10 things you don't really need but think you need when you have a baby

baby number 4. she's lucky she has diapers.

so over the last 12 years of having our 4 babies, things have changed a little. or more like a lot. 

"they must sleep on their stomach."

"they have to sleep on their side."

"they always sleep on their back."

"they must be swaddled."

"they must be propped up."

"their bottles need warmed."

"never warm up bottles."

you get the drift.

hubs & i were laughing the other day because we currently have 2 (glass) bottles for little olive. with our first, we had like 8. and they were plastic. and we had 8 more in the next size up. i mean, did we not think about just cleaning them & reusing them. why on earth did we need that many?? which was never any fun come dishwashing time. we'd hold out as long as possible before tackling that chore. cleaning bottles is the worse. maybe not THE worse, but it's up there. that bottle brush that sprays water everywhere as you drag it back out of the bottle. making sure you clean every crevice of the bottle nipple to be sure there's absolutely nowhere for bacteria to possibly be hiding. (i'm kind of obsessive about that & i don't even know if that's possible. i mean, i'm sure it is.) anyway, we got to thinking about all the things over the years we've had & never used or wished he had but never will. and i'm not even talking about all the obscure things listed on pinterest that most of us have never heard of. i'm talking about all those "necessities" that people think they need, but don't. and yeah, i'm sure some of these things have been a god-send for someone else, but i'm sharing our side of the baby registry.

10 things you don't really need but think you need when you have a baby:

1. bottles - okay, i know you need bottles, but not packs & piles of them. maybe 3 max?? we used plastic bottles with our first 3 because i honestly didn't know you could even buy glass ones. now that we've used glass with our last, holy cow, i LOVE them. i can't really explain why. but get some.

2. high chair - this one may surprise you. but our 3rd never had one. once he started sitting up & could eat baby food [that lasted about 2 weeks before he was just eating smooshed ( <--is that a word??) food off our plates], he sat on someone's lap & just ate with us. of course we got one at our 1st baby shower & used it some, but NEED may be too strong of a word. we made do.

3. washcloths - i mean, why? yes, we've had them with each kid, but never have we ever actually used them all. i think there was one mixed in with the laundry regularly, but NEED?? no. what's wrong with our other washcloths? or sponges? i don't scrub her down. i basically use my hand the whole time anyway. 

4. blankets - 52 blankets. muslim, guaze, super fluffy, thin cotton. all shapes, sizes & prints. again, why don't i just wash the few & reuse? why so many? i guess everyone likes to buy a blanket. it's a super fun gift to give. and don't act like we all don't love rubbing those super fluffy cloud-like ones across our faces all the live-long day. i wonder how many people rub on those things in the store. ew. you can thank me for your all new level of germ paranoia. 

5. swings/bouncy seats/rockers/etc - we've had it all. except for one of those bumbo things. people seem to love them. oh & the rock & play. every. single. mother i have spoken to in the last year has raved about it. so my kids are probably lacking in something because we never had one. we did buy a moses basket with our 4th & loved it. but we only used it for the first 3 months. whatever works. i'd like to try one of those bumbos-but like, for free. our second baby had colic when she was little & the swing was necessary for our sanity. she also loved the boppy & occasional slept in it (GUILTY), but we barely even used it with our 4th. we don't have any gadgety things so far this time around so i'll be interested to see if i crack & get something. i'm probably being stubborn here (shocker, bray, i know) but i'd like to see what all we DON'T "need" this time around. sort of a stick-it-to-the-man type of thing. i'm like that sometimes.

6. bottle drying racks - i'm not gonna lie. target has some super cute ones that look like grass. that prob sounds weird. but i almost got one just because they were so cool looking. but again, why? i just sit mine on the counter & they dry. just sayin.

7. socks - hahahaha. okay, but really...i got this similar pack from gap & they actually stay on. but if you have a  summer baby...no shirt, no socks, no problem.

8. shoes - HAHAHAHAHAHA

9. rocking chair - we had a glider rocker with our first & i remember using it when she would get up through the night. that lasted a whole maybe 5 weeks?? investment-worthy? i think not. rocking may be overrated. unless you're a grandma.

