A list of baby items you don’t need for your registry. Stick to the items needed and avoid these unnecessary purchases.

You’ve seen them. Piles of unworn baby clothes. Baby items moms swore they needed but used once or twice. That near-mint glider taking up too much space in a nursery. And with so many newborn shopping lists of baby items, it’s easy to feel unsure what’s a must, and what isn’t.

As a first-time mom, I felt the pressure to get every item, all before my son even arrived. And for many of these baby items, I needed to. I needed the car seat to take him home. Having a set of clothes ready to go was necessary.

But I didn’t want to spend a ton of money on baby items I wouldn’t even use. Or fall for the trap of getting something and regretting it. Plus, we lived in a one-bedroom apartment—not exactly conducive for a ton of gear.

10 baby items you don’t need for your registry

If you’re on the fence on a few items, you might want to hold off. Three kids later, I’ve figured out which of these are not that important. Some I’ve been able to avoid, while others I bought and wished I hadn’t. Here are ten baby items you probably don’t need.

1. Mobile

Mobiles seem to be a mainstay in every picture of a nursery room. They hang above cribs and promise entertainment for hours. They promise to soothe your baby to sleep with its figurines and lulling music.

The reality? The mobile I bought for my eldest didn’t soothe him to sleep at all. It would entertain him for a grand total of 10 minutes at most. And the same happened with our twins.

Babies don’t need much to be entertained. A mobile won’t put your baby to sleep and might be more of a distraction. Instead, look for white noise machines or fans to soothe and block outside noise.

Read more about how to entertain your baby.

2. Car mirror

Because your baby is rear-facing, a car mirror would allow you to see him in your rear view mirror. You’d see if he was asleep, or fussy, or chewing on a toy.

The problem? Car mirrors are dangerous. All those times you’re checking on him means less opportunities to keep your eyes on the road. You’ll know when he’s upset because you’ll hear him cry.

Instead, keep your eyes on the road. If you’re concerned about him, pull over, get out of the car and check.

Check out this checklist of things to do before the baby arrives.

3. Bottle warmer

Breastfed babies aren’t used to cold milk. A mother’s milk is room temperature or warm. So a bottle warmer quickly and safely reheats expressed milk that’s been stored in the fridge.

I never bothered to get a bottle warmer. Babies are adaptable and, given the opportunity, will learn to adjust.

4. Wipes warmer

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Another comfort item, a wipes warmer keeps your wipes warm instead of cold. A baby might find it unpleasant to feel a cold, wet wipe during diaper changes.

I’m not a fan of going out of our way to coddle for a slight discomfort. Your baby will cry during diaper changes, regardless of a cold wipe. More than likely, he’s already crying even before you change his diaper.

And as with the bottle warmer, babies will adjust to cold wipes. Focus on preventing diaper rashes with a good cream like this one. These are more important comfort measures for him.

Learn how to get rid of a diaper rash in 24 hours.

5. Baby food maker

I’m a big supporter of making your own baby food. But you don’t need a baby food maker to do so. If you have a blender or a food processor in your kitchen, you’re good to go.

I relied on our blender to prepare baby food for all three kids. I’d make them in batches, then pour and freeze them into food containers like these.

6. Splat mat

If you love your clean carpet as much as I do, you might be tempted to cover it with a splat mat. It’s supposed to keep your floor clean of any food your baby or toddler throws to the floor. Images of kids with noodles and spaghetti sauce all over their hair might convince you to get one.

Thing is, you don’t have to give him free reign on noodles and spaghetti sauce. Once my kids graduated from purees to table food, I spoon fed their meals. Later, they learned to use utensils. They didn’t grab spaghetti with their hands and throw it on the floor.

But yes, there will be messes. Even if he learned to feed himself with a spoon, you’ll still end up with some food on the floor. The remedy? A good carpet cleaning spray and rag.

7. Play mat

Another one of the baby items you don’t really need is a play mat. Like any form of entertainment, it’s nice but not necessary.

Instead, I placed my babies on thick blankets on the floor. I surrounded them with toys they can play with. Better yet, I made faces and cooed right back at them.

8. Baby walker

I’ve heard mixed feelings about baby walkers and decided not to get one for all my kids. It seems like a good idea at first. You place your baby in one of these, and they can use their feet to glide on the floor to get anywhere they want.

But baby walkers gave the false impression of walking. I wanted my kids to learn what it feels like to balance and fall as they learned to walk.

9. Glider or rocker

If you’re hesitating on getting a glider, you probably don’t need one.

A glider can help you nurse more comfortable or hold a sleeping baby in your arms for a long time. After I brought my babies home, I realized I didn’t need a glider to do either of those. I could nurse anywhere so long as I had a comfortable nursing pillow. I also didn’t want to rock my babies to sleep and preferred setting them to sleep on their own.

10. Fancy clothes

Your baby will feel more comfortable wearing regular onesies, pants, and shorts. Fancy clothes are also more cumbersome to put on and remove from your baby. I received a ton of fancy clothes I knew my babies wouldn’t need. So I returned them for more practical clothes. Save a few for special occasions or family photos, but otherwise, regular clothes will do fine.

Conclusion

This list of baby items isn’t a knock on anyone who bought or wants one. I’m sure some of my essentials are unnecessary to others. But compared to other more pressing baby items, these are more like the cherry on top. They’re nice to have, but not necessary. Especially if you’re already on the fence about them.

Instead, save your money and space and get something else. Better yet, buy as you go along. You’ll be a better judge of what’s necessary once you meet your baby.

You may avoid a dusty glider piled with unused baby clothes.

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