London - As any new parent will tell you, wasting a fortune on baby products that never get used is an occupational hazard.
But a study has found they could save themselves as much as £275 (about R5 000) – simply by avoiding the ten items that mothers and fathers say are least useful.
Researchers have drawn up a “don’t buy” list to help them steer clear of the most pointless purchases.
It includes seldom-used products such as baby washing bowls, the manual breast pump and the baby hammock.
Other items that end up gathering dust in the cupboard are the fabric sling, swaddling blanket and nappy bin.
Most pointless of all, however, is a product that fails to have us jumping for joy – the baby bouncer.
Consumer watchdog Which? asked more than 2 000 parents of children aged five or under to vote for the baby items that they considered the most and least useful – excluding core products such as cots and car seats.
It found that safety was a top priority for anxious new mothers and fathers, with the stair gate emerging as the most popular.
Audio baby monitors were also deemed useful, as were digital ear thermometers, baby sleeping bags and electric steam steriliser kits. And in a sign even new parents value their holidays, the travel cot was voted into the top ten.
Which? editor Richard Headland said: “Deciding which baby products to buy, especially if you’re expecting your first child, can be overwhelming. Our survey of parents showed some clear winners that will make life with a newborn much easier, and those you can probably do without.” - Daily Mail
TOP 10 LEAST USEFUL PRODUCTS
1. Door baby bouncer
2. Baby washing bowls
3. Manual breast pump
4. Baby hammock
5. Fabric sling
6. Nappy stacker
7. Bumbo seat
8. Cot mobile
9. Swaddling blanket
10. Nappy disposal bin
Source: Which?
Daily Mail