Best and Worst Baby Shower Gifts

We asked our Facebook fans: What was the most useful item you received? What did you get that you never in a million years thought would turn out to be essential? What “junk” did you give away? Here's what you told us:

The Fisher Price infant-to-toddler rocker took us from baby days to watching videos. Best 40 dollars spent. The diaper genie went in the garbage. 
–Vesna, Sparta

LOVED his swing—He slept in it from birth to 3 months and only because he got too big for it. It was the only place he’d sleep after he was born.
–Pam

Loved my Boppy pillow. I used it all the time because my kids were always on my boob, lol.
–Johanna, Staten Island

Useful: swing and Fisher Price infant-to-toddler rocker/bouncer. Surprise essential: Sleep Sheep and hanging mobile. It was key to transitioning him from sleeping in the swing to the crib. Useless: Bumbo.
–Tina

The Snot Sucker. Weird but awesome. 
–Connie, North Haledon

Useful: My bouncy seat that took them from newborn to 2 years old, and my booster seat. Returned the high chair.
–Carol

Useful: Breast pump and nursing pads.
–April, Green Brook

Useful: Aden + Anais Burpy Bibs! They pull double duty as bib and burp cloth, and they’re super soft to boot!
–Deanna

Diaper genie was really a loser. Do they still make them??
–Odarka, Newark

Useful: Duck bath thermometer.
–Bonnie, Hopatcong

We did not use the Bumbo…I thought it’d be great, but he would not sit still in it (or anything else for that matter)!
–Erin, Hackensack

Neither child ever sat in the Bumbo. Surprise essentials included a Vicks steamer and a digital ear thermometer. Didn’t know to register for either!
–Judy

Which shower gifts were surprise essentials for you? Which were a bust? Please share!

More on Baby Gifts from NJ Family:

• Seven Nifty Gifts for Baby
• Sweet Somethings for Sweet Cherubs
• Super Savings on All Things Baby