7 Baby Items You Don't Need to Spend Money On

You just found out the news: You’re having a baby!

At first, you’re probably excited, maybe a little nervous. There are so many unknowns, right?

Will the baby be a boy or a girl? Healthy? What color hair and eyes?

And don’t forget . . . what about all the stuff you’ll need when the baby gets here—the car seat, the high chair, the stroller, the crib? It can be overwhelming at first!

All that excitement can get a little stressful if you let it. I’ve been there and done that, though, and I can tell you that there’s no need to stress. You’ll have to think about a few necessities, sure. But the main thing is your little bundle of joy is finally here.

To help you plan ahead, I’ve put together a list of seven things I realized I probably didn’t need AFTER I bought them. Keep in mind: Every family is unique, so your needs might be different. But here are the things I discovered I could live without:

1. Baby shoes. My daughter couldn’t walk yet, so why buy shoes? Sure, I had a few for certain occasions, but I didn’t feel the need to go overboard. Those little feet will grow quickly too.

2. Lots of newborn diapers. Just like the shoes, your baby will outgrow those little diapers in no time.

3. Diaper Genie. I personally found that plastic grocery bags work just fine. Plus, the thought of opening a lid with two weeks’ worth of diapers underneath grosses me out!

4. Baby wipe warmer. Lukewarm wipes work the same way. And if your little boy or girl never experiences the warm wipes, they’ll never know what they’re missing!

5. Shopping cart seat cover. I always use the wipes by the door to give the cart a good clean before I go in. That works for me.

6. Changing table. You don’t need a changing table with all the bells and whistles. Something simple will get the job done.

7. Expensive clothes. Hand-me-downs. Consignment sales. Target. You can find plenty of great baby clothes out there, without having to go to fancy boutiques.

Again, remember—what works for me might not work for you!

The most important thing is to make sure you’ve covered the basics with your little one. Then just enjoy all the time you have together. Congratulations!

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