Build the Business of Your Dreams

Welcome to the Cranking Widgets Blog. We exist to help you get more done by showing you ways to be more effective and let go of the stuff that doesn't make you awesome. Be sure to subscribe to our feed and follow us on Twitter here.

5 Newborn Baby Items You Don’t Need to Buy

By , on Monday, April 2nd, 2007

P7260047

Part of the freak-out period a couple (particularly the breadwinner, statistically the father) goes through when they discover they’re going to have a baby is all the crap they’re going to need to buy. You’ll need food, clothes, diapers, furniture, etc. and before you know it, you’re giving yourself an ulcer thinking about how much this kid is going to cost you (and if there will still be rent money left over). Having been in that position fairly recently, I can tell you that it can indeed be quite terrifying.

But dear friends, there is hope. While the lovely ad executives would have you believe that you need to go broke buying junk for your new baby, let the little man on the other shoulder tell you something – you don’t need to buy all of it. Really, there are a great many “must-haves” that are absolutely optional (and with a little creativity, replaceable). You see, I have a son who is just about 20 months old – and I’ve done this before. While I’m certainly no Mike Brady, I know what’s involved in having a baby around the house. All this is to say: trust me – I know what I’m talking about. :)


Now, I’m not saying that these things are inherently useless. And there are going to be people who found one or more of these items to be absolutely essential, and that’s fine – we’ll just agree to disagree. The following list is meant for babies up to about 6 months old (i.e., not toddlers). Here goes…

  1. Diaper Receptacles – Next time you’re at a baby store like Babies R Us or whatever, have a gander at all of the glorified garbage cans they have lining the aisles and end-caps. Seriously folks, these things will set you back about $40 and are, in my opinion, a waste of money. The idea behind them is that you can put dirty diapers inside and they’ll seal in any unpleasant odors. While this is a fantastic theory, a couple of counter-arguments can be made. First, you have to open it to add a fresh diaper. And when you do, any offensive stink that’s living inside will come wafting into your face. Second – if your child is breastfed, their ‘doodoo’ simply doesn’t smell that bad. At least, nothing resembling a comparable adult offering. So do your self a favor and hang onto the grocery bags you get when you do the shopping, they work just fine – and make regular trips the trash.
  2. Shoes – This item (and, to a greater degree, the one to follow) carry a special exception. If you are going to some formal event like a wedding and you’re going to bring your baby, you may feel like they should be dressed to the nines. While I don’t necessarily agree with that notion, I can understand the perspective. Otherwise, having shoes for your infant is completely unnecessary. Why? Because they can’t walk. Their feet don’t need protection from the gravel roads of the 3rd century. It’s an expense that you certainly needn’t incur.

  3. 3 Piece Suits/Dresses – You know what my son wore for the first 6 months of his life? Onesies. If you don’t know what a onesie is, imagine a single-piece outfit that you can buy in packages of 6 for about $15. Again, if you’re off to your cousin Herschel’s bar mitzvah and you want your kid in a monkey suit, be my guest. But people who drop a jackson on a combination button-down shirt and sweatervest with matching slacks – heed my words. They might wear it one time, or you’ll get him gussied up just for a laugh so you can take pictures. So save your money and use the $20 on a case of Huggies. Oh, and since you will be getting plenty of clothes like this as shower gifts, keep an eye peeled for gift receipts when opening the shower gifts.
  4. Baby Bath Equipment – If you have a child, chances are you have some sort of dwelling with running water. Which means you probably have a kitchen sink. This is a perfectly suitable place to bathe your child. You don’t need to spend $50 on a table-top bath rig with a seat warmer and built-in stereo. Again, next time you’re at the baby store, look around for a big sponge with a baby-shaped indentation on one side. It should set you back $2.50 or so, and you can throw it out when the kid craps on it. So, better yet, get 2 or 3 – but leave the UltraBath 3000 on the shelf where it belongs.
  5. 99% of Toys – Another thing you’ll get a pantload of at your baby shower is toys. Rattles, plush animals, sets of plastic rings or blocks, etc. I’ve got news for you – your kid won’t even be able to sit up by himself until he’s 6 months old, let alone solve the Rocky and Bullwinkle jigsaw puzzle his Aunt Madge got for him to play with. So, if you get them as gifts, stow them someplace out of the way or return them for the cash. And for Pete’s sake, don’t buy them. The only thing we found useful for entertaining our baby was a little floor mat with a colorful mobile-type situation sticking out of it. My son would lay there and look at it, and it would make him happy. The rest of it just took up space.

