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WHEN IT COMES to being pregnant, or parenting a newborn, everyone’s just figuring things out as they go. That’s why it can be so helpful to hear how other people are getting through the mess of it all, from the first nappy change to the countless sleepless nights.
Our Newborn and Baby Parents Panel is made up of parents and parents-to-be, all raising little ones aged up to 24 months.
This week, we’re asking new parents to share the must-have baby items they purchased… and ended up never using.
The list of items you ‘need’ as a new parent is alarmingly long, and so this week we thought we’d try to offer some perspective to other new or expectant mums and dads out there. So, parents panel: what one newborn/baby item turned out to be a total waste of money for you?
The parasol I wanted to fling in the canal: The one thing I constantly harp back to is a parasol that we bought for our buggy. It was supposed to be compatible with all buggies, but I came close numerous times to flinging the stupid thing in the canal on our ‘many’ sunny walks during the summer. For €20, it didn’t break the bank, but it just really broke my heart. My blood is starting to boil thinking about it again
- Niamh Roche
A sleeping pad he refused to sleep on: We were having trouble getting our little man to sleep in his cot, so a late night internet dive led me to purchase back-supporting ‘baby sleep aid’. I thought it was the answer to my prayers having read wonderful reviews online, and couldn’t wait to put him to sleep in it – but he had other plans. He has not slept in it once and I purchased it 6 months ago. I put it back in the packet within a couple weeks of buying, and haven’t looked at it since.
- Martha Mernagh
The nappy bin that was a total cash-drain: Our nappy bin turned out so expensive as you had to buy the cartridges. I end up just going straight out to the bin with the bad nappies. Yes, it might be a good idea to have one if you lived in an apartment and couldn’t just pop to the big bins but it didn’t work for us.
- Valerie Murray
A sling I was too nervous to use: I did all my research, but I never felt comfortable enough to trust it to hold my baby safely! I constantly feared the thing would unravel and the baby would fall out. I tried it twice and then it went to the charity shop!
- Brianan Nolan
The co-sleeper that now doubles as a snack holder: I bought a Chicco Next to Me sleeper second hand. Our first son arrived, spent roughly one glorious hour it, followed by 2.5 years in the same bed as us. I should have known – the woman I bought it from mentioned that her son never slept a night in it…
- Jess Mushanski
All those swaddle blankets: I bought loads of beautiful blankets before my son was born, after much research. But it turned out my newborn loved to sleep with his arms over his head, so confining him in a swaddle blanket wasn’t a goer. I still have them in their boxes, maybe the next baby will want to be swaddled…
- Paula Lynch
Several breast pumps: For me it was electric breast pumps. I bought one that was expensive, but I didn’t think it was very good so I bought another version. Also not very good. The penny eventually dropped that it was my subconscious dislike for electric pumping rather than the pumps was the problem!
- Orlaith Hogan
A Gummee Glove that she used for around 20 seconds: While not expensive, our teething glove was a total waste of money – my daughter immediately shook it off and it went on the floor! I could never keep it on her.
- Amy Molyneaux
The playpen that was far too big for our living room: I did my measurements before we bought it but when it arrived it was so bulky and big you could fit a small horse into it. The whole room was taken up by the playpen, so it ended up in the attic! In hindsight I don’t know why we bought one.
- Valerie Murray
I bought a load of baby bottles that were never used: I ended up breastfeeding Timothy for over 18 months, and Frankie is still at it and is 15 months old. We gave the bottles away in the end.
- Marta Lisiecka
A rocking chair for all those night feeds: The biggest waste for us was a rocking chair. I had this notion I’d be blissfully breastfeeding in the rocking chair in the baby’s bedroom… The breastfeeding didn’t work out, any attempts to breastfeed were done in bed (obviously!) and I’m still tripping over the thing 4 years later!
- Aisling Drake
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Greetings from western Canada! My wish for Ireland is good governance, strong financial regulation and an end to the culture of corruption and “pull”. Seriously.
You might as well add the invention of a perpetual motion machine on to that list
I would like no job, less money in my pocket, a crap healthcare system. I’d also like to see the bankers get off scot free for all their misdeeds. I’d also like to pay watercharges and any other rates or taxes they concoct.
