Indian Food Cuisine

5 things your baby doesn't need

Motherhood is complicated. There are so many questions to answer, and so many answers to question. There is nothing else in life that is simultaneously so frustrating and satisfying. I quickly learned that there is no better advice than from a woman going through the same things as you are at exactly the same time. My research has led me to the discovery that what I thought I would use as a mother, I didn't need. And what I didn't think I would want to use, has become indispensible. Here are few of the things that I have discovered do not live up to the hype.

Number 1: Expensive Toys Your baby doesn't need them. It doesn't matter if they are electronic, wooden, recycled, organic, or gold plated. For babies, simple is always better. If I had a nickel for every time my daughter went for the empty soda bottle instead of her talking, singing, light up teddy bear, I could retire a happy woman. The key for babies, especially young ones, is to give them a variety of small items with different textures. It may seem weird for me to admit, but when I noticed my daughter putting everything in her mouth, I started to do the same thing. A towel on your tongue feels vastly different than a plastic rattle, which feels completely different than a cloth book. I also take the toy or item and hit it on things to see what kind of noises it makes. Books that crinkle, plastic rings that are hollow, and a bottle with dried beans in it all make wonderful noises for baby to explore. No matter what impromptu toy you find for him or her, always make sure there are no small parts to swallow, that you have cleaned it if necessary, and that drool won't disintegrate it. Most importantly, never leave your baby unattended, because you never know.

Number 2: Expensive Diapers A lot of mothers would disagree with me on this one, but I stand fast. Truth be told, when my little one was born, I swore by the most popular and expensive brand (I think you know which one I am talking about). As she gets bigger it has become blatantly clear that the only way to prevent leaks and other unsightly messes is to change her regularly, and change her as soon as she has done her business. An even better choice is to use cloth. They are much more inexpensive than disposable, and are greener. You don't have to invest a lot in the premade, complicated diaper covers and cloth diaper systems that are on the market today. All you need are cloth diapers and rubber pants. It worked for our parents, why can't it work for us?

Number 3: A Closet Full of Clothes Let's be honest, every mom is guilty of wanting to fill her daughter's closet full of clothes. For our little men, those little trousers and baby suits are irresistible. The real truth is that you really don't need that much. Even if you have a closet full of clothes there will be a few select outfits that become your favorites. It could be because they are cute, they fit great, or they are easy to put on. Whatever the reason, you will repeatedly put it on him or her and the others will just sit on the hangers gathering dust. Get enough clothes to last a few days so that you aren't doing laundry every other day, and then spend the money you saved on the next size up. This kind of planning ahead can really abate the cost of clothing your child.

Number 4: A Premade Babysling If you are a slinging momma, you probably have learned the hard way that the sizing can be tricky, and changes as your baby grows. Don't drop $40 plus dollars every time you need a new one, instead make your own. All it takes is a quick trip to the fabric store and about 30 minutes of your time (if you are the world's most novice seamstress). Once the fabric is cut to size there are literally just two hems and a french seam to sew. There are patterns online that are absolutely free and can give you an idea of how to size the sling correctly. Easy and cheap; what could be better than that?

Number 5: Homemade Baby Food Makers Interested in making baby food yourself at home? Don't bother spending hundreds of dollars on the baby food making kits they sell at stores and online. All you need are a few things: a couple of covered ice cube trays, a steam basket, a mini food chopper, and some freezer bags. You can get all of those things at your local discount store for under $25. Add in some free recipes from the internet and viola, you have everything you need to make delicious baby food at a fraction of the cost.

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