Registry - gah!

[daisy818]

So my pregnancy apps keep telling me it's time to start a registry and research products, and one had a checklist of things I need - it's basically giving me panic attacks. Since there are a lot of second (or third) time moms on here, what are your suggestions for FTMs as far as what I really need, products you love, products that you registered for but never used, etc. I'm overwhelmed and appreciate any wisdom you can pass along!

[budders]

Unfortunately it’s really baby dependent what gets used or not used. There’s really not much that a baby needs, but I registered for a bunch of stuff since my mom threw me a huge shower. The big things first time around that we needed were:
-Car seat (we did infant with multiple bases)
-Stroller (we picked one that our infant seat could click into)
-Several crib mattress covers and sheets (if/once your baby sleeps in a crib, you’ll want lots of backups)
-carrier/sling (I have the lillebaby and love it)
-Muslin blankets (they’re soft, breathable and versatile, and are perfect for summer babies because they’re lightweight)
-swaddlers (Velcro ones were much more snug than we could achieve folding a receiving blanket)
-variety of bottles if you pump or formula feed (babies are picky and different ones work better for different kids)
-video monitor (some people don’t need or want this, but we still need it for V, and it gives peace of mind to be able to check in without waking him/him seeing us)
-rock n play (we didn’t know we needed this until V refused to lay flat and this was the only way he would sleep — there is now an auto rock one that we’ll be picking up this time)
-Nose Frieda (some people use the bulb, but this worked great for us, especially since V was frequently sick)
-Tub (some people don’t use a separate baby tub, but we needed to with our sink setup)

I’m sure there’s stuff I’m forgetting. But just be prepared that there’s a lot you don’t need, or that things others swear by may not work for your kid. There’s a lot of trial and error!

[budders]

Also, Lucie’s List is a great resource. H and I did a lot of research and comparisons of products to decide on brands and whatnot, and that site was super helpful.

[leo91]

My favorites:
1. Aquaphor, desitin. If baby gets a bad rash, I would do a layer of aquaphor and then a layer of desitin over it.
2. Velcro swaddle blankets, because I sucked at swaddling with receiving blankets
3. If you plan on breastfeeding, definitely a double pump.
4. Baby carrier, I think I used an off brand one last time but want to get an ergo this time. Baby wearing is awesome.
5. Rock and play
6. Travel diaper changing pad
7. Video monitor.

Things I didn't like:
1. Big ass shoulder diaper bag. I'll be getting a backpack one this time.
2. Wipe warmer. Completely useless (for me at least)
3. Diaper genie
4. Changing table. I changed baby anywhere and everywhere when I was at home.

[leo91]

Like budders mentioned, there are SO many Baby things, so it's easy to get overwhelmed. You'll definitely find your groove on what you love/hate.

[adeline]

I used lots of zipper onesies (rather than press stud ones) and loved my Ergo 360. I’d invest in a good pram especially if you plan on more than one kid.
It’s a cliche thing to say but I got some really cute shoes and dresses for DD and she barely wore any of them. Too hard to keep a dress down until they’re walking. Shoes still seemed too hard on her little feet and hot, so socks were far better until about 9 months along.
I’m not saying don’t buy cute clothes, but I’d definitely say just one or two really nice things. I doubt you’ll use multiple pairs of shoes and formal clothes. Then leggings, onesies etc are great. And lots of them.

[sammichcat]

I agree with pps on almost everything.

However, I recommend trying to get the baby to sleep in the crib from the beginning. It can be a very hard transition, especially away from anything that rocks.
And I worry about video monitors being hacked so we had an audio one.

[chrisy01]

Lots of blankets to swaddle.

My 4 year loved to swing but wouldn't take a pacifier when he was LO. He also loved taggies toys and blankets. He would enjoy the different textures.
I loved using the boopy the first few months for bf and then as a sit up seat for pictures.

We started with an audio monitor but since he could babble he would "talk" in his sleep so we needed a video monitor to see if he was really awake or just sleep talking.

[robot]

Yeah, all babies are so different, it’s so dependent. I agree with the Lucie’s List recommendation. And also, just waiting. Obviously, get the big stuff- car seat, stroller, crib, etc but between stores and Amazon stocking up on stuff that might not get used is just not necessary.

I’m such a planner I bought alllll the things. And then BFing didn’t really work out so I hardly used that stuff. And I bought a gajillion different types of bottles and pacifiers because everyone said I’d need to try different ones and DD gave no fucks and I ended up buying a ton of one type of bottles since it was easier to have then trying to get the right pieces with the right ones. You can always run out and get something like a rock n play but I figured I’d try DD flat first and she was fine. So it really varies, ya know?

