20 “Essential” Baby Items You DON’T Need, From A mom Of 2

When preparing for my first baby’s birth, I registered for everything under the sun and I thought it was all going to be so necessary. Boy, was I wrong! Preparing for a baby is expensive, and all the baby stuff you’re told you need takes up so much freaking space. There were so many items I didn’t actually use, and they were just in the way.

Regardless, I held on to nearly everything for baby #2… and guess what? I didn’t use these items with him either! So if you’re expecting a baby and/or starting a registry, here are 20 “essential” baby items you DON’T need. If you hate clutter and wasting money, take it from me, you can totally skip these baby items and your kids will be just fine!

Okay, quick disclaimer. This is all based on my personal opinion and my experience as a mom of two (one of each gender), so don’t come for me if I mention one of your most favorite baby items in this list. Most of the links in this post are to items that I do not recommend. However, if you do choose to make a purchase through any of the links, please know that I will make a small commission off of the sale as an affiliate.

1. Baby Bathtub

This is an item that I just don’t understand the importance of at all. From the time my babies outgrew the sink, I just laid them down in the tub for baths. When they were really small, I’d put a hand towel in the bottom of the tub and fill the water up to my baby’s ears while they were laying down. When my youngest was able to sit up unsupported and I had two babies under two, I started bathing them together with no issues. The infant bath tub just seemed bulky, required airdrying, and it took up bathroom storage space we just didn’t have when it wasn’t in use. You can totally do without it!

2 and 3: Changing Pad / Changing Table

We never had a changing table, technically. I did use a changing pad on top of their dresser when the babies were really young, but I only found it useful for the first month or so. I definitely could have done without it from the very beginning, and would have happily used that dresser space for cute decor and baskets full of actual essentials.

Honestly, I prefer changing diapers on the floor, especially once the baby can roll over. It feels safer, and it’s so much more convenient to grab a diaper and lay your baby down anywhere in the house you feel like changing them. Especially now while I have two in diapers, I just put them next to each other on the floor and change them at the same time. No way I’d ever be able to do that on a changing pad/changing table! Opt for a dresser that the child can use all growing up, and consider skipping the changing pad all together. The changing pad requires covers and routine washing, it takes up space, and is 100% something you can do without.

4. Baby Mittens

Don’t buy them. Don’t register for them. They won’t stay on, they’ll get lost everywhere, and they’ll cling to your husbands boxers after the wash. Instead, stock up on baby sleepers… the little zip up footie outfits with built in mittens. Seriously, buy a ton of those and you’ll thank me later!

Skip these…

Buy these!

5. Baby Detergent

You don’t need it! It’s probably a good idea to choose a detergent free of dyes and fragrances, but the ones marketed for babies are outrageously priced. I’ve used Purex Free and Clear since my first child was born and it’s just over $7 for a huge jug. Compare that to what’s on the market specifically for babies (linked below), and then check the labels. You’re not getting a great deal if you’re buying the latter. Most babies do just fine with any detergent, but if you want to err on the side of caution regarding an infant’s sensitive skin, shop around for something similar, without the baby marketed price tag.

6 and 7: Baby Towels / Wash Cloths

I have baby towels and wash cloths, and I just need to get rid of them. Yes, they’re adorable. And they’re oh so tempting when you’re a first time mom shopping for your little one, but you don’t need them. Adult sized towels and wash cloths work the exact same, and they are far more absorbent than the ones sold for babies. I ended up with a ton of these with my first child, and to tell you the truth, I don’t think one has ever touched my second-born’s body in his entire life. Maybe I should pull them out of storage and use them since they’re there… but listen to me, you. don’t. need. these.

8. Formula Pitcher or Baby Brezza

Both of my children were primarily formula-fed during the first year. I have mixed an absolute ton of formula at this point in my life, and I’ve never ever felt the need to purchase a single formula-mixing product. Formula and baby bottles, that’s it! I got into a really simple formula routine with my children, and I can’t imagine that any baby-specific gadget would have simplified it any further.

Every day, I’d whisk 16 scoops of formula into a 32oz pitcher with water up to the line. Just a regular old plastic tea pitcher and a regular old whisk. Then I’d pour it into the bottles and pop them in the fridge. Ta-da! Bottles made for the whole day! I loved this method because the formula was stirred instead of shaken. That means there were no air bubbles in the formula to cause gassy, bloaty baby tummies. Also, it was so stinking convenient to have the bottles prepared ahead of time. (If your baby doesn’t drink 32oz of formula within 24 hours just alter the amount you prepare so that it won’t spoil)

9. Bottle Sterilizer

Don’t register for this until you check out your dishwasher’s settings. Nearly every dishwasher on the market has a “sterilize” and/or “sanitize” feature built in. So as long as the bottles you buy are dishwasher safe and your dishwasher is capable of doing the job, a bottle sterilizer would be completely unnecessary. Both of my babies used Dr. Browns bottles, and they’ve held up in our dishwasher for hundreds and hundreds of washes.

10. Baby Clothes With Snaps

When my first child was a newborn, I thought snaps aren’t that bad, I don’t know why they have such a bad rap. Once she started wiggling and rolling over, I quickly changed my mind about them. Why in the world are clothing manufacturers still putting snaps on baby clothing?!

Nobody likes them. No parent wants to wrestle their child right before leaving the house. Matching up snaps in the middle of the night… talk about a nightmare! Take my advice and don’t buy outfits with snaps up the front, no matter how cute they are. For a newborn, maybe… but any outfit sized bigger than 0-3 better come with a zipper if you know what’s good for you.

11. Wipe Warmer

First of all, this is a fire hazard. Second, they are warm and moist meaning they’re the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. If that’s not reason enough not to buy one of these, just ask yourself if you really want your baby to start screaming in a public setting when you touch their butt with a cold wipe from the diaper bag. Don’t set yourself up for failure by creating a high-maintenance baby. Hard pass.

