Having a baby does not mean expensive baby items

A list of dos and do nots of baby item shopping

Please be aware that this post includes affiliate links, which means that if you make a purchase through those links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

Congratulations, you are expecting a new baby. It is such an exciting time. You start browsing baby shop websites and store windows for those must-have baby items. But how important are they really? Why are you buying them? Is it because everyone has one? Ergh…

So, just to clarify, this is purely based on my own experience. Our ‘do not need’ list is not gospel. It is personal. There are so many things on the market for your baby, and so much of it is a waste of money. It is advertised as game-changing, a way to make your life easier, and a must-have. How much you need for your baby is an entirely personal thing. You can spend next to nothing, or you can spend a lot. Kind of like planning a wedding. Unfortunately, we live in a world where we are expected to buy everything, and if we don’t then we obviously cannot afford it. I like to think that those that do not buy into consumerism are smarter, not poorer. Your baby needs love, nourishment, and your time. I will hold my hands up; I have bought crap we don’t need just because it looks good, you live and learn. That is why I have written this blog post.

Nursery

The thing is, baby does not need a fully kitted out nursery, they aren’t going to be using it for at least 6 months. Probably longer. So why waste your money just because they look nice, they will just be collecting dust. Why not save that money to create a room for your child when they are older enough to use it properly?

Within our consumer society, it can feel like spending lots of money on all these things shows how much you love your baby. I can assure you it does not. What shows you love your baby, is loving your baby and responding respectfully to them. I mean they are going to want to be attached to you most of the time anyway.

Below is a list of things we had with our first child, and whether we then had them for our second.

Things we had with our first

Bouncy Chair

I thought these would be useful. Somewhere to sit baby when you are busy. When you are taking a shower, you can put them in to sit in the bathroom with you. When you are cooking you can sit them in when you are in the kitchen. So, with our second we did not bother buying one, but we were given one. Most of the time however we simply laid him in the middle of the floor to take in his surroundings and move his body without restriction. I fully appreciate that this may not be possible with older siblings who do not understand the safety of leaving the baby alone, but it is so much better for your baby than confining them.

Changing Mat

We had a changing mat with both our children, however, with our second we had one that folded up. That way we could take it with us places. It was bigger than a changing bag but folded up quite small.

Jungle Gym

We were given one for our first child and he enjoyed laying under it and batting the toys as he got older, but it takes up space even if it folds away. There is no point in taking up space for something that really is not needed. There is so much around baby anyway, that they do not need anything extra to focus on.

You could put some random objects around your baby, and let them explore those.

Teething Necklace

Oh my gosh, this was a lifesaver. Baby’s hands get everywhere. This necklace gave my children something else to fiddle with while they breastfed, as well as something to chew on when they were cuddling and teething. I 100% recommend finding a good one. (This is something you wear, not baby) It became a part of my outfits even when I didn’t have my baby with me.

Carseat/Isofix base

If you have a car and plan on using it, then a car seat is the law. I chose a JANE car seat, that lies completely flat. It doubles as the carrycot for the pushchair and (with a mattress) a bassinet to sleep in if you are away from home. I chose a lie-flat car seat as your baby should not be propped up or in a bucket-type seat for too long when they are under 6 months. A lie-flat car seat is optimal as lying flat allows your baby to breathe optimally and ensures that their body is in the correct position for their developing spine and hips.

As for the iso-fix base, this is a game changer as you just spin and remove the car seat.

Pushchair

With our first, we had the JANE pushchair to go with the car seat. I loved it. It came with an attachment for a seating pushchair for when our son was older. However, though we still had the original car seat from our first child, we did not keep the pushchair bit. It was used to within an inch of its life. So, we decided to simply not bother buying a pushchair with our second, we slung him until he was about 6 months +, then used one of the cheap pushchairs we had with our first.

Nappies

With our first, I only used disposable nappies. I look back and really wish I had used reusables. So, with our second I did some research and acquired some reusable nappies. I used these until our second was about 9-10 months old. The reason I stopped using them was because the kid would not stay still. With all the poppers nappy time became hard work. I would recommend reusables, and if you have the patience use them until they are potty trained.

Moses basket and base

We had a Moses basket with our first. It was useful as it was portable around the house. With our second we were given this awesome Moses basket that converted into a seat. A wonderful thing it was. Would never have bought it myself mind you, but it worked great. Another useful way to use the Moses basket is if you are bathing with your baby. You can put them in on a towel while you get in the bath and put them back in at the end of your bath.

