Musings on Baby Gadgets: What Works and What Does Not

Gadgets that work

Crib — Invest in a decent crib. Our crib lasted through 3 kids. We did not buy a crib that could convert in to a bed, instead we bought a regular twin bed when the time came to switch our toddlers in to a bed.

Graco Playyard — square, folded in to zip up bag. Perfect for hotels and condos.

Exersaucer or other stationary device — Ours worked for 5 kids (my 3 plus 2 cousins).

High chair — buy one with a removable tray that is easy to clean. Buy one with a fabric seat cover rather than plastic.

Step stools — but one for each bathroom. Great for short kids who can’t climb on toilet. Also great for teeth brushing.

Booster seat for kitchen table — Buy one that fold flat so that you can carry it to restaurants. Make sure straps can be securely fastened.

Diaper bag — Buy a sturdy bag for first child. Large bags are great for two children so that you can carry two sets of everything. For my 3rd child I used he hospital issued black diaper bag. It was tiny, which meant I could only carry an outfit, a couple of diapers, a bottle plus formula, and one or two toys.

Gadgets that are useless

Changing table — good for when you have one child, but beyond that not helpful. As a mom of a toddler and infant I did not feel comfortable leaving toddler downstairs while I went upstairs. I changed my babies on the familyroom floor on a changing mat. I borrowed a changing table from my parents with my 3rd child.

Wipe warmer or bottle warmer. Wipes can be cold…No need to warm up. Just one more piece of equipment needing an electrical outlet. The bottle warmer was a tricky device to use as it did not have a timer. Couldn’t regulate temp.

Snuggly — I’m the rare mom who found the snuggly useless. I’m larger chested and although I could wear the front-facing Snuggly, I could not move well. My husband loved it — he wore the baby in it when he vacuumed.

Toddler beds — large Little Tikes cars are hard to fit in a room, plus tall kids are too long for toddler beds. A twin bed with a bed rail works well as an alternative to a toddler bed.