Things I Feel Like I Wasted Money On For Our Baby

As soon as I found out I was pregnant I was making lists of things to buy. The temptation to start buying items early was high, but we held off for a while. But then the list started to get ticked off quickly. I used a combination of recommendations from other parents and lists I’d found online. But as first time parents we didn’t really know what would work for us. So we definitely bought more things than we needed. Here are just some of the things I feel like I wasted money on for our baby.

I will caveat this by saying just because we feel like it was a waste doesn’t mean it would be a waste for everyone.

Various postpartum things for me

I bought all the things on the lists for my hospital bag; the perineal bottle, the spritz for bits, the cooling pads, and I used none of it. Part of that was because I had a C section and hadn’t planned on doing that from the start. If I hadn’t had a C section some of these may have been useful. So I am glad I had them in case I needed them, but I wish I’d held on until closer to the time. This way I’d have only bought what I may have actually needed.

I also bought large cotton knickers and postpartum pads which are still in their packets. For the first four weeks I lived in period knickers which were both comfortable but also covered me for any mess.

Things I feel like I wasted money on for our baby: Newborn clothing

Our baby was 9 pounds 3 ounces, at 38 weeks! So she was too big for any newborn clothing and everything we had instantly went into storage.

Now I am glad I bought some items as there was no way of knowing how big she would be. But I wish I’d bought just the basics and then bought more if we needed it after she arrived. Like a lot of first time parents I’ve overbought on clothing. It’s just such a shame that she’ll never get to wear a lot of the items.

We also bought a lot of short sleeve vests for the summer months, but we’re lucky enough to have air con in our house and during the summer it’s on almost all the time. So other than a few super super hot days she has been wearing long sleeve vests. So again a lot of clothing has gone straight into storage. I wish I hadn’t bought as much to begin with and bought more if we needed it.

Breastfeeding supplies

My goal was always to try and breastfeed but I didn’t want to put any pressure on it. For a number of reasons we moved straight onto formula on day two and it was the best decision for us. But when it comes to things I feel like I wasted money on for our baby, breastfeeding supplies comes up top.

Rather than buying just one of the bits I thought I may need such as nipple shields, balms, vitamin d drops etc, I bought three of everything. This way I had one in every nappy caddy (and possible breastfeeding spot in the house). And none of these things were even opened. And I wouldn’t keep them for a possible baby two as we’ll go straight in with formula from the off. Although thankfully I’ve been able to pass most of it to others.

The one thing that was useful was the breast pads as I still leaked!

Things I feel like I wasted money on for our baby: The full nursery

Like a lot of parents we got baby girls nursery fully sorted before she arrived. It’s 100% not wasted money, but I wish we hadn’t rushed to buy it all so soon. She’s not going to be in that room for six months, and while the wardrobe is used now, a lot of things aren’t.

We could have focused our money on different things initially and bought her crib, changing table etc further down the line. Although it is nice knowing we don’t need to do anything when she does move into her own room.

If you’ve got kids are there any things you feel like you wasted money on?