STMs, what was the most/least useful registry item you received?

JCM285

DH and I were researching all the big things - cribs, car seats, baby monitors, strollers, etc. Our parents will probably purchase the furniture or higher priced items (they told us this) but we are putting them on the registry so they can easily find the pieces. We are pretty set on some things, but since we want to start our registry at Babies R Us tonight after DH gets out of work, I figured I would pose this question to the STMs who already know what worked or didn't work for them. I am open to any suggestions. Thanks!

BabyRN2009

Rock and Play, hands down! Didn't have it with #1 and then with #2 we wondered how we had survived the first time without it! :-P

iloveac

Most valuable was the Rn'P. DS had slight acid reflux in the beginning and it was a real life saver. Least valuable item was the dr brown bottles (although any bottle would have been a waste). He hated bottles and never took one.

nebrtwin

The Sung a Bunny swing was a big hit with our boys, but I think the most handy were the Rock n Plays. I loved that we could move them from room to room as we needed, and because we often traveled on weekends so we would pack those instead of a Pack n Play. They were much smaller and light weight versus a single Pack n Play. 

abcmom12

Bouncer and wipe warmer, lifesavers!

mlee116

Most useful: there are so many, lol.  If I had to narrow it down, it was really nice to have a bouncer or swing to sit him in to sleep or so I could cook.

Least useful: My registry was pretty bare bones so I didn't get much that wasn't used, but I would suggest not registering for any blankets!  I registered for a couple of packs of receiving blankets, but I didn't know that the #1 gift besides for clothes is blankets.  We have stacks of them that we never even used.  

irishtriplets

Most helpful was, like PPs have said, either the RNP or the swing.  Honestly, you are in complete survival mode and getting a few hours of sleep is so important.  Those two are just wonderful.

Least?  Wipe warmer or bottle warmer.  I took both of them back immediately. 

OH!  Another helpful one are those Medela steam bags.  Seriously, regardless if you bf, pump or bottle feed, those are so great.  Munchkin makes a generic version which is just as good.  Throw any parts in there (pacis too) with some water and microwave them.  Boom, almost instant sanitizer.

jlbeanza

I'm going to assume essentials are obvious (pump, bottles, etc,) so I'll cover stuff people then to think they may not need. Another vote for the Snugabunny swing--my kiddo wouldn't nap, and it was a lifesaver. Also, I absolutely adore my Aden + Anais swaddling blankets--I used them for absolutely everything (and still do). I also adored my Beco Gemini baby carrier and used it a ton. Nursing cover was a must too!

Least useful--infant sized towels (just get toddler/kid size from the get-go, because they're only tiny for so long), as well as any receiving blankets...they were cute, but not big or warm enough to be really useful. Also, I know people will disagree, but I would also say the Boppy. It falls into the "nice to have" category, but it's by no means necessary. My husband used it a lot more than I did, and I was the one nursing.

Eora3

The rock and play was wonderful. I also love any of the really light weight muslin blankets (aden and anais type). I used them for burp clothes, sun shades, swaddles, etc. The light weight ones are just so versatile. I think I have about 10 of them. I also have the slightly heavier "stroller blanket" ones for a little more warmth. They have also held up well through two boys.

Least helpful items would be baby bathtubs (I always felt like they were going to tip over and they didn't seem comfortable) and Boppy (it just didn't work for me for breast feeding support).

irishtriplets

@jleigh814 Amen to the Boppy.  It's an awesome nap pillow.  Or tummy time!  Brest Friend worked SO much better for me. 

JCM285

This is incredibly helpful!! Thanks ladies!!

abenson3

jleigh814 said:

I'm going to assume essentials are obvious (pump, bottles, etc,) so I'll cover stuff people then to think they may not need. Another vote for the Snugabunny swing--my kiddo wouldn't nap, and it was a lifesaver. Also, I absolutely adore my Aden + Anais swaddling blankets--I used them for absolutely everything (and still do). I also adored my Beco Gemini baby carrier and used it a ton. Nursing cover was a must too!

Least useful--infant sized towels (just get toddler/kid size from the get-go, because they're only tiny for so long), as well as any receiving blankets...they were cute, but not big or warm enough to be really useful. Also, I know people will disagree, but I would also say the Boppy. It falls into the "nice to have" category, but it's by no means necessary. My husband used it a lot more than I did, and I was the one nursing.

Becco Gemini gets my vote, and I still use it with my 20 month old!!  Great investment!

MaineMama

All my kids have been "happy spitters". They all would spit up constantly, but it never bothered them (IE- not reflux, just barfy). So I'm on the opposite end and I used my reciving blankets like crazy. They are easy to loop/tuck into whatever carrier I had the baby in, cover me for nursing, and wipe older kids messy faces/boogers. I prefer the thick old school flannel ones to stretchy.

In a moment of desperation I even ripped an older one I had in my bag to make impromptu nursing pads when I sprang a leak

hoping4aUNICORN

Agree changing table was used onecr! I know there was a post before about how everyone hated the bumbo seat, but I loved it! Also, it's such a small item, but I loved that thingy that had a handle and mesh little pouch attached, I have no idea what it's called but once my kids started teething I would put ice cubes in it and it helped sooooo much more then a teether, and once they were old enought I would put baby cookies and fruit..... It would keep them content for 30 min!!!!

lionyloo32

I know these are fairly new, but has anyone tried the MamaRoo? It seems like it has the most amazing settings (kangaroo, car ride with noise even, etc.) To be safe, I am registering for a bouncer too, but just wondering if the MamaRoo is worth the $179??