It’s not that any of these things are inherently bad – I’m not saying that at all. I just think that for new parents (who, most of the time, don’t have a money tree in the backyard), it’s easy to be won over by the cute stuff like the tuxedo made for a 3-month-old, when the cash used to buy it could buy a week’s worth of formula or about 80 diapers. And know that, when the time comes, you will be unable to resist the tomato halloween costume and the light blue fedora. Just try to keep in mind that this baby stuff tends to add up pretty freakin’ quick. :)

Technorati Tags: , , ,

If you enjoyed this post…

You'll love getting free and freeing updates when we post new articles.
Enter your email below:

Enjoy these related articles

Reactions

  • http://canasto.es/ Jeroen Sangers

    A few of our friends are in the ‘baby-age’ and many times I find myself looking at all the ‘stuff’ they collect, wondering whether all that junk is really necessary. Of course whenever I make a comment about it, they reply me that I can’t know anything about it as I don’t have children myself and that I will change my opinion whenever I get children.
    Thank you for writing this text; I already forwarded it to some of these people :-)

  • brett

    @Jerome

    Yeah, there are many baby-related items that are garbage to some, lifesavers to others. And it is rather difficult to cast judgement on particular thing until you have a kid and can see for yourself if it’s actually useful or not.

    I just personally think these things are, generally, not worth buying :)

  • http://www.anotherblogger.com Aaron B. Hockley

    I’ll agree with you except for the diaper receptacle. We have a Diaper Genie, and the way that it twists the bag closed after each diaper, it really doesn’t stink even when you open it to add another. And it was closer to $20 than $40.

  • http://techjive.net Jason

    I’d actually agree with the diaper receptacle. We bought a small, lidded wastebasket and stuck it in the garage. Don’t have to worry about refills, just normal garbage bags. The lid doesn’t keep all of the smell in, but it does a better-than-decent job at it. That and the garage is awash with other smells from a car to garden/lawn care stuff, so you have to be next to the can to smell it. Great list.

  • http://babiesblog.info/5-newborn-baby-items-you-don%e2%80%99t-need-to-buy/

    [...] erika wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptDiaper Receptacles – Next time you’re at a baby store like Babies R Us or whatever, have a gander at all of the glorified garbage cans they have lining the aisles and end-caps. Seriously folks, these things will set you back about $40 … [...]

  • http://naturenet.net/blogs/ The Virtual Ranger

    Yes! It’s true! It took me two kids to work this one out: kids come for free, and (at first) cost pretty much nothing and need nothing that money can buy. Enjoy it while that bit lasts!

  • Theora55

    Didn’t need a changing table; put all the changing stuff in a basket, with a flannel/rubber mat, and used a bed or dresser top to change the baby.

    No Diaper receptacle; recycled plastic grocery bags to hold used dipes ; easily tied off when there was a stinky one.

    Didn’t need a baby bathtub – used the sink, but we did use a big sponge in the bottom of the sink that made it easier.

    Didn’t need a fancy changing bag; just used a canvas bag we already had.

    We were given a crib, a highchair and a stroller.

    In some cultures, babies are expected to have nice shoes, and to be dressed up when on outings. It’s certainly fun to dress babies in cute clothes, although I think they look daft in ‘suits.’

  • ultralame

    I agree except for the diaper receptacle; We use a Diaper Genie and it works exceptionally well. We have minimal odor even when we open the top to put in a new one, since it seals off the older diapers. And maybe your kid didn’t stink on breast milk, but ours did! And we’re still using it at 20 months.

  • Burbloid

    Agreed, except for the diaper receptacle. Yes, breast-only babies don’t have stinky poo. But breast solid food babies do. Diaper Genies don’t stink when you open them. Get one. You’ll be glad you did.

    Also not needed: changing table (use a bed; it’s safer and more comfortable for baby) fancy stroller (the dirt-cheap model is fine), walker,

  • chudez

    i generally agree with this list. i’d just like to comment that –

    1. we did find a Safety First tub that fits exactly in the sink with a soft hammock like netting for the baby and it was pretty useful; not essential maybe, but very very useful in our case as new parents with a bad case of baby-anxiety, since the hammock cradled our little baby perfectly during bathtime.

    2. toys for the first six months are useless generally, except for an activity mat that had a mobile like thingy suspended over the mat that our baby *loved*. but at any rate, any toy you buy now will be useful sooner or later so i wouldn’t call these a waste — just a case of jumping the gun.

    – IMHO.

