Cathy, you aren't the only older mom (who had a 'poor' financial time)
who can't understand (the 'need' for) some of these baby things. With my
first we were living on practically nothing (half our income went for
the rent of a 1 bedroom walk up in an old converted home). So I was not
able to buy much of anything in the form of 'new' baby items (even
pampers, which were just making a breakthrough on the market). When my
last was due, everyone felt so sorry for us (my husband was low ranking
military and she would be #4) that, by her birth people had given me all
the current 'stuff'. Most of it went unused as I'd never had it before,
so I didn't see a need for it. I can say I've never had a playpen ever
in my house - imagine caging baby - yuck. However, with #1, I could have
used the old wood one with a pad lock on it (re: Please Don't Eat The
Daisies - an old movie) since there was no door lock made that he could
not undo, unti we dead bolted all the doors. He used his girrafe push
toy to get himself high enough to undo the 'child' proof lock.

  My problem with any and all of the baby 'stuff' is when it interferes
with proper and/or safe parenting. Pacifiers can come into this, by
delaying feeding beyond what is safe for the baby's health. And that is
my (personal) problem with those 'baby buckets,' not their convienence
but when they become a substitute for any comfort or holding of the
baby, that is where the danger lies. Just like (MHO) on bottles is that
used properly, they do have a time and place and for some are absolutely
necessary - it's those moms who put chocolate milk, grape soda or beer
in them or just run some cold water in them and then refill them - that
scare me to death. And this is what I pass onto moms, the item itself
isn't dangerous or bad, but the fact that it can and may detach the mom
from the infant and responding or responding properly to the infant's
need is what is wrong with all the baby 'stuff.' Not that the item will
cause this - but that it can. And with each generation, this separation
of mom and baby can become more and more pronounced. I was was told (a
long time ago)that all a newborn baby needs is a bunch of cloth diapers
& some pins, a blanket appropriate to the outside temperature and mom,
all the other stuff is just for show and not necessary.

Leslie Ward
Vine Grove, KY

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html