These are a few of the most useless things..

There's quite a lot of stuff marketed at families to be. The thing about babies, is that you have to buy all the stuff before they come - you don't have much time even to get eggs, bread and milk once they do. But how are you to know what you need when you don't even have the baby yet?

Well, here are some things you don't need:

1. Newborn size clothing (000). Baby clothes sizes are based on averages. Up to 50% of babies will be bigger than average. Our boy grew out of anything 000 by his sixth week.
2. A bassinet or basket. Our boy refuses to sleep on his back, and insists on being where you are. This means he more often than not sleeps draped over a pillow on the floor of wherever we are: invest in a comfy firm pillow instead.
3. Muslin wraps. I'd heard a lot of high praise for muslin wraps - such as from Kaz Cooke's book, Kid Wrangling. So I spent a lot of money and got a multi-pack from Nature's Child. They say you need at least a dozen baby wraps, and that they have many use. To tell the truth, I haven't found a reason to use one yet.
4. Breast-feeding pillows. Babies grow so quickly, and you quickly get so good at breast feeding you could probably do it hanging upside down from a trapeze if you had to. If you have difficulty breastfeeding sitting up, try side-lying. It's our babe's preferred position, and it's way easier on you shoulders.
5. A breast pump. "Tell me again, you want $100 for $2 worth of plastic?" If only sex toy manufacturers would take on making breast pumps. They leak, are inefficient, and damned uncomfortable. Yet you will need to get the milk out some time or other, because your baby is feeling under the weather or you ate something that made your breasts explode. Mine, a Medela, apparently is the only brand recommended by the Australian Breastfeeding Association, but it doesn't hold much chop. I found hopping in a hot shower and squeezing the breast gently from base to aureole works much better than the pump.

I'm interested to hear from you about what products you've found to be useless.

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