Might as well ask them for something they can deliver on.
Best of luck with that.
Please give me a vote so I can vote you out!;) pretty please
No worries. I left Ireland a long time ago.
So did I, but then I came back to a shambles of corruption, deceit, lies and nothing
Hello from London.
As an emigrant I would like the government to do absolutely nothing for me. But, they could do something for those who actually live there: grow a backbone, start running the country with honesty and integrity, and finally, stop being a bunch of slimy corrupt tricksters.
Hello from Melbourne
I would like an end to constant tiring cronyism and farcical running of the country.
I would like to know there is a dependable ambulance service and a very much improved health service to come back to
I would like to not be constantly abused and held financially hostage for having a job and a house and car, with your USC’s and house charges, inflated car taxes and vrts and this universal health insurance at 1k a year… No thanks
Somebody needs to go through the whole public service sector with a giant leafblower, get rid of all the dead wood and top heavy, selfish, resource swallowing layabouts,
Also
A F#%King cable car along the Liffey?!??
SERIOUSLY!!
Build a cable car to he nearest hospital for the people in Mayo with no ambulance!!
Rant over
Sort all out so we can come home!!!..absolute disasters
My wish list….
1 for the government to collapse
2 for bankers to do jail time
3 for Enda Kenny, Gilmore , Ahern , Cowen to do jail for treachery and lies.
4 The political elite to apologise for the disaster they brought upon this country.
5 All currenglt TD’s to be banned from relection.
6 To stop paying Europe for debt that isnt irish peoples debt.
Oh grow up ffs
How has Enda Kenny lied?
We have another ten years of hardship ahead of us in Ireland because of our massive deficit.
Politicians do tend to tell you things “will be better” with them but they are talking relatively. Things will get worse no matter who’s in power over the next ten years.
All I want is black and white pudding and Denny sausages
From canada
Is this some sort of joke ? The government can’t even look after the people here, never mind those who emigrated. Why should they even get any of the government’s already meek influence.
Also it’s 4/20. Why isn’t there an article?
Because the people living away have the finances and experience on a global scale to get the country back on its feet!
What are you on about? The people living abroad have the money and experience? Most of those abroad are working class and don’t have the money, experience or inclination to fix anything
Tell that to the fella I sat beside on an Aer Lingus flight coming home for Christmas who had a master degree and worked managing oil platforms for a living.
The diaspora deserve a lot more respect than what you’re willing to give. I wonder why that is.
And how many oil platforms are there for him to manage in Ireland?
There would be if we had anyone to manage them
There would be plenty if our greedy politicians didn’t give away our oil rights
I.D cards please! could be voluntary . Many EU countries require you carry identification. At the moment I need to carry my passport everywhere.After a decade away it is pain in the a**.Other EU nationalities just carry around a credit card size ID in their wallet – no hassle.
Can’t you use a Garda age card?
Because most countries do not accept the Garda age card as formal ID, I’ve lived in London for 2 years and most people here think they’re fake!
A Garda age card is not official ID, even the Guards openly state that you should never use it as ID. That’s important as in some countries, like Holland, you can be fined for not having ID on you.
New drivers licence?
garda age card isn’t recognised abroad.needs to be a national identity card unfortunatly
in spain you can’t use the licence as id .only passport or national id card
I left Ireland to Australia when I was 19. Although I have a great life and lots if new friends there’s nothing I want more than to live with my own culture again and with my family. Hopefully the economy will level out soon.
Hi Eamon,
Just wondering how many coalition members in FG/LAB have being left heartbroken,
because their kids were forced to emigrate since 2008???
Greetings from Bristol.
What do I want? I want nothing. I am no longer living in Ireland. I have no right to vote. Perfectly logical.
Giving the vote to we diaspora is nonsensical.
I don’t get to vote in Botswana either. Same thing.
Not that it will ever happen but cap state salaries and pensions, it disgusting that the morons running the country can justify getting paid what they do. I read on here everyday about inadequate departments being run by inadequate people. AND PEOPLE IN POWER TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE WHEN WASTING TAXPAYERS MONEY. More transparency with all of the countries finances. There’s more criminals in the dail than in prison
Red thumbs obviously people in the government gravy train !!!!!
