail since I don't like keeping that kind of stuff in the house but who knows?

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  4. Disagree on most - I can't stand the thought of not having the diaper pail - nothing worse than walking into someone's house and smelling diapers. Didn't use the boppy for breastfeeding as much as we did for letting our son chill out in it for naps and such. He used it until he was at least 2 - he loved it. Dreft was a must since our son has really sensitive skin. I will agree with ColorSlut above - never used a burp cloth - ever. I'm never sure why people do these lists because every mom is so different, every child is so different.

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    1. To be clear, I don't leave the poop diaper in the trash. We pretty much take it out shortly afterward. I just couldn't get my head around leaving them to pile up in the pail even if the smell was contained.

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    2. By law in most states, poop goes in the toilet. BFing poop doesn't really smell anyway, but anything solid does not belong in the trash.

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  5. The grocery cart cover. Like I can lug one more thing with me. Took forever to set up and thread the seat belt. I just wiped it down, crossed my fingers, and hoped the germs would make him stronger.

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    1. Ha. Agatha isn't yet a the stage of sitting in the grocery cart unaided but good point.

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  6. I'm on board with the uselessness of boppies. I don't understand how they're supposed to make things easier. I'd put mountains of receiving blankets on my list. Everyone's all, "you can never have too many!" So I always get some. And then I can never figure out what on earth to do with them.

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    1. The big blankets we use a lot for floor time but I'm totally with you on the little blankets. What is the point?

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  7. Great list! I agree with most - especially the diaper pail- we just put the diaper in a plastic bag & took it to the garage trash can-got it out of the house ASAP! I did love onsies though but we live in Arizona so it's never too cold-she wore them under everything too for probably the 1st whole year.

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    1. Im glad I'm not the only one. It just seems so much simpler to take it out than to stack them in a smell proof bin.

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  8. I love your lists. I am eight months pregnant with my first and I sent your list "10 things I wish I had known before I got pregnant" to all my pregnant friends, as I couldn't have agreed more! AS someone who is a minimalist to begin with and add a small space to the mix, I have already returned/donated many of the baby items given to us. There is so much crap! Since we are having a June baby, I think onesies will be the one thing I disagree with on the list but otherwise I agree. Basically most of this stuff is a "baby version" of a regular item and totally superfluous.

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    1. Congrats! If your baby is born in June, you will no doubt use a lot of onesies so you are right about that one. There were a lot of things I didn't buy because I thought they were wastes of space that I did end up needing and running out for. But its easy enough to go buy something you need or have it delivered.

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  9. I NEVER used my bobbie! However, when baby A is bigger and needs more food, toys, change of clothes, spoons, meds, etc...you might change your mind about a big diaper bag. (And if you have another and need to double all your food, toys, change of clothes, spoons, meds, etc. :)

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    1. Good point. I can't speak to what I'll need in a year or even a few months. I was just referring to the newborn stage. I know some people don't mind keeping things for the future but when it comes to baby stuff, I only want to have what I need now. There is just so much stuff otherwise!

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  10. I agree with your list. In reality babies need very little but though I never used a diaper pail ( if it's the same as in the UK , a bucket with a lid) I did end up using it to soak clothes in when as a toddler they had 'accidents' or when their clothes had grass/ soil/ earth stains on the knees which never seemed to come out in the ordinary wash. I also never used a daiper/nappy bag as they just looked too twee. How much do you really need to take out? You ll just get this baby business down to a fine art and then you ll be told of the next list of things needed for a toddler. Again, very little! And if you don t rush and compete to get Agatha on the potty 'first' you won t need to carry masses of changes of clothes. Wait til she says "please Mummy can I come out of diapers now ......I am 12?! Only joking

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    1. A diaper pail here is a sort of smell proof waste bin that is just for diapers. So its a little more advanced than a bucket with a lid but a similar idea. I just hate the idea of old poop laying around even I cant smell it..i know its there!

