things you don't need for a new baby?

**Sara Noel** · 08-05-2009, 08:56 PM

List the top few things you think are unnecessary to buy for a new baby.

I never bought a changing table and obviously my kids somehow got their behinds changed. So I'll say that's one item that isn't needed.

**frugalwarrior** · 08-05-2009, 09:10 PM

We used most everything but I didn't give my kids pacifiers and my DS never had a bottle. The sheer volume of duplicates was overwhelming. So many stuffed animals and plastic toys!! I returned alot to toy-r-us for geoffrey bucks but didn't tell. I guess the dumbest thing I bought was a bottle warmer.

**AmyBoz** · 08-05-2009, 10:18 PM

You don't need:

A wipes warmer...sure, we'd all love some warm and toasty wipes for our tushies, but babies have been living with chilly wipes for ages...they'll survive.

Unless you plan to bottle feed, you don't need this. Or, if you plan to pump and feed, but otherwise, you won't. My kids refused to take the bottle...all three of them. I freecycled the 20 I had gotten.

Newborn diapers. Unless you have a preemie...go with size 1. You can be sure your new baby won't outgrow them before you use the pack. We got five packs of newborn diapers at my showers, and my monkeys were all close to 10 pounds. Had to return them all and get size one.

A Diaper Genie, or any other of the fancy, schmancy diaper disposal systems. We just wrapped up a stinker in a plastic baggie and took it right outside to the trash.

Special baby detergent, like Dreft. My babies all have had the most sensitive skin ever...ds2, in particular, has eczema. However, they never reacted to regular detergent. So, unless your child has a special skin condition, you shouldn't need this special stuff.

Pacifier. We never gave them to any of our kids, and never needed them.

Video monitor. These are asking for trouble. We had the regular old monitors. If we had a video monitor, I'd have been glued to it 24-7, which would not have been healthy for anyone.

I'm sure there are others, but my babies are growing so fast, it seems so long ago!

**dianeeileen** · 08-05-2009, 10:52 PM

I always thought it a bit much when I see newborns and non walkers wearing shoes. Sure it is cute but really tennis shoes for a 2 month old ?

**kaurand554** · 08-05-2009, 11:01 PM

My first thought was the shoes, they are not needed until they start walking!

Another would be (I think it is called the cuddlie) the half moon you put around child to keep them upright; we used pillows and they worked!

I also agree with the wipee warmer; no matter how warm it is they still don't like it in the middle of the night...

**happimommi** · 08-05-2009, 11:11 PM

Bottle warmer, I used bottled water at room temp to mix the formula and never worried about heating the bottle. If they are used to room temp, why go to all the trouble of heating a bottle in the middle of the night.
With baby #4, a changing table was a blessing because my back was not as young as it was with the first 3.

**Karen1** · 08-05-2009, 11:14 PM

all the stuff listed and thousands more!!!

the unnecessary items sold for an infant is insane! and yet people buy the hound out of it.

I had one kid late in life (age 44) and I am so happy my frugal ways kicked in with her. Tony wanted to buy everything, and I mean everything he saw for her, LOL, I stopped all that fast! I had almost no extra baby stuff other than what was truly needed. What a money saver. BUT of course some stupid items got by me cause Tony just had to buy! LOL

**guest002** · 08-05-2009, 11:17 PM

Well, I disagree on the wipe warmer. My ds didn't needed it but my dd did, LOL.

Both of my kids needed the bottle warmer due to reflux issues so that's another one I'll disagree on.

Dreft is a rip-off. Just use a free & clear type detergent.

Diaper genies a PIA and eventually break and don't work.

My changing table was a dresser top. It had removable rails so when your baby outgrew the changing table you removed the rails and then it was just a dresser. Multi-functioning baby furniture is a huge blessing. My crib converts into a toddler bed and then into a full size bed. No having to keep buying furniture, etc. One investment and you are done.

No shoes until they are walking!

Bottles to me are a very personal choice. If you are going to bottle feed don't confuse a newborn and switch between bottles. Same goes for pacifiers. Mine used both. You don't need a ton of these. I think a lot of mom stockpile too many bottles and they don't really need to.

Also, get 1 good diaper bag that you love, not 2 or 3 cheap ones that you hate. I loved my Lands End Little Tripper® Diaper Bag. It's also not girlie so the dad's can carry it and not be embarrassed.

**guest002** · 08-05-2009, 11:19 PM

Originally Posted by kaurand554

Another would be (I think it is called the cuddlie) the half moon you put around child to keep them upright; we used pillows and they worked!

I did not use anything like that in the crib, but that said I would not use pillows in the crib until after the child is past the age of 1. Doctors do not recommend pillows in the crib with babies under age 1 due to SIDS risk.

**Greebo** · 08-06-2009, 06:49 AM

What don't new babies need?

Just about everything they sell today for babies...

**CouponShelle** · 08-06-2009, 08:39 AM

We got alot of things we didn't need for baby from well meaning people. Loads of stuffed animals, cute shoes, etc. I bought almost nothing before she was born other than diapers and wipes.

I also disagree about the bottles but hey, I had a double mastectomy when I was younger and had my baby post cancer so...

**Mummy2** · 08-06-2009, 09:06 AM

All the clothes!!! Oh my goodness! We received so many that I still had new onsies and sleepers for my son who was born 20months later! He didn't even care that they were pink!!

**Palooka** · 08-06-2009, 09:39 AM

A crib mobile. Even though I had one for my kids I think they say for saftey reasons to take it down around 5 months.

All those darn lotions and of course baby powder. How about baby towels and wash clothes. Our regular towels and washed clothes worked fine(even though I had a million baby ones)

Agree with some of the above. I also feel changing tables is overrated. I got all mine for free and used them rarely.

**Karen1** · 08-06-2009, 09:44 AM

Originally Posted by Greebo

What don't new babies need?

Just about everything they sell today for babies...

BOO---overkill for this thread big time! That is why I took out the pic out of my reply.

**bumplett** · 08-06-2009, 10:04 AM

Originally Posted by PaulaPAFW

I did not use anything like that in the crib, but that said I would not use pillows in the crib until after the child is past the age of 1. Doctors do not recommend pillows in the crib with babies under age 1 due to SIDS risk.

I *think* what she was referring to was things like the boppie pillow, not meant for crib use, but meant to prop baby up on the floor, etc.

I'll try not to duplicate above answers:

UNNEEDED:
Baby videos, like baby einstein -

bouncy seats
johnny jump ups
play mats
fancy bath tub toys (tupperware is just as much fun)

infant bath tubs
snugglies