Hi from France with NO CAR TAX.
I would like the Irish Government to reform the corrupt daft Irish Car Tax System so that an Irish person does not have to be exported for every new 141 & 142 car purchased.(€1.5 Billion p.a would support 20,000 IRish jobs) Artificial promotion of purchase of new cars by Irish politicians is odious and disgusting. Even the UK Car Tax system is fair.
I have been working in Spain for the past 13 years, and these are little things that would make a difference to me at least.
As a Spanish resident, I am not allowed vote in Irish general elections. As a foreign citizen I am not allowed vote in Spanish general elections. While I may vote in local and European elections, I would like to vote in general elections as well. many people choose not to vote, I respect that. I want to vote, I wish my vote could be counted.
A Spanish resident, just like a Spanish citizen is obliged to carry a DNI, or national identity card, which fits nicely into the wallet. I technically am required to carry my passport at all times. I don’t want to do that because if I loose it or if it is stolen, there is a big rigmarole to get a replacement and may take several weeks if not months. An Irish National Identity card would be convenient. Just as the Spanish can use in Ireland.
Finally, and this is a long shot, I would like more rain in summer. If you could manage that Mr Gilmore, I would be much obliged.
Some honesty would be a nice change
Christ, is the Táiniste for real? What he can do for me is leave me alone and sort out the shit show at home where the friends and family I left behind (nurses, social workers, teachers) have faced pay cuts or pay freezes every year since bail out, incurred new ridiculous taxes (universal social charge etc), had it become almost impossible for them to get a mortgage and afford to send their kids to college and been screwed on their pension. To use a phrase the Londoners have taught me to say ‘DO ONE EAMON’.
This parasitic government would be decimated if our emigrants had a vote!
In the past year alone another 4 of my cousins have had to leave,not for sunnier climes or adventure,but purely to find decent jobs.
“its morally wrong,unjust and unfair to tax a persons home” -add water charges for good measure too.
which we pay for already through levies.
We need to let them know on May 23rd that the public have had enough!
Servus aus Österreich!
As an Irish person abroad I find it tragic what has happened to our great country.
In the media over here Ireland is often portrayed as a good example, an obedient student who has done her homework on time before the other lazy PIGS. Just from talking to colleagues I have realised that no one here has the slightest idea of the scale to which the Irish people have been financially and politically pillaged by the EU, European banks and worst of all their lapdogs in the Dáil.
What can the Irish government do for me? Nothing, I have left Ireland and will most likely never return permanently. The best thing they can do for the people of Ireland is to realise what they are there for-to serve the best interests of our country and not line the pockets of the political and financial elite of Europe.
Hello from Hawaii!
……….
………..
………
I’m thinking, I’m thinking!
Nothing. The whole country can sink into the ocean as far as I’m concerned. Maybe transfer over my pension fund before that happens.
Love you too.
Then why do you spend your days reading Irish news??
I spend most of my time reading international news. I enjoy sneering at the pathetic irish from time to time.
W@nker
You’re amazing brendan, you can type without missing a stroke!
I spend most of my time reading international news
From my monkey enclosure at one of the international zoos
Enjoying sneering at the pathetic Irish from time to time
As you wriggle around in your pathetic disgusting slime
Everyday we get to enjoy Ireland whilst you can stay a pitiful recluse
Any chance you’d love to be back here but don’t have the b@lls to give it a go so you sit in the air conditioned sun and tell yourself the country you love sucks
Allow emigrants to vote!
If you want to vote here, come back and live here and I’ll be the first to welcome you back. If you want to live somewhere else, vote there. You can’t have two governments looking after you. That’s greedy.
That´s my point. I don’t want two votes. Just one. Not trying to be greedy at all.
Karl, after 13 years residence are you not entitled to Spanish citizenship ? EU nationals living in Ireland for at least 5 years can apply for citizenship, i *think* its the same in most EU countries…
Yes Conor, I am entitled to Spanish citizenship but am loathe to give up my Irish citizenship. Having Spanish citizenship doesn’t entitle me to anything else though, all EU citizens have the same rights in theory.
