10 Things You Really Do NOT Need For Baby

So you’ve just walked into a huge baby store for the first time ever and one of the employees hands you a great little checklist that lists everything you’ll need for your new baby…

Don’t believe the hype! A great many items on that list just aren’t necessary and another 25% of it is stuff you’ll only need for a few months so we’d suggest you consider borrowing from a friend or hiring, and save your money for the more expensive years to come.

Here are the 10 things you don’t need for baby:

1. Wipes warmer

Really? Really? These little electric heating machines heat the wipes so baby doesn’t get a cold bottom.

If you’re doing a change on a cold winter’s night and don’t want to wake the baby up completely with a cold wipe, a warm cloth ran under warm water will be fine.

2. Shoes for your newborn

Totally unnecessary. They might look like the cutest little things you’ve ever seen, but remember shoes are to protect your feet and babies can’t walk so shoes are not required.

3. Baby bath units

Laundry tubs, kitchen sinks, regular tubs with a $15 terry bath stand are all perfectly fine places to wash your baby.

4. Breast pump

I wouldn’t suggest buying a pump till you know you really truly need one. Many women don’t need it, and find they manage breastfeeding fine without it. If you do need a pump, why not hire one.

5. Nappy disposal system

The cartridges are very expensive to replace and as long as you empty your bin once a day and flush any solids you shouldn’t have issues with nappies being in the bin for a few hours.

6. Clothes that go over baby’s head

Have you ever tried to put clothes on a newborn? Impossible! It’s like trying to dress a marshmallow.

Go for button down clothes for the first few months.

7. Toys

Babies don’t need loads of toys, their favourite toy will be you – just being with you, being cuddled by you and hearing your voice. If you want buy a couple of black and white toys – babies can’t see colour till about 4 months of age.

8. Change table

Just another bulky bit of furniture you don’t really need. If you have the space and want to spend the money that’s fine, but it’s not a necessity.

9. Cot bumper and doonas

Those pretty coordinated bed packages in the Bubs R Us shops look gorgeous I know but both bumpers and doonas are no nos for little babies as both have been implicated in raising the risk of SIDS.

10. Baby butt fan

Yes there is such a thing, and no we don’t think it’s a necessity.

Were you talked into buying something that you have found a complete waste of time? Please share in the comments below.

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122 Comments

- - mom492462 said
  - 25 Feb 2023
    7:34 pm
Totally agree …all so unnecessary
But we all been there and done it especially with our first..

- - Bizma said
  - 22 Jan 2023
    10:03 am
I agree with all the points here except for baby bath. Both my elder boys bathed in the sink happily from baby to 2 yo but my little one hates it. So i had to get him a bath tub with head and bottom support so he doesnt slip while i bath him from hand shower. Also, i didnt know bottom fan even existed ????

- - CrystalG said
  - 06 Nov 2022
    11:08 pm
Couldn’t agree more! Not a single thing on this list have I used in the past 5.5 months with my first born.

- - Mumma93 said
  - 28 Sep 2022
    10:23 pm
Baby butt fan hahahaha that one got me good hahah. No you don’t some of these things. Each to there own. I loved my nappy disposal, my mother in law almost got a wipes water for us but I’m super glad she didn’t haha.

- - Mad Bean said
  - 12 Aug 2022
    5:59 pm
I totally agree about the breast pump. I only used it once, then just hand expressed if I need too cause it was easier and didn’t over stimulate my milk production. Was a waste of money.

- - Mum2archer said
  - 01 Jun 2022
    10:20 pm
I agree with most of these but I thought a change table was a god send. After a caesarian it was hard enough moving around let alone if I would have had to get down and back up off the floor numerous times a day! We used it for the first 2 years of my sons life and it was absolutely worth it in our case

- - mom485659 said
  - 27 Feb 2022
    7:19 pm
I thought I needed one of the wrap carriers, the baby hated being held and was happy not being restricted.

- - emilys said
  - 10 Feb 2022
    12:57 pm
I agree with most of these! However I am so glad I had a breast pump. I think it prevented me from getting mastitis when I was engorged.

- - mom457867 said
  - 07 Jan 2022
    8:44 pm
I was so stressed out with bacteria and germs, I wouldn’t dare wash my child in the laundry sink or the bath, so the tub was necessary at the time. The Breast pump though, that was a blessing.

- - meedee said
  - 01 Jan 2022
    10:47 am
I have never heard of a wipes warmer but that seems rather over the top.

For me a Change Table was a life saver. Its the perfect height and really saves your back.

- - ashna9 said
  - 30 Sep 2021
    2:52 pm
I disagree on a change table. I found it very helpful as it was the correct height and I wasn’t moving changing items all over the place.

- - Ellen said
  - 03 Jun 2021
    10:05 am
Good tips. I don’t agree with the tip of no need for a changing table.; having a changing table saved by back !

- - catherines said
  - 26 May 2021
    1:33 am
Great advice and couldn’t agree more with the clothes that go over baby’s head. So not practical.

- - Mumofboysx4 said
  - 18 May 2021
    12:27 pm
Some of these I definitely agree with but some I don’t. I used a change table with all of my kids, so much easier than doing it on the floor where it’s easier for them to roll or run away when they’re older and everything you need is in the one spot.

- - mom314094 said
  - 10 May 2021
    10:05 pm
Just the other day I was telling my SIL we have some near perfect condition cons we can gift them – as our little one grew out of them so quickly as I purchased them in the size they fitted my little one as they started walking

- - mom7108 said
  - 06 May 2021
    12:23 pm
I definitely agree on the change table. I had one for my first and it was really handy, it saves your back but once they can crawl they pull everything out of the bottom of it. Watch out for the sudocreme!

- - mom7108 said
  - 06 May 2021
    12:22 pm
hahaha!! I want the fan! Great article. I have a breast pump and found it really useful. Bub has some days where they feed a lot and then not the next day. I think the pump reduced my engorged breasts by 2 cups sizes and now we have some frozen milk for later.

- - mom203833 said
  - 05 May 2021
    10:55 pm
You don’t need a walker either

- - Carli85 said
  - 05 May 2021
    8:44 pm
I disagree after 9 months of pregnancy, your back is stuffed and standing up right at a change table and bath on a frame is so much easier than anywhere else!

- - Jmac said
  - 04 May 2021
    1:24 pm
I agree with 9 out of 10 of these. I would get a breast pump – just manual – to start with. If you have issues with feeding like i did, it is such a relief to have a pump handy. Better even to borrow a good one from a friend.