First-time parent? Do you really NEED those baby items?

I read this article from BuzzFeed: http://www.buzzfeed.com/mikespohr/these-are-the-items-parents-say-you-do-and-dont-n

BuzzFeed Life polled more than 100,000 parents on whether you really need a Diaper Genie, baby food maker, and more.

Here's what I think:

1. Do new parents need a bath thermometer?
No.  We bought a cute little Munchkin brand ducky from www.well.ca that had a "hot" indicator on it, but I wouldn't buy one again.  You'll know what's the appropriate temperature.  My daughter oddly enjoyed extra warm water right from the beginning - and still does!

2. How about a Pee-Pee Teepee?
No.  BUT, honestly I haven't tried them.  I just think a face cloth would serve the same purpose.  Plus I have friends who have tried them and they say the pee isn't always controlled by it.

3. A bottle warmer?
Yes.  A good quality bottle warmer that can warm both formula and breastmilk is something I would recommend.  I pumped and stored milk in the fridge for the first couple of months, then when I needed to warm it, I'd put it in a bottle and put the bottle in a container of hot water.  It took a while, so anything that can make that process faster is a good investment!  After I switched to exclusively formula, I'd warm the water in a measuring cup in the microwave first, then add the powder and water to the bottle.  Microwaves don't heat evenly, but the shaking while mixing the formula eliminated that concern.

4. What about Boogie Wipes?
YES.  I LOVE boogie wipes!  Now, if they're not close by when I need to do a nose wipe, I'll just use whatever - tissue, face cloth, wipe...or even my sleeve ;)  But the wipes have saline and are much easier on babe's nose!

5. A diaper stacker?
No.  I store my daughter's diapers in a cheap basket on the floor.

6. A baby food maker?
No.  You can use just a regular household blender.  Or you can not blend food at all and try the "baby-led weaning" method of introducing foods.

7. Special laundry detergent for babies?
No.  But you should use a "free & gentle" detergent.  Babies have sensitive skin!  I switched to Tide Free & Gentle for regular clothes, and I use The Laundry Tarts for my daughter's cloth diapers.

8. A diaper genie?
YES.  I was gifted one at my baby shower.  I didn't start cloth diapering until my daughter was 5 months old.  So from newborn to then, the Diaper Genie contained sooo many stinky diapers!  It's magical!  The Diaper Genie brand liners are expensive, so I found a cheaper version on www.well.ca.  We still use disposables at night, and on occasion, so the genie really helps keep the stink away.  The Diaper Genie Elite has a pedal that makes tossing the diaper away "hands-free".  I've heard of using the genie for cloth diapers too, just lining it with a PUL-lined pail liner.

9. A wipes warmer?
No.  If I use disposable wipes, I will sometimes just hold it in my hand for a second to warm it up.  If I use cloth wipes, they're at room temperature anyway.  Plus, I always thought it was sort of a safety hazard having a constant heat source on like that.

10. Pacifier wipes?
No.  Just rinse off with hot water or sterilize!

11. A nursing pillow?
YES!  Anything to help make nursing easier!

12. A formula mixer?
Nope.  Just shake it in the bottle.

13. A baby carrier?
YES!  Absolutely!  A stretchy wrap at the beginning, like a Moby wrap.  Then a soft-structured carrier like an Ergo or a Tula.  You can buy infant inserts for each of those brands too.  I used an Ergo until my daughter was about a year old, then I started using a Tula.  The Tula comes in two sizes: standard and toddler.  The standard will likely last you longer, but my daughter was in the 90th percentile for height and weight, and she fit into a toddler Tula earlier than most.

14. Baby shoes before six months of age?
No.  Slippers are a good idea though, especially if you have a winter baby.  And it's best if babies don't wear any shoes (or just use soft bottom shoes like Robeez).  A hard sole shoe can affect the development of the arch.

15. A baby video monitor?
Yes.  Technology has advanced so much, why not take advantage of it!  We're still using our video monitor and my little girl turned 2 last month.  With a monitor that just has audio, you can't really tell if baby is actually awake or just maybe tossing and turning.

16. Sophie the Giraffe?
Definitely not a need, but my daughter loved her Sophie so much I had two just in case!

17. A traditional high chair?
Yes.  I had a Boon Flair Pedestal on the advice of a mom friend.  It was awesome!  It was easy to clean and on wheels too.  Our home is all on one level so I was able to wheel the chair down to the bathroom and keep baby safe and contained and happy while I grabbed a quick shower!

18. A baby care timer?
No...I don't even know what that is!

19. A baby swing?
Yes!  Again, safe, contained and happy :)  I was able to enjoy many coffees in the early months of motherhood, thanks to the swing!

20. A changing table?
No. You can really change baby anywhere!  My daughter's room isn't very big so I opted to buy a dresser that would pretty much be at the same height as a change table, and just put a portable change pad on it.

21. A baby in-sight auto mirror?
No. The car seat installation expert actually referred to these as a hazard.  She felt parents would be pre-occupied with constantly checking on baby while driving.  The mirrors could also be a projectile in a car accident.  That being said, it all depends on the situation.  We did a road trip and really needed to be able to see baby without having to pull over on the highway.  So, we bought a mirror.

Another parent could read this same article and have the opposite of me, but I just wanted to share my personal experience.  I suppose there's really not a whole lot that you NEED for baby, but there are most definitely products that will make parenthood much easier!

I hope you enjoyed this post :)