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.
