How come the bumper part isn't recommended? Just so I don't buy ha ha x
Risk of strangulation from the cords, and risk of suffocation by baby rolling and pressing its face into the padding. 20 babies in the UK died as a result of accidents with bumpers in 2012, I support a charity founded by a mum whose little boy was found with the cord stuck down his throat, and his death was attributed to SIDs, so that number of 20 a year is probably actually lower than reality. It's terrifying, yes it makes the cot look pretty but it isn't necessary and it's introducing a risk to the cot.
For me, things that were a waste of money:
Vaseline - every list had it on, I bought a huge tub, what was I supposed to use it for?!
Cotton wool - despite using wool and water for the first 6 months or so we STILL have about 10 bags of the damn stuff, enough to remove my makeup until I see my grave.
Travel system - I was adamant I wanted to be able to go from car to buggy without transferring the baby. What a waste of money, they can't stay in the car seat more than 1-2 hours anyway depending on which one you buy, so I always ended up swapping them to the lie flat cot anyway.
Changing table/mat - used a handful of times at best. A towel on the floor or sofa does the job just fine, although maybe if you have a boy a mat is more necessary? Luckily DD never weed while being changed.
Baby lotion/baby lotion - never used. Used olive oil on her skin the first few weeks when it was dry. On another note - talc and baby powder
are not the same thing. When we were visiting FIL we didn't have any sudacrem with us and her bum was a bit sore as she was teething, we thought we'd use some talc he had in his bathroom as some friends said they used this and it was great for drying up a rash. DD ended up with chemical burns over all her private parts. Turns out talc contains perfume which is bound with alcohol, baby powder doesn't. Never, ever put talc on your babys bum!
Top and tail bowl - Not complicated just to use two kitchen bowls/ice cream tubs etc, or just use the one and do their face first!
Cotton baby hats - outside she wore a wooly one, inside the midwife told us she should be warm enough without a hat and if she wasn't we needed to alter the environment not bundle her up!
Bumbo - terrifying, she'd just pitch herself out of it!
Clothes - buy them a coming home outfit, one more pack of vests, and one pack of baby grows. Then stop. You will get gifts sent from people you have literally never met. I had no idea we knew this many people. When I found out we were having a girl I went crazy on the cute little outfits. So did my mum. Then the gifts arrived. She never even wore some things as we had favourites and so many clothes it was hard to even find them all let alone wear them.
Stockpiling things in general - You might not feel like going out much straight after the baby is born, but the brilliant thing is most people have the man in their lives who helped make this little miracle who has no such reason not to pop to the shops. Or Tesco deliver for about £3 (so much easier than bundling them into the car, the trolley, back in the rain, they'll poo half way round, decide they want a feed, or if they're slightly older, swipe things from the shelves and start eating them). Or Amazon, they tend to do the best deals on nappies and wipes and they're at your door in a few days for no delivery charge, genius. There are always offers on nappies and wipes somewhere, as a rule anything under 15p a nappy is a decent buy.
Baby bath - I needed more hands to hold her in it, wash her and prevent drowning!!! We used our tummy tub loads, it held her up on her own and she loved it! Mostly though I just took her in with me.
Steam steriliser - so much hassle! And once you open it the rest of the stuff isn't sterile anymore. And it smells like burning making the bottles taste odd. I didn't want milton due to the chemicals, but it's what the hospital recommend and it is so, so much easier.
Muslins - too thin, if she pukes on one it goes straight through to my shirt, I tore a couple of huge old towels up into smaller ones and they were perfect.
We used our blankets a lot actually, as it was what we were used to in the nicu, easy to take one off or put it on if she was a bit warm or cool. She didn't hold her heat well enough even in a winter sleeping bag, although when she was about 6 months we made the swap. We also still use our swing daily, and shes nearly 2. She just won't sleep anymore unless shes moving.
