If I were to buy only one of everything on the market for newborns, I'd need to rent a second house just to fit it all in. The trouble is, there are things that some parents find essential which I deem unnecessary.

For example, the wipe warmer. Every time my baby's nappy is changed, he'll get a warm damp cloth wiping his bottom. However, what if there's a power cut and he's not used to the cooler version? Or, when we're driving and some emergency cleaning has to take place? Is it safe to heat the wipe on the car's radiator? Will his backside suffer more from one that's heated like this, or from one that is cold? Isn't it better to get him accustomed to the au naturel ones?

I feel this way about bottle warmers and insulated cases for bottles. These extra things will add clutter to my home. Surely, I can stick a bottle of milk in a large mug of hot water when baba is hungry? And if I am taking a journey somewhere, then a thermos of boiling water will help do the trick very nicely.

I can hear you smug mothers now, "What does she know? She hasn't even had the child yet." No, I have not, but enough friends have verified my sentiments to satisfy me. I'll be the smug one when my electricity bill is lower than yours!

The essentials

In my search for the essentials I have found ludicrous inventions for kids. One looks exactly like a sun hat. The baby wears a wide-brimmed plastic hat, which covers the mother's bosom while he or she is being fed. I found it in a store in Kingston. So is this contraption used to protect your child from getting sunburnt? Or does it only look like it's to be worn outside? If I put it on my baby when I'm inside, won't he get hot and sweaty? I, while trying to keep a straight face, asked the shop keeper if she'd sold any yet. "No," was her reply.

While abroad recently, I came across another pretty hilarious device called Peter Potty, which is a toddler urinal that proclaims to be 'the world's only flushable toddler urinal'. For pure comedy factor, you must check it out: www.peterpotty.com. Surprisingly, it gets rave reviews, but I do not see the point, nor do I like the fact that they cannot spell flush-able, but I digress. The thing is, my husband does not have his own urinal in our bathroom. He uses the toilet. So too will our son! I can think of hundreds of other more useful ways to spend three and a half thousand dollars, thank you very much.

There are several products on the market about which I am undecided. Someone offered me a baby sling, which at the time I thought would be a great way to carry my little creature. Now I'm not so sure. However, I am thinking that I could hang it up like a hammock for storing stuffed toys!

Presents from relatives

Another friend of mine kindly donated three pairs of shoes that are simply the sweetest looking things in the world. Will my boy wear them? It's unlikely that he'll have started walking by the time he outgrows them, but should I be taking any child of mine out in public without footwear?

What about presents that he might receive from relatives? What of that cute Beatrix Potter china plate and cup set, or a silver spoon, both of which are usually given as Christening gifts. Does my baby really need to have any of these?

Emmadaltonbrown@gmail.com

POSITIVE Parenting supplement coming soon

You have tried. How have you tried to rein in those lippy little brats! But you still come up short and this has placed a wedge between you and your cheeky ones. Not to worry. Watch for The Gleaner's POSITIVE Parenting manual on March 30, where along with our partners KLIM - Because Your Children Mean Everything and Nestum Plus - Nourishing their Future, we will take you on a journey towards positive and successful parenting.