Every mom is going to tell you something different too I couldn’t live without my video monitor (got it when I found DD had rolled for the very first time and was face down in her swaddle) and wish I’d never registered for the audio only one. (The hacking thing freaked me out but ours is secure, my dad’s a network guy.) And I dressed DD up daily and loved all the outfits and only ever changed a diaper on the changing pad in her room.

One thing I did buy that I maybe wouldn’t have known about except for a recommendation from someone on my last BMB was baby gowns. They’re basically baby nightgowns. We used them under swaddles early on and they made night time diaper changes so easy.

[mrsweasley]

Personally I don't recommend registering for clothes. People love buying baby clothes and you'll probably end up with too many whether you register for them or not.

I never used an infant carrier car seat, so we stuck with a convertible, but that depends on your wants/needs. I rarely used our stroller $$$$ stroller because we used the Ergo so much.

We had a basket to organize changing table stuff so it was easy to move and kept things confined. I also like a large diaper bag/backpack that has enough room to put my crap from my purse too so I only have to haul one bag. I kept things simple (no wipe warmer, etc). Plenty of people don't bother with a diaper pail either and just take them straight out.

My first kid hated the swing, my 2nd tolerated it for about 5 minutes. Unfortunately a lot of that gear is baby dependent. The bouncy seat got some love from the first one.

If you plan on BF, register for nipple cream (I like Lansinoh) and nursing pads. With my first I dealt with lots of cracked nipples and leaking in the beginning. I liked washable nursing pads, but it's personal preference.

3 sets if sheets and mattress pads, at least. You'll be thankful to have extras in the MOTN. My 2nd was a spitter, so having a billion burp rags was a lifesaver too.

Baby bathtub, maybe baby wash, but with my first I got so much it literally lasted until he was 6 before I has to buy any. We never bothered with baby robes or special towels or anything either.

Even though you won't need it immediately, put some baby proofing stuff on your registery. All stores will offer a completion discount at some point so you could stock up on things you don't get but will need

A pack n play if you drive to visit family or want baby in your room in the beginning. We occasionally used ours as a "containment" device as well. It doesn't have to be super fancy

[mrsweasley]

We also just have an audio moniter, but no matter what kind you get I find the "talk back" feature ours has to be extremely helpful, especially once they're bigger

[Madymoiselle]

I’ll do my list from what people have said and add some stuff.

1. The obvious big stuff, crib, dresser, car seat and stroller. We got an infant seat with a base that went on the stroller.

2. Don’t get one of those changing station dresser type, buy a nice dresser that can grow with your child and use velcro/anti sliding pads under your changing mat.

3. I got a video monitor first but it was ranking my anxiety up because I could not not look at it so I returned it and bought an audio one. It was much better for my sanity.

4. Nose frida and humidifier. There nothing worse than the first cold while being un prepared.

5. Velcro or snap swaddles, I love the aden and anais because it is hot in SoCal and those are the nice muslin material.

6. Similarly, a lot of muslin ‘swaddle’ although I rarely used them as swaddle but more as blankets or stroller/car seat sun blocker or to protect someone’s couch 😉

7. Diaper cream and wipes. I had a wipe warmer, my DD would scream if the wipes were cold so it helped the first few weeks.

8. Formula. If you don’t plan on breastfeeding obviously you will have some but if you plan on BF have some in hand just in case. My milk was slow to come and my production was never enough for my ogress of a DD and we had a panic attack one night when she was hungry and I had no milk and we were down to the last pre made infant formula bottle the hospital gave us. Buy some pre mixed or a can of infant one, just in case, for real.

9. We have the mamaroo and we loved it, so we plan on re using it with this kid. We also had a small portable swing that I would bring with me around the house to take a shower or fold laundry.

10. I bought both a regular baby carrier (4g boba i think) and a wrap. I used the wrap a handful of times only but I felt DD was more secured when tiny.

11. Backpack diaper bag. I had a shoulder one for DD and I bought a backpack one this time around because the shoulder bag is really impractical unless you have the stroller.

11. Extra mattress protector, sheets and changing pads. You want to be able to swap those out and deal with laundry later 😊

12. I will add that for the crib, we got one of those 4-1 cribs that would transition to a toddler bed. If you do that, make sure you get a mattress that will do infant on one side and toddler on the other.

13. You might want to buy a nightlight, we got ours when DD was about 4 months.

ETA: fixing typos, sorry for the countless grammar errors 😔

[numbears]

It's definitely baby dependent like budders said.

Play mat/gym thing
Rocker, Bouncer, Swing<-and baby may hate all of these
Rocking chair
Baby bathtub, shampoo, wash cloths & towels
So many burp cloths/receiving blankets that double as burp cloths
Bottle sterilizer, bottle brush
Some sort of baby carrier (Ergo, Mei Tai, Moby<-DS hated the Moby)
Boppy
Outlet covers-even though it seems early, babies grow so fast and if you set it up early, you'll be use to living with them

[jaidit]

My two cents, but my D hated Velcro/zip swaddles but lived sleep sacks. She also hated being put in a swing. It’s so baby specific.