Baby monitor

We had one for a little while with our first, but we live in a flat so there was not really much use for it. So, I would recommend doing a little research and deciding for yourself.

Jumperoo

We had one for our first. I believe we were given this one as well. I do not recommend it. Though your baby might enjoy it, they really are not great for your baby’s hip development. They just do not need them. Let your baby explore without restraints in a safe environment.

Walker

We had one for our first, that my mum bought. It was one that baby would sit in. Again it is just another restraint that does not really help your baby in any way. It just takes up space.

Breast pads

These are great if you are going to breastfeed your baby. They can help prevent milk stains if you were to leak.

Things we had for our second

Sling/Baby carrier

We had one for our first but rarely used it. However, with our second it was a game changer. It meant I could be hands-free to play with my eldest. It kept my baby close and content. As I said above, I did not bother with a pushchair until he was over 6 months old, and that was just because I was unable to keep carrying him all the time. He also wanted to be moving about more. The great thing about a sling is that when your baby is little it offers protection from people who want to grab your baby up. Some are even designed to breastfeed. Win-win, and once you get used to them you can pretty much do anything in them. Even use the toilet. The thing is, your baby wants to be close to you, not laid alone in a pushchair. Another great plus is that they will even fit your partner. If you are unsure about which one to buy, I recommend finding your local sling library and trying before you buy.

Reusable Nappies

This was mentioned above, I used them for around 9-10 months. I also had reusable wipes. Great for the environment and you can get some really pretty reusable nappies. They can seem expensive at first, but you will save compared to having to buy nappies all the time.

Things you DO NOT need

Baby bath (as long as you have a bath)

If you have a bath at home, you really do not need a baby bath. Baby has spent their whole life submerged. Just run the normal bath to a few inches and lay baby in it. Have your hand under their head for support and away you go. Though, for me, I would just get in with my baby. I would sit with my legs apart and hold my baby’s head and let them float about. There really is no need for all these baby things that just restrict your child’s freedom of movement. Getting in the bath with your baby is also a great way to bond, you can lay and breastfeed your baby with the warm water lapping over you. I know that people will comment, what if baby poos? What if baby poos? Get your baby out and have a shower to wash yourself down.

Changing table (I guess unless it’s a set of drawers) – I never saw the need for these.

Dummies (Controversial)

Have you ever heard someone say, oh they are just using you as a dummy? Ergh… No, your baby is using a dummy as a breast. I have never used a dummy for my children, and many people said I would. Using a dummy can mean that feeding cues could be missed. If overused, they can cause issues with a child’s teeth.

Night light

The first time I ever bought a night light was when my eldest was 5 and he said he feared the dark. I never got one when they were young, because I saw no point in giving them a reason to not feel comfortable in the dark. I know I know my child became afraid of the dark anyway. However, this was more due to things he had watched and was not yet able to separate from reality. Though, he has had it for about a year and used it a handful of times.

Conclusion

I hope I have given you some food for thought. There is possibly a lot I have not mentioned. Feel free to comment with any questions you might have regarding the products mentioned or not. Leave a comment with things that you found useful to have, let’s start a helpful discussion for new parents. You will find I am very much against any type of sleep aid that is promoted above a parent’s touch and closeness.

Links to products I used

Jane Matrix Light 2 – Cold Black (pramworld.co.uk)

This is the car seat that I had with my children when they were young babies. I wanted one that completely lies flat, so that they are in the optimal position for not only development but also oxygen intake. It lasted through two children, both until they met the restrictions. It is only recommended to use a car seat for 5 years anyway, and it did that wonderfully. I purchased it as part of a travel system with an iso-fix base. I had no issues with my Jane travel system. It even survived several trips on a plane. Though I did not buy the JANE Trider, I would highly recommend it. I have tried it out and it moves beautifully.

Caboo – Close Parent

Ergobaby 360 baby carrier

Reusable Nappies

Teething Necklace

These were a lifesaver for us. I cut my hair short because my first baby kept pulling my hair while feeding. Then I found these. They became a staple of my outfits even if I did not have Nathan or Phoenix with me. Some of them are really cute and go with anything.

DERYAN Baby Luxe

Splash about baby wrap

We had one of these for both of our boys, with a disposable swim nappy underneath. They allowed for movement of the arms and legs while also keeping the core warm. There are lots of designs to choose from and they’re so cute.