Silly things
There are a LOT of pregnancy-baby-toddler products out there. After talking to experienced moms, they’ve told me that I really don’t need that much stuff, and I kinda don’t want to go too cray cray. I’d rather spend money on fun experiences than toys/random junk and am not a fan of clutter, anyway. That being said, that doesn’t mean I haven’t looked around. I’ve been trying to figure out what items we definitely need + a tentative list so we can start planning our registry. Along the way, I’ve discovered a lot of really silly things. Some silly things that I think are awesome, and other silly things that are just… silly.
Don’t get me wrong, if you own and live by a product I’m thinking is goofy, please enlighten me as I don’t own any of these products. I’m just talking about first glance and my bun-in-the-oven perspective, without any real life experience (yet) 🙂 So if I’m wrong and they’re actually worth getting, please let me know!
Silly things I think are silly
1. The nursing apron/robe/bib/circus tent.
Like I said, I apologize if you own and love one, but I think these are totally wild. I kind of get the point of not wanting to flash a restaurant your ta-tas, say, during a dinner out, but is it really necessary to cover them in crazy prints and make them as obvious as possible?? I think it draws more attention to what’s going on under there if anything. Of course I haven’t experienced breastfeeding, but I figure if I’m in the company of good family and friends, I can wear a cute, tasteful nursing top and get the baby situated without making a scene, or just step into another room or bedroom for a little while. NBD. But we shall see, I could totally change my mind and eventually own a ta-ta tent in every color.
2. Belly cast kit
A growing belly is a beautiful thing, however, I’m not sure I would like a sculpture of it in my house somewhere.
3. Pee Pee teepee
It even has an airplane on it!
I get the idea of not wanting to be sprayed… but a little decorative ornament to prevent it?
4. Peekaru
I’m all about baby-wearing, but the mock turtleneck takes it over the edge.
Silly things I think are awesome
1. Hooded towels
They obviously work the same as regular towels, but I love them… It’s right up there with hats with the ears on them. I think it’s the cutest thing ever.
2. The Snoogle pillow
I can’t live without it. Once I started sleeping with it, there was no turning back and it made my constant achy hip pain basically disappear.
3. Belly Cradle
It’s beyond strange-looking and right now, my belly is super high so I don’t need it at this point. In case it drops and needs support later on with the classes I teach, I’m thinking this might be a good option?
4. Home alcohol breast milk tester strips
Please don’t judge me for putting these on here, as I’m pretty sure you guys know I’m not an alchy. I have no prob whatsoever giving up alcohol while the little guy is doing his thang and growing strong 🙂 I definitely miss my weekly glass of red wine, though, and I have a feeling during the winter I’ll miss it even more. Many cultures have no prob with a glass or two of wine or a beer during pregnancy, but it’s something I personally don’t feel comfortable with.
A week or so after the little guy is born, I want a glass of red wine (and a spicy tuna roll!!) and having these things will help me make sure that a trace isn’t left in the milk afterwards.
What’s the weirdest baby/pregnancy product you’ve seen? Any *silly* items you ended up loving??
158 Comments
Leave a Comment
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
My kids are 7 and 5. We STILL use hooded towels. 😉
i kind of want a hooded towel… haha
I have one. It’s a pig and I stand by its cuteness. My fiance thinks it’s cute too.
I actually really liked my nursing cover. Mine was more subtle than the one you showed though. I had to use nipple guards, so I needed the cover so I didn’t flash everyone when slapping that thing on. Also, it’s good for pumping if you think someone might walk in.
The silliest thing that I love is the Wubbanub. Seriously, this was my kid’s favorite toy for months. And it’s a fun word to say.
Here’s the link: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_1_8?url=search-alias%3Dbaby-products&field-keywords=wubbanub&sprefix=wubbanub
Seriously, worth the 15 bucks. They can just go in the washer and dryer too. Maybe they’re not supposed to, but I’ve done it many, many times and it’s as good as new.
those are cute!
i looove hooded towels, they are so cute! i wish i had one. my baby (when i have one someday) will have one forsure
i just found out from my friend that the peepee teepees do not work! ha
hahah! i’m sorry she had to find out that way!