10. baby brush - WHY. if you're baby comes out with hair long enough to get tangled up & need brushed out...call the ellen show & get free stuff or at least make a viral video & get yoself famous.

*11. toys - so as i'm typing this, our second-born (aka my editor/boss lady) tells me, "what about all those toys in there for her?" SO TRUE. I mean, one day she may "play" with one of the soft rattles & want to chew on a teether, but a basket full of tag dolls & stuffed animals...we may be overestimating her aspirations at playtime.

a few lingering thoughts. diaper bags. do they come with magic diaper-changing juju if they are called "diaper" bags? no? ok, i'll just continue to use a tote i already have & actually like. wraps, slings, carriers. unless you're an avid hiker & enjoy taking your baby with you, you'll prob make it without one. i do have one that was gifted to us for our 4th & it has been very convenient when i have needed hands, but maybe just borrow one from somebody. play mats. never had one. baby monitor. never used one. of course, our babies always shared our bedroom until they were in a toddler bed. not because we're huge cosleeper proponents but because we have never had enough bedrooms for a "nursery" (until #4).   a lot of these "needs" probably change depending on your working/staying home, big/small house, first/second/third/fourth kid, situations.   pacifier bags/holder/pods. a great thought in theory. play pens. isn't that what a crib is used for? speaking of cribs. we got our last one (you don't actually expect me to still have the same crib over 12 years, do you?) from ikea. for 80 bucks. and i freaking love it. shopping cart covers. probably a great idea if i ever remembered to get it out of the car & actually use it. baby baths.  could they be anymore awkward to store? and can i send you the chiropractor bill after i'm done leaning over the bathtub in the most uncomfortable position ever?? i bathe the babes with me until they can sit up & then it's into the sink until they are big enough to enjoy the tub. 

so after shattering all of your baby registry hopes & dreams, i guess i could tell you about a few things i love & have loved with all 4 of our kids. i feel like i've kind of done things backwards with our babes. we were young & naive with our first kids, so we just got all the necessities that folks said we needed. i didn't know what i actually liked or what was even out there. mind you, this was back in 2003. like pre-facebook. like you still got excited about the penny's catalog. our social/technological scheme is SO DIFFERENT now. which has been fun this 4th time around. lots of cool stuff to try. handmade. mom-made. organic. all-natural. so while most people do top of the line stuff with their first, we're sort of experiencing all that with our last. of course, every mom has their own priorities & opinions. each of our babes are different, so we all react/feel differently with each. and as different as each of us are, we all love the same. fiercely & wholly. flawed & faultless.

so here's a real bare bones list of what we consider our must-haves. 

1. muslim swaddle blankets - i have used them for everything: swaddling as a newborn, a feeding cover, burp cloth, shade from the sun, umbrella from the rain, shield from the wind, car seat cover & of course, as a blanket. they're not too heavy, yet still absorbent. mine love snuggling them up to their faces at nap time, too.

2. burp cloths - milk drips, spit up, it's gonna happen & i particularly love using white cloth diapers as burp cloths. my fav.

3. pacifiers - just buy a few at a time. see if your baby likes them or a particular kind/shape. 2 of our 4 used them until about 3-4 months & then quit. the other 2 used them forever.

4. pacifier clips - if you are using paci's, paci clips are such a huge help. instead of the paci popping out every few minutes & always hitting the floor or before you spend your whole day looking for one...bam, it's still attached to the baby by a paci clip. 

5. stroller/car seat/car seat combo (similar)- needed for obvious transportation reasons. i've never investigated a lot of money in a stroller. our current one was on clearance at walmart for like $30 (and it came with the carseat/carseat base too!) & i love it. to each their own. 

6. glass bottles - i think basically all plastic bottles are bpa-free now, but dang, i love these glass ones.

7. diapers - okay, so obviously you need them & as with most things, it's up to your own convictions whether you use cloth or buy disposable ones. we've always used disposable. (i swear i love you mother earth.) you can buy the cheapest or use the pricier designer ones. i've used them ALL. cheaper ones can leak more often but i've never noticed a difference with any of my babies/babies' skins. bottom line: they get pooped in. peed in. i throw them away.

as much as i hate to end a post talking about ^^ that, i think i have to. 

happy shopping! 

God bless us babes & all our babies.