When you’re gearing up for a little bundle of joy, the amount of products that are hailed as “must-have” can be overwhelming! But let me tell you, not all of them are essential. Here’s my take on a few things I could've probably passed on...
Mittens
Mittens can be helpful to stop babies scratching their sensitive skin but they were honestly the bane of my life. They never stayed on and are so teeny-tiny that when I needed them I could never find them, and when I did find them, they’d be in the most obscure places (underneath the mattress, in the tumble dryer, the list goes on). So, I ditched the mittens and became a semi-pro at baby nail manicures. This electric nail trimmer from Tommee Tippee was a game changer and was so quiet I could use it while the baby was asleep.
Portable Pram Rockers
Now, I know some parents swear by these contraptions, but for me, they just didn’t hit the mark... and, with the hefty price tag, all I’m saying is try before you buy!
Moses Basket
Another controversial one… our beloved Moses basket spent more time as a stylish living room accessory than an actual baby bed. In those early days, all I wanted to do was stare at my baby, so I much preferred to put him in a nest on the sofa next to me.The DockATot is the market leading baby nest and you can get a cool 10% off in the cubbi app.
Nappy Bin
I wanted to love this, I really did, but in the end it was more hassle than it was worth. It always started to smell bad after only a few nappies and emptying it was such a faff that I ended up completely bypassing the nappy bin and putting them straight in the regular bin. The smell thing might have been solved by some different nappy bags, but there’s no time for troubleshooting when dealing with a newborn!
Expensive Wipes
Who knew wipes could be so pricey! There are tons of beautifully marketed wipes claiming to be best for your baby. I ended up buying the Aldi extra sensitive ones which are 99.4% water. They worked just fine for my baby who has sensitive skin and cost less than a third of some of the top shelf labels.
When I was getting ready for my baby, I felt overwhelmed by all the stuff I needed to buy and the costs associated with it. But here’s the truth; the only thing they really need is the love and security provided by their parents, everything else is a bonus.
Share your thoughts in the comments below — maybe some of my baby gear write-off's were your holy grail
-Olivia
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