PGAL Lurker: XP STM's help FTM's with Registry

klbowie

Tomorrow I go for my A/S and if everything is good, we will be starting our baby registry.  I'll am a little overwhelmed.  I have my baby bargains book, have done some research but just too much info.  So can you ladies tell me the one thing you couldn't live without and the one thing you regret buying/getting?  Also, what is one splurge item you bought/received that was totally worth it? I would greatly appreciate any help.  TIA

Missa_g

We loved our PnPs for sleeping in the beginning! Pretty much every other newborn thing was a waste. Swing, jumper, Exersaucer, RnP...all a big fat waste.

ProfessorPedals825

Loved: The Rock N Play!  Excellent for sleep in the beginning because it's so small and easy to put anywhere, next to the bed, by the couch, in the kitchen.

Hated: The Bath seat/recliner thing. She was just too small for it so we had to go out and buy a baby bathtub with a newborn sling.

Wish I added: The humidifier.  We never even thought about getting one until she got her first cold, and I freaked out!  I ran out to buy one immediately.

And I agree with @mkc5869 about the Pack N Play.  We've only used it a few times and it's when we're out of town.  Others swear by it but our apartment was just too small to have it out all the time.

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klbowie

Gknauff79 said:

The rock and play was a life saver. K also loved her snugabunny swing. I could have gotten one a lot cheaper, but really didn't want to constantly be replacing batteries. I'd say the pack and play has been a huge waste. Between the swing, rock and play and crib we have hardly used it. I can't wait to see your update tomorrow? What time is your A/S so I know when to start stalking PGAL?

I love seeing you over here and stalking me!!! I go in at 1:15pm Colorado time.  My OB was nice enough to refer me to a high risk specialist, not because it was needed, but so I could get immediate feedback!  So I should know all tomorrow by 2:15pm if baby cooperates.  FX baby does.  

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FmrAFBrat

Like PPs said the bathtub was a waste. If I had to do it again I would just do a sling or sponge insert for the sink or tub.

I really loved our Fisher Price bouncer...it was the only way I showered early on with both of my boys.

Right now the item I use the most is my snap n go stroller. I have the Safety 1st Clic It (with the huge basket and phone holder) that I got for DS1 but now that I have 2U2 I use it to cart DS2 (& all our stuff) into daycare while DS1 helps push it. I can leave the set up at daycare which is nice. There is no way in hell I would leave one of my good strollers there. Plus the snap n go is so easy for short trips and you don't have to mess with an adaptor-opens and closes in 1 step. I highly recommend both a SnG and a great stroller that suits your needs.

My splurge item was the Valco Snap Dual Stroller for both my boys. I love it. Pushes one handed, great sunshade, newborn rated, lightweight, huge basket, & opens and closes in one easy step. I've never spent that much on one baby item but it was worth every penny. It comes in a single too.

A lot of the stuff is personal and depends on what you like or your baby likes.

MickeyM04

Great questions!

The one thing we can't live without--I'm cheating and picking two, because there are two:

1. Homedics white noise machine...DS still uses it.  It's a lifesaver.  When you turn that thing on, he knows it's bedtime and just totally mellows out.

2. Swaddleme's (the cheater velcro ones)...First six weeks without them...no more than an hour of sleep at a time.  After them...3+ hours at a time.  Hallelujah.

The one thing we regret purchasing/registering for--this is hard because honestly by now it's probably something we used for like a week and haven't thought about in 17 months.  I do remember that I registered for and received about a dozen different kinds of pacifiers, and all DS ever took were the Avent soothies they give you in the hospital, and that was only for about 3-4 months.  Minor purchase but still, I've got about 50 pacifiers we never used.

The splurge that was totally worth it:  The Angelcare monitor that senses movement and sounds off an alarm if LO stops breathing.  We had some false alarms before we realized we had it set to the wrong sensitivity, and then we had a few false alarms when DS started to move in his sleep, but totally worth it for peace of mind when he started belly sleeping.  I knew if anything ever happened, that alarm would go off.  My friends were freaking when their babies started belly sleeping and were going in there every hour to check on them, and I was sleeping like a baby.  I think it was like $150 or something?  Well spent.  WELL.  SPENT.

MickeyM04

Agree with @mkc5869 totally about the bottles.  We registered for and received 4 different kinds and DS took none of them when we started him at DC.  Upon everyone's recommendation I got the Playtex nurser drop in bottles and those are the only ones he took so then I went out and bought a dozen of them and the other 30 bottles we have went straight to storage after no usage. 

erinlovesdavid

My top item was probably the Halo Swaddle sleep sacks. Splurge was a leather upholstered glider for the nursery, totally worth it, IMO, especially when I hear friends who had babies around the same time complaining that theirs are falling apart. I can't think of anything off hand that I regret purchasing/registering for...

I do want to add that I based my registry/research on lucie's list, and most of it was spot-on. She offers a printable cheat sheet if you register for her email updates, which are also informative and highly entertaining. LOVE lucie's list.

4legsRbest

I could not have survived without my moby and ergo. I literally carried him everywhere for the first 6 months.

I also think the PNP was a waste, but didn't get a RNP either. Our swing (that was also a bouncer) while only used for 4 months was his favorite thing. I also got the stroller/car seat combo thing, and I hate that stroller - it is waayyy too large and I mostly carried him so I ended up getting a smaller stroller that he could sit in at 6 months old. I bought the travel system myself too, that really, really hurt in the $ department.

I got so many blankets, swaddles, burp cloths and bibs I never used, most are still packaged up.

