Baby Registry

The Big D · February 2012

I know my family is super neurotic, but I was speaking to my sister the other day, and she recommended I should get a start on my registry.

Say WHAT?!?

I had no idea I needed to think of this stuff so early. She wants to host a baby shower for me in April or early May (plenty of time before her due date).

So, regardless of whether I'm doing this too early, can we have a baby registry thread? I know the basics, but what other baby soothers do you feel you can't live without? Toys? Certain types of clothes or towels? Awesome stroller or car seat to recommend? Types of bedding?

This is kind of a post and run, but I appreciate any help I can get. TIA!!

Cory's Wife · February 2012

Get yourself a copy of Baby Bargains stat. It will compare items and give you a quick rundown of he features an price points. It's a great way to get started.

star678 · February 2012

I'm trying to remember what I actually ended up using off my registry. Here's some things off the top of my head outside of the typical stuff:

-baby bathtub

-first aid stuff-- thermometer, nail clippers, nasal aspirator, and I also highly recommend this "Parents Survival Kit" http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3029064

-the FP seahorse, I buy one for EVERY new mom I know.

-twilight turtle is a must in our household

-thank God for waterproof mattress pad covers for the crib

-I would highly recommend an exersaucer

I don't have any stroller recs since I liked mine "just ok." I would probably not buy it again. It's clumsy and heavy and hard to manage, IMO.

morrigan08 · February 2012

we loved our door jumper and will pull it out sooner for the next kid - like this one http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3812910

bath tub, first aid items, towels, breastfeeding stuff if you plan to, diapers (CD or regular), swaddle blankets, blankets, toys, books, car seat, mattress, bassinett or pack n play,

I also second the baby bargains book

Also note that registering this early, some things may go out of stock as the seasons change and they no longer carry that pattern. So you will have to manage your registrey.

naylon511 · February 2012

(1) Car seats - you'll want to register for the infant seat you'll need right away and then the Convertible seat you'll move into sometime around 9-12 mos (depending on how big your kiddo gets).

For infant seats - people tend to try to get the highest weight capacity but I am so glad I was told not to worry about it and got the "normal" Graco one. I mean, once she was 20 lbs or so, even if a seat is rated for 35, you are NOT going to want to carry them around it it and they'll be so squished even if they fit the height/weight limits. Net-net - don't worry about getting one to carry a huge kid. You'll have moved them on to the convertible by then.

When getting the infant seat give some thought to your stroller. Are you going to do a travel system (car seat, stroller all together in a package deal). I don't like them, some people do. I tell new moms who ask me to get a snap n go frame of some sort. Lighter, easier to use, etc. What I got was a stroller where everything came off (Uppa Baby Vista) and I could just click the carseat into that frame - - so I had to know what car seat I was getting so I could get the adapter.

Moral of the story - go when you have lots of time and try out car seats and strollers and decide what you like. Ask lots of questions. Try doing the harnesses, try opening and closing it (while holding on to something etc.

The rest of the stuff I registered for was extra sheets, baby towels, bathtub, exersaucer, activity mat, some early toy things, swaddle blankets (forget the square flannel ones - useless. I am a huge Aden and Anais fan. yes, they are spendy. yes, they are worth it). burp clothes, small bibs, bottles, etc etc. Just go section to section.

alliapistor · February 2012

I agree re the Baby Bargains book. It was very helpful. Also - if you register way in advance of your shower, people may not be able to find the styles that you choose. The stores change out the clothes pretty quickly. For bigger stuff (strollers, carseats, Pack N Plays) - find out if the color you like is last year's style or this year's. If it is last year's or earlier, it may not be around anymore by the time of your shower.

These are the things that we definitely use every day:

Pack N Play - We got the one with the newborn napper and changing station. C is small so we're still using the changing station and he just recently got too big for the newborn napper.
Snug-A-Bunny Swing - The one that plugs in. C lives in this thing and I cannot imagine how much we would have spent on batteries with a battery operated swing.
Some type of diaper disposal can. We got the Diaper Champ because it uses regular kitchen trash bags -- no special bags needed.
Changing pad and changing pad cover. And those boppy waterproof liners for the changing pad. (We use these on the changing pad on the PnP too.)
SwaddleMe by Summer Infant - In a pinch, I can do the whole baby burrito thing with the blanket, but these were soooo much easier at 3 am after a feeding. I like them better than the miracle blanket too.
Car Seat with extra base. We have the Chicco Keyfit 30. I got it because it was one of the lighter carseats. It doesn't seem to work so well with non-Chicco things like strollers and BundleMes. Other people don't seem to mind, so maybe it is just me. If I were doing it again, I would probably just get a Graco. (Loved the Britax but they were super heavy. Same with the Peg Perego.)
Burp Cloths - I got two packages of the cloth pre-fold diapers for this. I have two different brands and now I can't remember which brand was the "good" one. But this is definitely the cheapest route. The Aden & Anais burpy bibs are great for fancier burp cloths and they turn into bibs when LO is a little bigger.
Boppy or Breast Friend - especially if you plan to breastfeed. The Boppy doesn't seem as firm to me as the Breast Friend, but it has more uses than the Breast Friend.
NoseFrieda Snotsucker - So much better than a bulb syringe and I'm not afraid I'm going to hurt LO when he jerks around while I try to clean his nose out like with a hard bulb syringe.
Ergo - I don't use it everyday, but I do use it a lot. I would definitely recommend some type of carrier.

I would not recommend the Avent Express bottle warmer. The buttons are really hard to push.

I haven't used our strollers enough to say that I really love them. I will say that the BabyJogger City Select regular seat is still too big for C at 5 months, but he is small (23.5 inches and 13 lbs). The lowest strap setting is around his ears instead of shoulders. Same with the Peg Perego high chair we originally picked out. We were, however, able to adjust our UppaBaby G Lite to make it fit him and so far I really like that stroller.

Here are my registries if you want to look for some ideas.

http://tinyurl.com/AlliapistorBBBregistry

http://tinyurl.com/AlliapistorBRUregistry

cmc714 · February 2012

I'm still new to this, lol. But I love the rock and play sleeper, so simple and so awesome. I can pick it up and move it to another room while she's sleeping. We love our stroller too - uppa baby vista.

MsEmilyAnn · February 2012

Cory's Wife:
Get yourself a copy of Baby Bargains stat. It will compare items and give you a quick rundown of he features an price points. It's a great way to get started.

THIS! You can start one online before actually going into the store, more of a way to keep track of things you like, and can edit it later. I would start with the book and get some ideas of things you like.

The Big D · February 2012

Thanks ladies!! I looked at Target and Babies R Us and just felt completely overwhelmed...I appreciate the help!

Loveofjoe11 · February 2012

Sounds like I must get myself a baby bargains book. You're the second group to recommend it. Thanks Diane for the post

The Big D · February 2012

Loveofjoe11:
Sounds like I must get myself a baby bargains book. You're the second group to recommend it. Thanks Diane for the post

No problem.

Hey, FOUND SOMETHING ELSE!!

http://www.lucieslist.com/

Click "subscribe now", confirm, and you'll get emailed a "cheat sheet" for registries. Yessss!

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