  • http://blog.crankingwidgets.com/2007/04/03/baby-stuff-you-need/ 5 Newborn Baby Items You Do Need to Buy at The Cranking Widgets Blog

    [...] the egomaniac that I am, in a previous post I politely informed you that there are at least 5 products intended to help care for a newborn that [...]

  • http://blog.scottjelias.net Scott Elias

    I agree with everything except the diaper receptacle. Though I flat refused to buy the “Diaper Genie” that is the must-have for new parents, we have had very good luck with the Diaper Champ. It takes regular, kitchen-sized bags and does a reasonable job of keeping down the stink.

  • Chris Maler

    I too find the diaper genie, while a true pain in the butt to use, does keep the odors of our 14 month old’s diapers well contained.
    One toy which I think is absolutely essential during the early months is a Good mobile. It saved our sanity so many nights I cannot count. Ours was a Symphony In Motion by Tiny Love. It was the single best thing we have bought for our baby during the first months.

  • http://www.crankypm.com The Cranky Product Manager

    Sir, the Cranky Product Manager regrets to inform you that you are incorrect about the diaper receptacle. It is a must. In fact, if you get down to it, the only things you absolutely MUST have are 1) car seat, 2) diapers, 3) onesies, 4) diaper receptable. Especially if you live in a situation where you have to either keep the stinkoid diaper in your living quarters or haul it to a dumpster down the street (i.e. condo dwellers).

    Also, the extremely clumsy Cranky Product Manager bought a basic plastic tub baby bath after she nearly drowned her squirmy kid in the big tub. It was only $15 and is much safer.

  • http://likebutterinc.wordpress.com/2008/01/04/five-newborn-baby-items-you-should-to-buy/ Five Newborn Baby Items You Should to Buy « Interesting Health News

    [...] blog.crankingwidgets.com about newborn baby items you should buy Being the egomaniac that I am, in a previous post I politely informed you that there are at least 5 products intended to help care for a newborn that [...]

  • Renee

    I’m a mother of a 4T and pregnant with twins. This article made me laugh so hard because it’s got so much truth in it. Specially the trash Genie diaper thing, what a waste of money that is. Very clever this article. With this pregnancy you bet your sweet tu**y I’m spending my money wisely and taking in any hand me downs in good condition.

  • http://infantcarseat.us/ infant car seat

    bath equipment a definite waste as well as many toys. somebody should develop the community toy sharing program. everyone in the neighborhood exchanges toys once a month

  • http://www.theorganicbabycompany.co.uk organic baby toys

    new way buy to new kids by natural products or organic
    products that give up healthy grown for kids

  • http://www.babyrhys.com/ Infant and Baby Footwear

    I just think that for new parents (who, most of the time, don’t have a money tree in the backyard), it’s easy to be won over by the cute stuff like the tuxedo made for a 3-month-old, when the cash used to buy it could buy a week’s worth of formula

  • http://babyshoe.info Baby Water Shoes

    Nice post. Have bookmarked your blog and will be sure to come back soon!

  • http://www.pastryshoescollection.com/clothing/ Daddy's Girls

    thanks for the advice,now that i know what i must buy,it must only the important things so i can save money.

  • http://www.pastryshoescollection.com/clothing/ Run's House

    thanks for the advice,i really appreciate it.

  • Renee

    Thank you for the advise! I am going to have my first baby and all of what you mentioned seems to make alot of sense. I will pass this on to the people who plan on buying things for my baby. Thanks again!

  • http://www.breastpumpdeals.com/medela-pump-in-style-advanced.html FrancisMedelaPumps

    Great advise, but other parents specially the new ones. Will and buy those kind of stuff because they want all the best for their babies. That is if you have the money to spare. But now that the economy is getting bad, I would agree with you on this.

  • http://www.breastpumpdeals.com/medela-pump-in-style-advanced-metro-bag.html Medela metro bag

    Thanks for the share, I liked this post, you seem to have put a lot of thought into it!

    Debra

  • http://aileenskids.com aileenskids

    There are a lot of baby stuff that are given to parents who somehow think everything is a necessity. This is a nice guide, thanks for sharing!

  • http://farzanesfandiar.blogspot.com/ farzanesfandiar

    Yeah, out of excitement the first time parent tend to do what you've said provided they could afford what they wanted. For ill afford parents, however, they still think more rationally; to be on more priorities concept. To be precise, they're forced to do so.

Get Free Updates

Enter your email below to get free and freeing updates:

You can opt-out any time.
We don't do spam.

Popular Posts

Search the Site