12. Dock-A-Tot

Honestly, any baby lounger is a luxury and not a necessity. We had a baby lounger and a boppy pillow. Neither were life changing, and neither were used daily. If you want to lay your baby down, just find a safe spot and do it.

You don’t need expensive pillows or “docking stations” for your baby. A blanket on the floor was our go-to. The baby swing and bouncer were also fantastic for when we needed the baby off the floor. Their crib was perfect for naps, and I never once wished for a dock-a-tot with either child.

13. Tummy Time Mat

This is just one of those big, bulky items that will constantly be in your way. A blanket on the floor with a few toys spread out works even better than those teeny tiny mats and dangly toys. By the time your baby can reach the toys, they’ll be on to bigger and better things and that mat won’t keep their attention at that point anyway. Skip this item when registering, and get some fun, interactive baby toys instead.

14. Bassinet

I almost skipped this one because I knew it would be controversial. But hey, when I was a first time mom all I wanted was honestly and to know what truly worked for others. So here it is. Both of our babies slept in their own rooms in their crib by the time they were one week old. Yes, I know about SIDS and yes I talked to their doctors about this decision.

According to the AAP, infants should sleep on a flat firm surface, on his or her back, and without any soft covers or blankets… which is precisely what we did. Both of our children still have highly sensitive monitors on them as they sleep, and I absolutely know it anytime they wake and/or if anything is wrong. If you are wondering whether you can use a pack-n-play as a bassinet, you absolutely can (that was our initial plan). But when our babies slept more soundly in their own room safely in their crib, we decided to go that route instead. If you want to skip the bassinet altogether, I’m here to tell you it’s a perfectly fine option as long as you are still practicing safe sleep habits.

15. Infant Hats

My daughter was born in October, and I stocked up on baby hats for her thinking she’d need them all winter long. Nope, never wore most of them. When my son came along, there were limited accessories to buy for a boy, so I picked up some for him as well. Never wore them.

Even the times I did try to put hats on my babies, they never fit just right anyway. The ones you get for free from the hospital fit an infant head much better than the cute ones you can buy, so it’s probably a good idea just to skip registering for them all together.

16. Small 4oz Bottles

Only buy the 8oz bottles. Do not register for the small bottles or the multipacks that include the small bottles. My babies both outgrew these in the first couple weeks of their life. They’ve been packed away in storage since my son was about 3 weeks old, and that’s a big fat waste! You can fill the 8oz bottles up to the 4oz line, or the 1oz line for that matter! The small bottles will not be useful for long.

17. White Noise Machine

I’ve never owned one of these, and I’ve really never considered buying one. Newborn babies truly do sleep through anything when they’re tired. And when they’re hungry or need to be changed, they’ll wake up. In my experience, infant waking has never had much to do with background noise or loud surroundings. If babies are exposed to noise from the very beginning, it will rarely startle them awake.

I have never feared vacuuming while the baby is sleeping, blow drying my hair, having tickle fights with their sibling the next room over, etc. Now as toddlers, they still sleep like champs no matter what chaos is taking place outside their bedroom door. I don’t think this product poses an issue and it’s probably the item on the list that I’d most likely get onboard with, but it’s certainly not something you need.

18. Burp Cloths

There is not anything particularly wrong with burp cloths, there is just a product that I personally think works better that you should buy instead. As a mom, you’ll have 95,000 things to keep up with at all times. So when you can cut items off your list by using things that serve multiple purposes, do that.

Instead of burp cloths, stock up on cotton muslin baby blankets! They work as burp cloths, swaddles, baby blankets, loveys, and they can be used to clean up any baby-made messes in a pinch. My kids have long outgrown the need for burp cloths, but we still keep at least one in the diaper bag at all times. My one-year-old son loves to cuddle up with these to fall asleep, and he packs one around with him basically all the time. We’re huge fans of the Aden and Anais ones!

Skip these…

Buy these instead!

19. Shopping Cart Seat Cover

I had one of these for my daughter, and I did try to use it in the beginning. But once again, it’s just another item to remember to pack and keep up with. Also, the times that I did use it, I came to a realization of how unsanitary it actually was. After you use it, then what? You stick it back into your diaper bag so that it gets those disgusting shopping cart germs all over everything else your baby comes in contact with! Then you have to remember to wash it every time you use it.

Instead, bring a travel sized sanitary spray or a pack of sanitizing wipes with you, and give the handle and seat a quick wipe down before you put your baby in the cart. Way easier and so much more sanitary!

20. Baby Grooming Kit

I know it looks like a great deal to buy all of these items in one kit, but just don’t do it. We have the kit I linked below and also at least one other, and the majority of what’s in them is JUNK! Don’t trust the thermometer. The nail clippers will easily clip your child’s skin. And the bulb syringe… it’s an absolute joke!

Most hospitals provide you with an infant hairbrush, comb, bulb syringes, and standard baby thermometer. What I took home from the hospital with each of my children is of much better quality than any item in the baby grooming kit that I received off my registry. I have linked a couple of tried and true items that you WILL actually need for your child that you most likely won’t receive from the hospital.

Skip this…

Buy this!

Thanks for reading!

Whether you’re a first time mom creating a registry, in the market for a baby gift, or just planning for the future… I truly hope this buying guide helps you. There is a long list of products you’ll want to register for that will make life with a baby easier, but these 20 things just don’t make the cut! I hope you enjoyed my breakdown of baby items you don’t need.

Let me know if you disagree. I’d love to chat in the comments! Share this post with a mom-to-be, and make sure you’re following along on Instagram and Facebook. See you next Tuesday!

xoxo – Haley