Baaahahha! I want the peekaru! 🙂
I have 3 little hooded towel animals and I think they’re precious, too.
I didn’t use my hooter hider too much, but it came in handy on an airplane – you don’t realize how close you are to your seatmate until your boobie is practically in their face! Also, babies have a tendency to pop off the boob and leave you flapping in the breeze, even if you’ve positioned them so you’re discreetly covered.
Also, I didn’t do the breast milk test strips – my doc told me just to enjoy a glass of wine right after a feeding, usually the last feeding before bedtime. Wine metabolizes pretty quickly. Totally understand wanting to be sure, though!
Totally agree it comes in handy on planes, I have used mine about seven times on them….also, they look goofy, but it feels better to be goofy than whipping out my boobie, say, in front of my dad. I guess it depends on your level of comfort and of those around you. Another random thought, maybe tmi, but if your milk supply is strong, you may spray while feeding. The cover has saved me from it landing on someone else, haha
Your list of silly things are great. I have a 2.5 year old, and I can say, you don’t need all those things out there. It is amazing how quickly they grow out of items, and then you end up just giving them away.
When I was pregnant, I missed my wine too. My hubbie and I had a grand European month long trip planned, that contained a lot of stops at wineries. We were planning on tasting all the varieties. A week before our departure, I found out I was pregnant. So, I didn’t drink, just drove the rental car. It was a real bummer, but we have a healthy boy now and he is wonderful! Congratulations, enjoy your pregnancy.
You can totally do the nursing thing without the tent lol! When I was younger one of the more eccentric ladies in my church made her own tent with a sewing circle thing with cloth and put the circle on her head it was crazy! Also the alcohol tetsting things are cool! My doctor told me that one drink in an hour would not effect the milk, and definately don’t pump an dump the liquid gold unless absolutely necessary! So excited you are nursing…best experience ever! You rock!
I rarely comment but I almost fell off the couch laughing (and in shock!) at the peekaru. I do not have kids but I cannot imagine that that thing is even comfortable!
The belly cast thing reminds me of one of my classmates. A friend wanted her to do it and then serve chips and dip out of it at her bridal shower. lol. That just makes it even more odd I think! The pee pee teepee thing…why not save a few bucks and hold a wipe over it? lol. I agree…some of these things are nuts but hooded towels are baller. Love!
Why not just learn to rapidly change a diaper? I’m a NICU nurse and I’ve diapered so many babies. It would take more time to put the peepee teepee on than to just change the thing. Amazing that people buy them, though!
they’ve been in pretty much every baby boutique i’ve gone to
my coworker has them for his son and the only pictures i see of him are with the teepee on his head…….lol
I thought they were just something silly! I always buy them as a funny gift for my friends expecting boys…I also note in the card that I’m pretty sure they will be useless except as a conversation piece…I think they are just more a cutesy thing than anything else. 🙂
My kids are 5 & 3 and we still use hooded towels. 🙂 a good substitute for the breastfeeding tent is a good ol’ receiving blanket. Does the trick and is more subtle.
1. The nursing apron/robe/bib/circus tent.
I’m not a mother or even pregnant yet, but I have lots of friends that use these frequently and love them. I kinda agree with you about the loud prints, though! Maybe something more subtle? haha.
and LOL at the peekaru…wtf??? I am totally pro baby wearing and plan to do it someday, but the peekaru is very strange looking lol
My sister loved hers too…her youngest daughter would just pull any receiving blanket off her face, pop off, and look around…not exactly ideal. She still tried to pull the tent off but it was a little more difficult.
Yes, I think the crazy printed nursing covers are hideous. I had a simple black one that went with most everything I owned, or I used the tail fabric of my sling. Both worked well and didn’t act like a fluorescent sign pointing down at me screaming, “BREASTFEEDER! GET A LOOK AT THOSE TA-TAS!”
and hooded towels are awesome. my guest bathroom’s linen closet has 95% hooded towels — hopefully my guests are all under the age of 10.
