Direction not included

Thursday's are reserved for YOUR questions. I will answer anything within reason. If I use your question, you win a $5 Target Gift Card!

Tabitha from Round Rock, TX; asked the following question:

Dear Cici,

I am pregnant with my first child and due in August. Going into Babies R Us is very overwhelming. What are musts, what are luxuries, and what are wastes? Thanks!

Dear Tabitha,

Congrats! A new baby is so exciting! When I was expecting my first, I bought everything at Babies R Us. I mean EVERYTHING. From furniture to burp cloths. And it was all matched, and coordinated with a theme. The truth of the matter is- I NEEDED about 2% of it. You asked about needs vs. luxuries. The cold hard truth is this- a newborn needs six things.

1. A safe, approved car seat. You will not be allowed to leave the hospital without one.

2. Diapers.

3. A safe, comfortable place to sleep.

4. Food (Whether formula or breast milk.)

5. Some clothes.

6. You.

Those truly are the only NEEDS I can think of. As far as luxuries, or nice to haves, the list could go on and on and on.

As far as wastes, that list is even bigger.

I will tell you what I found to be wastes, and I have a feeling this list will light up my comments section like a Christmas tree. Again, this is just MY opinion. I could be wrong.

1. Wipes warmer- The wipes get cold about 3 nano-seconds after you remove them from the warmer. You will always have to throw away the bottom three wipes, because they turn brown and crusty, and your baby will grow so used to semi-warm wipes that the first time you try and change his diaper on the go, he will scream like you just hosed him down with ice water.

2. Diaper Genie- Let's face it. Used diapers smell. Badly. And no mater what you do, they will still smell. Hermetically sealing them inside a diaper genie will not change the basic biology here. Poop smells. In fact, when the diaper genie malfunctions, and it WILL malfunction-you will be dealing with a weeks worth of stinky diapers, and trying to untie them from the knot they become tangled in. Get some plastic grocery bags, and an outside trash can instead.

3. Boppy pillow. Babies are top heavy. They do not prop well. A pillow from your couch will work just as well. Just cover it with a blankie, and Voila! Homemade boppy.

4. A baby bathtub. I put my kids in the kitchen sink or in the tub with me. A baby bathtub will soak your floors, your shirt, and your counter tops. They are very awkward. The kitchen sink rinsed with bleach water before filling is the perfect size. The sprayer even comes in handy for a little under-carriage cleaning.

5. Detergent formulated for babies ( Dreft, etc) Just wash his clothes separate from yours, and use your regular detergent. Put a second rinse on the machine, and you are set. DO NOT use fabric sofetner on his clothes! It can reduce the amount of flame retardants on baby clothes.

6. Shoes. If he isn't walking, he doesn't need shoes. In fact, putting shoes on a baby that doesn't need them can actually harm his feet.

7. Mylicon drops. They tell you it will cut down on gas, and relieve your baby's discomfort. BULL Honky. My son farted non stop for three months.

8. Pacifiers that look like buck teeth or a duck bill. Enough said.

9. Fancy clothes. Pretty much anything that has more than three buttons is a waste. Babies grow very quickly, and throw up. By the time you get where you are going, you will be changing him out of his three piece tux. I guarantee it.

10. Sterilizers for bottles or pacifiers. Hot water and soap works fine.

Those are all things I have owned and found to be useless. Invest in lots of onesies, lots of blankies, and a babysitter. Good luck, having a baby is a life changing experience that I know you will love. Enjoy it!

Until we meet again,

Cici

Cici@MyCoupons.com