What was the biggest waste of money to you as a parent?

Of course you don鈥檛 know until AFTER the fact that you just blew through money unnecessarily. But as a parent, you buy all the baby items, then your kids grow up and you get them all the toddler things and so on and so forth.





But in your purchases, what was the biggest waste of money to you as a parent? That you鈥檇 share with others to NOT waste their money on??What was the biggest waste of money to you as a parent?
It wasn't an expensive but I barely used my baby bath. And i've had 3 children, and bought one every time! Just don't bother-bath baby in the big bath.What was the biggest waste of money to you as a parent?
Biggest waste of money to me was toddler bed and talking toys. My daughter never sleeps in her toddler bed - she collects her pillow and stuffed animals and heads to the guest room every single night. Then the talking toys - she's never cared about them. She's always preferred things like blocks and puzzles to those expensive toys with all the bells and whistles. I stopped buying them when she was about 1 1/2 years old.





But I would never tell someone not to buy the stuff I said I didn't use because it's so individualized. Like the person above who said they never used their changing table. My mom told me she never used hers either but I used mine all the time. My mom was 20 when she had me I was 32 when I had mine. I tried to tell my mom that might make a difference but she was all ';no, you're thin and in shape, you'll never use it'; - totally not true. My body may be in shape but it's still a lot more comfortable to stand and change a baby than to keep jumping up and down from the floor.
I actually have 2 things that were a big waste of money.





1. Changing table -- I never got into the habit of going into another room to change the first one and by the 2nd, 3rd and 4th I just changed them wherever I was.





2. Toddler bed -- None of my kids would sleep in the toddler bed, but the second we got them a twin bed they were trying to go to sleep in the middle of the afternoon!





Those are the 2 things that I would not say were a big waste of money.





(I used 1 baby bath given to me as a gift for all 4 kids.)
My biggest waste of money was buying expensive baby clothes. I mean all the do is pee and throw up on them when their little. When their a little bigger they crawl around in the dirt and all the clothes end up with stained knees, and once they learn to walk it's over. Everything has a stain somewhere!





What I would suggest (and will do with any future children I may have) is buy the majority of clothes at second hand stores or off ebay. Just in general get all the play clothes cheap. Then, I'll buy a few of the more expensive ';dress'; clothes for church and family gatherings etc...
Any sort of ';special odor absorbing'; diaper pail. They didn't keep the smell in, I spent an ungodly amount of money on the stupid refills....we ended up handing it down to a friend who wasn't so financially strapped as we were and used a regular trash can with a lid and box of baking soda. It was so much better.





My one big gripe is with those companies who make the learning games (you know the big one I'm talking about...rhymes with ';Keep Mad';) but in order to continue playing the games you have to keep buying a new console and new games as they get older. Can I be the one who starts a company that has some sort of ';trade up'; program? Buy the baby learning game set at full price and then as your kid gets older, send it back to us for a 50% off coupon for the next age group up. Sounds like a no-brainer to me. I don't know of any parent who wouldn't think that is a brilliant idea.
The biggest waste of money IMO is child sized meals when you eat out. They are usually junk food and often not eaten and not far of the price of an adult meal. If your kids want chips (fries) when you eat out get them a side order at a 1/4 of the price...or buy an adult meal they like and split it between them OR get them a side of potato's or bread and give up some of yours...we spent money we didn't really have on this and wised up to it once our eldest hit @ 3 yrs old :P
I guess it depends on the person. I LOVED my change table.After my C- section i was so sore for a few months after that bending over hurt. The change table was the perfect height. So I would recommend them to anyone planning a c section.





I agree with the toddler beds... my kids went from crib to normal bed with no problems. And the diaper pale... it still makes things stinky. The refills are pricey. I gave up and used a plastic grocery bag and threw it in the normal garbage.


The leap Pads are expensive and my kids never got into them much.They rather read a normal book with mom or dad.
For me it was the crib I had to have! My girls probably slept in it 10 times, if that. and that's all 3 put together! My nice wooden high chair too. It is really nice, but those darn kids kept crawling out of it! I still have it too, and wont get rid of it. I can't tell other parents not to get a crib though, but for it was a waste! The high chair was but only because I couldn't keep them in. Find one that keeps them in.





TOO MANY TOYS!





You want to spend a lot on them, especially if they're your 1st and it's their 1st B-day party. THEY will NEVER remember what you go them. Some even forget what you got them 15 minutes after they've opened it!!!








I'm glad I didn't get a changing table! The reason I choose not to was because I could never change or dress baby from the side! I always had to put a changing pad or blanket on the floor and do it this way.





I wish I would have spent the money on a nice swing with my 1st %26amp; 2nd. I did with my 3rd though and loved it! or she did. My oldest two had one, but it was the cheapest I could find. Some babies love them while others hate them! how do you know?!








oh yeah! It was that diaper genie- I hated that thing!





and I still have the toddler bed in the basement. My oldest used it for about 6 months! It matches the high chair though, pretty blonde wood color! They are pretty though!!!
I personally would have died without my swing! Our items of waste were the changing table. Never used it. I had c section with both of mine and I was not about to get up and go to another room to change either of them, and the second was the diaper pail (walmart bags are better).
The crib. I have three kids, and not one of them wanted anything to do with the crib.





Bottle and wipes warmers come to mind as well. I was also given a bunch of bottles by well-meaning relatives, but none of my kids would take them either.





Oh yeah, disposable diapers! I use cloth now, and I would never go back. Cloth is not difficult at all. What's an extra load or two of laundry a week?





I love my changing table! It really saves my back.
for me, it is the baby swing! I paid good money for it and it looks such a good idea (and cute), my girl hates it, she can only sits in it for 2 mins then she will starts screaming to come out!
Her baby swing she never really liked it nd aways cried when she was in it.
The changing table.


Seriously, I never used the thing. It just stored stuff.....what a waste.
clothes
The crib
the baby swing...we never used it with my first and my second hates it!