I was about to ditto everyone on the nursing covers. When he’s a newborn, it won’t be that big of a deal and tanks/shirts will work fine. But certainly, the older they get, the squirmier they get during nursing! They can hang out there for awhile, pop on and off, and if you’re anywhere in public, it’s just a nipple free-for-all. Plus, they tend to get distracted easily if you’re nursing in public, so some sort of blanket or cover can help them focus on the task at hand — nursing!
I never had one of the “fancier, pretty ones” — just a black small one that I found was way too small. Most of the time, I used one of the Aden and Anais swaddling blankets (which we adore and are still using 3 1/2 years later. They rule!)
Next time, I would have gone with one like the one pictured above — you’re going to need the room. Just sayin’!
good to know! i just ordered a boatload of the aden + anais swaddling blankets (they were having a 2 day 30% off sale!) so maybe i can use those instead
I was going to ditto the nursing cover…
Feedings can take awhile in the beginning and are every 2-3 hours. My friends who had to step out of the room felt isolated and annoyed with missing what was going on.
All my girlfriends who have the cover love it. I got mine as a gift and plan on using it a lot! The nice thing is that you don’t have to worry about it falling off like you can with swaddling blankets. One quick grab of the hand and that blanket is gone!
The aden /anais are what I used to cover during nursing. They worked fabulously!
I totally agree with what Madeline said about feeling isolated while nursing. It is so annoying to have to go hide in the other room to nurse while you’re hanging out with people! I absolutely LOVE my nursing cover. It makes me feel like I can breastfeed anywhere – and I have! I’ve used it at the mall, at the dinner table, even at a baseball game. I agree with what you’re saying about the crazy prints. My mom made mine and makes them for a lot of my friends. She posted this tutorial on her blog the other day and if you make it, you can pick whatever fabric you want! 🙂 http://www.theinspiredhousewife.com/2011/08/making-a-hooter-hider/
I tried those for nursing, but they are super clingy/ stick to him…..great for burp cloths though!
I had a troubled breastfeeding baby that was always tricky to latch. I breastfed for 6+ months and could not have done it without my hooter hider!! It was nice to be able to sit with people and visit and not be isolated in a room by yourself for up to an hour sometimes (depending on your baby)!!
We got a nosefrieda…. Looks crazy, but works so well when the little fella has a cold! Totally love hooded towels, we have a rather large selection and boy does he look gorgeous in them. The peekaru makes me laugh, but then maybe I get some strange looks when I’m out with the mobywrap 🙂
A friend of mine has a breastfeeding tent thingy which I tried… I’m not bf’ing anymore but strangely it’s good with bottle feeding too. Stops my nosey little monkey from looking around and he can focus on the task at hand !
Yes, the Nosefrieda!! We LOVE it. So much better than the suction aspirator bulb thing. 🙂 Love hooded towels. I BF’d each of my girls for a year and as pro-bursing as I am, always went in a different room to nurse. I would go for the tent, though,lol.
OMGGGG that tent! I would honestly love a hooded towel for myself! 😉
I laughed when I saw the boob shaped bottles (made by Adiri if you want to google it), but used them exclusively for my son! It’s just what he liked. But I would have never thought we’d use them when I was pregnant.
That peekaru is hilarious! Someone gave me those pee-pee tee-pees once but I didn’t use them. However, you will need a little cloth….or else you’ll get sprayed!
I loved my peekaru! It is such a pain to put on baby’s coat, then wrap, then put on my coat, then go, then get to where we are going then have to take off my coat, unwrap, take off baby’s coat and rewrap! With the peekaru, its a coat for you and baby in one! All you have to do is put it on and take it off! So convenient and snuggly. A must for any babywearer in chilly weather!
I had two nursing covers and used them a couple of times. Honestly, I always felt so hot with it on and felt bad for my little monkey under there in his sauna tent. I used it once when we had to take a little trip to the ER and I’m glad I had it in my diaper bag. You aren’t always “equipped” with a nursing tank, so it is handy to have something available to cover up the tatas (even a small blanket works).
