Popular Items You Don’t Need for a Newborn – Biggest Regrets
It’s easy to get caught up in the must-have lists and the allure of products promising to make life with a newborn easier. However, after going through it myself and talking to countless other parents, I’ve realized that we’ve fallen prey to marketing. Here are some items you don’t need for a newborn
Today, I’m sharing my biggest regrets when it comes to newborn gear – items that seemed like a great idea but ultimately weren’t worth the money or space.
1. Lalo The Chair Convertible 3-in-1 High Chair
The Appeal
The Lalo The Chair is marketed as a versatile, long-lasting piece of furniture that adapts as your child grows. It touts a 3-in-1 system – high chair, play chair, and play gym attachments (legs sold separately). The idea of a single product that serves multiple purposes seem smart.
Why I Don’t Recommend It
While the modular design sounds fantastic on paper, in reality, its sustainability promise falls short.
The likelihood of needing the different configurations of the high chair is slim. More often than not, you’ll find yourself needing the high chair at the same time as the play set.
This means you’ll likely end up purchasing separate items anyway, completely negating the “sustainable” and space-saving benefit of the Lalo.
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2. Baby Wipe Warmer
The Appeal
Nobody enjoys the shock of something cold against their skin, especially a vulnerable newborn. The dispenser allows you to access wipes one-handed (and silently, but your baby will be awake anyway!).
Why I Don’t Recommend It
While the idea of a warm wipe is appealing, the practicality of a dedicated wipe warmer is questionable.
These devices require a constant power source, which inherently tethers you to the location where it’s plugged in. If you have a large home, trekking to the designated changing station every single time becomes a significant inconvenience.
Furthermore, simply holding a wipe in your hand for a few seconds will take the chill off sufficiently.
3. SNOO Smart Sleeper Baby Bassinet
The Appeal
The SNOO Smart Sleeper Bassinet has gained immense popularity for its promise of better sleep for both baby and parents. Its rocking motion and white noise that respond automatically to a baby’s cries, are marketed as a game-changer for seleep-deprived parents.
The sleek design and the integration with a smartphone app for customization and tracking also appeal to tech-savvy parents looking for data-driven insights into their baby’s sleep patterns. Many new parents are drawn to the SNOO hoping for a solution to the universal challenge of newborn sleep.
Why I Don’t Recommend It
Quite frankly, this is top-tier fear-based marketing to new parents 🙂
Roughly half of the parents I know (and the reviews on Amazon) found it to be a valuable tool that genuinely aided in their baby’s sleep. However, the other half found it completely ineffective, with the expensive bassinet ultimately serving as an overpriced clothes hamper.
Considering the substantial investment, uncertain usefulness, coupled with increasing costs and app dependencies, makes the SNOO a questionable purchase. There are other smart bassinets and sleep solutions on the market that may offer a better value proposition.
➡️See my post Should I buy the Snoo Bassinet?
4. Baby Loungers
The Appeal
Infant loungers are incredibly appealing to new parents for their perceived convenience to allow the baby to sleep anywhere. They are also often used for comfortable bed-sharing, providing a defined and cozy space for the baby.
Why I Don’t Recommend It
This is a tough one because, like many parents, my own babies seemed to sleep soundly in these loungers, and they were convenient for keeping them close.
However, the significant safety risks associated with infant loungers cannot be ignored. The recall of popular products like the DockATot and Boppy Lounger due to suffocation hazards underscores these dangers.
While many babies may sleep fine in them, the potential for tragedy outweighs the convenience. Given the clear warnings from safety organizations and the numerous recalls, I can no longer recommend these products.
Safe sleep guidelines emphasize placing babies on their backs on a firm, flat surface in a crib or bassinet, and loungers do not meet these recommendations. The risks, however small they may seem, are simply not worth it.
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5. Baby Brezza Baby Bottle Sterilizer and Dryer Machine
The Appeal
The Baby Brezza Baby Bottle Sterilizer is an all-in-one system, which sterilizes using steam and then dries the bottles. The idea of simply loading the machine and returning to clean, dry, and ready-to-use bottles is undoubtedly attractive in the sleep-deprived haze of early parenthood.
Why I Don’t Recommend It
While the convenience of a sterilizer and dryer is appealing, the reality of using the Baby Brezza often falls short. It’s simply not practical to wait until the machine is completely full before starting a cycle, especially when you need a bottle urgently.
Furthermore, the entire sterilization and drying process can be quite lengthy, often taking what feels like an eternity when you have a hungry baby waiting.
Thankfully, I discovered a much more efficient and space-saving alternative: silicone sterilizing pouches designed for microwave use. These pouches sterilize bottles quickly and effectively in the microwave, saving significant time and counter space compared to a bulky electric sterilizer. This simple switch was a game-changer for me, making the large and time-consuming bottle sterilizer one of my biggest baby gear regrets.
📨🙋♀️ Get my FREE ultimate baby registry list, complete with product recommendations.
Final Thoughts – Trust Your Gut
Navigating the world of baby gear can be overwhelming, and it’s easy to fall prey to clever marketing, social pressure, and the desire to have everything that promises to make life easier.
I definitely bought gadgets I thought I needed, because another mom “swore by it”. It’s not until later on that I realized that everyone’s habits and home set up is so different, that you can only really take one person’s opinion with a grain of salt – including mine 🙂
Often, the simplest solutions are the best, and avoiding unnecessary gadgets can save you money, space, and ultimately, a bit of regret down the road.
