Essential items and money wasters...

[Maruschke]

Hi All

I'm a TTC'er with a limited budget. I thought I'd pop in and ask the mum's what they thought was the essentials / non-essentials for a baby? What did you buy only to realise after the baby was born that it was a waste of money / was useless? What could you never have lived without?

Thanks!

[krisp]

The three things I use(d) most was the sheepskin liner for the pram (still use it now), the Buba Sling was a Godsend for settling DS when he was new, and the Tiny Love "Kick and Play" play mat/gym was great for entertaining him during tummy time.

[Roryrory]

All those fussy little baby outfits and booties are a big fat waste of money. Most bubs hate being dressed and fussed over, and because they can't hold their head up for AGES anything with fussy bows or zips just won't sit right and no doubt scratch them. Without a doubt good old cheapie gro-suits are the only thing a newnorn "needs" as clothing (and singlets and socks underneath if it is cold, or just a singlet and nappy if its hot).

[Phteven]

I agree with Aurora there's no need for fussy little outfits (chances are you'll be given oodles of clothes anyway).
Cloth nappies are a big initial expense but you save in the long run, especially if you have more than one baby.
Breast-feeding is much much cheaper than bottle feeding as well as being better for bubs.
Most of the lotions and potions are redundant - I usually washed my babies in plain water although I use a bit of soap on thier nappy area now they're older and stinkier.
I found the baby bath was a total waste of money - it's much easier to wash bubs in the laundry basin or on thier back in the bath with water up to thier ears.

[Lucy]

Those nappy wrapper gizmo thingo........we were given one and I never ever used it.

Totally agree with Rory's thoughts on what babies need to wear.....no fussy frills, just plain old Bonds suits.

My life savers were a sling/carrier (my preference is Baby Bjorn) and the baby hammock for a bed........

[Taia's Mum]

Totally agree with Lucy on the nappy wrapper! We bought one (about $80!) and the cartridges are around $19 and only last a few weeks! I switched to nappy sacks when I found out about them! 100 for about $3.50!!

[Olive]

waste for us was
baby bath- just borrow one
baby bjorn carrier- sold for an ergo

couldnt live without
change table
muslin wraps big ones!

[Erin_25]

OMG I was going to post this same thread just the other day after having the conversation with my SIL on what I wish I hadn't bought or wasted big money on. Great thread.

Money Wasters for Me

Baby bath - Laundry Sink whilst small, then into the tub or DH showers with bubs
Expensive Chg Table with Draws - too small
Expensive Rocking Chair - didn't rock on anything but tiles, too stiff & not comfortable
Baby Bag - doesn't even fit over the pram handle LOL
All the fancy clothes, especially JEANS - what poor scrunched up little bubs is actually comfy in jeans

Couldn't live without

Grobag
A decent pram (I walk everywhere)
Big Wraps....the really big ones
A Nappy Wallet
Wondersuits

Also really wish I had spent the money on a swing or something similar, the indoor ones with the toys above. Bubs can get really grizzly on the ground & want to be held, but if you need a bit of time out or free hands pop them in a swing, turn it on & away they go. OMG they are amazing, I borrowed one but next time round will purchase one for sure.

When I look back I got that excited about having first bubs as did Nanna we all went nuts!! They are only little & want to eat, sleep & small amounts of play. They just want to be comfy & loved, we really don't need everything that opens & shuts. It's kind of like a Wedding, it's only after you realise you could have saved a heap of money along the way, but you want it all to be perfect (& that's fair enough).

[Lucy]

The swing thing..........I borrowed one from a gf when lexie came along........it was an utter godsend....they are quite exy new, but well worth it (IMO) if you can borrow one......with 3 under 3 it kept me sane, and Lexie loved it......

[kungfubecca]

Couldn't live without

Hug a Bub around the $100 mark, a crafty person could make one great for putting a fussy bub to sleep.
Bonds wonder suits, they are fantastic and have built in mittens
if using disposables aldi sell really good nappies and are heaps cheaper than huggies.
Big wraps, but they cost so I would suggest (for cool weather) buy a couple of metres of flannel and hem them yourself.
Good Pram, I'd be lost without mine
you need enough sheets for one set on the cot, one in the wash and a spare in case of another change needed.

Not needed
Crazy bath lotions etc
crazy clothes (although i am guilty to a degree)
I didn't buy our bath, but we are hardly using it 'cause it's too heavy for me and DH just has a shower with him.
any clothing that buttons up at the back - whats with that?? whoever designed it clearly has never dressed a newborn


There are heaps of baby shops with second hand bits and pieces you can pick up. There are of course some items, car seats in particular that are better bought new. It's fairly cost effective to hire a capsule from the council for the first few months.
As others said you may have people wanting to buy you gifts and let them buy the silly things, save your money for the things you really want.

Good Luck

[Erin_25]

Not needed

any clothing that buttons up at the back - whats with that?? whoever designed it clearly has never dressed a newborn

Good Luck

Now there's a great point. Ditto to that!! I got given a heap of suits like that & just sold them at a garage sale. They were a nightmare!

[JoMarie]

Couldn't live without:

My Hug a Bub - Nicholas has reflux and lived in it for the first 3 months. You can get heaps done around the house with them in it as well as do shopping etc - still use it a lot now too
lots of cloth nappies - used as spew catchers (again for the reflux!)
Tiny Love activity mat - Nicholas absolutely loves his mat. It plays music, has a mirror, and heaps of things on it for him to grab.
Pram - now that he is heavier, I use the pram a bit more than the Hug a Bub.
Bonds Wondersuits. These were the only things Nic wore for the first 3 months
Lots of bibs! (for the same reason as the nappies - saves having to change the whole outfit all the time)

Now, he loves his Jolly Jumper - I can get the dishes done and the vacuuming done while he happily bounces away in there!

