Real Mums Share 6 Baby Products They Regret Buying
It’s difficult to shop for a person you haven’t met yet, especially when that person is a fussy baby.
By Eliza Y -
If you think about it, shopping before you give birth is quite the gamble. There’s no guarantee whether your baby will take well to all the fancy thingamajigs you’ve purchased — not even if you’re a seasoned parent. Your first kid loved the Snuggle Me Lounger? Your second may hate it.
While some parents swear by certain products that make their lives easier, some items do feel like they were probably designed by brands who just wanted to make a profit. Do you really need a pee-pee teepee (parents of baby boys, take note), bath thermometers or a dustbin designed just for diapers? Well, Statista reports that globally the market is projected to be worth over USD $88bn (SGD $118bn) by 2026, so it’s no surprise that brands want a piece of that pie.
While there are no products we can say a definitive no to (ultimately it depends on your preferences and budget) we did ask for firsthand accounts from real parents. We hope this list saves you a bit of money or at least helps you make an informed purchase.
Baby cots are usually one of the first few items on the checklist. Will you be including one in yours?
“I know it's considered one of the essentials, but I regretted buying a cot. It was underutilised as our family started co-sleeping right away. Being a first time parent, I was very anxious about leaving my son alone, especially when he's sleeping. I needed him near me in case of any emergencies. As he got older, we decided to invest in a floor mattress instead. We had heard many stories about babies falling off their beds/cot so a floor mattress minimised that risk.” – Dayah, mother to a 5-year-old.
Konny is a South Korea-based company founded in 2017.
“Despite rave reviews from internet mums and even my fellow friends, the Konny wrap has not won me over. In my opinion, the lack of structure doesn’t give my back or my baby the support we need. For parents who prefer wrap carriers, the Konny – which you can pull over like a t-shirt – may be a convenient alternative. However, I much prefer baby carriers like Tula and Ergobaby, which come with adjustable straps and comfortable padded designs. Yes, it’s bulkier, but it feels more secure and ergonomic for me.” – Domenica, mother to a 1-year-old.
When choosing a baby chair, think about how you have your meals as a family.
“When I started my baby on solids, I was convinced I needed a Stokke Tripp Trapp Chair. This Norwegian-designed high chair features adjustable parts that can turn it into a dining chair for toddlers. Although I purchased an A+ dupe for half the retail price ($485 was too expensive), it still turned out to be a total waste of money as my family often ate asian-style: cross-legged and from a low table. I ended up buying and using the Ingenuity Baby Base 2-in-1 Booster much more often! Bonus: As the Booster is made of plastic, I can just hose it down instead of wiping down every crevice of the wooden, dupe high chair. For those considering high chairs, you’d be better off with an IKEA Antilop.” – Eliza (author), mother to a 2-year-old.
Some parents prefer to keep their babies’ hands warm in mittens, while others consider this to be an unnecessary purchase.
“No big regrets, but there were a few things that didn’t really work out for us and we could have saved money on. Every cent counts! Mittens, for one, never fit and come off easily. In the end, I let my son go without them and just made sure he didn’t scratch himself too much. If you think you need mittens, maybe go for hand-me-downs instead of purchasing them. Velcro swaddles have not been very useful, either, as my son’s hands would easily escape them.” – Nina, mother to a 1-year-old.
Bottle teats come in many shapes and sizes. You’d probably have to experiment with a few as your newborn grows, too.
“Never buy a full set of anything. We’ve all heard how fussy babies are with the teats of milk bottles, so committing to a single brand is not something I’d recommend. Instead, buy single bottles of two to three brands before deciding on buying a full set. I had such a difficult time finding the right bottle for my daughter despite buying a very expensive, highly recommended set. Luckily, these bottles double as storage containers so it wasn’t totally a waste.” — Kayla, mother to a 6-month-old.
With expensive purchases such as a nursing chair, there’s no harm in deciding its purchase after the baby is born.
“Actually, a nursing chair is not entirely a bad idea. It is well-cushioned which helps support the mother’s back, and many come with a swivel or rocking option. However, they are extremely expensive. I bought mine for close to a thousand dollars! I also felt a bit constricted in the chair and preferred to bottle-feed from the sofa or bed instead. Regret set in when it quickly became an overpriced “clothes” chair that took up too much space. We sold it at a loss. To prevent wasting your money, maybe buy it after you are sure you will breastfeed and/or that you like feeding from a chair.” — Nu, mother to a 3-year-old.