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  11. I did use onesies quite a bit until they were about two for an extra layer of warmth, but yes, that's totally a family-by-family decision. 100% on board with you for everything else.

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  12. Onesies really come into their own, in my opinion, when kids start scooting and running around. When they are in two piece outfits the onesie keeps their belly covered as they scoot around. This was clutch for my kids as they were in this phase in cold weather and on cold floors.

    My kids are 2 and 3 and the hooded towels make great capes. My kids love them, and they are still super cute:-)

    The Miracle Blanket was awesome for my first, but my second somehow got out of it. A Woombie was the silver bullet for her. Every baby is different they say...but the Mircale Blanket should probably be everybody's first try.

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    1. Totally agree about using onesies once they are more squirmy. I use them now that she is nearly 5 months and I have her in pants and other outfits. I just stuck with the easiest option when she was a newborn.

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  13. It's funny you should mention Baby Detergent. A friend of mine wisely told me that whatever the baby gets used to is what they get used to (so if you have a silly thing like a wipe warmer, guess what, your kid will freak out the first time they feel a 'cold' wipe). I've used either Tide or All Free for years before kids and have never had a problem with them.

    I think the diaper pail depends on your circumstance. At the beginning when you're changing so many diapers and emptying the liner all the time, it's easier to just use a trash can. But for us--with a dog--it became a must around four months and on (to hide the scent from an overly curious nose).

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    1. Good point about the dog. No pups here so I don't have to worry about that issue.

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  14. Totally agree - especially the detergent. WHAT A RACKET!! It has the exact same ingredients as regular detergent! Plus, baby detergent doesn't get stains out. I'll stick with regular old Tide! We did use onesies but we had spring babies so I would just layer them under a sweater and pants. Never used them after the first month or so. The bompy was way more useful for tummy time for my kids - could have been achieved with any pillow though!

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  15. This is the car seat cover we used. http://www.amazon.com/JJ-Cole-Seat-Cover-Graphite/dp/B00511J6BM/ref=sr_1_9?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1368626372&sr=1-9

    It's just as warm as the Bundle Me , but it's not a safety hazard because it's just the top, shower cap-style cover, and it doesn't cover the straps. This item was an absolute must for my winter baby.

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  16. love it. i agree with it all and totally agree that every baby and every mommy are different. i took a minimalist approach when we had our baby last year. and when we found we had a need for something, we went out and got it. that's what target and amazon prime are for, right? i didn't want to have piles of baby stuff that was just taking up space. we tried washing his clothes in our normal wash and he didn't have any issues. if he did, i would have picked up some dreft. no big thing.

    the diaper genie is gross. i used it at the beginning, but the idea of diapers sitting around rotting in his bedroom is not my cup of tea. i toss it in the kitchen trash and move on. we take our trash out often anyway (who wants any trash sitting around too long?) so we have never had an issue. if it's a really bad one, i take a few extra steps and toss it directly in the trash in the garage.

    keep it simple. :)

    also, love your IG pic of the jumperoo. :) i fought it for a couple of weeks and ended up with a garish exersaucer that jack loved. but i was pretty happy to throw it in storage as soon as he was too big for it. :)

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    1. amazon prime and diapers.com is a new moms best friends. there was a point when something was being delivered everyday.

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  17. I agree with so many of yours!!

    We used onesies in the winter with our son (he was born in June) because we actually layered it under his jammies (our house is chilly).

    Agreed with the miracle blanket as well!! We tried others, but none of them worked (or were fool-proof enough for my husband to use).

    Other things we never used - boppy pillow, a billion blankets that people gave us, a basinette.

    Not that it is a regret, but I kind of feel like our big stroller wasn't necessary (Uppababy Vista). We could have just used a cheap snap n go for the time he just stayed in the car seat and moved on to a cheaper umbrella stroller (which I ultimately bought eventually anyways).

