11 family purchases you can live without
27.1.2023
Translation: Megan Cornish
In the maze of children’s products, there’s nothing you can’t buy. And there’s a lot that parents don’t need. Read on to find out what wasn’t worth it for me in retrospect – and save yourself unnecessary expense right now.
Millions of products for children claim to ease your stressful everyday family life. Many do, too – in my recent post, I picked out 11 family purchases that were actually worthwhile. For me at least.
Now, though, it’s time for the other side of the story. Because there are just as many things out there that parents soon realise with disappointment they don’t need. Of course, needs are as different as children themselves. But maybe my experiences with the following 11 products will save you from a bad buy or two.
1. Baby bath
The fate of our baby bath can be summed up as: bought before the birth and gathering dust in the basement. I only used it twice for my first child. After that, I only bathed my children in the kitchen sink – it was much faster, easier and more pleasant, at least as long as they still fit in it. Then, as a temporary solution – until they could sit up – I briefly got into the bath with them. Conclusion: I could have done without the baby bath.
2. Nappy bin
The price put us off. Not for the nappy bin itself, but the recurring costs for the bags that enclose the stinky contents in film and seal them. Anyone who has children knows how many nappies a baby goes through: we’re talking at least five a day. That’s why we didn’t initially buy a nappy bin and wanted to wait and see whether the need arose. It never did – not once. For years, we got along fine with a perfectly normal waste bin, which we kept on the balcony because of the odour.
3. Toilet seat
This is where opinions will differ. I know families who are pleased with this toilet aid. But we didn’t use it. We tried; twice in fact. The first one was unusable because it slipped around on the rim of the toilet. The second – more expensive, but non-slip version – was snubbed by the children. Their attitude was: if we’re going to go nappy-free, let’s do it right. In other words, we’ll do it like the older ones do. At least we talked them into having a children’s stool so that they didn’t have to climb up every time. By the way, we tried a potty too, even before the toilet rings. After washing it out for the first time, I quietly hid it.
4. Training pants
Speaking of toilet training, accidents are normal in the early days without nappies. At the time, I bought my older child training pants to «practice»: pants with thicker and more absorbent fabric that were specially designed for this transitional period. They were of little or no use. They don’t hold enough moisture, so everything ended up soaked. You’re better off investing in spare underwear.
5. Training wheels
Generation after generation has learned to ride a bike with stabilisers. I remember wobbling back and forth on four wheels in a car park for days. And the rituals are still around. I still often see the rickety supports today – they also give a deceptive sense of security. You can now safely do without them. Thanks to balance bikes and scooters, children already have the best balance training – and they can usually quickly outrun you on pedal bikes.
6. Bottle steriliser
In the newborn days, I considered a steriliser for baby bottles to be a must-have. And it didn’t take long to be filed under «totally superfluous». I didn’t want another bulky thing in the kitchen when an appliance I already have can do the same job: in this case, the good old saucepan. Every evening I boiled the used teats, rings and bottles in simmering water for about ten minutes – with a dash of lemon juice to prevent limescale build-up. Without buying anything extra.
7. Bottle warmer
I only found out that bottle warmers existed when a family member passed it on. So, we gratefully accepted the supposed aid and tried it out. It soon disappeared back into the box. Like the steriliser, I’m not sure what the point is. Why should I put it in the kitchen when a saucepan can do the job just as well? You can simply place a bottle (and later a food container) in warm water.
8. Playpen
On the assumption that parents definitely need a playpen, we bought an Occasions one at a good price even before our first child was born. It was a mistake. It would’ve been better if we’d waited – and not bought it at all in the end. We never used the bulky thing that would have taken up a large part of the living room. Okay, sometimes I’d actually have been happy to take the girls to a safe place for a moment. But you have to make your home childproof anyway. Unless you put your child in there all day.
9. Radiant heater
You put it above your changing table and it’s meant to keep the baby warm. But it also causes parents to break out in a sweat. Especially if the baby’s born in the summer. I had two winter babies and still never needed one. My editorial colleague Martin, who bought one when he had his first child, confirms that it’s not necessary. The heater even landed on his head once. So, if you buy one, be sure to secure it properly.
10. Baby shoes
There’s virtually nothing cuter than baby shoes. And hardly anything more useless. A child takes their first steps at around one year old – until then, they need the least rigid soles possible. Socks or soft leather booties are enough. I’ve already mentioned the black mini Chucks and pink mini Vans we received as gifts in a post about pointless and meaningful birth gifts.
They’re still lying in the basement unused. For the reasons above, I’d have a guilty conscience if I gave them to others. But they’re just too cute to throw away. By the way, any dress that you have to pull over the baby’s head is also filed under «useless».
11. Pushchair sunshade
I’m one of those mums who’s got the sunscreen in her hand at the first sign of sun. Although there’s barely anything more annoying than putting sunscreen on children. I was obviously very particular about parasols even in the early days. But I soon wrote off the parasol that I bought for the pushchair. I lost count of the amount of times I had to twist and turn the thing while walking – and pick it up off the ground. The solution was a universal sun sail. Not only is it easier to use because I can move it around in a jiffy, it’s also a lot handier to take with me.
Are there any other products you could have done without? What are the bad buys in your family? Let us know in the comments.
Header image: Shutterstock
Katja Fischer
Senior Editor
Katja.Fischer@digitecgalaxus.chMom of Anna and Elsa, aperitif expert, group fitness fanatic, aspiring dancer and gossip lover. Often a multitasker and a person who wants it all, sometimes a chocolate chef and queen of the couch.