Never used the pee pee tee pees, though I would recommend keeping little washcloths nearby to cover it up when you change diapers 🙂
Best “silly” thing for me – it was imperative for me to find a good nursing pillow. The Boppy wasn’t working because it didn’t provide a flat stable surface for my son to lay as he nursed. I ended up with this inflatable nursing pillow that I found online. It was a blow up u shape and had a cloth cover. It then strapped around my back and even had a little inflatable pillow to support your back. I seriously walked around the house with it attached to me. haha 🙂 But it worked so wonderfully and made nursing so much easier for me :)(
I heard the mybrestfriend is really good for this reason. We were gifted it and will try it when baby girl gets here.
You will love it! It honestly makes such a difference with breastfeeding. Having a flat surface for baby while being held close to you provides the best positioning for both of you. 🙂
http://cn1.kaboodle.com/hi/img/c/0/0/b2/7/AAAADHFD4ywAAAAAALJ4QA.jpg?v=1266878658000
I own this hooded towel….No, I don’t have kids I’m just weird like that!
Ok that belly cast is hilarious but that Peekaru thing doesn’t look too bad — really warm actually!
Belly Cradle – I had no idea this exists! Oh my! I carry soooo low and it’s completely painful at this point (lil one has even discovered how to headbutt my cervix, but that’s a different story…). I’ll have to get one!
Also, hooded towels are completely awesome. I’m getting a bear one. We also got something silly for when he’s a little older and it’s winter….
http://gyazo.com/3dfbe0b5d10418d4582049c1434f9316.png
I used the tent, it made me more comfortable for public places like a restaurant. The baby will get squirmy and the last thing you want at the dinner table is the baby to un-latch right at the time of let down and spray the dinner table ;). Also someone bought us the pee-pee tee pees they are funny and don’t work, they (at least in my experience) fly right off 🙂
I don’t know that it’s the silliest, but I think the Diaper Genie is more along the lines of a big waste of money – it’s great in theory, but it starts smelling nasty real quick!
I work in a restaurant, and I have seen both a woman breastfeeding discreetly with a top that snapped at the shoulder (and a small blanket), and I have also seen the tent. The former option? Definitely preferable. The latter just screams “HEY! YOU OVER THERE! I’M FEEDING MY CHILD!” while the former is more discreet and a bit less…er…ostentatious.
Agreed. I’m also in a restaurant and don’t mind at all when women breastfeed (could just be the nature of our restaurant though, the owner WORKED while breastfeeding!). I also don’t think a little nip slip in the name of feeding is offensive!
Nursing covers are cool, but everyone should know there is nothing wrong with going without. Everyone has their own levels of modesty/comfort and I respect every mama’s desire to nurse how they wish, but only good things can come from the normalization of breastfeeding in public and viewing breasts for their intended purpose.
check this one out!
http://thehappyhippiehomemaker.blogspot.com/2011/07/why-i-feel-need-to-nurse-in-public.html
My opinion of hooded towels is similar to my opinion of newborn baby pants. Completely unnecessary but completely ADORABLE. Sometimes that’s a good enough reason 🙂
Thanks for that link!
I heard the alcohol strips don’t actually work…
have you poked around on kellymom.com? There’s loads of info on nursing (and also some cool info on alcohol and nursing.) 🙂
The pee pee tees who would of thought it, my son was a great little sprayer when he was first born, we just put a face cloth over it to save getting a nice little shower, they only do it for a little while.
ok the hooter hider i RAGGED on and then my sister bought it…………and swears by it. it lets you peek at the babe, but i totally agree about the prints. luckily callie (athlete wannabe)’s mom wrote a post on how to make your own, so you obviously choose a darker/neutral/discreet print. maybe your mom/nana can make you one?? here is the link http://www.theinspiredhousewife.com/2011/08/making-a-hooter-hider/
as for the hooded towels. my mom mad them for us when we were babies and i STILL wish i had one. she sewed 2 washcloths along 2 sides and then connected that hood to a bath towel. so snuggly <3
Haha – just saw that my mom’s post was already linked!
HAHAHA the peekaru is HILAR!!!!!
not gonna lie, I’m reading this on my phone on the way home after having had a little too much at a wine tasting tonight and these are sort of hilarious. but hooded towels? I melt.
