I wasn't even newly pregnant that long ago (5 years) but ever since then, it seems like the baby products world has exploded with cool new stuff. Stuff that I would have totally bought.
There were no Bugaboos or Xplorys around (at least not in the US) when I was newly pregnant and researching baby gear. The thought of spending $1000 (all told) on a stroller was inconcievable. All I knew is that I had to have a Peg-Pérego stroller because it's Italian that is what my mom strolled me around in when I was a tot. That was pretty much the extent of my "research." Turns out that stroller sucked serious ass mainly because it was so frickin' heavy. I sold it and bought a lightweight Maclaren Volo the minute my kid could sit up on her own. (Not the Kate Spade one, those didn't exist, and even if they did, um, no. But, I admit, I would have bought one in this style if he made them.)
I didn't really worry about baby furniture because we had a crib and I could see beyond the short-lived "baby years" to a time when the kid would be older and able to negotiate "regular furniture." But if this line had been around when I was pregnant, I would have lusted after it. And, shoot, there's even this stuff now.
When Bunny was little there were no frog pods. We had mesh bags that suctioned to the wall and we liked them. We didn't have this Skip*Hop diaper caddy but if we did, I totally would have bought it.
You wanted to carry your baby? You had two choices: Bjorn or sling. And no fancy, retro-fabric-adorned tube slings either. I don't remember seeing the explosion of those plus mei tais, maya wraps, podegis and the like, until Bunny was older, but maybe I just wasn't paying attention.
There were no baby Crocs and other fun shoes. Every kid in my playgroup wore Robeez (which didn't have the cute selection they have now, let me tell you), and that's how we liked it. Our generation used the cutesy flower-shaped IKEA plates which didn't hold fuck-all, instead of the more modern rounded-edge rectangles out now.
In way, I'm glad to see that the baby gear industry seems to have trended toward improving the already-functional items instead of thinking up more shit you don't need like baby wipes warmers, little boy's toilet targets, and bottle sterilizers. Although I admit I do chuckle to myself whenever I see a kid in a shopping cart with a shopping cart cover on it. I'm completely and irrationally germ-phobic and I wouldn't have used it. Like that thing doesn't get completely germ-ridden when you roll it up and put it in your car? I was always a fan of changing clothes after trips to the gross grocery store or park, anyway.
I know, I know. Babies don't need anything except a nipple (whether attached to boobs or bottle) and and to be cuddled, but I like "stuff." So sue me.
Like our parents said before us, say it with me, "How did we ever get along without this stuff?"
