Top Ten Things NOT to Buy for a Baby/Toddler

This is completely random, but I wish somebody had told me this. These things are a complete waste of money (at least for me); they're in no particular order.

1. White clothing (other than onesies)-they WILL get ruined. Now that Ava's older, she ruins the clothes with food or dirt. When she was a tiny baby, she'd ruin them with spitup. Avoid totally white clothing.

2. Extremely fancy, flashy, or electronic toys (at least when baby's young)-up until Ava was about 10 months, she would be quite content just playing with blocks, stuffed animals, and rattles. She was actually a little scared of the toys that made music and lights. In fact, I'd avoid toys all together until your little one is old enough to understand a toy.

3. A ton of hair bows (for girls)-Ava hated wearing bows on her head. Luckily, I only bought a pack of 3 before she was born, and the rest we had were hand-me-downs. I'd start with, like me, a pack of 3 or so, and see how your baby girl likes them. If she hates them, you didn't blow a ton of money on bows you'll never use; if she doesn't mind them, you can always buy more!

4. Big puffy bodysuit-like winter gear-These are great if you're just going outside, going for a walk, or something that doesn't involve a car seat. But, these things are very dangerous in a carseat. They take up extra room, but compress in an accident, which will give the same effect as if the straps were very loose on your baby. Your little one will be perfectly fine strapped in with a warm blanket covering him or her, and a nice hat.

Don't use this in a car seat!

5. 8 billion stuffed animals-of course I'm exaggerating, but still... I think I bought Ava one or two stuffed animals, and got a ton from my baby shower and my existing collection at my mom's house. Guess what? Most of them are sitting on a shelf, collecting dust. Sure, they look nice, but they're kind of a waste of space. I'm not saying that I don't appreciate getting them as gifts, I just wouldn't buy many myself. A lot of people have the idea that they'll decorate their baby's crib with them, but that's actually unsafe for the baby.

6. Speaking of crib safety, bedding sets-These sets usually come with a comforter, bumpers, a window valence and sheets for the baby. The only thing you should use are the sheets (I never used the valence, but you may choose to). Bumpers and comforters are very unsafe for babies due to the risk of suffocation. If you absolutely need a bumper, get a BreathableBaby bumper. They keep baby from sticking his or her legs through the crib slats, but if baby rolls into them, they can still breathe. Sleepsacks or even regular pajamas should be sufficient for keeping your little one warm at night.

7. A bunch of pacifiers-some babies like the hospital pacifiers (Soothies), some don't like pacifiers, and some like a certain brand. Ava hated pacifiers. I'd say just see how your baby reacts to the hospital pacifiers, and go from there. If they don't like them, feel free to try another brand, but be warned that your money may be going to waste. I know mine did.

8. Expensive "baby" laundry detergent-don't buy into it. Just buy a free and clear detergent (Purex is great, for a low cost). This is especially great if your baby ends up having very sensitive skin, like Ava did (she has eczema).

9. Diaper pail-if you go grocery shopping, you probably come home with enough bags to wrap dirty diapers in until your next shopping trip. Just wrap poop (or pee, if you're sensitive to the smell) diapers in a regular plastic shopping bag and throw it in the trash. This is also a great way to get rid of the ton of plastic bags you have no other use for.

10. Shoes (until your little one is walking, or learning to walk)-shoes on babies are cute, sure, but they're honestly a waste of money. $20 for a pair of shoes that baby will never even touch the floor? No thanks. Socks will keep your little one's feet warm and comfy enough until they're ready to start cruising.