The excitement that comes with expecting a baby—especially for first time parents—is out of this world. Amidst all the anticipation, you want to be prepared enough so that you don’t run into any inconveniences when the baby is finally with you.
There is a lot of shopping to do, things to prepare for and sometimes you may even run out of cash or time to buy things. But then when the baby arrives, you may find out that some of the things you were rushing to buy will not even be of use. So, we’re here to help you save that extra cash by outlining some of the things you should not buy for a baby.
Crib Bumpers
So you’ve already bought a crib for your baby, but you can’t help but imagine your baby bumping on those hard crib bars. Quickly, your instincts tell you that you need some bumpers for the crib. Well, sorry to disappoint you, but you don’t. These bumpers and extra pillows in your baby’s crib may appear comfortable and soft, but are actually very risky for your little ones. Some states have even banned the sale of these bumpers as they expose your little one to a risk of suffocation. It’s your responsibility to keep your baby safe by staying away from such items.
Fancy Clothes
You may have an instinct to buy all the expensive and fancy clothes you see. However, you don’t need them for the first few months of your baby’s life, for several reasons. Most of the time, your baby will be in pajamas and onesies for the first few months, and you’ll not need to dress them fancily. By the time your little one is grown enough to start wearing the fancy dresses and shirts, the ones you bought at birth will have already run small. Such a waste of money, right?
Shoes and Boots
Those little and delicate feet will not be touching the ground for a long time, and you’ll have no need for shoes. Some parents put shoes on their little ones anyway, but end up suffocating those delicate toes for nothing. At a couple of months old, babies kick a lot, and their feet are always in the air. You’re going to have a really hard time keeping their shoes on. Remember, they’ll also need to reach their feet and put them in their mouth or play around with them. You don’t want to deny your little one that pleasure by hiding their feet in shoes. You can, however, protect their little toes from cold using onesies with feet coverings.
Car Seats
We understand that you can’t wait to take your little one out for a ride, even if it’s just to a park nearby. However, your baby won’t be comfortable in a car seat for the first few months, and you don’t need to be in a hurry to buy one. For starters, the head will not even be strong enough at first and needs extra support. And the waist cannot hold their weight, so your baby will not be able to sit yet. Don’t put your little one’s health at risk by putting them in a car seat at such a tender age.
Baby Food and Food Makers
Your baby is not going to eat solids for the first few months, so you don’t need to stock up on food for their arrival. You can buy formulas instead, but still be careful not to overbuy. You also don’t need those food makers because as soon as your little one starts chewing solids, you’ll take them from the blender straight to their mouth. The food makers will just lie around with no other use. Besides, it’s likely the grocery store is just around the corner, and you can buy fresh baby meals instead of storing them up.
A Stroller
Save the money. Your baby is not going to need a stroller, at least not yet. You’re not going to put your little one in a stroller straight from the hospital, so you don’t need to be in a hurry to buy one unless you have some extra money to spare. Some people will not even need one once the baby is grown enough to fit in the stroller.
A Bassinet
A bassinet is a luxury you may want for your newborn. However, this baby item is just going to waste your hard-earned cash because you’re not going to use it for long. You’re only going to use a bassinet for the first three months at most, and before you know it, your baby won’t fit in it anymore. Three months is such a short usage time for something that is going to cost you over a hundred bucks. You’re also going to have to find a good place to store it when it’s no longer in use. So, if you’re lacking in cash and limited in space, this is one of the things you might want to skip.
Infant Bathtub
You’re going to do well without a bathtub for your little one. These are one of the baby items you won’t be using for more than three months, so skipping them saves you extra cash. A baby bathtub may be cheap enough, but think about the space it takes up, too. These items come in some weird shapes and you’re going to have to squeeze it into your small bathroom. If you must, go for a full-sized baby bathtub that is likely to serve you longer.
Too Much of Anything
You don’t need to buy anything in excess. You’re going to find out that your baby will outgrow those infant diapers faster than you can imagine, and you won’t have anywhere to take the extras. And sometimes you’ll find out that those diapers your neighbor recommended leak, and then you can’t continue using them. The baby lotion or soup you bought in bulk may cause some ugly rashes or an allergic reaction in your little one. It won’t be a waste to stop using them if you only bought the smallest bottle.
Everyone wants to give their baby a comfortable life, however, don’t make the mistake of buying things you don’t really need. Give priority to those items you can’t do without, but still be careful not to buy in excess.
