While waiting for baby to be born, there are ultrasounds to be carried out, strawberry and spaghetti cravings to be satisfied, childbirth preparation meetings to be completed... and unbridled shopping sprees. Of all these mother-to-be activities, the last is undoubtedly the riskiest. Without warning, you can fall for yet another angel's nest, an early-learning toy "for later" or a rocking animal you're not sure you'll ever use. By the way, the top 10 useless purchases for babies is now available, and it's for all moms.
CONTENTS :
- 10 unnecessary items your baby doesn't need (and their alternatives)
- 10 smart tips to avoid unnecessary birth purchases
10 things your baby doesn't need (and their alternatives)
Before we get started, we'd like to make it clear that the items on this list have not been categorized in any way, and that the list is not exhaustive 🙂. Depending on your situation, your habits, your choices for your baby, the number of children you have or where you live, one or another item may prove invaluable to you, and that's perfectly normal.
A garbage can designed just for diapers
As the name suggests, the diaper garbage can is designed to hold baby's diapers and nothing else. It's true that diapers are not just any kind of waste😉
Moreover, to work properly, this single garbage can must be fitted with compatible bags, which enclose each diaper individually to prevent odors and soiling. In practice, however, a dirty diaper is still a dirty diaper, and you'll always need to wash your hands after changing. What's more, your individually wrapped diapers will eventually join the rest of the garbage in the grey garbage can when you (often) empty baby's garbage can.
Last but not least, the diaper garbage can is still relatively expensive (€40), as are its refills (between €9 and €13 per month for average use).
Less expensive, but just as practical and reusable: the classic hinged garbage can with its roll of freezer bags or scented bags beside the changing table. At each diaper change, the diaper is packed away and weighed. Later, the baby garbage can becomes a wastepaper basket, and the bags slip back into the kitchen drawer.
Too many clothes in birth sizes
Labeled birth or 0 months and recommended for babies from 50 cm and 3.3 kg, they are, are, in most cases, already too small when the baby is born. In fact, considering that a full-term baby gains an average of 1 kg and around 2.5 cm every month, this is bound to be the case soon.
The trick here is to crack moderately. Why moderately? Because baby's tiny clothes are so cute, of course! 😍 But also because, like all the clothes you'll be buying until your child is two or three, they won't be worn for very long. So, to keep them from quickly piling up in your cardboard trunks, simply get a few iconic pieces chosen to dress up your prettiest mommy memories.
Cuddly toys and bath toys, cuddly toys and...
It's hard to say which is cuter or more superfluous, theinvasion of stuffed toys that baby doesn't look at, or the flood of bath toys he doesn't use. Especially as some stuffed toys will remain forever neglected at the bottom of the toy bin, while your child will often prefer his hands to splash you at bath time.🐳
To save time and space, buy the one you think will become THE doudou for your little one, his transitional object, and add, for example, a giant plush toy, perfect for decorating his room. To play in the bath, a vegetable sponge and a few plastic pots of different sizes (to learn how to pour, spill, fill and decant) will be sufficient. And don't forget to tell your friends and family! If you don't, they'll be sure to give you all kinds of presents.
A baby scale at home
In the vast majority of cases, there's no need to buy a baby scale, as medical and pediatric appointments follow one another after the birth, giving you plenty of time to check your baby's weight with your doctor.🩺
If you really think it's useful, if you're breastfeeding your baby, if your baby is premature or if your pediatrician has recommended that you regularly check his or her weight gain, rent a baby scale for a few months, from your pharmacy for example.
Shoes for babies who don't walk
Again, like almost everything else related to birth, baby shoes are absolutely cracking, but totally unnecessary. Firstly, babies don't walk and generally don't walk until they're a year old 👣. Secondly, the shape, flexibility and positioning of their feet mean that shoes won't fit.
Instead, opt for baby booties that are just as pretty and easy to match, but more comfortable and suited to their little feet, or non-slip socks lined with a thick, protective non-slip sole.
A walker for bumping into each other
There's no doubt you've been in this situation before: sitting in your baby walker, your little one screams, speeds off and bumps into everything. In fact, the last time you got the youpala stuck in your ankles, you decided to put it away. Not baby, his walker. Very cumbersome, more or less dangerous and controversial (in France, it's forbidden in nurseries, as it's potentially harmful to posture and the acquisition of walking skills), the walker is probably not essential, especially as children only use it for a short time, between 8 months and a year or so.
