Things You DON’T Need for Your New Baby
Baby stores would love you to believe you need one of everything. You don’t. Here’s my honest list of things you can skip for your new baby — and save the money (and the closet space) for what actually matters.
Things You Don’t Need for a New Baby
Save your money — skip these:
A wipe warmer. A cold wipe has never actually harmed a baby — and a warmed wipe cools the second it hits the air anyway.
Newborn shoes. Babies who can’t walk don’t need shoes. Soft socks keep feet warm and stay on better.
A bottle sterilizer. A dishwasher with a hot cycle, or a pot of boiling water, does the same job for free.
A baby food maker. A regular blender, food processor, or even a fork mashes baby food just as well.
A diaper disposal system with pricey refills. A small bin with a lid and regular bags works fine — the refill cartridges add up fast.
Stacks of newborn-size outfits. Many babies outgrow newborn sizes in two weeks — some are born too big for them entirely. Buy a few, and more in 0–3 months.
A dedicated changing table. A changing pad on a dresser (or the floor, honestly) does the same thing without another piece of furniture.
Fancy crib bedding sets. Bumpers, quilts, and pillows don’t belong in a baby’s sleep space anyway — a fitted sheet is all the crib needs.
A bath thermometer. Your wrist or elbow tells you if the water is comfortably warm — it’s the test parents have used forever.