JulieSC81

I hated the wipe warmer. As soon as you took the wipe out, it got cold anyway. I honestly rarely used the changing table so I found it to be a waste of space. I always ended up on the bed or a the couch with a blanket underneath. Loved our swing!!! DS had acid reflux and needed to sleep somewhat upright. We loved having lots of baby books and reading every day. We started reading when DS was a week old. He loved listening to our voice and now has a deep love of reading and learning. Loved our tummy time jungle play thingy lol. I had plenty of bottles and pacifiers. My favorite bottle was the playtex drop-ins. Just throw away the drop in which makes less mess to clean and u can push the air out during feedings. I also needed infant gas drops. Oh, and grab the nose aspirator (i think that is what its called) from the hospital. Works wayyyyy better than the store bought ones.

JulieSC81

Oh and I personally found the diaper genie useless. I just threw poop diapers in a grocery bag, tied in shut, and took it out with the trash at the end of the day. But I know ppl who loved it too.

JulieSC81

Oh, and i agree with the bouncer everyone suggested where baby sits in it and uses feet to bounce up n down...just put a pillow or thick folded blanket under the feet if they cant quite touch the floor . It was very helpful to have DS jumping in that while I made dinner or washed dishes.

brittandjp

It depends on what time period we're talking here..and besides the obvious (stroller, monitor, brestpump, etc.).

Early on? The RnP, my K'tan, Swaddle Me wraps for bedtime, Boppy

Continued use? The Nose Frida (bugger sucker that does WONDERS) is seriously the best invention known to mommy-kind, we still use it on a regular basis!

desertsun

I liked to have a bunch of liners for the changing pad. Not covers (though of course you'll want more than one of those anyway), but just flat little pieces of flannel that went on top of the pad and cover. Because changing the cover frequently was more of a hassle, and newborn poos are basically liquid and sometimes go all over. The little liners were faster and easier to swap out if they got dirty. 

https://www.amazon.com/Carters-Keep-Flannel-Crib-White/dp/B002UD65YU

marriedinaugust

Must haves: sound machine (homedics sound spa lullaby), A+A blankets, boppy, prefold cloth diapers for burp cloths, Sophie the giraffe (not for the beginning but a must have!).

Cloth diapers and accessories were a must for me but that is your choice.

I never pumped but if you plan to those supplies are a must, the only nursing supplies I used were nursing pads and lansinoh but this time I will be using reusable pads and CO or EMAB nipple cream.

Jdogs12

I stupidly got a whole nursery "set"- bumpers (never used), sheet, blanket (barely used), comforter (never used), crib skirt (used for a very short time until the mattress needed to be dropped).  Also got a shopping cart protector thing...never used it and I think they look stupid when people do use them.

ebl2

Our pediatrician told us about a swaddle blanket called The Miracle Blanket on our first visit. We told her that DD wasn't sleeping more than 30-45 minutes at a time and she recommended that blanket. We had never heard of it until then and my DH ran out and got one. It worked wonders for us! Also loved the Boppy pillow. 

drpayne

lionyloo32 said:

I know these are fairly new, but has anyone tried the MamaRoo? It seems like it has the most amazing settings (kangaroo, car ride with noise even, etc.) To be safe, I am registering for a bouncer too, but just wondering if the MamaRoo is worth the $179??

I took ours back.  Didn't care for it.  We did use the snuggabunny.

drpayne

Keep your receipts and boxes.  These lists are always interesting because everyone is different.  I never used my boppy or my brest friend, for example.  They just annoyed me.

MmsHughes4

Used the most: Snugabunny swing and A+A blankets (love these for everything)

Used the least: boppy, infant towels (just use the ones you have), Sophie the Giraffe (my husband called this the overpriced dog toy).

We will be purchasing the Rock and Play this time for our DD to sleep in our room.

nesenotes

I only got one gift from my registry and that was my car seat. It was the most useful. Least useful thing I purchased were the NUK pacis because she only liked Avent.

brittandjp

I'm telling you FTM's (and STM's if you don't have one), GET A NOSE FRIDA. You will thank me later.

The bulbs don't work. The Nose Frida has a filter so nothing would ever get into your mouth, though I don't think it would even if there wasn't a filter. It's seriously magical. Get it. Years from now, you'll be coming back and thanking me.

JCM285

Thanks ladies! This list is definitely helping me consider what to look at. I have heard good things about Rock N Play from you all and others so we will probably check that out. Also considering dumping the infant tub idea since I wasn't 100 percent sure I wanted one in the first place

JCM285

Also checking out Nose Frida as that seems to be a hot item!

vintagejjane

For us it was the bassinet and the ridiculous amount of newborn clothes, especially the "cutesy" ones. I love little girl dresses and stuff but you end up changing them so much during the day that basic cute onsies and sleepers are the best. DD was a big baby so she outgrew her bassinet right away and went straight to the pack and play. We skipped the changing table and just always used the bed or floor.

dianeg1017

Most useful was the swing! My little one lived in it! Least useful swaddle blankets and receiving blankets my little one ( now 5) still hates clothes and being wrapped up. Not even footsie pj's on that girl lol