S/O Endorse: What products do you warn other parents against

[catbus]

Among products that are otherwise popular or widely available, are there things you warn other parents to steer clear of? I'm not talking about things that "everyone" knows they shouldn't use, like bumpers and such, but things like a certain stroller, sock, etc. 

[spk926]

Boppy

I don't know if I necessarily warn people to steer clear but I tell them about MBF. Everyone I know in person (including me!) prefers MBF over the Boppy but lots don't know about it until I tell them. I know on this board it's split 50/50 but in my real life people much prefer MBF!

[Deleted]

Baby Bjorn. I also see it a lot IRL, and I'm like whyyy? There are so many better carrier options out there.

SwaddleMe or any other Velcro swaddles. DS busted out of any and all Velcro swaddles at 5 days old.

Convertible car seats for newborns. We loved loved our infant seat, I think it's a great product. I saw no need to wake up baby when LO inevitably falls asleep in the car.

Socks and shoes for infants. It's pointless, they fall off or LO takes them off. It's just a source of annoyance for the parents. Just let LO be barefoot!

[meltoine]

Bjorn/other ergo nominally incorrect carriers. Gdiapers - several friends who know we CD try to use Gdiapers because the hybrid seems easier, but I always warn them that they pretty much suck and aren't worth it, mainly because I don't want them to think that all CDs are that sucky.

[catbus]

Mar 17, 2014 12:08:19 GMT -5 spunbutterfly said:

Baby Bjorn. 'Everyone' seems to know it's not great, but I see them ALL the time in 'real life'.

Everywhere! Yes! They seem to be especially popular with the people I see shopping at "high-end" malls like Bellevue Square and U. Village. What's with that? Don't they know better?  

[catbus]

Mar 17, 2014 12:35:37 GMT -5 @vicmo said:

Weissbluth. That asshole. (I know extinction cio works for some, but I think his book is alarmist claptrap.)

Not warn against, but I try to post positive things about sleeping in the crib and skipping the rnp, which I did since they are banned here. I think some posters imply you will never sleep w/o a rnp.

I agree WRT the Rock-n-Play. We didn't have it and didn't miss it. It and the swing are things I think people are better off waiting to see if they need before buying. 

[sent]

Mar 17, 2014 12:17:26 GMT -5 spk926 said:

Boppy

I don't know if I necessarily warn people to steer clear but I tell them about MBF. Everyone I know in person (including me!) prefers MBF over the Boppy but lots don't know about it until I tell them. I know on this board it's split 50/50 but in my real life people much prefer MBF!

I own both!  I get good use out of both but I use neither for their intended purposes.  I did buy the MBF first.

[speckledfrog]

I don't necessarily warn people against the RnP, but I do share with them our experience with DS's flat head.

[purplecow0206]

Mar 17, 2014 12:57:50 GMT -5 catbus said:

Mar 17, 2014 12:35:37 GMT -5 @vicmo said:

Weissbluth. That asshole. (I know extinction cio works for some, but I think his book is alarmist claptrap.)

Not warn against, but I try to post positive things about sleeping in the crib and skipping the rnp, which I did since they are banned here. I think some posters imply you will never sleep w/o a rnp.

I agree WRT the Rock-n-Play. We didn't have it and didn't miss it. It and the swing are things I think people are better off waiting to see if they need before buying. 

We haven't had a rnp or a swing and haven't missed either. We don't really have the space, so we work with the pnp and the bassinet that was handed down to us and we were planning to just go with the pnp with the newborn mapper insert.

Sent from my VS870 4G using proboards

[magpie]

Has anyone here tried a bjorn? I have a becco, but I see the bjorn all the time as well. They also have a billion of them for sale at my local consignment shop for super, super cheap.

