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I know we've had a few posts like this before but I think there are a bunch of us who will be registering soon. I know everyone has their own opinion and what works for one, doesn't work for all but I'm looking for your must have items. And those that you wouldn't waste your time with.
I finally convinced DH that we need to actually go get hands on and play with strollers, car seats, etc soon so he's decided on Babies R Us for our date night tonight. I love that he's getting exciting but I'm a list person and feel overwhelmed by walking in semi-blind. Recommendations welcome!!
Re: Registry Recommendations
Definitely go try out strollers! I had one in mind and when I went to see it, it didn't maneuver well, and didn't collapse as easily as I would like.
Must Haves:
Aden and Anais swaddle blankets
nightgowns with the elastic bottoms
footie pajamas with zippers, not snaps
receiving blankets (we actually used these for burp cloths)
rock n play
pack n play
sound machine
bouncer seat
a couple different kind of pacifiers, since babies can be finniky
several fitted sheets
back seat mirror
sophie the giraffe
If registering for bottles, I'd recommend just registering for a couple in a few different brands. Again, some babies are very particular about this.
Changing pad covers
Not Needed:
Nose Frida - recommended here, but we just used the bulb aspirator the hospital gave us
Windi - again, we didn't have gas issues, so this is still in the package
Tiny Mittens - our son hated them
Bath tub thermometer
Baby shampoo/lotions - the kind we registered for caused W to break out like crazy. I would just buy a small size of one and see if it works before making a larger commitment
Wipe Warmer/Bottle Warmer
My new bff Gayle Forman!
“You can have your wishes, your plans, but at the end of the day, it's out of your control"
- Gayle Forman
"People talk about escapism as if it's a bad thing... Once you've escaped, once you come back, the world is not the same as when you left it. You come back to it with skills, weapons, knowledge you didn't have before. Then you are better equipped to deal with your current reality."
- Neil Gaiman
Married Bio
My Goodreads Read Shelf
* After 22 months and 2 failed IUIs, we finally got our BFP *
DS delivered naturally at 41w6d on 4/18/14
My new bff Gayle Forman!
“You can have your wishes, your plans, but at the end of the day, it's out of your control"
- Gayle Forman
"People talk about escapism as if it's a bad thing... Once you've escaped, once you come back, the world is not the same as when you left it. You come back to it with skills, weapons, knowledge you didn't have before. Then you are better equipped to deal with your current reality."
- Neil Gaiman
Married Bio
put a convertable car seat on your registry! you'll need it before you know it and they can be expensive.
the basics have already been covered so i'll add some fun items
- an oball! everyone that I talk to that has one of these says their kid loves it
- the piano play mat
- bassinet
- halo sleep sacks
- nursing pillow. we like our bobby and use it more for helping him sit than acutally nursing.
- bathtub
i'll add to this list as I think of more
The Rowdy Roberts
Also, read reviews on the car seats before you go to BRU. At least you will be able to form a small list before you walk in.
TTC 19 months ~Started RE in March 2014~
DH was not ready for IUI so we waited
~Started acupuncture in May 2014~
~~BFP 7/6/14~~~EDD 3/14/15~~It's a girl!!~~
Must haves for our kid:
We used and still use our ergo.
RNP: it was great for the first few months
Glider (we put it on the registry to use the completion discount.)
A&A blankets: beyond swaddling, they are our kid's lovey.
That's honestly all I used for the first few months.
We got a pnp, which is nice for sleeping when traveling. I hated the boppy. Ben showered until he could take baths in the bathtub. We didn't switch to a convertible car seat until 2 months ago, but my kid is small. We registered for a nice stroller and I much prefer wearing him and he hates the stroller.
I feel like with babies that it is such a crapshoot but less really is more.
B Born 6.27.13
I know a lot depends on baby when he/she gets here and gets adjusted to life but I love hearing some of the recommendations.
While I get pulled in by pretty things and gadgets, I'm more fearful of DH with a registry gun again. For our wedding, I ended up going in and taking off some of the ridiculous things he thought were necessary. I'm hoping your lists/suggestions will help me have some back up when he is convinced we need this or that.
