North Florida Nesties
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Moms RE: Registery Help
DH and I are going to register tonight. What items can you not live without? And what did you register for or recieve that was a waste of money?
Also moms that breastfeed and pump is there a certain bottle that you found works best for baby to go back and forth?
Re: Moms RE: Registery Help
This is strictly from my childcare and nannying experience:
Most of my breastfed babies use Dr. Browns with no problem.
Couldn't live without: Burp clothes (reflux baby), bathtub, lots of onesies (reflux)
Didn't really need: Diaper genie
I Bf for a bit. I love Dr.Browns.
My sister helped me with my registry, she's got a 5 mo. old baby.
She recommended the Medela Pump In Style Advanced on the Go system and Dr. Brown's bottles. She also said to get the freezer system that goes with the pump for breastmilk. For the bottles, she said she likes the glass ones the best, but they're a bit more. Also, she said you don't need as many 4 oz. bottles, maybe 4 or so, because when they're that small they're mostly breastfeeding, but register for more 8 oz. bottles, you'll use them more and longer.
She loves having the video monitor, especially because she lives in a ranch and has 2 dogs, so she keeps the nursery door shut when he's napping but can look on the video and see if he's really awake or just fussing.
She said you'll get tons of blankets and washcloths, so don't register for tons of them, maybe just one or two.
For sleeping, she's had a hard time getting her son to like the crib. She's found the Sleep Sheep and Soothe and Glow Seahorses work wonders.
Finally, she said to register for a good swing and/or bouncer seat, it's worth it to get one that won't crap out and that provides good movement, not just vibration.
Hope this helps you, like I said, I'm just taking her word for it all!
We use the Tommee Tippee bottles, but I have also heard good things about Dr Browns. For storing breastmilk, I like Lansinoh bags the best.
You can put things like clothes and blankets on your registry, but the truth is, people will buy you tons of cute things they see and you might not even get what you put on there. Still, I didn't get any washcloths and needed a lot--he had diaper rash to start, so we used those instead of wipes and still do.
Ditto on the swing and bouncer seat. We have the lamb swing and love it. You might also consider a Rock N Play--those seem to be really helpful in getting newborns to sleep, which I didn't realize until he was too big.
I like the Brest Friend pillow over the Boppy, although I have both. The BF pillow works better for newborns because they tend to roll inwards on the Boppy. But now that he's bigger, they're both helpful.
Ditto again on the Seahorse. He wasn't into it to start, but now he's crazy about it. We've just started using the Sleep Sheep regularly because he's moved into a restless phase, and that does help.
I like the Twilight Turtle for nursing sessions. Just enough light and it's pretty with the stars everywhere.
Clothes-wise, Sleep and Plays are the best option for little ones. Outfits are just a PITA.
We also skipped the diaper genie and got a trashcan that fit grocery bags. I put an Arm and Hammer refresher in there and just change the bag daily. Keeps you from having to purchase expensive bag refills.
Definitely yes on the tub--I forgot that on my registry.
I also love the Anais & Aden swaddle blankets at Target. They're the perfect weight and size, even though we don't really swaddle him, for taking everywhere.
Also, if you're going for a certain kind of diaper or detergent (like scent-free, organic, natural, etc.) put one of each on your registry so people don't buy you scented detergent, etc. They might not buy you that exact kind, but they'll try to stay within the theme.
Another must: the Itzbeen timer. It's been my sanity.
There's an app that you can get very similar to this...but I don't have an iphone so I was bummed. I'm going to have to get this!
In the beginning, since he was sleeping all the time, there was no need to time his naps, so I used the bottom two buttons to time my ibuprofen and painkillers from the c-section. Now I use the nap one to time the length of naps and the star one for when he wakes up. Then when I go on an errand, I hand it to DH. Of course he never remembers to hit the buttons when he does something, lol.
Thanks! I have never heard of the Itzbeen timer. I will def be registering for one. We have the Twilight Turtle good to know it will be useful.