I think that it’s just a flaw in the European model that we have that could easily be sorted out. Dual nationality is not allowed within the EU, you have to be one or the other.
I lived abroad for fifteen years and had no vote. What would you like me to have done, change nationality? Other countries allow their citizens living abroad to vote. Voting is s basic human right and nothing to do with greed. You wish to disenfranchise others? Closer to my understanding of selfishness of not greed.
You absolutely can have dual nationality within the EU. There are a few combinations which are forbidden on so far as I remember but it IS possible.
Those who have to live and work away but wife children are at home should be able to vote. Although it’s c5rap access to RTE TV via the inet if you can prove your a licence payer.
I would like no job, less money in my wallet, pay
I would like them and their corrupt greedy cronies to stay as far as possible away from me.
Give us voting rights
A Presidential vote please.
That’s about it really. Aside from the same goals they have domestically – creation of jobs, a strong economy, efficient State services – there should be no other efforts for those not paying taxes.
Harsh but true.
A direct democracy for the Ireland would be great, have it Switzerland and most of the time works really well for small countries, don’t really want anything from The Irish government as I think what they would give with one hand they will take X2 with the other!
Tax the exiles!!
No taxation without representation !
No thanks, I paid enough of your dole money already.
After spending years studying I would love to be able to get a good job where I can visit my family at home. Less taxes would also allow people to spend more & boost the economy as opposed to paying for a useless public service & dole payments that don’t need/deserve it!
I’m cheating because I live here. What could my government do for me? Die, all of you, as horribly and painfully as possible. You have destroyed my faith in democracy, in the rule of law,and even in human nature itself – unforgivable.
Here here!
Err .. “Hear hear”
I would like a country stable enough to allow me to return and raise my family the way I was.
Greetings from Colorado. I would like the Government to allow me to vote in elections. For the folk living in our wonderful country I would ask you to get rid of the water charges and property tax. Even the Lannisters aren’t that cruel.
Listen to your citizens and act on the best interest of our Island and not on the best interest of the collective nations you call the EU.
It would be inspirational if you actually went after the banking elite in Ireland and prosecuted them.
Look into the possibility of tax insensitive and funding for Cooperative businesses as collectives can group and start their own businesses. This encourages local and community commerce. Personally would love to see a craft brewing collective, among others.
Legalize marijuana; no I am not stoned, but they sky didn’t fall here in Colorado. The high tax funds education.
I would like to see Ireland being promoted as the hub of tech, not just a hub for tech companies to hide their tax. Encourage its citizens to learn code.
I think that is all.
Resign. Thats all
Love Ireland so how about the Government makes to be also a country to be proud of.
Where do I start ?
1. Allow expats to vote abroad most other countries do this . We may have been forced out due to economic circumstances but we still love our country and want a say .
2 ease up on the austerity taxes , you’ll find if you ease up taxation then more people will spend there extra cash and you’ll make more tax money from vat etc .
3 water charges were added to various taxes previously and quietly forgotten about and we now need to pay again for this that’s plain greedy
4. Remove the VRT tax from new cars , it’s illegal and doe not cost thousands to register a car on a database , I can do that for 10 euro a car if asked and more people will buy more new cars and you’ll get it back on the VAT .
5 we have some of the highest quality food in ireland so get expats and bord bia together to push irish foods further into foreign markets . Do more foreign food shows .
6 get the universities and colleges to do milk runs specifically in Middle East where most students are supported financially by governments and have the cash to spend .
7 encourage more Weatherford’s oil companies to ireland , then we can all start to come back and make an impact
8. For any more ideas then give me a job in rehab on ms keratin salary
Do something about the inflated air fares to Budapest now that Aer Lingus and Ryanair have a monopoly. Ever since Malev, the Hungarian National Airline collapsed the fares are at least 50% more.
Collusion?
What we have now (direct flights between Dub & Bud) is still a great improvement on what we had 25 years ago when I decided to settle here.
I just came back from budapest today, my god the people there are so miserable and unfriendly, feckin awful place I’d never go back!!
According to the OECD Hungarian people are the second most unhappy next only to South Africa.
I have grown to hate them.
