Eight Things You Should Buy When You Have a Baby, and Five You Shouldn’t

A recent survey asked parents to name the most useful things they bought after they had a baby.

Here are the top eight . . .

1. A baby gate for the stairs.

2. A baby monitor.

3. An electric steamer to sterilize bottles, or one you put in the microwave.

4. A good diaper bag.

5. A baby sleeping bag . . . which is basically just a cloth bag with armholes.

6. A digital ear thermometer.

7. A baby bouncer, or a baby rocking chair.

8. A baby-changing table that you can store stuff in.

The survey also asked for things that are a waste of money, and a baby bouncer for the doorway was voted LEAST useful.

The rest of the top ten include a manual breast pump . . . a mobile for above their crib . . . a swaddling blanket . . . and a child safety harness, so you can walk them around on a LEASH when you’re in public.