Oh Baby Baby! Here is a veterans Mama’s list of 5 products to skip when shopping for your baby. When preparing for a baby whether it is your first or your third, every item has a “do I really need this” moment if you are trying to be conscious of your budget. As a first time mom, I have learned what I got my money’s worth out of and what was a waste.

But don’t get me wrong, everything is packed up in hopes that the next future baby uses anything that my daughter did and did not use.

Let me be more specific…

Changing Table: I knew that a changing table and a dresser were not in the plans for my daughter’s nursery, so I combined the two ideas into one. Which is not a genius, inventive decision on my part, it’s clearly all over Pinterest, which is where I got the idea. Whether you have the space for it or not, it soon becomes unneeded furniture. When the child grows up to potty training stage, you now have furniture that is useless. Even if you have the space, forgo the expense of this baby product.

Designer Diaper Bag: If you have the money for a fancy bag then be my guest, however the baby is going to be expensive enough. You never know what expenses will arise once baby arrives. For instance, I chose to have the larger recovery room after delivery. This was not a prepared expense however this was well worth the extra money. Plus, they continued to take the baby for required tests, what seemed like every 5 minutes, and the bill for these tests later were enough to buy a bag or two! These expenses I was not aware of at the time I was preparing for my delivery.

Tons of Toys: My daughter had her set of favorites, I believe there was about 5-6 toys on the regular rotation. The others all collected dust till she was a little older. You are obviously going to be gifted tons of toys and have your set of favorites that you would like. Don’t worry yourself about having an entire nursery or playroom to fill. Believe me, you will quickly gain additional toys as the days progress on. Plus, you would be surprised how many household items can quickly grab their attention and become toys. Some of my daughters favorite items to play with were large wooden salad spoons and corn on the cob holders.

Baby Shoes: According to American Podiatric Medical Association, you are to keep your baby’s feet unrestricted. No shoes or booties are necessary for infants. These can restrict movement and can inhibit toes and feet from normal development. Yes, baby shoes are adorable, however they are not necessary. I also learned my lesson with shoes, I made a rule not to spend more than $20 on each pair of shoes until she is older. She is growing…FAST. My daughter only fits in a pair of shoes for a few months at a time.

Crib Bumper: Many things have changed since my mother gave birth or even since 10 years ago. There are many new do’s and don’t(s) on that list. One big don’t is the crib bumper, reports show that they can lead to suffocation, strangulation, or entrapment. While yes, they make your crib decor all come together, they are not worth the safety risk. If you wish to have the bumper, purchase the type that still allows the child to breath if they end up laying against it. This bumper has no dangerous ties and is made of breathable mesh.

For recommendations of what I still use for my toddler, that I bought when she was a baby, see my previous post of The 5 Best Baby Products.