The List

How are we still here? How were our ancestors able to raise their babies in order to proliferate the human race? After all, our great-great-grandparents didn't have "boppies" or "traveling wipes containers" or "bumper pads". In the 19th century you never heard, "Yeah, can you get me his sippy cup and lil' dipper while I put the changing pad covers on the changing pads." These things weren't around back then (I don't know what a boppy or lil' dipper is, so I'm just speculating on those), so how the hell were babies kept alive??

All of the above items comprise a fraction of a baby items list that Shanna sent me in an email recently - I believe it was compiled by a new mom. Furthermore, all of the above items fell under the category of "Things you'll want right away." So these, folks, are just the bare essentials. For the "Things that would be nice to have," you're gonna want the "Jumperoo", not to be confused with the bouncy seat (which is not optional), and the booster seat, which, in my day, was called the "Yellow Pages". Also, you're going to want an assortment of strollers, such as the umbrella stroller and the jog stroller. And if you want to run with your baby in the rain, I'm sure someone sells the umbrella jogging stroller.

Then there is the trillion dollar a year industry of bottles and bottle accessories. Apparently, if you buy a bottle or two, you're really making a serious commitment, because you will need a bottle cleaner, bottle sterilizer, bottle nipples and dome caps, and a drying rack for the bottles. That's right, a drying rack for the bottles.

Now, I know some of these items are wonderful inventions that make raising a baby easier and more convienient... But I think the baby accessories industry has definitely played into our consumer culture and persuaded us that we need things, that are actually unnecessary, to raise a baby.

Hey man, sweet boppy.

Until next time...