I went to a baby shower yesterday and found myself thinking "oh that's not super useful" in my head for a few things (obviously, I said nothing!). In particular, a wipe warmer (we live in the hot as hell desert and this baby is coming in summer!) and a car seat protector mat for under the car seat (not even sure if these are safe!). I also see a lot of car seat/stroller travel systems with a big, bulky stroller that would drive me crazy to carry around.

[turtlegirl]

Mar 17, 2014 13:04:41 GMT -5 magpie said:

Has anyone here tried a bjorn? I have a becco, but I see the bjorn all the time as well. They also have a billion of them for sale at my local consignment shop for super, super cheap.

I went to a baby shower yesterday and found myself thinking "oh that's not super useful" in my head for a few things (obviously, I said nothing!). In particular, a wipe warmer (we live in the hot as hell desert and this baby is coming in summer!) and a car seat protector mat for under the car seat (not even sure if these are safe!). I also see a lot of car seat/stroller travel systems with a big, bulky stroller that would drive me crazy to carry around.

We were given a Bjorn as a hand-me-down and it was awful. It killed both out backs if we wore DS1 for more than 10 minutes, which happened often since he was colicky mess. 

We didn't really use it much, but my MIL would use it from time to time when she went on walks when she watched him and said it never bothered her. She used it with DS2 as well and never had any issues. I think I eventually just gave it to her and she keeps it at her house. 

[hski2349]

I hated our snap and go stroller. I found it did not turn well and was more of a pain than useful. We got the Britax B-agile and it was so much easier to use.

[catbus]

Mar 17, 2014 13:04:41 GMT -5 magpie said:

Has anyone here tried a bjorn? I have a becco, but I see the bjorn all the time as well. They also have a billion of them for sale at my local consignment shop for super, super cheap.

I went to a baby shower yesterday and found myself thinking "oh that's not super useful" in my head for a few things (obviously, I said nothing!). In particular, a wipe warmer (we live in the hot as hell desert and this baby is coming in summer!) and a car seat protector mat for under the car seat (not even sure if these are safe!). I also see a lot of car seat/stroller travel systems with a big, bulky stroller that would drive me crazy to carry around.

I was at a baby shower a few months ago and the conversation turned to recommended gear. One of the other guests was ~5 months pregnant and was scoping out the honoree's gear. She mentioned she had registered for the Oxo wipes dispenser, and I said how much I have liked ours. This other woman who does not even have a kid went on and on about how a wipes warmer is a "must have." I politely disagreed and said it's not something we ever saw a need for, and I've heard they can dry out wipes. Other woman again totally bulldozes me and tells the other woman that she "needs" the wipe warmer and "there's nothing wrong with pampering your baby." 
*-)
So the take-away was that she was basically calling me an uncaring parent because I didn't have a warmer?

[sh10]

Mar 17, 2014 13:03:33 GMT -5 purplecow0206 said:

Mar 17, 2014 12:57:50 GMT -5 catbus said:

I agree WRT the Rock-n-Play. We didn't have it and didn't miss it. It and the swing are things I think people are better off waiting to see if they need before buying. 

We haven't had a rnp or a swing and haven't missed either. We don't really have the space, so we work with the pnp and the bassinet that was handed down to us and we were planning to just go with the pnp with the newborn mapper insert.

Sent from my VS870 4G using proboards

We have both and he rarely uses them. It's not that he doesn't like them, but he's happy without and I've read too many horror stories here of breaking the rnp or swing habit so I don't encourage it.

[magpie]

catbus, you meanie with your cruel, cold wipes! I actually found the cold wipes to be useful in those overly sleepy, newborn days. I'd use a diaper change to wake her up enough to nurse and I'm sure the cold wipe helped

[hocus2]

City Mini and City Select.

City mini -- that deep recline is an issue for a lot of kids.
City Select -- it isn't that great as a double, and as single it weak compared to other strollers with similar features.
I also dislike that baby jogger has nothing included with their strollers. It gives them the illusion of being well priced but is isn't true.

