Genius Alternative Uses For Excess Baby Paraphernalia
Before your first bub is born, you are inundated with products and hampers from friends and family, you scour the pharmacy for all the must-have baby products and you stock up for every possible scenario. Lotions and potions fill the drawers as you eagerly await the arrival of your little bub.
When they do appear, you are ever so grateful for the cooling breast pads, the thousands of baby wipes ready and waiting for every poo-nami and the lifetime supply of maternity pads. But that newborn phase passes in what seems like the blink of an eye and you’re left with all sorts of products you may never use again.
Here are some genius alternative uses for excess baby paraphernalia. Instead of just disposing of them in the bin, use them up like this:
Lanolin nipple cream
Throw out every lip balm you have ever owned and reach for the lanolin nipple cream. This stuff works miracles on dry lips and a small tub lasts forever. This miracle cream is an all-natural alternative to Vaseline, so you can use it on any bit of dry skin.
Baby wipes
I somehow ended up with countless packs of baby wipes in those first few weeks. Most of them were scented, which I could not stand in my sleep-deprived nauseous state. Others I’m sure contributed to the bad bout of nappy rash bub suffered in week 2. I didn’t throw out a single pack though. Did you know you could use baby wipes to:
- Polish shoes
- Remove deodorant marks
- Calm frizzy hair
- Clean the barbecue
- Remove makeup
- Clean countless items around the house?
Check out these 50 uses for baby wipes that have nothing to do with poo.
Baby oil
What is the go with baby oil? I must have missed that memo, because I really had no idea what I was meant to use it for. It was included in every hamper we received, so we ended up with bottles of the stuff. If you missed the memo too, here are some things you can use baby oil for:
- Makes an excellent inexpensive makeup remover
- Remove a bandaid without the ‘ouch’ – read how here
- Drip a few drops into your ears to remove ear wax
- Polish wooden furniture, leather, car tyres and the dashboard
- Help sticky zippers slide
- Unknot a necklace
- Remove stickers.
Baby powder
Another product that’s normally on the ‘must buy’ list for new mums, but I never used. If you still have some banging around the back of the drawer, try these alternative uses:
- Use as a dry shampoo
- Remove sand from little feet when leaving the beach
- Sprinkle on some baby powder to bring the grease out of fabrics – perfect for greasy makeup disasters on your favourite blouse
- Eliminate friction to prevent chafing
- Freshen up whiffy sports shoes by sprinkling in some baby powder
- Sprinkle on some powder before applying wax to your legs – it will help the wax to grip and soothe your skin.
Haemorrhoid cream
Was labour a little – ahem – strenuous? If you needed the haemorrhoid cream post childbirth, you’ll be glad to know that you can use it for other things too. Obviously, use a fresh tube if there’s any concerns about cross-contamination! Models and make up artists swear by using haemorrhoid cream for under eye circles and puffiness. Apparently it tightens puffy areas quickly and reduces wrinkles. Be careful not to get any of the cream in your eyes.
Breast pads
I am still finding boxes of breastpads. I must have expected to breastfeed bub till he left for university! Here are some great ideas for using up the excess boxes:
- Use a breast pad inside shoes that are a bit too big to keep the heel from rubbing
- Use as makeup and nail polish remover pads or to apply toner
- They’re perfect for polishing shoes
- Can be used as an emergency bandage
- Washable pads are great around the home – try using them to wipe mirrors for a streak and lint-free shine
- Cooling gel-type breast pads are great for bruises or for cooling minor burns.
Maternity pads
Another item you probably accumulated in excess as everyone told you to stock up. If you find them excessive for your monthly visitor, you can use them as a cold compress for migranes or a hot compress for sore muscles. They’re also great for packing fragile items such as glassware when moving house or delicate Christmas decorations. Maternity pads work wonders for soaking up spills on carpet!
What genius alternative uses for excess baby paraphernalia have you discovered? Leave us a comment below.
22 Comments
Great idea Sally! Thanks for reading 🙂
I’m currently using some left over baby oil as a moisturiser for my legs. It soaks in within minutes without leaving a greasy feel.
Thanks for reading Lauren 🙂
Thanks for reading 🙂
I’m sure I’ll still be using them years past toilet training! 🙂
Thanks for reading Kim 🙂
Haha, me too!
Baby wipes are seriously the best! Great tips 👍🏻
I use baby wipes for absolutely everything, I’ve got a packet in every room of the house!!
Baby wipes are still my number 1 go to cleaning cloth to grab at a moments notice – so handy!
We used baby wipes for everything too! Just used up the last bulk pack from costco now that Missy is well and truly toilet trained!
Love this! Thanks for linking up to #justanotherlinky xx
Thanks Nicole! Baby wipes work on everything! 🙂 hehe
I had no idea you could clean the bbq with baby wipes. Great suggestions 🙂 #justanotherlinky
Hahaha! Who dares to try it!? 🙂
Thanks Christina 🙂
Never understood the baby oil or baby powder thing either. They were never used with either of my kids. Genius ideas for them now!
I think you should have fun with packing someone’s fragile present by using maternity pads to protect the gift. Would love to see the look on someone’s face as they try to figure out the new packing material.
Thanks 🙂 Me too! I’m obsessed with wipes!
Thanks 🙂 Yes, definitely not for packing Christmas presents hahaha!!
I think these tips are good. I use baby wipes for everything! Haha!
Great suggestions – maternity pads for packaging is genius! (Though perhaps not if sending something to someone else – may confuse them!) Lanolin cream is amazing.