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    1. having only had one stroller, Im not an expert at all but we love our bugaboo bee - its small enough but has great shock absorption. But she is very rarely in the car so having a good walking stroller here is a must.

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  18. completely agree with the diaper genie. it grosses me out.

    now that my baby is eating solid food, the "bottle cage" for the dishwasher has been so helpful. without it, all the little containers and baby food grinder parts flip over and fill with gross water.

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  19. Save your boppy - I never used it for nursing either but it was an awesome nap pillow as well as sitting support once our little one was 4 months +

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  20. Thanks so much for this list! I just found out I'm pregnant and due in January. We live in a one-bedroom apartment and hope to stay in it as long as possible, so space is at a premium. I think I'll be doing more research on what we DON'T need than what we do!

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  21. I have a really pretty diaper bag that I was given at a shower. As it turns out, I only use that if we're going on a trip and I need an extra tote. I use a very simple, medium-sized black backpack for the everyday stuff. It's MUCH better for me because I'm hands free. I totally recommend it!

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  22. My SIL uses her diaper pail all the time! But she gave up on a diaper bag quickly and switched to small, lightweight backpack. Much easier to pack and carry around

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  23. I agree that this all depends on the style of parenting and the temperament of the baby. I didn't use the boppy that much at all until DS starting sitting up. It was great at wrapping around him so if he fell, it wasn't a cry fest.

    I disagree with the bottle do-dad basket. I use Dr. Brown Bottles and they have a ton of parts. The basket keeps the parts from falling to the bottom of the dishwasher where they melt.

    On the onesie issue, try using them in combo with baby legs. Then you don't have to keep taking off pants with each diaper. Plus they are super cute.

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  24. I agree with most of your list, especially the diaper pail. I still just use my purse as a diaper bag. I have a small wet bag inside that has a couple of diapers, wipes, some activities (little books, crayons, etc) that I can put in different purses or in the stroller base. We also keep a small stash of things in the car (change of clothes.

    We are pretty minimalist with things in general, but one hint my mom gave me was to use the library for all kids/parenting books. I hadn't been to the library in probably 10 years, but there were so many books that people suggested (including Happiest Baby) that I knew I would only read once. Now that my kids are a little older (2 and 4), we check out books that friends recommend or that they see at school or friends houses. It's saved us a lot of money and clutter.

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  25. Also totally agree with previous posters about each baby being different. For example we got Baby Legs when my 4 year old was born and he hated them. We kept them and my 2 year old basically lived in them from the time she was a month old. They are totally different in terms of what they like, what soothes them, etc. My son loved the swing, my daughter hated it. The exact opposite was true with the baby carrier we borrowed.

    My 80 year old neighbor, who had 4 or 5 kids, and a ton of grandchildren, said when we had our baby, "when you think you've got parenting down, just have another baby" and I kind of think that's right.

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  26. I actually used the boppie a lot! We used it the most when my son just started sitting up for extra support in case he fell back.

    As for onesies, my son was a diaper blowout baby from 3-4 months Those are what I called my poop catchers. Because they were cheap and easy to buy in packs, I would toss them with the real bad blowouts.

    I do agree about a lot of your list, though. It's all about what works for you.

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    1. We do use onesies now but not at all when she was a newborn. Since I bought several packs of them before she was born, it was a total waste for me. If I was writing this list for a 4-6 month old, it would be different for sure.

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  27. I have to disagree with the onesies. I used them a lot. I also used special brushes for the baby bottles. Maybe it depends on the type of bottle you use? I used Dr. Browns. I do agree with you on the other products. Though my diaper pail was useful to me because I used cloth diapers.

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    1. I did my research already - regular detergent does not adversely impact flame retardant clothing. Fabric softener does but I do not use it on any of our clothes so this is not a factor.

