The Products I Wish I Never Bought as a Mum

Electric breast pump

“I wish I hadn't bought an electric breast pump. Frigging expensive and the ones you can loan from the chemist are better. I ended up buying a hand pump because I needed something portable – much better option, for me at least!” – Amanda.

Tip

Electric breast pumps are one of the priciest items on many new mum’s list (around $250). The thing is, they come with quite the collective of parts, and in some cases, mums find they’re not as convenient as the hype may suggest. If you can, borrow a friend’s electric pump, or hire one from the chemist, and see if it’s right for you before shelling out your money on your own pump.

Cot set

“I wish I hadn't wasted money on a cot set since it was just there for decorative purposes only and had to be taken out whenever the baby was in there. I would have been better off with a pretty fitted sheet.” – Henda

Tip

Cot sets contain anywhere from five to ten pieces that decorate the interior of your cot. These can include pillows in various shapes, a quilt, skirting and padding for the sides of the cot. While they may look cute, depending on your taste, they’re not always practical or necessary.

A cheap baby carrier

“Buy a decent baby carrier, ring-sling or wrap. A comfy carrier will save your sanity some days! Look for a baby wearing group in your area for help picking out a good carrier.” – Jenna

Tip

Babies love being close to their mothers’ bodies, especially for the first three months of life. Skip poorly made baby carriers and go for something that’s sturdy and is going to be comfortable for you to wear, and to take a walk in.

Too many nappies

“If you’re using disposable nappies, only get one box of newborn nappies to start with. My last two grew out of them before we finished the box.” – Melissa

Tip: Nappies come in a variety of sizes, but your baby might outgrow the smallest size earlier than you expect. Start small with your nappy collection, and consider cloth nappies for their environmental credentials as well as for the fact that when your bub outgrows them, they can be passed on.

A mountain of 0000 and 000 clothes

“Don't stock up too much at first. I wasted so much cash on buying too many outfits – half did not get worn – and too many toys. Kids love ‘simple’.” – Ova

Tip

The same principle as mentioned above applies with clothes. Newborns typically arrive in the world and slip into the smallest sized clothing: 0000. But they can outgrow this size in a matter of weeks, and depending on the climate, you might find he or she barely wears clothes at all for their first few months.

Baby shampoo and lotions

“I wish I hadn't bought baby shampoo, stuff for the bath or lotions. I just used water.” – Kate

Tip

How much hair does your baby have? Chances are, not much. And even if your newborn has locks as lustrous and Elvis once sported, whatever you use in the bath (some baby wash, a little coconut oil or perhaps nothing) will also do for washing your bub’s hair. You’ll probably also find that moisturizers aren’t needed – skin doesn’t get much silkier than a newborn’s does.

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