If you’ve ever walked into a store like Babies“R”Us, you’ve probably seen enough so-called nursery must-haves to make your head spin. While you’d like to take all those adorable and “totally necessary” things home, your bank account may not allow it. Need to know what to cut? Here are seven nursery items you could probably do without:
A beautiful bedside bassinet may elicit more than a few oohs and aahs at a baby shower, but after a few months, these expensive baby beds have little use. Once your baby can sit up unsupported, he’ll need a larger crib with higher sides, and your lovely, little bassinet will likely become a lovely, little laundry hamper.
Instead of spending a small fortune on this short-lived accessory, invest in a more practical play yard with a bassinet attachment and a flip-up changing table. Even after your baby outgrows the bassinet, you’ll get plenty of use out of the large, portable play yard, which can also serve as a travel bed.
Crib bedding is just about the biggest racket in the baby business. Every year, thousands of well-meaning parents shell out hundreds of dollars on elaborate bedding sets that include crib blankets, bumpers and even throw pillows, never realizing that these cuddly, accessories could be deadly. Despite their popularity and widespread availability, soft bedding items such as bumpers and blankets can smother your baby and should never, ever be used in a crib.
Even when your child is older and the risk of SIDS has subsided, baby bedding sees little use. (Toddlers usually reject pillows and the heavy blankets that accompany most bedding sets.) Save your money, and stick to the bedding basics: a firm, well-fitting mattress, a thin, waterproof mattress cover and a few changes of sheets.
Mobiles may be adorable, but when it comes to keeping baby stimulated and entertained, there are better options. Babies thrive on routine. When you place your little dreamer in his crib, you want to send a single, clear message: Bedtime. Using the crib as a play place or time-out zone sends a mixed message and can lead to sleep issues. Furthermore, safety dictates that mobiles be removed as soon as your baby can sit up, relegating this expensive accessory from crib to closet in just a few short months.
Every nursery needs a changing table, right? Not really. Changing tables quickly outgrow their usefulness - if used at all. Newborns bunking in with Mom and Dad rarely see their nurseries, and once those little wiggle monsters can roll, most parents would rather pull up the nearest patch of carpet than risk a fall. A large portable changing mat and a diaper caddy is all you really need to do the diaper deed. For more budget-friendly alternatives to traditional changing tables, read this article.
Buying a wipe warmer may seem like a very humane gesture, but as many a parent will attest, the darn things are utterly useless! The heating element quickly dries out the wipes, leaving them stiff, brittle and prone to shredding as you pull wipe after useless wipe from the container. And if you think the idea of a cold wipe in the night is less than appealing, consider this: Warm, moist environments are ideal breeding grounds for germs. If your warmer actually works, it’s likely doubling as incubator for more than a few uninvited guests.
Instead of navigating row after row of uncomfortable and expensive gliders at your local baby-mart, why not find a good second-hand shop and pick up something with a little more pizazz? A shapely, old armchair recovered in a fun, kid-friendly fabric can really make a statement, and the plush surroundings and extra room allow for much cozier cuddles with older kids. What’s more, an attractive armchair is far more likely to stand the test of time, serving as a reading chair or a place for future teenage friends to sit.
While keeping track of your newborn’s feeding, changing and sleeping schedule is essential, buying an expensive timer to manage these events is definitely not. Sleep-deprived parents may need a little help in the memory department, but a pen and paper will usually suffice. Slave to technology? Turn to the tried and true: your smart phone. You’ll find a variety of parent-approved, baby-management apps available for a fraction of the cost.
Wondering what nursery accessories are worth your time and money? Check out these 7 Gadgets Every Nursery Needs.
1. Bassinet
A beautiful bedside bassinet may elicit more than a few oohs and aahs at a baby shower, but after a few months, these expensive baby beds have little use. Once your baby can sit up unsupported, he’ll need a larger crib with higher sides, and your lovely, little bassinet will likely become a lovely, little laundry hamper.
Instead of spending a small fortune on this short-lived accessory, invest in a more practical play yard with a bassinet attachment and a flip-up changing table. Even after your baby outgrows the bassinet, you’ll get plenty of use out of the large, portable play yard, which can also serve as a travel bed.
2. Baby Bedding
Crib bedding is just about the biggest racket in the baby business. Every year, thousands of well-meaning parents shell out hundreds of dollars on elaborate bedding sets that include crib blankets, bumpers and even throw pillows, never realizing that these cuddly, accessories could be deadly. Despite their popularity and widespread availability, soft bedding items such as bumpers and blankets can smother your baby and should never, ever be used in a crib.
Even when your child is older and the risk of SIDS has subsided, baby bedding sees little use. (Toddlers usually reject pillows and the heavy blankets that accompany most bedding sets.) Save your money, and stick to the bedding basics: a firm, well-fitting mattress, a thin, waterproof mattress cover and a few changes of sheets.
3. Crib Mobile
Mobiles may be adorable, but when it comes to keeping baby stimulated and entertained, there are better options. Babies thrive on routine. When you place your little dreamer in his crib, you want to send a single, clear message: Bedtime. Using the crib as a play place or time-out zone sends a mixed message and can lead to sleep issues. Furthermore, safety dictates that mobiles be removed as soon as your baby can sit up, relegating this expensive accessory from crib to closet in just a few short months.
4. Changing Table
Every nursery needs a changing table, right? Not really. Changing tables quickly outgrow their usefulness - if used at all. Newborns bunking in with Mom and Dad rarely see their nurseries, and once those little wiggle monsters can roll, most parents would rather pull up the nearest patch of carpet than risk a fall. A large portable changing mat and a diaper caddy is all you really need to do the diaper deed. For more budget-friendly alternatives to traditional changing tables, read this article.
5. Wipes Warmer
Buying a wipe warmer may seem like a very humane gesture, but as many a parent will attest, the darn things are utterly useless! The heating element quickly dries out the wipes, leaving them stiff, brittle and prone to shredding as you pull wipe after useless wipe from the container. And if you think the idea of a cold wipe in the night is less than appealing, consider this: Warm, moist environments are ideal breeding grounds for germs. If your warmer actually works, it’s likely doubling as incubator for more than a few uninvited guests.
6. Glider
Instead of navigating row after row of uncomfortable and expensive gliders at your local baby-mart, why not find a good second-hand shop and pick up something with a little more pizazz? A shapely, old armchair recovered in a fun, kid-friendly fabric can really make a statement, and the plush surroundings and extra room allow for much cozier cuddles with older kids. What’s more, an attractive armchair is far more likely to stand the test of time, serving as a reading chair or a place for future teenage friends to sit.
7. Baby Timer
While keeping track of your newborn’s feeding, changing and sleeping schedule is essential, buying an expensive timer to manage these events is definitely not. Sleep-deprived parents may need a little help in the memory department, but a pen and paper will usually suffice. Slave to technology? Turn to the tried and true: your smart phone. You’ll find a variety of parent-approved, baby-management apps available for a fraction of the cost.
Wondering what nursery accessories are worth your time and money? Check out these 7 Gadgets Every Nursery Needs.