Must haves:
Two Boppy pillows. They can be helpful to ease some of the discomfort right after birth, by sitting on them.
Swaddle Me Wraps (the ones with the velcro ... Mungee always escaped from regular swaddle blankets. Sleep sacks for once they get too squirmy in the swaddle wraps.
Sleep n plays - I'd recommend ones with zippers over those with buttons once the baby starts to get squirmy. Mungee could escape from her button up pajamas and we'd always find her with her legs sticking out.
I used Gerber cloth diapers for burp cloths. They are sold in 12 packs. I wound up with 2 packs, but a lot of the diapers have disappeared.
Baby clothes hangars. You will never have enough.
2-3 changing pad covers for the changing table.
Swing - I'd recommend one in which the baby can lay flat-ish at first. The swing we have was not meant for newborns. One day I had Mungee in ours and left the room and came back to find her with her head completely flopped to the side. Scary moment.
Little Noses
Little Tummies
Vicks Rectal Thermometer
Soft brush and comb
Bottle drying rack
I also agree with DP on the Lansinoh breastmilk storage bags
Nipple cream - I couldn't use the Lansinoh because it made me itchy, but I know others like it. I think I used Mommy's Bliss.
Activity mat - I wish I'd gotten one of these sooner! It was a lifesaver. Mungee would typically scream whenever I would put her down so once I got the mat it actually kept her entertained for at least a few seconds so I could go to the the bathroom. I did have to go through buying and returning a few before I found one that worked well for us. The first one, the bars were low and so the toys hung low and hit her in the head. The second one was a satin material and pulled and snagged immediately. The third one was the one I stuck with and it had three bars that snapped into a central holder making a higher arch.
3 Ultimate Crib Sheets - These snap onto the crib (over the crib sheet) and fully cover the mattress. They can easily be removed in case of an accident. They keep the crib sheet protected.
Do not need:
Baby bath robe. Yes, they are super cute, but you're going to dry your baby after the bath and then put on their pajamas. So they need to wear a robe for 30 seconds? No.
Small tummy time mat - just use a receiving blanket and the boppy pillow. The mats are overpriced and usually pretty small anyway.
Tons of crib sheets. I use a sheet protector and just change those regularly rather than changing the sheets often. I hope that's not too gross
May or may not need:
Bumbo seat - Mungee didn't really like hers, so we didn't use it much. Other babies love them, so it's a situation where you'll just have to wait and see.
Okay, have I overwhelmed you yet? That's all I can think of right now, but I will update if anything else comes to mind.
How is it that my BABY is going to be 3?
BFP-2/25/11; 8 Wk U/S-3/25/11-No HB, measured 6.5 wks; D&C
My musts: kiddopatamus swaddle (James slept tightly swaddled until about 8-9 months old-these are the velcro ones), tons of washcloths, swing, bouncer, pacifiers with pacifier attachment, tub, All free and clear, ambient noise-maker, stroller attachment for carseat if not the same brand, foot-y pj's, dishwasher cages, waterproof medical tape for labeling bottles once start daycare, waterproof crib sheet/mattress protector, bottle drying rack
My wastes: boppy (I used my half-body sleeping pillow instead), bibs (used washcloths), bumbo (James' fat thighs and backside didn't fit in it for very long at all), any kind of shoes prior to walking, sleep positioner pad for the crib, baby bottle cleaner/steamer, bottle warmer, BM defroster
I BF'd and pumped/fed bottles at daycare as well as at home sometimes. I loved my dual electric avent pump (comes with a manual pump too) and the avent bottles. It can go straight from pumping to feeding with the same bottle. I second the Lansinoh BM storage bags. I also really liked the milk bag storage bins to keep the bags organized in the freezer.
Boppy fo' sho'.
We use a simple pack n play as his bassinet at night. Love it.
Simple, lightweight bouncer for when you need two hands or need a shower. I take this and put it on the counter w/ DS in it or in the bathroom right outside the shower.
Fisher Price Little Lamb Swing. This is on sale on Amazon right now.