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  28. Agree on some things. I found the diaper geneie is a waste. I specifically did not want one. I did have a diaper pail that i could use regular garbage bags. That was nice to contain the smell until we took out the bag. But one piece of advice- keep the basket to hold the stuff for the dishwasher. We NEVER used it witht he bottle but once he moved to sippy cups it was perfect to keep the plastic part from inside in during the wash and on the top basket of the dishwasher. Just a suggestion :)

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    1. good point. we are a while away from sippy cups though. Im sure I'll have a totally different list for a toddler. I just dont see the point in buying something for a newborn that is only used a year or more away.

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  29. I'm not a mother yet, but I love these lists. I hyperventilate when I think about having to do a baby registry because everyone expects it and getting all sorts of useless crap that my baby doesn't like/need.

    One comment on the diaper bag issue - a friend of mine recently started a company that was supposed to rethink diaper bags - I can't speak from experience, but perhaps this will be more in line with what you need:

    http://www.bokenessentials.com/

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  30. Agree with every single thing! I also tried to minimize the "baby junk", but of course we got all of the things you mentioned (except the diaper pail because we use cloth). I've since read that a boppy can encourage bad breastfeeding habits anyway, so maybe we are lucky to not like that thing!

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  31. Anonymous12:39 PM

    I have to agree with your on diaper bags. I'm really glad I didn't spend alot of money on one. I generally use a great tote and when it comes to changes I have a Skip Hop Pronto Tote. I love this thing. We are always out and about and it's great to just grab this small tote an go.

    Onesies I think you need, maybe not with a winter baby but you could of had her in a onesie and pant. My son was born in Feb and he lived in onesies and pants as I hated snaps and most footie PJs had them.

    Boppy total waste, but my dog really liked it so it's all hers now!

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    1. When she was a newborn, I wanted to keep my life simple - thus the one piece outfits. Not that I couldn't have used the onesies if I wanted to but it was just easier not to. Now that is older, I do use them.

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  32. I got a Timi & Leslie diaper bag. It looks like a purse but has a changing pad, room for diapers, blanket, wipes, change of clothes, etc. If you're going to take the plunge, check their bags out.

    I borrowed the book. You're right.

    I didn't have a bottle basket at the beginning but ended up getting one as a gift and use it all the time. We use Born Free bottles that come with various parts (like Dr. Browns). After I almost busted our dishwasher by on of the bottle pieces getting caught, I caved and used the basket. I used to wash them by hand but I felt like the dishwasher was extra hot (disinfecting).

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    1. Ive heard about the bottles with all the parts but I never used them so I don't have any experience with them. We just have bottle and nipple so the basket isn't necessary for us.

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  33. Oh no! I think I am one who recommended the Happiest Baby on the Block. It was a lifesaver for our first, never had to touch it with my second (I checked it out from the library and even got the DVD for my reading adverse husband:)). Now I know I recommended the Miracle Blanket because I am probably the best marketing tool that company has ever had. We swear by that thing and it is the only blanket that would keep both of my little houdini's in. I am glad it worked for you guys too! We love our boppy, but i use it mainly as a tool to prop my iPad on when I am feeding and rocking G to sleep.

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    1. Julia - I dont think I got the recommendation from anyone on the blog - it was one of those books recommended on amazon (since I was reading other baby books). Not that I would blame anyone for recommending it - it just wasn't anything new to me. Maybe because I had babysat children before but I already knew the five Ss so I felt like it was a bit of a let down.

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  34. Our daughter used to break out of her swaddle all the time. I actually would stick a 6" piece of duct tape on the swaddle to keep her in it. Boy do I wish I'd followed that thought through to the end and come up with the Miracle Blanket!

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    1. So many baby things that make me wonder how many people are rolling in dough from these little improvements.

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  35. Love, love the miracle blanket!

