I will add onto a couple items though.

Nightlight..a complete waste..my son had one and is terrified of the dark. My daughter didnt have one and can’t sleep with any lights on at all..usually I have found that the lights from neighbors homes and the glow of the moon shining through the window is enough to check on your little one.

Changing table…unless you have no couch, no bed, and no carpet, this is a complete waste of money and space. I found that all I needed was a portable changing mat that usually comes with most diaper bags, if you have one of those you can protect your carpet and furniture with that one compact cheap and simple item.

Stroller is nice to have but not neccessary. I use a homemade Moby-style wrap(cost $10 to make and so easy) and I carried my children easily, painfree, and hands free..and I had a 30lb 1 yr old so I dont want to hear that we cant carry our children. My son rode around in a stroller everywhere and didn’t learn how to walk till he was 19 months, my daughter was carried in my sling and once she didnt want to be carried anymore she learned how to walk @ 10 months old….don’t create lazy children by throwing them in the stroller ALL the time although I do feel that have one is esential(even a double stroller now that baby #3 is on the way)

and I agree with noise making toys…with my first I HAD to have all the bells and wistles…now I can honestly say that there are less than 10 battery powered toys between my two kids’ toy boxes and even those are very mellow(like a car that you shake and then it drives by itself and one of those walking roaring dinosaurs. But none of the flashing lights and high pitched music makers.

Classical music…no I don’t know if it actually helps brain stimulation, but we live in a small house and my 2 yr old goes to bed earlier than my 5 yr old as well as still takes naps, and having music playing in her room does help drown out the sound from my noisy 5 yr old, and when he goes to sleep it does the same for him so mommy and daddy can watch a grown-up movie together at a comfortable volume without worrying about keeping him awake or distracted with sounds from that (or words that he shouldn’t be hearing).

quick list of other things that are pointless:
-doorway jumper
-more than 5 good blankets
-hooded bath towel
-cloth bibs( vinyl baby ..only vinyl)
-toddler bed(just take one side off the crib and you have a toddler day bed even if it’s not the convertible type)
-play mat(blanket on the floor works great!)
-car seat cover(use a lightweight blanket if you must carry that thing around)which brings me to…
-car seat base(no need to carry that big bulky car seat around, baby does just as fine in your arms or in a sling and will be more comfortable being carried that way) car seats are just too heavy and can really mess up your back …but definately have a good one installed in your car–duh!

I think all those battery-operated “stimulating” toys are completely annoying and useless. There will definitely not be many high-tech toys in the toy box.

I was addicted to my Boppy and loved it- I didn’t have any spare pillows to begin with so I would have had to purchase something to get comfy. We still use the stroller for my 3yo for things like a 5K Race for the Cure, going to a parade where there are no seats or anywhere to set my purse and other items. Same goes for the monitor- we use it to know when my daughter wakes up from a nap and we’re out in the field or garden. It’s not a NEED but it certainly allows us to do a lot more outside during naptime and after bedtime. I would buy all of those items again if I didn’t already have them.

I DO completely agree with the activity center/swing/playpen/walker bit. I did use a bouncy seat to take my daughter outside while we were in the garden, but it was $10 and well worth it. I could have used the stroller as well, but since that’s also on the list….

Bibs were overrated. I had a ton, and used them sometimes just because EVERYONE gave them to me. I would not have purchased any though. I was always asked why we didn’t use them and I always answered “how would a bib help keep the drool/food/spitup off her pants and sleeves?”

Good article though. There’s no need to go crazy and buy everything under the sun for your kid. I was given many items that I used but would not have needed, or could have bought second hand.

I will add that I never used my breast pump. I ended up being a SAHM and thought pumping was a waste of time when I could just give it to her straight from the tap. Not the case for many people who work, so lifestyle has a LOT to do with what baby items are important to people.