Waste of money:

Baby bath - just had showers instead
Fisher Price swing - my mum bought it and Nic never really liked it.

[Smoke Jaguar]

MUST:
soft cloth sling (now have an Ergo, but prefer soft cloth for newborn)
lambskin

NOT:
baby bath (was borrowed, but we didn't use it for long before realising the sink or shower was easier and better for our child)
Steriliser - I knew I would BF, but I fell for the hype about expressing equipment only to realise later that hot soapy water is good for breastfeeding equipment!

Never bothered with a cot because we decided on co-sleeping.
Still don't have many toys because outside is more fun and so are the dogs.
No cuddle toys or blankets because he has booby and never developed an attachment to any items.

Really, you can keep it simple, despite what the magazine advertisers would have you believe I also shopped a lot at kids recyclers and bought a few muslin wraps for $1 each (huge ones!), wondersuits, singlets, to counter all the fancier things that we got as gifts.

[Starfish]

I must be really lucky because I can't think of anything that we bought for bub that hasn't turned out to be useful, but here are the top lifesavers:

1) Towels - all varying sizes - Large towels for drying bub after a bath, wrapping bub in (instead of a wrap - so much easier to wipe any dribble or vomit), putting down on the floor to give bub tummy time. Medium towels (or cloth nappies) to lay in bassinette or underneath wherever you're putting bub down (once again, to catch any dribble, vomit, wee, etc and not have to change the sheets). Small towels (I bought a bunch of facecloths) to keep in your nappy bag or handbag and in handy places around the house for any accidents.
2) Sling to carry newborn bub around.
3) Baby Bjorn to carry older bub around.
4) Nappy sacks - so cheap and they really do neutralise the smell of nappies.

Things that are not so useful (fortunately we didn't actually pay for any of these, he he):
1) Nappy bag - we got given a cool looking designer one, and I do use it, but if no one had given it to me, I would have just put all the nappy stuff in one of those cloth green bags - so much easier to access everything you need and a much better size.
2) Change table - our one sits in the oorner of the room. We use the shelves for storage, but change bub on a changing mat on the floor.

[August]

Thinks I've found handy:

Bunny rugs and wraps, you can't have to many. We mostly use a portable change mat with raised sides instead of the change table. Buying second hand where possible (I got a baby bath for $3)and accepting things from friends. We were given sooooo much stuff and it saved us a fortune. Buying things like wipes in bulk. Also for my baby shower I asked for gifts like powder, breastpads, wipes, creams, nappy bucket etc. I was able to be fully stocked up and wont have to buy any of these things for ages.

Things that were wasted:
Only 0000 bonds wondersuits so far. Get 000 as they grow out of 0000 very quickly! Even my 4 week premmie DS grew out of these by 5 weeks old.

[Cricket]

Think about what your baby needs to do: eat, sleep, and be clothed and warm. You can do that quite simply, really.
Keep the outfits simple, as the PP have said. (I loved ones that snapped between the legs all the way down. Very easy for changing.)
Breastfeed, if at all possible.
And don't go crazy on bedding for the crib. Blankets and bumper pads aren't really recommended anyways. A nice set of sheets (I'd recommend not going too cheap here, 'cause otherwise the sides come untucked all the time from crummy elastics!) and a "sleeping bag" are fine. (The sleeping bag things, like grobag, can be made yourself pretty easily. There are patterns available at fabric stores and online.) A couple of stretchy blankets are nice, for bundling a newborn, if you have a cooler weather baby.
Many women love their carriers, but shop around online and second hand. You don't have to buy one new! I just got one myself, and while I was looking at the hug a bub,($110) but I found a very similar one (Moby wrap - $50) for about half the price. You can also make one.
Cloth nappies are money savers (although you might want to have both, since disposables can be easier if you are out.)
For toys - don't worry. You're bound to get lots as gifts, plus babies and young toddlers like to play with "non-toys" just as well. A frozen washcloth is a great teething toy. Pots, pans, and a spoon are great for banging. A jar with some beads (tightly closed!) is a fine rattle. Sing and read to your baby (the library is free!). He'll be just as happy as the baby next door with the designer rattle, and perhaps more so, because your baby has your attention.
Above all else: SHOP SECOND HAND!!! Here in Canada we have some great children's second hand stores, but there are always garage sales, etc. The Parents of Multiples Association here has a big sale twice a year where they get rid of the extra stuff they needed for their twins, triplets, etc, and it's a great place for bargains. Perhaps there is something similar near you.
All the best!

[Trillian]

Just moving this to Baby and Toddler General Discussion

[widdly]

okay this is what i will be getting for next bub:
wondersuits and bodysuits and bonds socks (i found they were the only ones that stayed on)
borrow bassinet or cradle
hopefully find a cheap swing (was a godsend with Archie)
breastfeeding pillow
happy baby dummies
bouncy chair
cotton bunny rugs like the ones in hospital with the checked pale patterns
flannelette nappies for spew rags
UV sun shade for pram
Huggies newborn nappies

Things i wont be getting:
baby carrier (sling would be much better i reckon)
baby bath
big expensive change table (i bought one for $15 its about 20 years old and does the trick)
Any other brand of disposable nappy for newborn
clothes other than the ones mentioned above
polar fleece bunny rugs (make bub all sweaty)
walker

thats all i can think of for now. Have fun spending!