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  36. I used onesies on my childrens until they were about 2 years old. I had winter babies and I used them as an undershirt for the kids. Did they need a tee shirt??? I don't know, but I felt better knowing that they had an extra layer of clothing on. It was very rare, if at all that my kids only wore a onesies. I had too much cute stuff for them to lounge in plus in the summer time they wore sun dresses and shorts. No oneies in the summer time..who needs the extra layer then! On to detergent..... YES I also fell for that crock of crap. Special swaddling blankets???? I don't even know what they are! I used "receiving" blankets.... and after the kids were too old for them my son would use them as batman capes. I tell you what I NEVER USED..... baby lotion! lord have mercy..... WHY??WHY??? why would a baby need lotion? unless there was a medical reason WHY must a baby wear lotion? Ok I'm done.

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    1. ha - we use baby lotion. not as a medical necessity but just as a way to help her spool down for sleep after a bath. her skin does get a little dry so the lotion helps although i dont think it needs to be baby lotion - im sure anything would accomplish the same result.

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  37. for the baby detergent -- it really depends on the skin of the kid -- i never really bought dreft itself, but went with all clean and clear, which was necessary as the moment she wore something that was washed by tide, she broke out in hives.

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    1. Yes agreed - some babies (and adults) have sensitivity to regular detergent. I was prepared to get some dreft if needed but she never had any reaction.

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  38. Great list! Hysterical and sooooo accurate. I think the fact that you're a NYC borough resident plays into this a whole lot. In the 'burbs, taking out your trash multiple times a day means dealing with the diaper smell for days or a week in your outdoor cans in the garage or back yard... High 5 to NYC sanitation!

    One of my 'burb friends had the greatest idea. It sounds gross at first, but stay with me. She had an extra freezer in the garage, so instead of a diaper pail, the soiled diapers went into a bucket in the freezer that was lined with a trash bag. Frozen = no smell whatsoever in the house or in the garage, or for your trash collector to deal with. On trash day, they put the frozen stuff in the pails at the curb with other trash. I thought it was genius.

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    1. The garbage only gets picked up 2 times a week (not sure what the standard is in the burbs) so the stinky diapers are in the outside can but they are wrapped in an outer bag so the smell isn't noticeable unless you are really trying.

      Im sure frozen diapers work to contain the smell but as someone who finds it repulsive to save poopy diapers in a pail, you can bet I wont be putting it along side my frozen veggies anytime soon :)

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  39. Have you tried the Woombie? Best swaddle ever. Bootsy was a serious escape artist as well.

    ITA about the onesies, but I loved my Boppy. We have a trash can in our oom with a lid for diapers (we usually change baby on the bed.) Amazing how it works. I think with most things baby, YMMV.
    The little bottle washing brushes (not so much the little dishwasher baskets) are really useful when you get into straw cups. Those get gross.

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    1. Yes we have the Woombie. (Im not joking when I say I bought or was given EVERY kind of swaddle!) It does work in a sense that it keeps her in but she would always try to get her hands out near the top and then got stuck there and was very uncomfortable and couldnt sleep. So the woombie only worked if she had a particularly zonked out sleep (which was rare!)

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  40. You know when I used the boppy? When my kids were just starting to sit up but still unsteady. So you can sit them in the middle of the boppy and it helps them stay sitting. Not for long periods of time, but enough to let them stay sitting up and playing with toys for a bit. And then when they were bigger they used to like to sit in the boppy while watching big bird, or their favorite Winnie the Pooh videos! So it wasn't a total loss for me even though it wasn't used when they were teeny.

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    1. I saved the boppy thinking it might be useful now as she is learning to sit up but she just never liked being in it. I haven't thrown it away just yet since maybe she will enjoy it more later but its one of the few things that she wont tolerate being in so I dont use it much.

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  41. Too funny. I hate that they even sell the bundle me's. Ugh. We got a car seat cover by JJ Cole which was ok because it went over her & the straps. I never got into the white onesies either. We don't have a diaper pail because we use cloth diapers but I also dislike the idea of them... Don't know about the bottles because we don't use them. The boppy might be useful for when she sits on the floor and is still a bit unsteady.

