Revealed: the baby products you don’t need
New Which? research has revealed expectant parents could save hundreds of pounds by avoiding 10 products parents told us are least useful.
We asked more than 2,000 parents to vote for the baby products they believe are the most and least useful. We calculated new mothers and fathers could save up to £408 by avoiding the 10 least useful products.
The results of our survey found:
Top 10 least useful
- Door baby bouncer
- Baby washing bowls
- Manual breast pump
- Cot mobile
- Bumbo seat
- Nappy stacker
- Swaddling blanket
- Baby reins
- Nappy disposal bin
- Fabric sling/standard baby carrier
Top 10 most useful
- Stair gate
- Audio baby monitor
- Electric steam steriliser kit
- Baby change bag
- Video baby monitor
- Baby sleep bag
- Digital ear thermometer
- Microwave steam steriliser kit
- Baby bouncer/ rocker chair
- Changing unit
Richard Headland Which? Editor said:
“When you are expecting a child deciding which baby products to buy is one of many big and costly decisions you need to make. Our advice is to choose carefully as there are products that will make life with a newborn that much easier, and those you can probably do without and save money.”
Which? Baby and Child offers comprehensive information for current and expectant parents on a wide variety of subjects including: child car seats, baby transport, nursery and feeding, child safety at home and shopping and family finances.
Notes to editors
- Methodology on survey: In February 2015, Which? asked 2,002 parents of children aged five and under about the baby products they have bought or used. We asked them to rate products on a scale of one to 10 for usefulness, excluding the core products of: pushchairs, car seats, high chairs, moses basket/co-sleeper and cots/cot beds.
- Methodology on savings: In April 2015, we checked prices of the most expensive versions of the least useful products from just the Mothercare website. Munchkin door bouncer-£29.99; Mothercare top and tail bowl- £4.99; Dr Brown’s Manual breast pump- £42; Tiny Love soothe and groove mobile- £49.99; Bumbo floor seat with tray- £39,99; Mamas and Papas Nappy stacker- £28.95; Bambino Mio swaddling blanket- £16.99; Skip hop safety harness- £13; tommee tippee sangenic nappy disposal system starter set- £32.99; Stokke My Carrier- £149. Parents can save up to £408 by avoiding buying these products.