13 Useless Baby Items Parents Shouldn’t Rush to Buy

Most parents are convinced that their children deserve only the best. So they spare no expense to buy items designed to bring joy to their little ones and make life as easy as possible for them as well. Unfortunately, some of these purchases not only turn out to be a waste of money but can also be potentially dangerous for babies.

Drop-side cribs

Parents love such crib models. You can simply lower the sideboard to the desired height instead of bending over to lift your baby. But some of such cribs aren’t safe for children because the bars can sometimes come loose, which may cause a little one to snag or get stuck accidentally.

Most modern crib manufacturers ensure that their products comply with the latest safety standards, but pre-2011 models may contain these defects, so it’s worth avoiding buying older second-hand cribs.

Crib tents

For the parents of active toddlers, manufacturers offer special nets and tents. These products are attached to the crib’s sides or placed on a play mat. As a result, the baby can’t accidentally climb out of the predetermined space, and mosquitoes and flies can’t get under the tent.

But these attachments might cause injuries and harm the child’s health. Some babies manage to get stuck between the bars and, at best, end up with bruises and contusions.

Some other children’s products may also carry potential risks for kids.

Smart socks

The smart sock is a special monitor that gets attached to the child’s foot. It monitors the heartbeat and blood oxygen levels and then transmits the data to the parent’s phone. If any of the metrics go beyond the norm, the app on the phone immediately sends an alarm. But sometimes, such devices only bring additional stress to the parents.

• This sock has driven me and my husband to the brink. Our toddler kept kicking it off, or the bracelet would come loose when we were changing the diapers. As a result, as soon as we finally got a chance to nap, the phone would start screaming alarms, and we’d jump up again. We returned this thing back to the shop. © APGNick / Reddit

Baby food processor

Almost every baby version of a popular kitchen appliance is a waste of money. You can cook a steamed meal with a regular double boiler and use a blender to turn solid food into a purée. As a result, baby food processors end up being used only a few times, and then they’re either given away to relatives or are left to gather dust in the darkest corner somewhere in the attic.

• In fact, the purée food stage will be over in the blink of an eye. No way would I buy any expensive thing to make this food. © Blooodbathandbeyond / Reddit

Infant walkers

This device helps mothers free their hands, and babies who haven’t yet learned to walk can move around the house safely. However, pediatricians don’t recommend using walkers. A baby can get stuck somewhere, knock over a hot drink or even fall down the stairs. Also, a baby has to unwittingly take an upright position before their body has had enough time to prepare for this movement.

Some baby laundry detergents

There is nothing special about baby laundry detergents, although they’re often more expensive than regular products. If the product contains fragrances, it may be unsafe for the baby’s health. Children’s clothes can be washed with any detergent as long as it does not contain dyes or fragrances. It should be hypoallergenic and be suitable for people with sensitive skin.

Swings and hammocks for newborns

Many parents swear by these items because only a swing would calm their babies down and leave parents with some time for themselves. But such products are pretty expensive and take up a lot of space. In addition, not all children like to swing. Once they’re put in the chair, they may resent it.

Experienced mothers recommend renting such devices first to see how the child reacts to them. You can also purchase a baby bouncer instead of a swing. It takes up less space and is easier to use it.

• Our daughter literally hated her swing. As a result, it just took up floor space. © mtnstoseaside / Reddit

Bath crayons

Special crayons can keep your baby occupied in the bathtub for a long time. Besides, the child learns to draw on vertical surfaces instead of the horizontal ones they’re already used to. The only downside to the crayons is that if you don’t wipe them off immediately and decide to leave them overnight, it’ll be challenging to get rid of the colored stains.

• Our son just loved drawing on the tub. I would rinse them off immediately, but once I got carried away and forgot. As a result, I tried everything I could to scratch off the bright stains, but nothing worked. So our bathtub remained spotty.

Transformer strollers

This model appears to be a bargain because you can replace a reclining and a sitting stroller with just one item. But transformers are usually larger than the usual strollers, and they take up a lot of space. While you can get rid of the regular reclining stroller at some point, you won’t be able to part with the transformer until your kid doesn’t need the whole item anymore (when they’re 2 years old or older).

• I fell in love with our transformer stroller at first sight. It’s comfortable, maneuverable, and stable. The only thing I didn’t consider was the width of the rear axle. The pram just wouldn’t fit into our elevator. Whenever I got this thing in and out of the cabin, I had to remove the back wheel.

Baby oil

Special lotions are usually used to moisturize newborn’s delicate skin, while oils should be left only for massages. The latter contains mineral oil, and children’s skin doesn’t absorb it well. Moreover, some experts believe that these oils can create a barrier on the skin’s surface because of their chemical properties, leading to moisture loss.

Baby bottle sets

Buying a lot of feeding bottles in advance isn’t the best solution. These items should be picked depending on the baby’s needs and preferences. Some babies are breastfed for up to a year or longer, so they don’t need such bottles at all. Others can drink formula only from the bottles of a particular brand or, otherwise, they’d get colic.

Jumpers

Some kids love jumpers. But the disadvantages of this toy outweigh its positive effects. Babies shouldn’t spend more than 15 minutes a day in this thing because of the specific configuration of the seat, which affects the development of the hip joints.

The baby’s fingers can get caught between the straps, resulting in injury. And if a child uses a doorway jumper, they can also bruise themselves on the doorjamb.

Feeding chair with decorative elements

First of all, this item must be comfortable and stable, and its appearance shouldn’t be a priority. The abundance of seams and decorative details affects the price of the chair and its usability. Children aren’t very neat when they eat, so all the seams will quickly get clogged with food, and cleaning will become a real hassle.

• We bought our kid a really cool feeding chair. The seat is padded, and it has lots of seams. And it’s just impossible to clean it. People, don’t make the same mistake I did! © Sock_puppet09 / Reddit

Moms buy a lot of baby products during pregnancy. Some of these purchases not only turn out to be completely useless but also undermine the family budget.