[simpsongal]

I haven't used our wipe warmer yet - J doesn't mind cold wipes. Maybe the next kid will like it?

I didn't like the hospital bulb syringe - I LOVE the nosefrida.

[anna7602]

Mar 17, 2014 12:29:03 GMT -5 @supergreen said:

Convertible car seats for newborns. We loved loved our infant seat, I think it's a great product. I saw no need to wake up baby when LO inevitably falls asleep in the car.

Interesting. DD fell asleep in a car exactly zero times as a newborn. She just raged and screamed her head off no matter how long the drive lasted. Then she outgrew it by the time she hit 20 lbs. at 4 months of age or so.

This time around, I am considering going straight to the convertible. Our current plan, actually, is to just hire a car service with an infant car seat installed to get us home from the hospital and then figure out our long-term car seat needs after the baby is born.  

[Brie]

Diaper Dekor. I hate that thing.

Gerber clothing. It runs insanely small and the fabric is cheap and rough.

Sleepers with a million snaps and/or over-the-head clothing for newborns.

Nuby sippy cups. Ours all cracked the first time they were chucked off the tray.

[anna7602]

I still don't think I've seen an rnp IRL. These must have become a thing after DD was a baby.

[Willis Jackson]

I actually really liked the Bjorn for when they were tiny and facing inward. I have an Ergo and had a ring sling, too, so I wouldn't assume that people use them because they aren't aware of "better" options.

[heygrey]

Mar 17, 2014 12:35:37 GMT -5 @vicmo said:

Not warn against, but I try to post positive things about sleeping in the crib and skipping the rnp, which I did since they are banned here. I think some posters imply you will never sleep w/o a rnp.

I really really really wanted this kid to sleep in his crib from the get go, but we spent his first two nights alternating holding him because he would NOT chill in his crib and we had nothing else for him to sleep in. cue hysterics. from him and me.

then I was at the grocery store (Save On Foods, I think it's just a BC chain?) and THEY HAD A RNP. $49 on clearance. homeslice has slept like a champ for the last two weeks in that thing. I'm guessing someone found it in a stock room from years ago, missed the memo that it's kind of illegal to sell it, and I freaking lucked out. although this is the bassinet version, not the inclined version with the harness that seems to be the thing people reference here. we will get a lot of use out of it even if it's just a living room nap spot since I'm still hoping to get him into his cub sooner than later.

[magpie]

Mar 17, 2014 13:19:58 GMT -5 @ojo said:

Mar 17, 2014 13:04:41 GMT -5 magpie said:

Has anyone here tried a bjorn? I have a becco, but I see the bjorn all the time as well. They also have a billion of them for sale at my local consignment shop for super, super cheap.

I went to a baby shower yesterday and found myself thinking "oh that's not super useful" in my head for a few things (obviously, I said nothing!). In particular, a wipe warmer (we live in the hot as hell desert and this baby is coming in summer!) and a car seat protector mat for under the car seat (not even sure if these are safe!). I also see a lot of car seat/stroller travel systems with a big, bulky stroller that would drive me crazy to carry around.

A wipe warmer made diaper changes so much easier for us. We were in North Dakota though, so perhaps the chilly breeze was too much for my kids to handle.

I just bought seat protectors yesterday. The ones from car seat manufacturers are crash tested with their respective car seats. I prefer that my kids not rub their dirty shoes on my fabric seats and since they'll be RF for at least a couple more years, the protectors are handy.

does it have to be the same manufacturer matched with the seat (I don't think this one was made by a car seat manufacturer anyway)?  I guess I hadn't thought about shoes yet...my baby's too small for that for now.  Maybe I should get one eventually

It's going to be 100+ around here soon.  I'm skeptical of the wipe warmer!  I can see how places with winter might be different though.

[pugz]

Why is the RNP banned in canada?