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  42. It's my understanding that baby laundry detergent is preferred because it preserves the flame retardancy of sleepwear. Adults don't sleep in flame retardant sleepwear so can use different detergent. This is the difference. Please check safety recommendations before deciding it's "not necessary".

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    1. I have in fact done my research on this already. Your information is not accurate - its one of the marketing ploys of dreft but there have been tests done that show its not true. Regular detergents do not have an adverse effect on the efficacy of fire retardent fabric. Fabric softeners do but I don't use them so its not an issue.

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  43. I'm laughing right now because I literally own at least three of the EXACT photos you posted...that's our "spare" diaper bag (which never got used as a newborn but is now great as an overnight bag for him), I LOVE the boppy (though the Breast Friend fit me better when he was super small), and the baby towels I'm super sad that he's starting to outgrow now at 15 months. Not as absorbent, no, but I love the head area and they wrap him up so cutely. Target has some great young-kid towels that are a lot thicker and even cuter, however-just a hint.

    We NEVER used a swaddle, including the Miracle Blanket. Homie refused. We tried all of them. Which means we ended up with about 6 unused ones/brands. WASTE.

    Onesies were great until about 8 months...then I just wanted t shirts. Too hard to change.

    Baby laundry wasn't necessary because I have sensitive skin, too, so we just used the ALL free and clear until we all switched to Honest brand pods. He never had any problems, even with his genetically prone skin.

    But yeah, all babies are different. That's why I'm saving EVERYTHING for the next one. JUST IN CASE.

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  44. I agree with several of these--no need for onesies, bundle me's and diaper bags. And I absolutely refused a diaper pail for all the reasons you mentioned for about 8 months. At that point, the smell was just too much to leave diapers in a regular can for more even 20 minutes. So, don't give the Diaper Genie away just yet. No matter how ugly, bulky and plastic-y they are--they work.

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    1. Not looking forward to even more foul smelling diapers but I do have one diaper genie that I haven't given away just in case :)

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  45. Anonymous11:08 AM

    My guess is that a lot of people quietly tsk-tsked at you for not having a onesie under your footie PJs or outfit. It's a layer. We had a January baby and used the white onesies as underlayer (or the little t-shirts. As for the pail, I think it depends on your house and how close you are to a covered trash can when changing diapers. And, solid-food-poo is a whole different story from baby poo.

    The bundleme may well come in handy NEXT year wen you walk/if you walk with a stroller. The carseat one is not needed and is a hassle, but as a stroller user in winter, it's wonderful.

    Same for the hooded towels. No, they are not for tiny babies, they are for toddlers. The hood holds it on while you dry them and while they run around the house being nakey and wet yelling "I am a bunnnnnnyyyyy!" We actually went out and bought more. She "wears" it from bathroom to bedroom to get into PJs.

    I'm a minimalist when it comes to baby stuff, but I would not decide on all things yet, you are just getting going. And, all kids, houses, parents are different.

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    1. Two layers indoors just seems like overkill to me especially with the higher incidents of SIDS in overheated environments. I'd rather be on the cautious side not that she ever seem chilled but who knows?

      Im sure lots of things are useful at the toddler stage but I dont see the need to buy them at birth. Thats what this list was about - avoiding useless items for newborns - just from my view. As I say in the first paragraph, every baby is different. I'm quite sure this list would be totally different after a year or two.

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  46. I agree with the post about the onsie being a layer - we put it under her sleep suit/sweater/etc, but the best thing I did was pants with feet - sage creek organics. Those work all year round because if they are in a dress in the summer but need to be a bit warmer to nap longer - just throw on the pants with feet. If they are in a onsie from the day and they didn't spill food/milk on it - then just put on the pants with feet and you have yourself some easy pj's without all the undressing. they go up to 12 months. as far as the diaper bag goes I have a diaper-tote that i just throw in my handbag/bottom of stroller/car. it the size of a make-up bag (monogrammed as I have 3 kids) and it fits diapers, wipes, creams, extra onsie (ha!) for accidents, and a small changing pad. The best part is that when they are done with diapers this can be their travel case for tooth brushes, combs etc and until it falls apart it has a use. funny though-- I got this from someone who never had kids!

