There are things that babies and newborns don't need, but that many parents end up buying. The warning is left by a pediatrician. They end up being wasted at a time when there may be other priorities. Know what pediatrician João Rio Martins says.
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31/08/2026
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“ The idea is not that any of these things can ever be useful. It's another one: ‘It can come in handy’ and ‘my baby needs this’ are very different things. And in a market where it seems that a baby needs a whole house of things, it is worth distinguishing”, continues.
See the list of the five things that João Rio Martins considers babies do not need.
1 – Sterilizers
“ There may be situations where it is necessary to sterilize certain material, but that does not mean that you need to buy a specific “xpto” device to do so. A sterilizer is a way of sterilizing, there are several, not a need for the trousseau.”
2 – White noise machine
“ White noise may help some babies calm down or fall asleep, but it is not necessary for a baby to learn or sleep. And it is not completely innocuous if it is misused: some devices can produce very high sound intensities when placed near the baby and at maximum volume. If they use it, keep it away from the crib and at a low volume.”
3- Cushion
“A baby doesn’t need a pillow to sleep. In fact, the recommendation is precisely the opposite: you should sleep on a firm, flat surface without cushions or other loose objects in the sleep space.”
4 – Shoes
“ While you're not walking, you don't need them. And when you start walking, whenever the environment is safe, barefoot allows you to move freely and gives the child important sensory information. Shoes become useful especially to protect feet when walking abroad.”
5. Detergent of “baby” clothing
“ It is not mandatory to wash the baby's clothes with a specific detergent. A common detergent can be used, ideally well tolerated and without excess perfumes or other irritant potentials, especially in children with more sensitive skin.”