It only took me a weekend to hate them, truly awful rude people generally. I could barely stand 3 days in the place, can only imagine how living there would be. Should’ve booked Poland instead.
If u return to Ireland from 2 or more years abroad u lose ur no claims bonus for car insurance and have to start from scratch. My car insurance went from under 300 to almost 1000.. just because i was uninsured for over 24 months while living abroad. If u take sick leave from a job here and try to claim illness benefit u may not be entitled to it, depending on when u last paid tax in Ireland. This happened to me recently despite the fact that I have over 13 years tax paid in Ireland. Health cover is also a problem. If u move back to Ireland and buy health insurance again, u may have problems with pre existing conditions in terms of coverage, even if u have no prior knowledge of a new condition they can tell u its pre existing…. facing all of these problems at the moment after returning from Canada. If the government want people to return home, then give them something to come home to.
I would like them all to keel over, hit the ground hard and die. Then visit me in hell. Cause it’s where I feel I am right now.
For friends and family still living in Ireland the government need to change the healthcare system so it’s affordable to everybody and have available facilities and support systems for mental health.
Also- feck T.V licences! We should not have to pay for one.
Jail the bankers
An end to the spin that there’s something different between an Irishman living abroad and one living at home… It’d be great to be part of an outward-looking country, valuing all it’s citizens
I would like the government to ensure long term economic stability and not show weak decision making close to election time. The government can create many jobs by investing in transport infrastructure and utility services infrastructure. Enormous scope for improvement in water, gas and sewer networks.
Postcodes are essential, bring them in.
Thanks for asking.
Drop dead!
The possibility to return home and have the ability to avail of job seekers allowance while searching for work
Don’t want to pay property tax and soon water rates on a house I had to leave so I could continue to pay my mortgage and feed my family
Maybe we should be asking – what can we be doing for our government?
Hello from Perth , WA
I think the government should work on helping the people who are actually still in ireland – I would much rather see my loved ones that I left behind with less suffering & worry !
The people who have emigrated like myself are in the majority working & living better lives
Really, nothing. I would like to be left alone, and I’m incredibly grateful that Ireland doesn’t treat its expats like some other countries do, as easy sources of income.
Sure, I would like to not have to pay the property tax on my heavily mortgages property in Ireland, in which nobody lives, it’s a bit of a kick in the teeth to be honest, but otherwise Ireland makes very few demands on me and I like it that way.
Absentee voting. That is all I want.
Help those who are still in Ireland trying to get it out of the mess they created. Use the bloody tax returns for something other than paying their cronies with consultancy firms to squander money on hair brained ideas which the man on the street knows will never work instead of spending millions before reaching that conclusion.
How about giving Irish people abroad the chance to vote?
Any chance someone in government could send me over a Easter egg?
Put in place a state run student loan system for Masters students, similar to what’s available in the UK.
For me as someone who has a hearing problem I’d like the government to treat us with equality, provide more resources, and help with gaining employment and tighten laws on discrimination
Ferry travel way too expensive. Like most people I know, tesco vouchers subsidise our annual trip, but still the biggest expense of getting home. £99 round trip would fill more ferries and fill Ireland with tourists an lovely English ££££s
Pull the country out of the EU and return Ireland to its people – London.
Well I feel a bit simple now saying a few bags of chicatees to Melbourne….but really though…is it so much to ask?
Aaaaaand then I posted that twice..just incase I didnt seem simple enough
You live abroad. You pay taxes to a different state. You don’t get a say. Sorry, but ” no taxation without representation” applies in reverse as well.
They should get rid of all those extra taxes, the water charge, and all those other home taxes. If I went home I wouldn’t know where to start, trying to deal with all of that s#@t How can such a tiny country have so much tax? Ridiculous!.. Also, please please please ditch that idea for the Bus Rapid Transit system – it spells disaster and a complete waste of money. Oh, and that idea for the cable car system down the Liffey.. don’t make me laugh. “A creative idea” apparently?.. isn’t that just copying London? How is that creative?
Well, I feel a bit simple now saying a few bags of chicatees to Melbourne…but really though…is it so much to ask?
id like the government to stop putting measures in place to discourage emigrants from returning
have your say