Splurge - glider and video monitor system. We have the motorolla and I LOVE that thing.

FmrAFBrat

Agree@ erinlovesdavid Lucie's List.

I forgot this one too:

https://carseatblog.com/carseatblogcoms-recommended-car-seats/

Helpful reviews.

luvmyducks

I splurged on our glider. Best Chairs are awesome! Also splurged on a plug in swing--FP Snugabunny. I had a hand-me-down battery operated one available but wanted the plug in kind. I agree with RNP and white noise that goes all night. I got one at Target by the First Years. The Snuza Hero gives my paranoid AL mind some peace--love it. Also love the Boppy.

If I could do it again I would have splurged on the City Select stroller since it can turn into a double. I've done a ton of research and truly believe it is the best stroller out there.

orangegoggles

Must have: RNP, noise machine, and a good video monitor.

Pass: infant towels-we got so many of them and really you can only use them when your LO is teeny. After 4 months they were pointless. I prefer the toddler or adult size. Also, I never used my mamaroo as DS didn't like it. We also barely used our exasaucer, as by the time he was big enough for it he didn't want to be confined and wanted to be free to roll/crawl but that might just be him. Maybe if I has gotten a jumperoo one that would have been better.

Splurge: a good stroller! We splurged on the City Select GT and it was worth every penny for a variety of reasons.

salsa_wifey

One thing I couldn't live without:  The Graco Sweetpeace Infant Soothing Swing.  The swing plugs in so you aren't going through a ton of batteries.  It also has a plug in for an MP3 (iPod) player to play in addition to the regular music and noises it comes with.  Baby can swing in the swing seat or remove it and attach your infant car seat so baby never has to be removed if he/she falls asleep in the car. It's got a ton of great features.  

One thing I regret buying/getting:  Sassy Seat Doorway Jumper.  I tried using this with both of my boys and there was just too much space around them and it was not snug to their bodies so they were always flopped to one side.  I tried stuffing it with towels or blankets but they just were never comfortable it in.  It's not like the Johnny Jump Up I had as a kid.  Waste of money.  I did take the toys off of it and they played with those though.

One splurge item you bought/received that was totally worth it:  Summer Infant Babytouch Color video monitor.  I have 2 cameras now - one for each DS - it has come in handy for both baby and toddler.  I love being able to see them without disturbing them while they sleep.  I love the talk-back feature so I can tell my toddler to lay back down and go to sleep.  I love the pan feature so I can see where he is in his room or watch DH ready LO bedtime stories.

SunshinyLees

I think the nursing pillow is a waste of money. Just use a regular pillow, works the same.

Definitely register/buy something to swaddle baby ( we used the miracle blanket), white noise machine ( the one that stays on all night-not the timer ones), a carrier ( the nuroo pocket is AMAZING)!!! get it, you will not regret it. It's great for the first three months, then transition to an Ergo. If you are going to pump, invest in a good electric one. Get the Medela freestyle!!!

Good luck with your a/s!

KikiCohen

I wish we would have bought a RNP.  DS ended up having reflux and I think it would have made sleeping so much easier for him.  Also, it would have been easier to take on vacation than the PNP (which I know we will get more use out of as he gets older).

Our other must haves:
A&A blankets- We got a ton (and I do mean a ton) of homemade blankets for DS, but the A&A blankets are so versatile that they're what we use the most.  They're really light so he doesn't sweat with one over top of him in the car seat and they make a great blanket to lay out to play on.

Diaper Genie- Target makes a generic (and cheaper!) refill, so that's a big plus.

Cradle Swing- I know the Snugabunny is popular, but we have the My Little Lamb Platinum.  It's basically the same except I think ours takes up less floor space.

Bouncer seat- B/c let's face it, you have to shower and you need LO to be portable lol

I would also recommend adding a variety of diapers and wipes to your registry.  Even if no one buys them, you can use your completion discount on them!

If you don't already have a good camera, register for one.  I know way too many people who relied on their phones, only to find out that quality was crappy once they ordered prints.  A memory card also wouldn't hurt.

Things we got but don't use:

Receiving blankets and burp cloths- We found that washcloths work best with DS.  That being said, he doesn't spit up a ton (since he's on reflux meds) or drool a lot.  If he did, I might feel differently.

Baby carrier- DS hates it.  Maybe register for one, but don't cut the tags off right away.

Bath tub- It was great while DS fit in the newborn sling, but now he's at an awkward age/size where he's too big for the sling, but he can't support himself enough for me to feel comfortable with him in the tub, so we end up giving him sponge baths on his changing table.

Oatoa

I agree with what everyone else said.  It is all very personal and you'll get stuff you like and stuff you don't its the name of the game.  Two small details I always like to tell people:

The A&A swaddling blankets come in two sizes.  Get the bigger size so you can use them to swaddle your LO longer.

My travel changing pad from Skip Hop is awesome.  It holds everything and I still us it with my 20 month old.

https://www.amazon.com/Skip-Hop-Pronto-Changer-Diaper/dp/B000F1SCJK/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1380895294&sr=8-5&keywords=skip+hop+diaper+bag

adoxyinherear

We went REALLY light on the gear and got by just fine.

Loved our PnP. DD slept in it for the first three and a half months. We were also gifted a Primo baby bathtub and while it's a monster, we actually still use it. It's nice because they can recline in it when they're little, and sit up when they're big. It's just been easier for us to wash DD in her tub than the big tub, and we don't have a good sink for sink baths.

The boppy was a total waste. I just used a bunch of pillows in the beginning.