Here is my list of baby products to skip. Keep in mind this is my opinion. I've had friends use all these products and swear by them. But in my opinion the money is better spent else where.
1. Wipes Warmer. I never used one of these. I concluded that when I was "out and about" the wipes wouldn't be warm so I didn't want Baby to get used to it at home.
2. Bottle Warmer. Do NOT warm your bottles. There is no medical reason for it. Just personal taste. Kind of like the difference between drinking cold tea, room temp. tea or hot tea. If Baby is accustomed to warm milk and you are some place you can't warm the milk, then Baby probably won't be happy.
3. Stroller Travel System. These are HEAVY, bulky, hard to maneuver and fill your trunk. Instead, buy the Snap N Go (or something similar) for the infant carrier to snap into. Then when Baby is too big for the infant carrier invest in a nice umbrella stroller.
4. Nursery Crib Set. You can't use the blanket or quilt for a long time. By the time you can use it, you are ready to decorate for a "Big Girl/Boy" and don't want to use the baby quilt on the bed. The Crib Bumper is a COMPLETE waste. It's hard to change the sheet when the bumper is on the crib. The bumper is a breathing hazard anyway. You have to take it out when Baby starts to stand up in the crib (about 8 months for my Baby Girl) otherwise it becomes a step over the rail. Instead of the set, invest in a cute dust ruffle and coordinating crib sheet. Spend the rest of the money on accessories like curtains, wall hangings, rugs, lamp shades.
5. Diaper Genie/Pails. The Genie inserts are expensive and fill up FAST. I constantly had to buy new refills and change the insert. After Baby #2 I wised up. I have a regular trash can, lined with Wal-Mart bags, in the bathroom and put the diapers there. I take the full bag to the outside garbage can every 2-3 days, something I was doing with the Diaper Genie anyway.
6. Crib Music & Light Makers. I'm not sure what these are really called. They hang on the side of the bed and play songs or show lights. Baby will get used to having music to fall asleep. No music, no sleep. NOT a good thing.
7. Monitors. Believe me, you will hear Baby cry. Trust me. There is a Six Sense called Mommy Ears (& Nose) that kicks in really quick after delivery. The faintest whimper will bring you out of a fatigue induced coma. We registered and received monitors after our first baby. We have a 1200 sq. foot house. It takes me about 15 steps to go from my bed to the crib. But "everyone" has monitors so I thought I needed them also. After the first week I put the monitor back in the box in the closet. Not only did I hear Baby cry through the monitor I heard him BREATHING. I found myself becoming a paranoid mom listening to him breathe and afraid he would stop. And then I wasn't sleeping for listening to him. Believe me, babies make a lot of noise when they sleep. When they want you, they will be loud enough for you to hear.
8. Sleep positioners. Use a rolled up blanket if this is a concern for you. Otherwise, back to sleep for night time, tummy to sleep for day time.
Well, those are my skips. This list and a quarter will get you a "Quarter" Pop at Wal-Mart. I'll be back with my parenting/mommy book suggestions.
6 comments:
If anyone cares....I've found that umbrella strollers work great for shorter people. I can't use them b/c I have to hunch over them. Very frustrating...
I'm a "shorter person" so that could be why I like mine. My umbrella stroller is a Chicco Capri not the cheap Wal-Mart verson. It's lightweight and handles beautifully! Strollers are definitely a personal choice item. They depend on where you plan to use them, trunk space, & personal size.
I've become a stroller fiend b/c we travel so much. We invested in one that converts from a car seat to a stroller and can be pushed down airplane aisles. It worked really for us last year in Europe. Now I have the Sit 'n Stroll, which is a double stroller that folds up much smaller than other double strollers. It isn't a full double; it has a "jump seat" for the toddler and the toddler can either sit or stand to ride. It works really well for us right now. There are WAY too many choices out there...
I currently have not one but FOUR strollers. Snap N Go (Ellie outgrew the carrier months ago). A smallish regular stroller (great for the mall or activity that I need cup holders and large basket but I rarely use these days). The Chicco which I bought when E. outgrew the other. And a friend has loaned me her traditional double stroller. I have looked at the Sit n Stroll many times but I can't beat the free loaner. So far I only need the double at the Zoo so I can't justify spending the money. Other places I avoid going by myself (like the Mall!) or have a cart for Ben & Chicco for Ellie.
I totally agree with this list. In addition to not warming the bottles, I didn't usually warm my kids' baby food either. And for the diaper pails, I found that if I bought the scented bags it helped keep the smell from leeching into the plastic a bit longer.
(Thanks for visiting and commenting at my blog. We're sort of neighbors!)
Having a small house we never really needed a monitor inside. I do find them very useful for travel (my parents house is larger and has a deck that we often use in the evenings) as well as being able to be outside here at home while the little ones are sleeping. Now, as my kids are growing up, I am using them inside while my kids are playing in their room and especially when they have friends over! I am able to keep up with their activity and conversation--even and especially when they don't want me to! :)
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