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  47. Oh wow...bookmark for later! We're 17 weeks now and definitely don't need anything useless!!

    ~FHP

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  48. Totally agree re: any blanket that's NOT the miracle blanket. You can actually watch their little hands wiggle right out and then they punch themselves in the face.

    Our daughter was born around the same time as Agatha, and we do use the onesies quite a bit. I read that babies are supposed to have one extra layer (beyond what you are wearing) so we just basically use them as undershirts.

    For HBOTB, we just watched the DVD on Netflix. I can't imagine reading that in a book (or even understanding what to do by reading it--we needed to see how to do it all correctly).

    Also useless: baby robes. Our towels are OK, but no baby is ever going to need or use a ROBE.

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    1. I was very concerned about overheating b/c of the risk of SIDs so I never put her in 2 layers in the house. That just seemed too much. When she went out we would put her in heavier clothing and layers. But it depends on the house and the climate. We kept it about 70 degrees in here so it was never that cold.

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  49. Right now my favorite use for onesies for my 23 month old is to keep her hands out of her diaper and keep her from removing her diaper!! Lol

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  50. Onesies will always be my favorite baby item. I hated when the tee shirt would leave their backs open, especially in the wintertime.

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  51. You are still very wet behind the ears. When you are out and about and baby has a blowout, you will wish you had a well stocked diaper bag lol things you may find useless now may be very useful to you in a few months or a year from now. One thing I learned as a mom is never say never :)

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    1. As I say, this list only applies to the newborn stage (thus the title) and my personal experience. I am in no way suggesting I'll never use any of these items nor that it applies to everyone. Everyone is different.

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    2. Eh, a largish purse and ziplock bags and you're good to go. Having a designated diaper bag is kind of useless. And this is coming from a mom of three who has no more in diapers.

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  52. Yeh, I never used onsies on my January baby (until summer, and then she lived in those cute onsie dresses) but my May baby lived in them. And people should really try out nursing pillows before you buy (if you can). I loved my Boppy and used it for my three kids. I have a bad back and they saved me. But I know several other people who hated them.

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  53. I totally agree with you on diaper pails, the Happiest Baby on the Block, any blanket other than the Miracle Blanket. We used onesies alot but I live in the South and Ella was born in April. Diaper bags are tough because I feel like so many have a million pockets and those pockets end up making it difficult to find anything. I think with the next one I'm buying a boat tote from LL Bean and calling it a day. I agree on the boppy as well but we did use it to help her sit up but probably only did that about 3 times. I use dishwasher baskets but for pacifiers mainly. I do like Dreft though but only for the smell. It's so sweet but not practical at all. I didn't keep Ella's clothes separate so I ended up washing my husband's clothes in Dreft. He did not appreciate that. :)

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  54. I knew this was going to get a lot of comments. Funny how differewnt everyone is and their must haves. I too thought a diaper pail was a waste , the so awful smell that does exist no matter what what if they are used, outdoor went the poopy diapers right away. A diaper bag I hated those , never used one, way back when I used a back pack , it freed up my shoulders to hold babies easier. My kids lived in onsies , oh such cute onsies but not plain ones I liked cute ones girly ones, but they were summer babies. The boppy , well I loved it for nursing and it made a great sitting support, loved it. Never swaddled my kids they didn't like it , one of my kids was in an incubator for her first few days they don't usually swaddle babies with hook ups so I never did that. Hooded towels , oh I loved those it kept their little heads warm then I would layer a thicker towel over them, one of my kids still loves them. As for the detergent I personally would opt for a fragrance free dye free detergent always , some detergents contain so much garbage that over time can cause irritation and eczema, no one wants that.
    There are so many great baby products out there, something for everyone.