I have no experience with babies yet either but all of my friends with kiddos SWEAR by the ta-ta tent! The ones I’ve seen are super cute…not showy at all. I think you can get something really classy to help with the breastfeeding thing 🙂
I felt the same way about the tent until this past weekend. I was at a volleyball tourney at the beach with nothing but porto potties in sight and parking was really bad so everyone was parked at least 5 uphill blocks away (those were the good spots). My friend needed to nurse her baby and she whipped out this tent and I started to change my tune. I probably won’t register for one though.
The Peekaru?! I die! Do fun animal decorated hoodie towels come in grown up sizes? 🙂
Hooded towels are so cute! I have no desire to have kids, but I do want to have a child wearing a hooded towel (but only for a bit – then I’ll give them back).
The mock turtleneck is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever seen! It totally made me laugh out loud just seeing it.
Hahaha the Peekaru! Oh my gosh! The only way it could be better is if they make it in a double ugly Xmas sweater design 🙂
And LOL the breastmilk test strips. Those are totally awesome!
No kids yet, but this was a fun post to read! I too would lurve a hooded towel 🙂 And that peekaru thing reminds me of a character from the Austin Powers movies. My husband wouldn’t let me or future baby live that one down hahaha.
Haha, i love this post! And I’m glad I’m not the only who didn’t want a belly cast hanging in my house!
I used the aden & anais blankets as nursing covers. No one even notices, one minute you have the baby swaddled, the next the blanket is pulled a little higher on your shoulder. And as for peepee teepees, I made my own reusable cloth wipes and would just use one of those if I though I might have a problem. But little boys only pee like that for the first 2 months or so. My son loves his hooded towels, I wish they came in my size.
BTW, I also made my own wipe solution. Here’s the recipe if you’re at all interested.
http://www.naturalbirthandbabycare.com/homemade-baby-wipes-recipes.html
Just use burts bees apricot baby oil instead of the olive oil because olive oil isn’t as moisturizing for your babe. I just figured if you’re using cloth diapers you may be interested in the wipe solution.
The nursing covers rock! Our baby is only 3 weeks old and I have been able to nurse at both dr appts in the lobby and at home w/my guests all unbothered and it leaves my hands free and i can see her.
I did a belly cast with my their pregnancy and I’m so sad I didn’t do it with my first two. Pictures are one thing, but to actually see how beautiful and full and round my belly really was is amazing! Im definitely do a belly cast with any future pregnancies!
Bahahaha, that turtle neck baby swaddling thing is the craziest things I have ever seen! You would be so hot in there! I love the hooded towels too, I want one in my size!
I’m agree with everything but the snoogle pillow. I haven’t needed one yet, the only reason why I can’t sleep is because I pee so much. And no judging here, I miss my wine so much and can’t wait to have a class post baby!
A friend gave me the ‘pee pee teepees” but I never used them. I found a well placed wipe buys you some time. Also, the more diapers you change, the faster you get. 😉
I also had a couple different covers for breastfeeding that I loved, but they were definitely more tasteful. One was black and the other one was sort of a long, thick green scarf that worked well to cover everything. 😉
The hooded towels are awesome. We have several. They’re nice to be able to wrap the baby/kid up to keep them completely warm after a bath. Since a lot of heat is lost through the head. Also, a tip my sister-in-law told me was to wash the baby’s hair last to keep them from getting too cold.
The pee pee tee pees are def not necessary. From my experience, boys tend to pee when the cool air hits their skin so whenever taking off the diaper, I immediately put a wipe over their penis and that catches any unwanted spray. I am LOVING all these family posts, girl!
The Peekaru is HILARIOUS! Haha I actually find the hooded towels kind of cute for the little ones 😉
The existence of alcohol strips was the best/only thing I have ever taken away from watching those crazy Kardashians while at the gym! I had no idea they were around before seeing Kourtney use them.
The Pee Pee Tee Pees do not work although in theory they are a wonderful idea.
I love hooded towels. They are so cute! I didn’t buy any myself but they are really popular gift items and so I ended up with 5 just from friends. They get a lot of use.
That belly cradle is probably the weirdest thing I have ever seen!