Baby Stuff is Overrated.

When I had Emma, I was so overwhelmed with all the baby gear that I absolutely "needed" according to all the stores and catalogs and parents. But when I was getting Emma's stuff out for Molly to use, I kept ALOT of it in storage.

THINGS YOU DONT NEED for baby!

• Excessive bedding
• bumpers
• conforter
• sleep possitioner all not needed. They just look pretty and are expensive. Splurge on a nice rug or lamp instead. You can still use it when the baby room becomes a toddler room. 
• Baby monitor (if you have a normal sized house. Your mommy senses will tingle and wake you up as soon as your baby makes a peep)
• Tons of blankets (we only used two of the soft fluffy ones)
• Bottle Accesories
• Bottle warmers
• bottle driers
• special bottle soaps or cleaning supplies (whats wrong with the dishwasher?)
• A million of same kind of pacifiers (you will probably have to try a few different kinds to see what your little one prefers. Emma didn't like any of them)
• Shoes (they look cute, but you will never use them. even if you try, babies have impossible evasive maneuvers to make sure a shoe never goes on that foot)
• Every kind of baby toy- We used a swing and an activity bouncer at first.  They are worth their weight in gold! She hardly played with anything else and she was quiet and happy for hours! But you don't need everything you see. Don't be fooled. 
• All the sterilizing stuff- your kid is going to lick the floors, eat dust bunnies and put his finger in the dog's butt.... don't waste your time or money trying to make everything perfectly sterile. (Did you know one of the BEST things you can do for your baby to keep her healthy is to let a dog lick her mouth every once in a while.... yup. look it up) 
• Baby bathtub- they take up lots of space and are unnecessary. Just use one of those cushy foam paddings and stick that baby in the tub with a few inches of water. 
• Bath toys- There will come a time when you need to get some, but right now, ONE rubber ducky will more than suffice. 
• Baby wash clothes- Honestly, idk what it is with those things! They are just cheap versions of normal wash clothes. Use what you have. Also, you don't need a baby towel. but they are adorable! 
• Socks- I did get some nasty comments about Emma never wearing socks, but she hated them. Babies love their feet and only need to be warm during the swaddling stage, which their feet are always wrapped up anyways. 

WHAT IS WORTH IT

• Boppy! -Breastfeeding or not, these things are awesome for tummy time, nap time, and to help when they start sitting up. 
• Baby swing- Baby gets lulled to sleep while you read a book or catch up on the cleaning. What's not to love?
• Baby carrier- Newborns love to be held ALL the time. Why not do it hands free? Make sure to invest in a good one! 
• Good nursing chair. (rockers are better than gliders) 
• Diaper bag Splurge! I have a Ju-Ju-Be and LOVE it! I will be writing a post about it soon, I'm sure. 
• Good stroller (unless you are going to baby wear full time- in which case you only need a fold up "emergency" one)
• Something "special" for Mom- because, you just had a baby! That's super hard, amazing and guaranteed to make you feel like a sloppy, overtired bum. A dazzling pair of earrings might help you feel better and are also a good keepsake if you do something involving a birthstone! And if those earrings come from your husband... he might just get lucky tonight after all ;)
• Thermometer! I cant tell you how many times I have been running around like a chicken with my head cut off because I could tell Emma had a temp, but I didn't know how high it was! And no, forehead thermometers don't work. Neither does under the armpit. I know its gross and it kinda feels like you are damaging your child's fragile phyche, but rectal is the only way to get a reading. 
• Sleep sacks- My husband called Emma his baby sack of potatoes when she wore it. She was so happy and adorable and slept for longer when she wore it. 
• Lavender bath stuff- It really does help soothe a fussy baby and also helps them sleep longer.
• Pack n play- no parent can stay sane without one. We used ours as a bassinet, crib, play place, sleep over space, and some of them even have changing tables!
• Audio soother- It doesn't matter what it is. Emma listened to the Beatles, but there are lots of soothers that put lights on the ceiling or play a heart beat or just a lullaby. Play it at night when she is going to sleep even if she isn't fussy and she will associate that sound with sleep. It's a lot easier than running a vacuum outside her room all night. 

Im sure there is more, but my pregnant self is TIRED!