[jr009j]

Infant seats with high weight limits. We got the Snugride 35 because Baby Bargains recommended it and DD outgrew it by height at 10 months, while she probably wouldn't hit the weight limit until 4 at the rate she's growing. The extra size and weight of the car seat makes me despise it.

[Deleted]

Mar 17, 2014 12:21:01 GMT -5 littlespitfire said:

City Mini basket. Not the stroller per se, but the tiny basket. I warn people that they will love the fold, but the basket is nearly useless and the stroller tips with bags hanging on it and no kid in the seat. This is much more relevant for urban parents, though.

I tell people about the narrow opening of the basket, but the basket is big enough.  We go grocery shopping with our city mini gt all the time, and the basket can fit a few days' worth of groceries. I don't use a diaper bag though. 

[gibbinator]

Mar 17, 2014 13:51:57 GMT -5 pugz said:

Why is the RNP banned in canada?

Because Canada likes to ban everything invented for babies

Eta: I believe this was due to the potential mould issues but can't find a definite site. Crib tents are banned due to potential strangling of toddlers. The bumbo was banned for awhile but now that they have seat belts they seem to be back. I think all 3 happened in 2013.So maybe we'll see other products again.

[Deleted]

Mar 17, 2014 13:30:05 GMT -5 anna7602 said:

Mar 17, 2014 12:29:03 GMT -5 @supergreen said:

Convertible car seats for newborns. We loved loved our infant seat, I think it's a great product. I saw no need to wake up baby when LO inevitably falls asleep in the car.

Interesting. DD fell asleep in a car exactly zero times as a newborn. She just raged and screamed her head off no matter how long the drive lasted. Then she outgrew it by the time she hit 20 lbs. at 4 months of age or so.

This time around, I am considering going straight to the convertible. Our current plan, actually, is to just hire a car service with an infant car seat installed to get us home from the hospital and then figure out our long-term car seat needs after the baby is born.  

I agree, interesting! Another example of "every baby is different." As a newborn, DS fell asleep in the car in 0.2 seconds. So we'd drive somewhere, he'd fall asleep, I'd put the infant seat in the stroller and have coffee or go out to dinner or whatever, with him totally asleep. It was a great phase, I loved it.

[disappointedkittens]

Mar 17, 2014 13:40:00 GMT -5 heygrey said:

Mar 17, 2014 12:35:37 GMT -5 @vicmo said:

Not warn against, but I try to post positive things about sleeping in the crib and skipping the rnp, which I did since they are banned here. I think some posters imply you will never sleep w/o a rnp.

I really really really wanted this kid to sleep in his crib from the get go, but we spent his first two nights alternating holding him because he would NOT chill in his crib and we had nothing else for him to sleep in. cue hysterics. from him and me.

then I was at the grocery store (Save On Foods, I think it's just a BC chain?) and THEY HAD A RNP. $49 on clearance. homeslice has slept like a champ for the last two weeks in that thing. I'm guessing someone found it in a stock room from years ago, missed the memo that it's kind of illegal to sell it, and I freaking lucked out. although this is the bassinet version, not the inclined version with the harness that seems to be the thing people reference here. we will get a lot of use out of it even if it's just a living room nap spot since I'm still hoping to get him into his cub sooner than later.

The bassinet ones are allowed in Canada.  They sell them at Sears too and I've seen them at Winners

[Deleted]

Mar 17, 2014 13:59:09 GMT -5 gibbinator said:

Mar 17, 2014 13:51:57 GMT -5 pugz said:

Why is the RNP banned in canada?

Because Canada likes to ban everything invented for babies

Eta: I believe this was due to the potential mould issues but can't find a definite site. Crib tents are banned due to potential strangling of toddlers. The bumbo was banned for awhile but now that they have seat belts they seem to be back. I think all 3 happened in 2013.So maybe we'll see other products again.

I think they just haven't been approved. Canada has more stringent standards for anything sold as a sleeping container. ARC are also "illegal" but I had one. It was awesome.