Guide
Gentle wake-up or rude awakening? A review of 5 children’s alarm clocks
by Katja Fischer
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
3. Toilet seat
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
6. Bottle steriliser
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
9. Radiant heater
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
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.
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