4 Things You Don’t Need to Buy Baby (and 2 You Do)

When you’re expecting a new arrival, you’re bound to spend a substantial amount of time thinking about all the things you might need once your baby arrives. With so many products geared towards babies and parents, you could be fooled into thinking you need to move to a larger property just to accommodate all of the essential newborn paraphernalia!

Fortunately, you don’t need to go all out when it comes to buying things to help you prepare for a new addition to the family. By identifying the things that will really come in handy and discounting the optional extras, you can streamline your needs and prevent your from being cluttered with items you rarely use. With this in mind, take a look at these four things you don’t need to buy baby and these two things you really do:

Things You Don’t Need to Buy For Baby

1. Baby towels

They may look super cute, but baby towels aren’t really a necessity. Often, they’re fairly thin and less absorbent than regular towels, so you’ll probably revert to using your own regularly. If you want to reduce the number of things you need when caring for a newborn, baby towels are one thing you can cross off your life. 

2. Baby socks

Putting a pair of socks on your baby may seem deceptively simple but try getting them to stay put. As any parent will tell you, socks rarely stay on a baby’s foot for longer than three minutes. In fact, that might be the record. If you want to ensure your baby’s feet stay nice and warm, opt for footed onesies instead. 

3. Wipes warmer

If you use wipes when you’re changing your baby’s diaper, you really don’t need to worry that they’re going to be too cold. Unless they’ve recently been taken out of the refrigerator, there’s really no issue with using them at room temperature. However, companies are no producing warmers dedicated solely to heating up wipes prior to use. While some parents may have the inclination to use a warmer, it’s not a phase that tends to last for very long!

4. Baby pillow

When it comes to putting things in your baby’s crib: Don’t. Adding anything to your child’s crib could put them at risk, so it’s best to just rely on a mattress when you put your baby down for a sleep. Looking at the latest research and advice from the government can help you to determine what’s right for your baby when it comes to sleep routines but it’s commonly accepted that putting anything in your baby’s crib could pose a risk to the their health, so this is something you’ll definitely want to leave off the registry. 

Must-Have Essentials You’ll Want to Try

1. Crib and crib mattress

Your baby is definitely going to need somewhere to sleep, so a crib is one of the most essential items on your list. Before you decide which one is right for your baby, however, be sure to do your research and weigh up all of the pros and cons.

An adjustable crib will grow with your baby and last them well into the future, so this could be something you want to add to your baby registry. Similarly, a high-quality crib mattress will ensure your baby is safe and comfortable and it can even help them to sleep for longer as well. 

2. Baby-proofing Equipment

This is one area of baby accessories that you really can’t afford to scrimp on. While you might not need to baby-proof your house as soon as you return home with your newborn, it won’t be long until you need to take action. From baby gates at the tops and bottoms of your stairs to cabinet latches and window locks, there are numerous options to consider. In fact, you won’t realize how dangerous a home can be until your baby starts to get curious! By stocking up early and taking a proactive approach to baby-proofing, you can ensure that your home is always a safe environment for your child. 

Creating a Baby Registry

When other people find out you’re expecting a child, they may be keen to buy you and/or the baby a gift. Although this can be a lovely expression of their happiness for you, it can also mean that you end up with a lot of duplicate items. To make it easy for those who want to gift you something, set up a baby registry and let them know what you need. They’ll be thrilled to be able to treat you to something you really want and you’ll be delighted when you receive a host of useful and much-loved baby essentials.