When I became a mum for the first time, I promised myself I’d keep baby purchases minimal. I didn’t want to drown in gadgets or end up with closets full of things I never used. And for the most part, I did okay—though like every new parent, I had my fair share of “lifesaver” items… and a couple of “why on earth did I buy that?” regrets.

Now that my daughter is three, I can look back with a clear head (and a laugh) at what truly helped and what was a total waste of money. If you’re an expecting or new mum, maybe my list will save you a little time, stress, and cash.

The 5 Most Useful Baby Items I Bought

1. Bottle Warmer

Middle-of-the-night feeds are no joke. The bottle warmer quickly became my best friend—no waiting around with boiling water or guessing temperatures. It just worked, and when you’re running on no sleep, that’s priceless.

2. Bottle Sanitizer

I second-guessed this one at first. “Do I really need it? Can’t I just boil bottles like my mum did?” But honestly, it saved me so much time. It gave me peace of mind too, knowing bottles and pump parts were properly sanitized.

3. Diaper Cream & Cradle Cream

Not the flashiest purchase, but some of the most essential. These creams kept rashes and irritation under control, which meant less fussiness and more comfort for my little one.

4. Bum Cream Applicator

This tiny gadget surprised me. A simple silicone spatula designed for applying bum cream—who knew it would be so handy? No more messy fingers during diaper changes. It sounds silly, but it made those hundreds (maybe thousands!) of diaper changes a little easier.

5. Wet Wipes

The MVP of baby life. Not just for diaper changes, but for sticky hands, messy faces, spills in the car—you name it. Three years later, I still keep packs stashed everywhere.

The 5 Most Useless Baby Items I Bought

1. Wet Wipes Container

It looked practical, but honestly? Totally unnecessary. The packs the wipes come in are just fine—and way less hassle.

2. Haakaa Silicone Food Dispensing Spoon Feeder

This was by far the most frustrating purchase. I’d fill it with baby food only for food particles to get stuck inside. Cue me emptying it, scrubbing it, and swearing under my breath before grabbing a regular spoon. Lesson learned: sometimes simple really is better.

3. Wipes Warmer

Another product that sounds good in theory. In reality? My daughter was perfectly fine with room-temp wipes. This ended up being more of a space-waster than anything else.

4. Pacifiers

I bought a bunch thinking they’d soothe her, but my daughter just never took to them. Every baby is different, but for us, these were a complete waste.

5. Graco Pack ’n Play

Okay, this one I did use quite a bit, but it was bulky and took up so much space. Looking back, I’m not sure it was worth the hype—or the square footage it ate up in my living room.

Looking Back

As a first-time mum, I tried to strike a balance between keeping things minimal and making sure I had “enough.” I wasn’t always resourceful—I regret not buying second-hand—but I did redeem myself a bit by selling some of my gear on Facebook Marketplace. If I could go back, I’d tell myself (and I’ll tell you): check Marketplace first! There are so many nearly-new baby items out there that could save you a fortune.

Final Thoughts

Every mum’s list of must-haves and waste-of-money items will look a little different, but the lesson is the same: babies really don’t need as much as we think they do. Trust your instincts, don’t overbuy, and don’t feel guilty about the odd useless purchase—you’ll laugh about it later, I promise.

What about you? If you’re a mum, what’s the one item you couldn’t live without—and the one you wish you’d left on the store shelf?

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