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My Top Five Ridiculous Parenting Products

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My sister-in-law recently gave birth to a baby girl, and when my daughter and I went shopping for baby presents, I was amazed by the multitude of new products that have come up in the six years since my sons (3Po and Jammy) were born. Some of these products are so cool (hello, Bumbo Baby Seat!) or cute (hello, Mary Jane socks!) they almost make me want to have another baby so I can use them, but others are just plain useless. I'm not talking about frivolous fashion accessories like newborn baby bikinis or unnecessary gear like toddler beds, I'm talking about products that most people would look at and think, "Are you kidding me?".

With apologies to the people who make them and the people who buy them, here are Five Totally Ridiculous Baby Products on the shelves today:

Mommy Mitten -- I get that your hands get cold and you've lost your gloves and you don't want to push that stroller all around the park with bare hands. But instead of paying $30 for a fleece-lined folder to shove your hands in, wouldn't it be easier (and cheaper) to tug your coat sleeves down over your hands? And won't your hands get cold anyway when you take them out to adjust your baby's blanket/wipe his nose/pop his pacifier back in/pat his cheek/hold your cup of coffee/answer your phone?

4) Peekaru -- All the comedians on late-night talk shows are making fun of the Snuggie (that ridiculous blanket with sleeves), and instead of getting the message, the baby products industry has come up with a Snuggie for babies. I'm all for babywearing, but I draw the line at baby straitjackets, and honestly, seeing a mom with a baby's head popping out of her stomach is a bit freaky, kind of like the alien baby in Total Recall.

 

3) DadGear Cargo Jacket -- Alfie was horrified at the sight of this jacket/wearable diaper bag, which has pockets for diapers, wipes, and even a changing pad. The manufacturer claims: "No one will know dad's carrying diapers, wipes, and even two bottles." Ha! No sane parent would leave home without packing at least half a dozen diapers, a Costco-sized pack of wipes, changing pad, Purell sanitizer, tube of diaper rash cream, diaper disposal bag, extra change of clothes, pacifier, bottle or sippy cup, snacks, books, toys, special blanket or lovey, and chocolate bar (for the parent) into their diaper bag. Try stuffing that into the DadGear Cargo Jacket without looking like the Michelin Man! And good luck carrying that dirty diaper around in your "wearable diaper bag" until you can find a trash can to throw it in.

2) Toddler Hot Dog Slicer -- I own an apple slicer and an egg slicer, but a hot dog slicer is one slicer too many. This plastic contraption looks more likely to smash the hot dog into "Ewww! I'm not eating that!" bits instead of neat little chunks, and any time saved by cutting a hot dog in a single stroke instead of twelve is negated by the time it will take to scrub all the hot dog bits off each and every one of those corners. Get a knife already!

1) Pee-pee Teepee -- The number one spot in my Ridiculous Baby Product category has to go to the Pee-pee Teepee. Why? Because it actually suckered me in. Yes, I bought a pack of Pee-pee Teepees when my sons were born. I had heard lots of horror stories about parents getting peed on while changing their newborn sons' diapers, and these absorbent flannel cones seemed like the perfect solution. How cute! How neat! But reality bit me -- or should I say, sprayed me

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ainmemphis 5 pts

My son is not even 4 months old, and I can't believe all the things that people try to sell me.  I almost bought one or two of the items in your list, but thankfully I asked several more experienced moms what they found vital and what was a waste.  I can easily see how other new moms can be suckered in to these strange inventions, but am glad that I have at least saved some of my money. 

Anara 5 pts

As a NICU/Post Partum nurse and mommy of two, I love to see what new baby products are on the market.  I am always amazed that somebody, somewhere pays to produce these gimmicks.  The Pee Pee TeePee makes me laugh everytime I see it. I always use a clean diaper like an extra changing pad under newborns when I change them so they are lying on a dirty diaper on top of a clean diaper. Just slide out the dirty when you are done. That way they don't make a huge mess on your changing pad if they go during a diaper change and you always have something to flip up and cover them with.  If I was going to spend more time than usual with Mr. Winkie exposed then I would use a wipe, a washcloth, the corner or a blanket or changing pad, and in one rare emergency, a cupped hand.  It's honestly not that frequent an occurence to warrant using a cover up everytime.

