October 31 marks the traditional annual pilgrimage of elementary-aged children going door-to-door asking politely for sugary sweets.

It’s an odd tradition, really. But not many people question the practice.

That is, except for my mom. October 31 was never celebrated in our home with traditional door-to-door solicitation. Instead, I handed out snacks to my friends. I was never really bothered by our lack of Halloween celebrations; we ended up participating in church activities or fall festivals instead. I never felt deprived or left out…or really anything…about Halloween. It was just a day. I ended up eating most of the leftover candy I picked out anyway. For those who know me best, the sugar was well worth the sacrifice of staying indoors for the evening. Isn’t that what kids are most excited about anyway?

In light of my lack of Halloween participation, I’m not sure why I am going crazy for little Bear’s first halloween.

I’m pretty sure I’ve thought of everything…right down to the last accessories to make his costume just right.

It was my most recent purchase that inspired this particular post…little bear’s first Chuck Taylors.

It’s a special purchase, but totally…and completely unnecessary. He isn’t walking, and probably won’t be for a few months. I bought them two sizes too big for the moment when he will start walking…and to justify my silly indulgence.

In the spirit of gratuitous purchases, I’ve decided to highlight 4 things that are totally and completely unnecessary on a baby registry. It should be noted, however, that every baby is different and some parents swear by some of the “unnecessary items” on my list. I have also picked out four things that seem unnecessary, but were oh so necessary for us.

1. Crib shoes. Are they cute? You bet. Are they necessary? Not in the slightest. Babies are growing at a rate that parents will often lament happens too quickly. You hear this all the time; and it is true. The only reason humans need shoes is because they walk on the ground. Babies do not walk on the ground. Crib shoes are nice for pictures (somehow, little B managed to be barefoot in his 6 month pictures…), but spend your money on extra diapers instead of a second pair of crib shoes. Here’s a thought: get 1 really nice pair of your choice (Sperries, Toms, Converse, Gucci loafers) and save for a memory box. Otherwise, you can skip this on your registry.

2. Wipes warmer. I got this as a gift at my shower. I was SO appreciative of this little gem, but found myself too rushed to figure out how to use it. Seriously. Like most newborns, Bennett hated being naked. He hated being cold. I never warmed up his wipes, however. You know what happened? Bennett grew out of his dislike of cold/naked time. He loves it. His wipes were cool and his booty gets cleaned. Is a wipes warmer nice to have? Sure. Necessary? The verdict is still out on that one.

3. More than one baby carrier. I use the K’tan wrap like it is going out of style. Before B got here,I debated on getting a more sturdy carrier as well. Here’s what I found out: I never had an occasion where I needed a second carrier. Figure out what kind of carrier you want (cloth or B’jorn) and stick with it. If your man wants to wear the baby, the B’jorn is probably your best bet. My man can’t carry our little boy because I got a small K’tan (the downside of a cloth carrier); but there are very few instances where we needed a carrier that was big enough for him to wear. Certainly not enough times to justify a second carrier.

4. Copious amounts of newborn sized clothing or newborn designer clothing. 3 month and 6 month clothing should get you through the first 5 months AT LEAST. Unless your babe is born prematurely, 3 month clothing is a pretty standard bet to fit your little one. It may be a little baggy, but seriously, the first few weeks are spent mostly inside of your home, with the baby swaddled or wrapped in a blanket. No one needs to look like a Gerber model inside the home. So just say no to designer threads for your new bundle. It is seriously NOT WORTH THE MONEY. Newborn photos are usually taken in their birthday suit anyway…

Here’s a list of four things you may not have thought to register for, but probably should:

1. Car seat Canopy. It sounds unnecessary, but this little beauty was a lifesaver in the first few months. There are times when you need to be out of the house, and many of those times overlap with naptime. There is something about a car seat that attracts a lot of attention; after all, babies are cute. A lot of people will want to look at the baby, even touch your baby (which is still weird to me); I actually had a stranger tell his two year old to “look at the baby” as B was just three weeks old sleeping in his car seat as I waited in line for Panera. He was seriously offended when I wouldn’t lift up the canopy to display my newborn to his grabby two year old. It saves you from a fussy ride home, it gives the baby plenty of darkness and helps avert strangers from touching your baby…I’d say, this purchase is totally worth it.

2. A battery operated fan that clips to the car seat. So, you have a baby and you’re going to the beach or riding anywhere in a car. Even if your baby is 10 months old by the time summer hits, this little thing is totally worth the money. It may be somewhere in the neighborhood of $10 on amazon, but it is extremely helpful in the hot car in the summer or riding to the beach in the stroller.

3. Blanket swaddle for the car seat. Obviously, there is a theme here. Sometimes, car rides can be the pits. A newborn needs to be warm 100% of the time. We used our blanket swaddle for the car seat in the temperate early spring when winter still interjected its cool temperatures every now and again. B slept like he was in his crib and had great sleep at night too.

4. A book with suggested baby schedules. I cannot tell you how freeing a schedule can be. Before implementing a schedule, you’ll feel like there is no end to your role as a caregiver…really, there isn’t. Still, a schedule can make your days feel a bit more predictable. I used Moms on Call and LOVED it. It got us through the first six months of B’s life, and made everyone a little happier.