You’ve probably already noticed that there is no shortage of weird and wonderful products on the baby market. There are so many companies competing for your hard-earned money, it’s easy to get swept up in it all. Any parent will be able to list at least a few baby products they had that turned out to be a complete waste of money. Here are just five examples:

1. Top and tail bowl

The very concept of the top and tail bowl is based on the idea that your baby’s butt is so filthy, it would immediately poison your poor baby’s face. Now, obviously you shouldn’t use your baby’s butt to clean your baby’s face, but aside from that, your baby will probably be fine in a normal baby bath. If you have a top and tail bowl, the chances are it was only ever used one and then resigned to the pile of useless baby products building up in your garage.

2. Baby shoes

Babies can’t walk, but that doesn’t seem to stop the hundreds of companies out there making tiny shoes for baby feet. They’re adorable, of course, in fact, they can cause serious injuries to the ovaries of broody women, but aside from this, they have little purpose. Your baby spends most of the day sleeping and all of the day not walking, so his need for shoes is actually minimal. It can’t be very comfortable trying to nap with your shoes on, can it? And yet, it’s a baby purchase that’s pretty hard to resist, after all, they’re just so tiny.

3. Wipe warmer

Your baby’s butt is arguably the most precious (and adorable) thing in the world right now, it’s true. But, is it really so precious that room temperature baby wipes are not acceptable? Baby wipes are used to wipe poop off your baby’s skin, does it really matter whether the wipe is at a warm temperature or not? Surely getting rid of the poop is the most important thing here? By all means, buy a wipe warmer, but know that you are being overly protective of your baby’s butt each time you use it.

4. Changing mat cover

You don’t want your newborn baby to get cold on the plastic mat and so you invest in a fancy cover for your changing mat. It’s hand-embroidered, very pretty and comes with a tiny pillow to rest his head on. It’s beautiful, but it’s also completely pointless. Your baby will still spend every change on the cold plastic mat because that fancy cover you bought will be in the wash again, along with the pillow. On the few occasions, they’re not in the wash, your baby will immediately pee all over them and you’ll have to put them straight back in the wash again.

5. Designer clothes

Oh, baby clothes can be so adorable. It can be hard to resist buying another tiny outfit for your baby, especially when you see a designer one you love. Be warned, though, your baby won’t care whether the clothes she wears were expensive or not. She’s still going to vomit on them, sneeze on them and do an explosive poop in them. She doesn’t care about the price tag, she’s a bodily fluid spraying machine. Better to save your money.

What baby products have you found to be completely useless?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

When you first announced you were pregnant, the gifts probably started flowing in. Perfect little onesies. The cutest little sleepwear. Newborn and 0-3 month outfits that made you swoon in delight.

You had more clothes gifted to you for those early months than your baby was even able to wear before growing out of them.

But now, you’re surveying your stockpile and realizing that you probably need to start making some actual purchases. The problem is, how do you know what you need? And how do you keep from breaking the bank on those purchases?

It’s no secret that new babies can be expensive, and their clothes are perhaps one of the least talked about expenses there are. Everyone knows about the bottles and the formula, but people forget about the cost of keeping those little ones from being naked.

There are two main issues with buying baby clothes to consider. The first is that you have no idea how long your baby will be in any set size, and the second is that you find yourself wanting to buy everything!

It’s just all so adorable!

Try to temper that desire, though, and follow these tips for keeping your baby clothed and your bank account in the black:

1. Consignment (second-hand) Stores: There are so many cute consignment (second-hand) stores for kids clothes these days, and the beauty is that because all babies grow out of their clothes quickly, most of what you will find will probably have only been worn a handful of times before you buy it. Shopping consignment means you’ll get like-new quality for half the price.
2. Size Up: Your baby is growing fast, and those growth spurts can literally happen overnight. Your best bet? Buy clothes that are a size or two large, and then plan on rolling sleeves and leg bottoms for a little while. You’ll get much longer outfit wears if you’re willing to let your little one rock the baggy look for a few weeks.
3. Know What You Need: Never go aimlessly shopping for baby clothes. If you do, you’re bound to walk out with a dozen adorable dresses in the middle of winter, or a cute themed outfit months away from Christmas. Instead, have a list and stick to it.
4. Splurge on One Thing: For the most part, dressing your baby in onesies and sleep gowns is still probably going to be the easiest, most comfortable option for all. But it doesn’t hurt to have one truly precious outfit in the closet, just in case a photo-worthy event comes up. You don’t want to go overboard on clothes your baby will probably never wear, but… one occasion outfit can be worth the splurge!

Written by Leah Campbell, infertility advocate, adoptive mama, writer and editor. Find me @sifinalaska on Twitter.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general informational basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

“Tsk, tsk! Your baby is too cold!” or “Too hot!” or “You don’t have enough clothes on that baby!”

You’ve been a parent long enough now to know that the number one criticism you are likely to get from the grandmothers in your life (and even those you just happen to meet on the street) is that your baby is not appropriately dressed for the weather.

“Tsk, tsk!” You’ve heard it too many times.

But is it possible that those tsk’ing are onto something?

The truth is, little ones aren’t as good at regulating their own body temperature as adults—in fact, it takes until about 6 months of age before they’re bodies fully adapt to that self-regulation. Which means it’s highly possible that your baby is too hot, or too cold. So you want to avoid both overdressing and underdressing your little, depending on the situation—because the clothes they wear will have a big impact on their body temperature.

A good habit to get into is layers. Layers can be removed or added as needed, and having them on hand means you never have to worry about your baby being either too cold or too warm. Keeping your baby’s feet covered is always a good idea as well, except perhaps in the truly warm summer months. And as winter rolls around—you want to provide the same protection to their little hands. Baby mittens can serve a dual purpose: not only do they keep little fingers warm, but they also protect your baby from inadvertently scratching him or herself.

Another thing to keep in mind is that babies haven’t yet built up much of a protection against the sun’s rays, and you want to avoid sunscreen in those early months—so a wide brimmed hat when going outside can be a good idea, along with light layers that will protect your little one’s skin.

Of course, anytime you’re outside in the warmth, you have to worry about your baby overheating. Pay attention to your little one’s eyes and any signs of distress when outside, and plan for frequent trips back inside to cool off and give your baby a break from the outdoor elements—no matter what time of year it may be.

If you’re ever concerned that your baby might be too hot or too cold, run your hand across his or her neck and see how the skin feels there. That can usually be a good indicator of whether or not it might be time to add or remove another layer to ensure your baby is appropriately dressed for the weather!

Written by Leah Campbell, infertility advocate, adoptive mama, writer and editor. Find me @sifinalaska on Twitter.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general informational basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.