WHEN I was still pregnant, I received advice from several mothers to refrain from buying a lot of baby items. I heed their advice and proved they are right. There are many pretty things you can buy for your baby, but only a few are very useful.

Based on our experience, the not-so-nice-to-have baby items are cloth bib, crib, and a pacifier. (Oops, wait, I have to explain. LOL!)

We got a dozen of cloth bibs as hand-me-downs from our friends and relatives. But we were not able to use any of them since my daughter, Yanna, is an exclusively breastfed baby, so there’s no spilled milk.

Next is the crib. We have a very durable, wooden crib which my father-in-law designed and built. (Thank you so much, DaddyLo!) But since we have mastered the art of co-sleeping (because of breastfeeding), we failed to use the crib on a daily basis.

Lastly, a pacifier. We had at least three pacifiers which were gifts from our relatives and friends. But none of those worked for Yanna simply because she would refuse from taking it.

Meanwhile, aside from clothes and diapers, a sterilizer and a bathtub are our must-have and recommended baby items. These are the baby essentials that we are still using until now (Yanna is 15 months, as of this writing.)

Remember, each baby is different. Which worked for us might not work for you, and vice versa. Your child, your rules.

[The writer will appreciate comments, questions, and story suggestions. Contact her through ara3casas@yahoo.com, Ara Casas-Tumuran on Facebook, and @tumuranfamily on Instagram.]