Drowning in kid stuff

​Kids require an enormous amount of equipment. You have all the gear for sleeping, feeding, transporting, dressing, cleaning and entertaining. Because kids grow so fast, once you are in the never-ending loop of kid stuff, you are kind of stuck in it until they are independent.
 
It begins with the baby shower. I don’t really know how long the baby shower tradition as we know it has been around, but it is all dumb in my opinion. The only part of the modern day baby shower that I think is genius, is the registering for gifts part and making the guests buy you things from this list. Honestly, without this guided list, my baby would have been born and I would not have had any of the necessary items needed for taking care of a baby. First of all I hate shopping and at that point in my life, I had never been around babies so I really didn’t understand all of the gear that would be needed. I was very fortunate. I got everything on my baby registry and then some.
 
And then the baby, (babies now), kept getting more stuff from well meaning family and friends, who are so lovely and just want to support and bring joy to these children, until the accumulation of kid stuff started taking over the house and one day, I woke up and it looked like a Toys r Us and a Gap Baby had exploded in my house. I was pretty good for a long time about keeping most kid things at bay, but then I had a second baby and now we have kid stuff in every room and it truly stresses me out. I am by no means a hoarder. The opposite in fact. I am constantly donating and getting rid of stuff and still, more stuff just appears.
 
I don’t think I had that much stuff growing up. No, I know that I didn't have that much stuff growing up. This is probably why I also don’t think that much stuff is necessary.

I am two kids in and the most useful items have been:

• A high chair, the plastic most basic high chair from Ikea because it is easy to keep clean.
• A swing, again the most basic model, I don’t even put batteries in it for it to rock or vibrate itself.
• Swaddle with the Velcro, no need to learn to do a proper swaddle again
• A stroller, but only before they can walk. Fancy is not necessary. 
• A baby carrier so that you can be hands free.
• Spill proof sippy cups.
• Sound machine but now that comes as an app on the phone and it's free.

 
Most useless

• The crib.
• Pipi teepee for boys.
• Baby wipes warmer. It's just not that cold in CA.
• Bottle steamer. Just use the dish washer or boil them in a pot of hot water.
• Baby food maker. Just use your food processor or blender, microwave or steamer. 

Honestly, the useless list can go on and on, but that's just me. I just don't like having that much stuff. 

How do you keep the kid's stuff from taking over your house?
What items have you found to be the most useful? Which were the least useful?

Would love to hear from you!
XO,
​Wendy

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