The silliest baby thing I've ever seen is a onesie with a cutout for umbilical care.   Talk about pandering to the fears of new moms!

yoktom 5 pts

Perhaps the Pee Pee Tee Pees are to encourage a career in Aerospace science? 

"So, (Mr. Famous Astronaut) what inspired you to build the worlds first water powered Rocket ship...?" 

"I can't quite put my finger on it, but I remember from a very young age watching rocket shaped items fly by the power of pressurized fluid...."

LOL - Awesome list!

Tamara Hancock

http://someonewillbuyit.blogspot.com
www.wahpm.com Work AT Home Professional Mom www.widowsofwarcraft.com ( http://www.widowsofwarcraft.com ) (self explanatory :)
www.yoktom.blogspot.com Diary of A Stay At Home Mom

JennaHatfield 9 pts

But this is, by far, one of the best babywearing pictures I have of me with my youngest son. The Peekaru was a blessing for our family as we're outdoors even when it's frigid. Also, it existed before Snuggies so your reference is slightly off.

I couldn't button a coat around my youngest when he was in a front carry nor could he comfortably wear a coat while in the mei tai. This solved both problems. I would just toss a coat over my arms and put hats on heads and we were all snug.

That said, I agree with the rest of your comments. :)

@FireMom ( http://twitter.com ) from Stop, Drop and Blog ( http://stopdropandblog.com ) and The Chronicles of Munchkin Land ( http://thechroniclesofmunchkinland.com )

AmberS 5 pts

I was gifted with some pee pee tee pees when my son was born, and I found them to be totally useless. They are WAY too small, even for a newborn. Plus, maybe I'm unusual, but I just haven't found that my son is more prone to peeing on me than my daughter was. Sure, when he does it's more dramatic, but as you say a washcloth is far more effective and I already have dozens.

~ Amber

www.strocel.com ( http://www.strocel.com )

Just_Margaret 5 pts

I live in New England, and even I was WTH?  on the wipe warmers 8 years ago--

Honestly, they just don't get that cold, even here, in the dead of winter!!!

~Margaret

texasebeth 6 pts

it astounds me what is out there nowadays. Just think how did our parents manage to raise us without all this stuff.

one of my favorite WTH products is the wipe warmer. I live in the Houston TX area. There is no way it will ever be cold enough down here to justify buying a machine to heat up diaper wipes.

Another favorite WTH with me are parents who buy the designer name brand instead of a less expensive option of the exact same item that works just as well or better.

Elizabeth

http://texasebeth.blogspot.com

KhadijahOnline 5 pts

I loved this post! It had me flash back to when I was dazed and amazed with all of the new gimmicks and basically you either forget about them or realize how stupid they are in a heartbeat. Thanks for taking me back down memory lane!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Conformity is costly. You pay in soul credits. Stay unboxed." -Moon www.KhadijahOnline.com ( http://www.KhadijahOnline.com ) www.LiberatedMuse.com ( http://www.LiberatedMuse.com )

stephaniedelger 5 pts

Seriously, these all look like gag gifts.  I can't believe people take them seriously, much less spend money on them.  Too funny!

midnightbliss 5 pts

I don't know if its funny or i will feel pity for teh child inside that blanket something. During our time, we didn't even have disposable diapers but i think everything went well.

SatelliteSister5 5 pts

I feel ancient looking at these products. 15 years ago-- the Baby Bjorn in black was the end all, be all.Now, a wearable diaper bag for dad? hahaha.

Funny list.

Lian

Lian Dolan

http://www.chaoschronicles.com ( http://www.chaoschroniclesbyliandolan.blogspot.com )

http://www.satellitesisters.com

foodiemama 5 pts

I just spit out my coffee laughing when I saw that poor little baby's face peeking out from that blue blankety thing. And as for the "mommy mitten," what's wrong with just wearing gloves?

Mama Murtz 5 pts

I'm glad I'm not the only one who finds many of the products made and marketed for parents ridiculous.  Those Pee-Pee Teepees almost got me when I had my son.  Somehow I resisted and made-do the old fashioned way.  At least most of the time. :)