My Goodreads Read Shelf
* After 22 months and 2 failed IUIs, we finally got our BFP *
DS delivered naturally at 41w6d on 4/18/14
We use the A+A blankets for everything! I bf, so I use them as a nursing cover, they are W's lovey, as a stroller blanket, as a carseat cover, and also as a swaddler for the first few months.
It doesn't hurt to register for a convertible seat, because you can always use the completion discount later on to purchase it. We used the infant seat for about 6 months, and then W was too much of a chunker for me to comfortably carry him in it and we switched to the convertible.
My new bff Gayle Forman!
“You can have your wishes, your plans, but at the end of the day, it's out of your control"
- Gayle Forman
"People talk about escapism as if it's a bad thing... Once you've escaped, once you come back, the world is not the same as when you left it. You come back to it with skills, weapons, knowledge you didn't have before. Then you are better equipped to deal with your current reality."
- Neil Gaiman
Married Bio
TTC 19 months ~Started RE in March 2014~
DH was not ready for IUI so we waited
~Started acupuncture in May 2014~
~~BFP 7/6/14~~~EDD 3/14/15~~It's a girl!!~~
My Goodreads Read Shelf
* After 22 months and 2 failed IUIs, we finally got our BFP *
DS delivered naturally at 41w6d on 4/18/14
...hello out there!
dx with anovulatory PCOS 2005
off bcp 11/11
a few rounds of clomid and femara... no response.
injectables/IUI 12/12... BFN
Feb 13 IVF cycle converted down to IUI due to low follicle response... BFFN
one last IVF attempt April/May 2013: 19 retrieved. 10 fertilized. 2 transferred in a 3dt. 4 frosties... BFP!!
EDD: 1/21/14... Induced early at 36+6. Our LO was born 12/30/13
@Sewilson33 are you planning on using only your car for the first few months? I have heard the convertible car seats are not nearly as easy to get in and out of at the newborn stage since it stays in the car and faces backwards at that stage.
We are getting an infant seat with 2 bases so we can go in either car easily. And that way I can get her bundled up in the winter months inside and don't have to put her in a cold seat in the car.
I second one infant seat and two bases. We got a Graco SnugRide 35 with DS and he was in it for well over a year until he hit the max height (at almost 3 he still isn't close to max weight). We would just keep it in the car and use it like a convertable and now that we have two convertables, I'm glad we waited so we can get as much use out of them with #2 before they expire since I suspect DS1 will not be in a booster anytime soon.
I also second the A&A blankets. DS didn't like to be swaddled, but we use those things to this day. He now uses it as a lovey (although he is moving away from that even), but I used them as a nursing cover, car seat cover, over his ergo to block the sun, burp cloth, towel, change pad on the go, everything. He was never swaddled in them, although I hear they are good for that too
As for strollers, consider how you will be using your stroller before you go registering. I bought a snap and go for the car until he could sit up, and then we bought an umbrella around 5 months. We also have a million carriers (ergo, wraps, ring sling, mei tai, etc), and we have a jogger we keep at home in the garage and bring with us when we are camping/hiking. For us, a travel system wasn't practical because I wanted the smallest, lightest option for the car, and a better quality, heavy duty option for our activities.
Other things I used often in the first year:
- bouncy chair
- swing
- Packnplay
- activity mat
- sheets (crib, packnplay, bassinet, change covers)
- nursing stuff
- highchair seat that straps to a chair and converts to a booster
My advice is don't register for the little things (clothes, pacis, bottlles, bibs, socks, hats, etc) because people love throwing those things in to add to the gift and you don't know what baby will like. Register for the big items, and things that cost $15-20 and above. You will still want to pick up stuff after your shower, but you won't have to drop huge cash on the big items.
TTC#1 July 2010 PCOS dx April 2011 DS born: February 21, 2012
TTC#2 June 2013 MMC Sept 2013 (partial molar), CP 02/2014 DS2 born: December 5, 2014
If we don't get the seat at my shower than I will be waiting until after the baby is born to buy it.
TTC 19 months ~Started RE in March 2014~
DH was not ready for IUI so we waited
~Started acupuncture in May 2014~
~~BFP 7/6/14~~~EDD 3/14/15~~It's a girl!!~~
Must haves:
Didn't Use: