Parenting in a capitalistic world
Being a new parent is overwhelming. We don’t live in a village with tons of super close education and support. Everyone tells you how horrible things are going to be (don’t even get me started on why a parent would tell an expecting parent that they won’t sleep for years!). So it’s not surprising that new parents have products pushed at them 24/7!
Plus baby things are SO fun! Those tiny close, cool strollers, neat gadgets- all things that will make your life easier and better (that’s basically the American marketing- to show you how your life will be better, happier or more compete with their product).. Unfortunately people rarely talk about the negative effects of a product, or at least how it’s treating a symptom not a root cause (questions about this- read a previous post on band-aid medicine).
Here are a few baby items I find problematic:
Snoo- marketed as the “smartest baby bed ever”. It rocks and soothes your baby back to sleep. Since the biggest, more worrisome things expectant parents are thinking about is sleep and feeding, this would sound great to expectant parents. However frequently I see the Snoo cause weight loss, milk supply drop, and less feeds (especially overnight), and it’s really tough to wean off of.
Windi- this disposable tool is to help baby get rid of gas and help them poop. It is safe and not going to harm baby, however the big issue I have here is WHY is baby constipated or having lots of gas? Let’s not treat the symptom, let’s treat the root cause.
Bouncer/swing/baby container- these aren’t bad, however they are overused. I am a BIG fan of natural, holistic parenting that includes baby wearing, however of course It is ok to put your baby down. I recommend laying baby on a blanket on the floor from day 1. Baby can lay on their tummy, or back, or even side. Containers keep baby tight (ask me about baby tension and how it effects feeding), and can even cause a flat head symptom.
Baby Breeza- supposed to make formula and bottle feeding easier. While I love making like easier, even things like this have drawbacks. Taking up counter space, and really is just something else to spend $100 on that you won’t use very long.
Bottle warmer/wipe warmer- these aren’t harmful, just aren’t necessary. I swear if we all bought less baby stuff the first year we could pay for college! Seriously I was guilty of this with my first as well. I wish someone had said I really didn’t need all these “things”. All baby need is food, love and to be held. Diapers are nice tho :)
Bottle sterilizer- the big problem here is that this products tells you that bottle need to be sterilized. Unless you have an immune compromised baby or a NICU graduate, soap and water is fine. Toss them in the dishwasher if you have it, otherwise hot soapy water is great. Before you know it baby is going to be putting everything in their mouth. Sterile is crazy.
Food pouches and puffs- these are a huge problem. Yes they can be healthy-ish and easy, plus shelf stable to keep in the diaper bag, however babies NEED to chew to develop their jaw and muscles. Chewing food is necessary to have a nice jaw and room for teeth. This is a huge issue with human for the last 100-200 years, since we have become industrialized country and our food has changed. I can tell you a lot more about this if interested but won’t bore you here….
Horrible bottles and sippy cups- go to Target and literally EVERY bottle and sippy cup will say “most like the breast” “natural” and “easiest to use”. The can’t ALL be the MOST natural? So how do you know what bottle is most like the breast? How do you know what bottle is best for your baby? This one is easy, call and IBCLC!
I could go on and on, but the bottom line is marketing in the USA is terrible. If you look at these ads, you can see they are either trying to scare parents (you baby will barely sleep without the Snoo) or tryin got convince you that their product will complete your life and make it better!
Want to know what you REALLY need as a new parent? Watch for another blog post soon, reach out to me directly or check out my website on a product recommendation page.