Annoying Baby Stuff........

nebula

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Hi Everyone

So has anyone noticed the absolute influx of baby items on the market? I have to wonder the point of some of them. My parents never had these things, and my brother and I turned out fine.

My friend just had a baby, and received a wipe warmer as a gift. A $30 item to , well warm baby wipes. She also got a bumbo seat, (which I have absolutely no idea the neccesity for) and a diaper genie.

Who thinks up these things? It just amuses me, I suppose.

How about you? Are there any silly baby items, you just don't imagine their purpose?
 

bbdoll22

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With my first born we received all the items you mentioned. I wasn't even supposed to have ant babies. So we gave it all away. 2 1/2 years later number 2 came. He has had of those items and did just fine.
 

MoochNNoodles

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They may not be needs; but sometimes they sure help!

I never used a bottle or wipe warmer; but both my kids loved the bumbo (which doubled as a portable high chair), the swing soothed my 2nd while my first needed attention and the rock & play let us all sleep better at night.

I do agree some things are really unnecessary for most or all babies (helmets & knee pads for crawlers; peeper covers for boys) but sometimes the last thing you expect helps a bunch!! Like baby legwarmers! Lol
 

Willowy

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Yeah, I'm sure that whatever one person considers unnecessary, another person can't live without! I think most baby products are purely for convenience, but sometimes convenience is necessary :tongue2:. I do think "peepee teepees" are entirely unnecessary---who wants to dig through the diaper bag for one when you can just put the old diaper or a wipe or a washcloth over him until you get the new diaper hitched up (I babysat a lot when I was a teenager, so I know how not to get peed on)? But I also think they're hilarious so I might be tempted to buy them as a gag baby shower gift :D.

Wipe warmers aren't new---my mom had one when my brother (who is 28 now) was a baby. We lived in a house without central heat and the wipes would freeze without the warmer! I also knew people who kept the wipes on the radiator. I suppose it's more convenient to have the warmer where you want it rather than be dependent on where the radiator is located.

I asked my mom what she thought of all the new baby products and she said there are some things she thinks are silly and some things she wishes she had when we were babies because it would have made her life easier.
 
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nebula

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Oh my, I stumbled into a new realm of baby. Pee Pee teepeees??? LOL LOL I am sorry, but looking at pics and just the concept. WOW. I just always kept the diaper over until I was ready...

What is cool about Bumbo though? Is it supposed to help them learn to sit up sooner and such?? I know they were recalled.... awhile back.

As far as wipes, I would think holding them in your hand and rubbing for a few seconds would warm them up? Then what if you are out somewhere, and they are used to warm wipes, then they feel cold with no warmer, will it make the kid freak out?

I love children BTW, we do not have any of our own [yet]. But I just get amazed with all the new stuff I see, the pee pee tee pees take the cake, that is a completely new one on me!! 
 
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Willowy

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From what I can find about Bumbos, they just hold up babies who are too little to sit up on their own. Some people love this, other people end up never using them :dk:. I don't think there's any bigger purpose to them---just whether you want your teeny baby sitting around or lying around ;).

Eh, it's all for the parents anyway. Babies have very few needs---to be kept safe, clean, and well-fed, with lots of positive human interaction, and you don't need any gadgets for that. But adults sure do love gadgets :lol3:.
 

catlover19

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I almost bought peepee teepees when Hudson was born 4 months ago. He kept peeing on me, my bed, my couch, even my 2 year old daughter. I was getting frustrated. I quickly figured out how to tell when he's about to pee and cover him up now.

I love the Bumbo. Hudson can't quite sit up yet but loves to be playing on the floor with his sister. He sits in his Bumbo beside her. It works well to feed him too since there is a removable tray. The seat itself wasn't recalled, you had to order a seat belt for it and install it. The new ones all come with it now.


I've never owned a wipes warmer. I wanted one when Aimee was born but quickly changed my mind when I read reviews. I read that babies get used to warm wipes and then freak out if they are wiped with a cold wipe.
 
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MoochNNoodles

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From what I can find about Bumbos, they just hold up babies who are too little to sit up on their own. Some people love this, other people end up never using them
. I don't think there's any bigger purpose to them---just whether you want your teeny baby sitting around or lying around
.

 
That's pretty much what the Bumbo is for.  A friend of mine has 4 little ones.  Her youngest is 5 years younger than the next oldest.  Someone gave them a bumbo (she's one who generally just sticks to the basics/essentials when it comes to baby stuff) and was raving about it.  The baby loved sitting on the floor with everyone while they were playing a board game.  She was happy to be "up" seeing her big sisters running around.  

My kids are pretty thin; I have used the bumbo as a booster seat for my kids actually.  I have a portable high chair (it straps to a regular chair) that converts; but it's got a larger footprint so the bumbo was nice to travel with.  There are no other little kids in my family; so it's not like where I visited had the accommodations that are so helpful to me.  

That bumbo recall happened between my kid's births I think.  I thought it was stupid.  Some people set their babies in them up on a kitchen counter.  That might be fine if you are RIGHT THERE; but otherwise no.  I never did that.  My kids never fell.  Gadgets or not; babies still need constant supervision.  

My cousin actually registered for a reusable type "pee pee cover" for her little boy.  I don't remember the brand name.  I read the reviews on it; a few people loved it but most commented they bought it as a joke or it didn't work that great.  I learned pretty quick how to change DS without getting peed on.  Or the wall.  Mostly the wall.  I just kept him covered.  His bath towels come to a point at the bottom with the hood on top; so I would pull the towel up between his legs after baths.  I changed his diapers quick.  He was too wiggly for those covers.  Especially if you change on a flat surface instead of a curved changing pad on a table.  That definitely kept him more still.  And they do have signs that they are about to go. 

I didn't go for a bottle warmer for the same reason @catlover19  .  I warmed stuff in a glass of warm water if it had been refigerated.  But once my kids were on bottles and formula; they got it room temp all the time so we had no issues being out and about.  

Some of the "extras" you can find on Craigslist for a great price.  I also had some great gear handed down to me from family and friends.  My DD had a lot come from my niece; so it was ALL pink!  So when DS was coming we gave some trading and upgrading.  I found DS's swing very lightly used, in perfect condition and for very reasonable on Craigslist.  There are also consignment sales that some people like; but that's not my cup of tea with the crowds.  I'm pretty specific when it comes to those purchases.  I read a lot of reviews.  But even now; the stroller I use for shopping is brown with pink trim.  DS has some pink sippy cups.  He couldn't care less.  But I did change some things out so he wasn't totally surrounded by pink and butterflies. 
 
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