3 Newborn Products I Wouldn’t Buy Again as a Mom of 5

Disclosure: As a member of the Amazon affiliate program, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases via links found in this article at no additional cost to you.

My cousin and his wife are expecting their first baby this month. It’s such an exciting time in life when you’re preparing to make the transition into parenthood. Nothing has had a bigger impact on my life than becoming a mom. Now as a seasoned mom of five, I can’t help but smile wryly when I look at the baby registries of first-timers. 

Certainly, there are things new parents need. I think our cultural tradition of showering new parents with gifts to celebrate the arrival of their new bundle of joy is a great one. However, I must admit that my registries looked pretty different for my subsequent babies compared to my first. Here are my top three newborn products I wouldn’t buy again, personally:  

1. Baby bathtubs

I’ve been warned by my sister (a mom of two) that this pick might be controversial because she loved her baby bathtub and used it with both of her children until they were old enough to sit upright in the tub independently. I stand by this pick, though, especially if you’re limited on space.

Baby bathtubs are large, and I do not think that they make bathtime that much easier. With my first son, my mom showed me how to give him his first few baths in the kitchen sink. Soon after that, my husband and I developed a system where he would bath our babies in the shower. I’d hand the baby to him and he’d hold them football style in the crook of his arm, supported against his body. They all loved the shower. Once they were clean, he’d hand them back to me for toweling, lotioning and diapering. Easy peasy. In our household, we found no need for a baby bathtub. 

2. Sleepers with snaps

Before one becomes a newborn parent, it’s difficult to imagine the sheer fatigue that comes with constant middle-of-the-night wake-ups. The chronic sleep deprivation affects everything from fine motor dexterity to short-term memory.

New parents quickly learn that there are few things worse than trying to match up and fasten a dozen tiny snaps on a sleeper when all you want to do is go back to sleep. Best to go with zippers instead, and bonus points if the zippers are bi-directional so you can keep those little shoulders nice and cozy during diaper changes. 

3. Shoes for newborns

They may be cute, but your newborn absolutely does not need shoes. New parents have enough essential gear to keep track of, so it’s best to keep it simple whenever you can. For my youngest set of twins, we barely even used socks. They were born in winter and spent most of their first few months wearing footed sleepers night and day. I think that shoes for children who can’t yet walk are ultimately just a hassle. 

Overall, these are just a few of the newborn products I wouldn’t buy again as a second-time mom. There are several more that come to mind, including bottle warmers and wipe warmers. That being said, everyone’s experience is a little different, and that’s okay. What worked for me and my family may not have been best for my sister’s family, as in the case of the baby bathtub. 

As you embark on your journey into parenthood, it can be helpful to seek guidance from more experienced parents. It’s equally important to learn when to lean into your own intuition and trust yourself to make the best choices for yourself and your growing family. But if you’re trying to make cuts to your registry, I’d start with those items.

The content written on this website is for entertainment purposes only and is not meant to be taken as medical or professional advice. For questions or concerns, please contact us.