Little gloves to keep the baby from scratching his face until you get brave enough to clip his nails.
Waterproof pads for in his crib, pack in play, and on the changing pad. I also took some of the nice fabric ones from the hospital.
This may be a dumb question, but can you not file a baby's nails rather than clip them?
Also, since I cut 2 squirmy wiener dogs nails every few weeks, I think I'll be brave enough, but I'll get some mittens just in case
Yeah, you can file their nails but it can be just as challenging to do that as clip them. Most of the problem is, they won't let you have their hand for long enough to do either. You'll get one clipped or filed and they're done. Filing takes even longer than clipping, and you still can skid up their little fingers, so you might as well clip.
We call Michael's his Wolverine claws. You think they're short, turn around, and look back to find a huge slash across his forehead or something. Baby nails grow crazy fast.
I'd like to discourage doing this when unattended. I've read many stories about babies bouncing the bouncer off a counter and falling bouncer and all. I know he's too little to do that now but you don't know necessarily when that day will come.
Yes, I used a few different versions and one was especially helpful when the little one did not want to take a nap.
We borrowed a Baby Bjorn and a Moby Wrap. The Bjorn was okay, but the one we had did not have the back support, so it was painful. I got one with back support at a garage sale the other week but I guess we won't be using it for a while. If you're going to get one of those, definitely get one with back support.
I liked the Moby wrap a lot. It's very long though. Like 18 feet long or something crazy like that. You can use it in a lot of different carrying positions however, which makes it pretty versatile.
I've also read good things about the Mei Tei wrap and Ergo, I think.
How is it that my BABY is going to be 3?
BFP-2/25/11; 8 Wk U/S-3/25/11-No HB, measured 6.5 wks; D&C
I thought the Moby was a PITA and I don't enjoy having my entire torso covered. Some babies, however, are really into them; Michael wasn't.
We borrowed a Bjorn, and he likes that better. I've heard the Ergo is a better one to use because of increased back support, which, as Pookie mentioned, the Bjorn lacks. I also like the Balboa just for quick ins-and-outs.
I can picture that happening in my head and it scares the heck out of me! I know that my enjoyment of having the bouncer on the counter is limited, but it is coming in handy while my parents visit with their Yellow lab and his ten foot long tongue! If I had the bouncer on the floor the baby might get licked to death!! I also never leave him unattended, just when I am chopping stuff for dinner, etc.
Soaps & Lotions: I use Yes to Carrots and California Baby products. I registered for only these products and thankfully didn't end up with any of the scented stuff.
Bfing: I use a Medela Symphony and pump into Avent bottles. Avent sells the connecters at most big box stores. We still use 4 ounce bottles. I use cheap reusable breast pads at home and Lansinoh disposable pads. I used bibs or an adult cloth in early BFing days. We both made a huge mess without the bib/washcloth.
Things that I had way to much of: Hooded towels, wash clothes, clothing, socks, rattles, blankets.
Things that were over rated: diaper genie and the boppy for BFing.
I have two main diaper bags. One diaper bag is for day care, simple thirty-one bag. The other main diaper bag is for when will be out for a while. It is a larger/nicer bag.
LOLOLOL
I died laughing when I read this. That's an awesome name. I feel like H would want to get it just for the jokes.
I have an Ameda Purely Yours breast pump - its much cheaper than the Medela ones and I never had an issue with it. I can't compare the 2 though since I've only used the Ameda.
I wouldn't put a lot of clothes, blankets, towels, etc on there - you will get a TON at your shower. Same for toiletry type stuff - we had enough baby lotion to last well over a year. I'd put like one of each so they know what brand you plan to use. Same for diapers and wipes.
I never used the swaddle me blankets, we just used a really big receiving blanket. Maybe I'll get some this time
We used the Playtex Drop-In bottles and B never had an issue going back and forth.
I had a boppy and used it some, not a lot though, I mostly just used the throw pillows from the couch or wherever I happened to be sitting.