Some items that were MVPs for us:

Babybjorn travel crib
Ergo 360
Ktan for the newborn months
Babybjorn bouncing chair
Babyzen yoyo stroller (city living and travel must)
Totseat travel high chair
Beaba baby food maker

[chrisy01]

Oh a white noise machine. We got the summer elephant one and DS still uses it to fall asleep.

[bebbysue]

I agree with what everyone else has said, that it's really baby specific, but some of the things I couldn't live without during those first few months:
Rock n play
Tula baby carrier
Sleep sacks/Swaddles
Boppy pillow
White Noise machine

Honestly, with the exception of the normal list of things like bath tub, diaper cream, etc, that's the only stuff I used in the beginning. I got all the things at my baby shower and some of it didn't end up working out (like the Mamaroo, DD hated that thing).

[ajm]

So many good suggestions. I agree with a lot of what pp have said. For us, the rock and play and swing were crucial. Also, the muslin blankets and Velcro swaddles. We went with a video monitor and I would not go with an audio after having that. A lot is baby dependent, which is nerve wracking being a STM knowing that what worked with DD might not work with baby #2.

And the good news is that if you end up getting big items that the baby hates, you can easily return if unopened or sell.

[jessila]

Obviously, the big things like everyone else has said. I definitely second not getting a specific dresser/changing table combo.

I love my diaper genie. The inserts are move expensive but it doesn't break the bank.

O *loved* the swing. Too much. He slept in it until he was 9mo and the size of an 18mo.

Multiple things to put the baby in--swing, bouncer, crib, other things. We have a beautiful, handmade, family heirloom cradle that we won't use this time. It's huge and bulky. I'm getting an RnP so it can be next to my bed.

A glider/rocking chair/recliner for the nursery. I've spent countless hours in that thing between MOTN feedings and sick snuggles.

As much as I hated the idea the Nose Frieda works wonders. Also a humidifier-we always have a Vicks one so we can get that into the air as well which helps clear sinuses.

Sound machine is still used every night and we have one in our room too.

[twoblackcats]

My must-haves from DD1:

-Amazon prime subscription
-Breast pump
-bottles. I like Dr Brown's.
-bottle cleaning gear (rack, sterilizer, brush)
-**if you formula feed, I LOVE the dr. brown's formula pitcher
-Crib
-mattress
-sheets
-2 mattress protectors (trust me on this one)
-Rock n play
-fisher price cradle n swing (didn't use for the first couple months at least - but god I love this thing - get the one that plugs in the wall or you will bankrupt yourself with batteries
-muslin blankets
-sleepers with zippers (snaps in the MOTN are the worst)
-Size 1 diapers (she never fit the NB size)
-Good rocker/glider. Not wood. cushioned.
-Diaper genie
-noise machine
-monitor - I just have a 2 way one, no video.
-Car seat
-stroller with a decent sized basket. I love my city mini GT but I HATE the basket
-Diaper bag

Things I want this time around
-wireless headphones
-mini fridge in my room
-possible a video monitor

I had both the k'tan and the ergo. I hated how the Ergo fit - I'm quite tall and couldn't get the baby positioned in a way that was comfortable for me and safe for her. I would suggest waiting on the carrier and trying some on once baby is here and you figure out what works for you - my area has a baby wearing lending library I found out about much later. You can borrow different carriers and wraps and they'll show you how to fit them properly.

[jessila]

I didn't even think of an Amazon Prime subscription as being vital but my subscribe & save is still delivering me diapers every month. Most of my S&S order is child related. I'll just pop the right quantity of diapers on it for the new baby, too.

[tinyjoys]

I’m going to just +1 budders. She said basically all the things I’d suggest.

[tincupchalice]

Dec 17, 2017 23:40:29 GMT -6 mrsweasley said:

We also just have an audio moniter, but no matter what kind you get I find the "talk back" feature ours has to be extremely helpful, especially once they're bigger

"The sun is not awake, go back to sleeeep!"  <--- me, this morning, via monitor

[bebbysue]

Dec 18, 2017 19:22:45 GMT -6 jessila said:

I didn't even think of an Amazon Prime subscription as being vital but my subscribe & save is still delivering me diapers every month. Most of my S&S order is child related. I'll just pop the right quantity of diapers on it for the new baby, too.

I didn't think of this either but I would say a Prime subscription is vital too. I did S&S for diapers and wipes, which was super convenient but I also liked being able to order anything on the spot. Like if daycare would tell me she was out of cream or sunscreen or something, i would get back to my car and just order it right then so I wouldn't forget and then would have it two days later. no having to run to the store.