Walk in to any store that has a baby section and you will find yourself overwhelmed with, well, STUFF. There are 20 types of pacifiers, 15 types of brushes, a variety of nail clippers, a billion types of diapers and wipes, booties and socks and slippers and shoes. There are brushes for cleaning out bottles, little clips for keeping pacifier attached to babies clothing. You have blankets and slings and carriers and swaddling things (that, to my discerning eye, look like straight jackets). You have your booster chair, your high chair. Then there are the mini jails, as I call them. The playpens (or playards as they are called today). You have your portable cribs, bassinets, cradles and humongous contraptions with all the bells and whistles that, let’s face it, are reserved for the elite (or the parent who thinks their little one MUST HAVE all of the bells and whistles). Then there are the toys. Oh my lord, the toys. There are rattles and shakers and balls and plastic keys. You have your toys that squeak, that roll, that bounce – all guaranted to entertain your little one when you can’t. It’s a plastic manufacturer’s/oil cartel’s wet dream, not to mention guaranteed to overstimulate your precious little baby now and then.
And need I mention the TON of stuff for decorating the babies room? There’s paint, wallpaper, borders, decals and stickers. There are paintings and murals and drawings and photos. There are mobiles and frilly curtain sets (or non-frilly for the boys). You have theme-related rooms (making Disney and other elite corporations millions of dollars every year). There are dressers just for baby (I didn’t know dressers were age-specific).
I mean really, who is this about? The baby?
Not really. It’s about crafty marketing folks who appeal to parents guilt, insecurity and fear as well as that malicious advertising move of “YOU MUST HAVE THIS TO BE COOL/POPULAR/A GOOD PARENT/PERSON” blah blah blah. Notice the word “good”. That is key in all of this marketing business aimed at parents.
Let’s be honest here. What does a baby REALLY need? Well, for starters the two most important things are free. 1) Love. 2) A boob.
Some clothes, some hats and blankets and socks, a safe, quiet, secure place to sleep and just be and some diapers are really all a baby needs. All the rest is just stuff.
And hey, much if not most, of this stuff can be found used for well under half the cost you’d pay for it new. I will admit though that my spouse and I opted to buy her crib and carseat brand new (both of which are convertible meaning they will grow with her – as well as top-rated and amongst the least expensive because they lack all of the bell and whistles). Why? I wanted to make sure the carseat had never been in an accident. And I wanted to make sure the crib was solid and secure and hadn’t been exposed to any sort of abuse or damage. The rest? Hand-me-downs, gifts or bought/found used. In terms of cash spent, aside from the crib and carseat, we’ve kept it under $30.
Of course, I gotta admit, knowing we’re going to have a girl stirs that girlie girl desire to dress my little one in adorable little clothes. There are those little frilly outfits (t-shirts, onsies, bibs, hats, socks, etc.) that tell the world “I love daddy” and “I love mommy”. There are the little tights with ruffles and the patent leather shoes. There are the adorable denim floppy hats that look oh so precious with a pair of denim jean shorts and little floral tankie top. Then there are the princess and elfin fairies theme items. And barbie dream house and OH MY GOD EASY BAKE OVEN!!!!
Sigh.
I guess the marketing gods have found their way into my head despite my belief otherwise, eh?