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  55. So true that it's different for everyone! I have an Oct. baby and found the white onesies to be great as undershirts under cutesie two-piece outfits that she received. Now I use them as back-up outfits for her at daycare. We used the boppy a lot with both kids as infants but now it's just an unwelcomed pillow on our couch. I didn't have a BundleMe for my first (July baby) but found it to be a must for my 2nd. I've definitely done things differently with the 2nd; you learn your lessons!

    As for a diaper bag - I have two fancy ones I hardly used, and the one that's used the most is a DiaperDude messenger bag that I bought my husband for his first Father's Day. It isn't too bulky but holds the essentials.

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  56. Never heard of the miracle blanket but will definitely check it out!

    Can't believe you weren't IN LOVE with the Boppy tho! I understand it can't possibly work for everyone, but man - I couldn't live without mine!

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  57. It is so hard to know what will work for a given baby that I recommend borrowing as many items as you can, getting hand-me-downs and even thrift store stuff. (And it's great to be able to return big items, say a swing or exersaucer, and not have to store it at your house!) Then if there's something that works great and you want more (say a clothing or swaddle item) you know you won't be wasting money when you buy it. It's hard to resist the siren call to buy in the name of preparedness, though, and I've acquired things with each of mine that we didn't end up using.

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  58. I agree 90% with this list - the only thing I used and only when my girls were newborns - were the onesies.I had 3 summer babies and A lot of summer rompers where thick material and you couldn't put them in just a diaper in the car seat because of the straps. For my winter baby, we discovered the zip up sleep sacks by Carters(must have - no putting legs in one at a time!) And I used a onesie under those.) I would add to this list... a changing table!!! Had one with my first and never used it. It became a catchall in her room. I found I changed the baby on my bed, in the living room... anywhere we were.

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  59. A boppy is not at all useless. That is why we had three at the last preschool I worked at. Baby's use them for tummy time or just to set a baby in while you wash your hands. Mainly used them with the babies that couldn't sit yet. I do however agree they were useless to me for breastfeeding.

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  60. A boppy is not at all useless. That is why we had three at the last preschool I worked at. Baby's use them for tummy time or just to set a baby in while you wash your hands. Mainly used them with the babies that couldn't sit yet. I do however agree they were useless to me for breastfeeding.

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  61. I'm a mom to three boys and don't carry a diaper bag on a regular basis. I just carry my purse and attach the bundle from here: http://www.butibag.com.

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  62. Clarifying statement: it was an extra freezer... The beauty of the 'burbs might be a garage with room for an extra freezer. Nothing in there besides the diapers. Definitely no food.
    Ha! Can you imagine??

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  63. This is hilarious because I would put a few of these things on the must have list. :) Each mommy and baby is different. But just you wait till she gets older and eats a lot more foods. Those diapers are scary and need the pail.

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  64. I lived for my boppy, breastfeeding, tummy time, my son learned to push himself up using it, he loved sitting in and observing, he was very observant. That was my best purchase. I live in Florida and my son wore onesies constantly the full body things were always practical in the heat and my family believes babies chests shouldn't be exposed (southern thing). My son is 15 and wears and undershirt daily. He could only use one detergent and it was a baby detergent because he had eczema sooooooo bad, another reason for the undershirt it protected him from irritants. I also used one brand of baby towels because I agree that most of them are useless but this one set was thick soft and I like the little head cover also because I didn't want to mix his laundry with stuff washed in other detergents they were easily identifiable. There weren't all these swaddle options back then I was taught to swaddle with the hospital blanket and it worked like a charm. Those blankets double as burb cloths and everything I made everything multipurpose.
    This is a great post because it makes you see how what might be the greatest invention ever made (boppy) to you, someone else found it superfluous. (I can say the ones I've given as gifts everyone has loved it is my go to gift with instructions on all the uses lol).

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