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7 Baby Products That Are A Waste Of Money

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The minute you find out you're expecting, a world of products may not only suddenly seem relevant, but they'll be heavily marketed to you as "must haves" for your forthcoming little bundle of joy. Especially for first-time parents, it's easy to get caught up in the belief that you need all these (often pricey) items to somehow make your and your baby's life easier.

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However, the truth is that some products are nothing more than examples of fancy marketing and ultimately a waste of money. Here are seven products you shouldn't bother dropping cash on -- or should seek cheaper alternatives.

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Pricey Diaper Bag

There are many ways to carry the baby essentials you need to take out with you each day, such as diapers, diaper rash cream, snacks, toys and changes of clothes. If you believe the baby commercial hype, you need a diaper bag -- a magic item that somehow holds these items more perfectly than a regular old tote, backpack or purse -- and often at quite a price.

Don't believe the hype. Any old way you want to carry your baby items is fine and maybe even better for you than a store-bought diaper bag. Plus, you can save money.

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Wipe Warmers

Undoubtedly at some point in your own childhood your parents revealed just how good kids your age have it. Well, one thing parents have been doing for ages is wiping baby bottoms with cool cloths or wipes.

Wipe warmers have become a recent trend promising to give your baby a perfect diaper changing experience. Truthfully, they're just a waste of money. Babies are resilient enough to handle a cool wipe. In fact, it might even feel soothing. Save yourself the extra cost and skip the warmed-up wipes.

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Baby Training Books

First-time parents are especially vulnerable to feeling like there is a magic answer out there for all of the woes that come with caring for a baby. Because babies can't talk and direct you to what's bothering them, it's easy to believe that an expert can give you the perfect solution to sleep, eating, or behavioral problems in a book.

The problem is, children are not cookie-cutter products -- they are individuals, as are parents. Many of these books mean well but ultimately can't promise you anything more than your own instincts, advice from fellow parents or your pediatrician can. Spending a lot of money on baby training books can end up being as frustrating as it is expensive.

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Baby Shoes

One of the fun things to do when babies come along is dress them in darling little outfits like a living doll. And cute outfits are often perfectly finished by tiny little shoes. There's one problem, though -- babies don't need shoes.

They are still growing and sensitive little foot bones can actually be harmed by shoes up until a certain age. So don't let your fashion sense outweigh your common sense, and don't spend money on shoes your baby doesn't even need.

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Expensive Changing Tables

It's exciting to set up a nursery for your newest addition, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with picking out special furniture or decor for them. However, the world of baby products and furniture is designed to get parents to spend money on things they probably don't need, such as pricey changing tables.

Also, changing tables are often high up, which can lead to unsafe situations and potential accidents. Instead, skip the changing table and purchase a simple changing mat, which can be laid down on flat, safe surfaces literally anywhere you go.

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Diaper Pail

Every nursery set-up and every parent's preference is different, so while there's nothing wrong with buying a diaper pail to collect diapers until you're ready to throw them out, be wary of spending a lot of money on these diaper disposal systems.

As long you are on top of taking out your garbage, there's no reason diapers can't go into the regular old trash can.

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Baby Food Processor

A lot of companies have figured out that by simply marketing a product as "for baby" it instills in parents a belief that they must buy it. For those who like to make their own baby food, however, don't be sold on the idea that you need a special baby food processor.

Unless you've got people in your family with allergies, a regular food processor, or even a simple magic bullet blender, will give you the same result, without any extra spend or extra storage concerns.

7.5 Million Baby Shark Bath Toys Are Recalled After They Cut Or Stabbed Children

About 7.5 million "Baby Shark" bath toys are being recalled after multiple lacerations and puncture wounds were reported in children playing with them

ByAssociated Press

June 23, 2023, 10:03 AM

This image provided by Consumer Product Safety Commission shows Zuru's full-sized Robo Alive Junior Baby Shark Sing & Swim Bath Toys. About 7.5 million "Baby Shark" bath toys are being recalled, Friday, June 23, 2023, after multiple impalements, lacerations and puncture wounds were reported in children playing with them. Toymaker Zuru said it's recalling both full-size and mini versions of its robotic baby shark toys that have hard plastic top fins. (Consumer Product Safety Commission via AP)

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- About 7.5 million singing and swimming "Baby Shark" bath toys are being recalled after multiple lacerations and puncture wounds were reported in children playing with them.

Zuru, an El Segundo, California-based toymaker, said it's recalling both full-size and mini versions of its robotic baby shark toys that have hard plastic top fins, which pose the injury risks.

Twelve injuries have already been reported with Zuru's full-sized Robo Alive Junior Baby Shark Sing & Swim Bath Toys — after children sat or fell on the now-recalled products. Nine of these cases required stitches or medical attention, according to a Thursday release from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

While injuries have only been reported with these full-sized toys so far, Zuru is also recalling Robo Alive Junior Mini Baby Shark Swimming Bath Toys "out of an abundance of caution."

Consumers in possession of the recalled toys are instructed to stop using them immediately and contact Zuru for a full refund. To get the refund, customers are asked to cut off or bend the tail fin, write "recalled" and a registration code on the body of the baby shark and upload a photo on a site dedicated to the recall.

The recalled products can be identified by model numbers and date codes. Zuru's Robo Alive Junior Baby Shark Sing & Swim Bath Toys and Robo Alive Junior Mini Baby Shark Swimming Bath Toys were sold in-person and online at chains including Walmart, Target, CVS, Walgreens and TJX Companies from May 2019 through March 2023.

In a company announcement, Zuru noted that that the recall only impacts the versions of the baby shark toys with a hard plastic fin. The newest toys, which have a silicone fin, are not part of the recall, Zuru said.

"We want to assure our customers that we are committed to the highest levels of safety and quality of all our products, and we have implemented measures to prevent future incidents by working to promptly remove these products from retail and replace them with a newly designed product," Zuru wrote.

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This story has been corrected to show that the agency is the Consumer Product Safety Commission, not the Consumer Protect Safety Commission.

7.5 Million Baby Shark Bath Toys Are Being…

Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — About 7.5 million singing and swimming "Baby Shark" bath toys are being recalled after multiple lacerations and puncture wounds were reported in children playing with them.

Zuru, an El Segundo, California-based toymaker, said it's recalling both full-size and mini versions of its robotic baby shark toys that have hard plastic top fins, which pose the injury risks.

While injuries have only been reported with these full-sized toys so far, Zuru is also recalling Robo Alive Junior Mini Baby Shark Swimming Bath Toys "out of an abundance of caution."

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This story has been corrected to show that the agency is the Consumer Product Safety Commission, not the Consumer Protect Safety Commission.

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