Before the arrival of a newborn, parents often go shopping with excitement and anticipation, buying a large number of baby products. However, they frequently find themselves purchasing items that are not only useless but also incredibly frustrating. These items not only waste precious time and money but also take up space,and in some cases, even pose a threat to the baby's safety.
This article will delve into some common useless baby products，and based on my own parenting experience, provide practical purchasing advice for new parents. The aim is to help new parents avoid acquiring unnecessary items and instead provide their baby with genuinely useful things.
15. Bottle Holder
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I once witnessed my neighbor using a bottle holder because she often needed to juggle her work and household tasks, leaving her with no spare time to hold her child and feed them slowly. She only stopped using it when her baby choked on the bottle one time. As a mother of a four-month-old baby, I can hardly imagine the fear and terror I would feel if my child were at risk of choking on a constant flow of milk.
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If you are a busy parent as well, please do not use such a dangerous product. Nowadays, there are many baby carriers available that can free up your hands and take good care of your child, such as baby carriers. They are comfortable to wear, and you can easily adjust their tightness, providing peace of mind for both parents and children.
14. Baby Massage Oil with Whitening Effect
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As an adult, it's understandable that people pursue the idea of having fair skin. However, when this idea is applied to babies, it becomes absurd. Whether a baby has dark skin, wheatish skin, or fair skin, these babies are the best and most precious gifts given by God to their parents. The key point is that baby massage oils with whitening effects can pose a certain danger to the baby.
Finally, what I want to say is that as parents, we shouldn't imprint our biases about beauty on our children.
13. Baby Headgear
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This baby product, in essence, isn't necessarily frustrating, but I once spent a considerable amount of money on various baby headgear when my baby was just two months old, to satisfy my desire for dressing her up. However, I later found out that she simply didn't like it. Every time I put it on her, she would either pull them off with her hands in less than twenty seconds or cry loudly, which was quite frustrating.
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Eventually, I realized that most moms around me had also bought baby headgear at some point, and their babies didn't seem to like it either. I believe it was the constriction of the headgear that made them feel irritable and uneasy. So, I replaced the headgear with baby hats, and my baby quickly accepted them.
12. Baby Cribs
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I believe that 80% of newborn families own a crib like this. Initially, we thought these cribs provided safety and protection for our babies, but in reality, it made them feel even more insecure.
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The independent railings resemble prison bars or a cage. In the stage of growth where they can't speak and can only express emotions through crying, children actually prefer to snuggle close to their mothers. Every time I placed my baby in the crib, she cried louder than before. So, I later bought a bedside crib. It ensures that the baby has a separate sleeping space while also maintaining an intimate distance with the mother, providing a sense of security, and preventing crying.
11. All Baby Foods Except Formula
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Most of the baby foods available in the market, apart from formula, contain high levels of sugar, such as applesauce, pulp-free orange juice, cereals, packaged snacks, and so on. Feeding children with these foods for a prolonged period can lead to malnutrition. I once bought these baby foods for my daughter and noticed she became picky. So, I immediately stopped purchasing baby foods.
In reality, baby diets don't need to be overly cautious. They can eat most adult foods, We can grind these into mud.
10. Baby wipe warmers
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I once bought a set of wipes warmers for my baby after seeing a marketing advertisement, and I swear it's the most infuriating baby product.
Firstly, it's not cheap. Secondly, baby wipes don't need to be warmed. Heating them can lead to the wipes deteriorating, causing health issues for the baby.
Lastly, once the baby gets used to warm wipes, it becomes a hassle for parents. When you're outside and need to change the baby's diaper, the baby will resist the cold wipes touching their bottom. I've heard complaints from every newborn parent who bought a wipe warmer.
9. Bathtub Seat
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I once thought that these baby-specific bathtub seats would make bathing children less troublesome, but I never expected they would bring me more trouble. They don't stay firmly in place; they slide from one side to the other and don't truly provide safety when I'm giving my child a bath.
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They can only help the baby sit upright, but they also increase the risk of the baby tipping over. So, a safer alternative you can consider is choosing a hard plastic baby bathtub that is completely safe, free from BPA, choking hazards, and any harmful chemicals.
Of course, regardless of the type of baby bathtub you use, remember never to leave your child alone in the bathroom, even for just a minute. You never know what dangers your child might face in the next moment.
8. Baby Toys
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Before my daughter was born, I prepared a lot of baby toys for her, imagining a heartwarming scene where I would sit by her side and watch her happily play. However, the reality is that she doesn't really know how to use these toys. Most of the time, she just ends up chewing on them with her mouth and then goes to play with plastic sheets and bubble wrap.
Therefore, I recommend that parents of newborns refrain from buying toys for their children during the first 6-8 months. I don't want you to end up like me, spending a lot of money only to stow these toys away in a storage cabinet.
7. Baby Playpen
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These playpens are more suitable for cats and dogs than children. Children are mysterious beings; they are sensitive inside and have a strong desire to express themselves. You might think you're creating a private play space for them, but in reality, they fear this enclosed environment.
Moreover, most of these baby playpens are assembled from components, and if a child accidentally bumps into one part, the whole thing can easily tip over.
6. Baby Walking Safety Harness
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Today, many baby manufacturers seem to prioritize making more money without considering the practicality of their products for both children and parents. Take, for example, this child walking safety harness. I've never used it because the leash makes my child look like a pet! Furthermore, the design is not very user-friendly. Children in their learning stages tend to dash around, and this safety harness can cause injuries to their chest or wrists due to the pulling force.
5. Onesies
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During the baby stage, their head accounts for 25% of their body. However, it seems like the manufacturers of onesies didn't conduct such research. Almost all parents who have bought baby onesies have complained about size issues, which can be torture for babies with larger head circumferences.
4. Baby Perfume
The best baby perfume is the baby self. Parents, please refrain from using synthetic fragrances, endocrine disruptors, and neurotoxic perfumes on your baby! Children's hormonal systems are very sensitive, and spraying such perfumes on them can lead to lasting harm.
3. Baby Walkers
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Strictly speaking, baby walkers are primarily a form of entertainment for babies. In reality, they don't genuinely help children learn to walk; in fact, they can even delay a child's walking development. This is because baby walkers allow infants to move using the strength of their bodies, rather than letting them independently exercise their muscles and practice balance on the floor.
Additionally, baby walkers have a low safety factor and can easily tip over if they encounter a slope or obstacles ahead. It's worth noting that in some countries, the sale of such baby walkers is prohibited. So, if you want your child to learn to walk, it's better to place some safe items at home that they can crawl and pull themselves up with.
2. Talcum Powder Baby Powder
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If you are still using talcum powder baby powder for your child, please stop using it immediately!
According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a subsidiary of the World Health Organization, talcum powder containing asbestos is classified as "carcinogenic to humans." In simple terms, talcum powder baby powder may lead to ovarian cancer, lung cancer, and other types of cancer.
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It's best to stick to natural ingredients like coconut oil, olive oil, aloe, and so on.
1. Baby Socks
I admit that these tiny baby socks always tempt us to buy them, but newborns actually don't need to wear socks. When they are born, they have thousands of nerve endings on their feet, and they can build connections in their brains by experiencing the world through their feet.
Furthermore, wearing socks can constrict their little feet, affect blood circulation, and hinder their ability to learn to crawl, stand, and walk freely.
In summary, raising a child is a continuous learning process, and as parents, what we should do is allow them to grow freely and comfortably, rather than imposing our own expectations on them.