To replace it, think of the walking cart, which develops motor skills and helps little ones take their first steps with confidence. What's more, it's easy to recycle into a stroller or shopping cart, and less complicated to store.🛒
A playpen in the middle of the living room
In the same vein, if you've ever tested a playpen, or know parents who have, you'll know that children don't want to stay in it, and that it takes up an awful lot of space, even in its collapsible version.
Much prettier and once again recyclable, the playmat creates a great learning and moving area from which baby won't risk falling and with which he won't pinch himself or feel frustrated.😌
His very own breast pump (available for hire)
The breast pump is a little different. Mixed feeding or breast pump, you're about to go back to work and it's time to switch to a bottle 🧑🍼. Or maybe you've been bottle-feeding all your life, but still want to give your baby your milk. The device is therefore useful and justified, but buying it is not.
Did you know that your midwife can give you a prescription for a manual or electric breast pump, which you can pick up at a chemist's? Rental for varying lengths of time, reimbursed by Social Security.
A baby bathtub
Baby baths are great, but then again, they're bulky and, unless you've got huge closets or a big walk-in shower, you never know where to put them. What's more, they're not always as ergonomic as they look. Even the Shantala will only last you a few short months.
If your home is equipped with a bathtub, you can enjoy skin-to-skin bathing with your child 🛁. Relaxation and well-being guaranteed. Otherwise, use a large basin (which is just a baby bath in another form) or even the bathroom or kitchen sink. Beware, adorable memories in sight!
A bottle sterilizer
Yes, our mothers did it for a long time, but sterilizing baby bottles is no longer an option. In fact, evenANSES no longer recommends it. So we're making room on the worktop and taking the opportunity to remove the bottle drainer too 🍼.
Instead, treat yourself to a very discreet bottle brush, or choose Élhée baby bottles, which are so soft they're easy to wash by hand, using a mild soap and a little hot water.
10 smart tips to avoid unnecessary birth purchases
Whether it's a shopping spree or an unsuccessful recommendation, not all purchases in the nursery department are advisable. Now that we've identified the most useless items, let's imagine how you can avoid these expenses and buy something useful, healthy and long-lasting for your child.
- The birth list is thefirst must-have if you want to stay focused on your purchases and avoid some of the "coups de coeur" in the stores. Take the time to think about it during your pregnancy and weigh up the pros and cons of each purchase.
- Prioritize the essentials A few bodysuits, some onesie pajamas, an angel's nest for winter babies, a crib and a stroller/car seat. You can always add to your selection as you need it. There's no shortage of nursery stores, and 24- to 48-hour delivery is now widely available.
- Find out more everywhereNot only by reading articles like this one, but also with your friends, on moms' forums, or even in the street. Do you come across parents with the baby carrier you've been dreaming of? Don't hesitate to ask them what they think.
- Before you buy anything,think about the aftermath and storage. Think about what you're going to do with each item and where you're going to store it between uses. (For some purchases, like a baby walker, this tip is radical).
- For baby, a "minimalist chic" wardrobe in natural fabrics with soft, neutral colors lets you match all the clothes together. No more last-minute shopping.
- Explore the "less is more" ruleless is more for example, by not buying a stroller, but rather a baby carrier. It's practical and saves space. And you can always invest in an ultra-compact cane stroller when baby becomes too heavy to carry.
- In general, aim for the durability ofmade in France made in Francethat will stay with your child for a long time and, why not, be passed on to siblings.
- Always have a "survival kit" handy for when you're out and about with your child. Filled with everything you might need when you're not at home (diapers, wipes, bottle, milk, diaper bag, baby perfume...) it saves you from spontaneous purchases.
- The modular furniture is another asset in your fight against uselessness. Whether it's a chest of drawers, a bed or a high chair, this evolving furniture adapts to your child's needs over the years, for a minimalist, anti-obsolescence approach.
- Finally, to avoid superfluous purchases from family (we know how difficult it is to escape them) warn your loved ones, make lists and offer them the chance to become godparents by contributing to your baby's future, rather than buying him or her material gifts.
Les biberons Élhée accompagneront votre bébé de la naissance jusqu'à 24 mois et plus, pour lui permettre une parfaite autonomie, sans risque de casse.
Découvrir notre gamme
And yet, we've all fallen for the cute toy that's never been used, the garment that's never been worn or the appliance that's gone straight into storage - and that's okay. Indulge yourself, and don't forget the most important thing: you'll always have room for the memories that are created with your baby every day.
