Baby Registry

DuchessOfCambridge

This thread is specifically to discuss what we're thinking of putting on our registries and any questions we may have for other FTMs or STMs+. STMs+ please feel free to jump in with opinions, we FTMs can use all the help we can get! On my end this will be a one time thread because I like the idea of all the information in one place, but if you disagree or think it's getting too hectic, please feel free to start another.

Some jumping off points:
-Basic registry items
-Best places to register
-How much of each item to register for (i.e. diapers, wipes, diaper cream)
-Good brands of strollers/car seats/cribs/bassinets
-Opinions on Huggies vs Pampers vs Honest vs cloth diapers
-Options of breast pumps

jess0211

@DuchessOfCambridge thanks for starting this!!!

DuchessOfCambridge

@kschref is this something we could have stickied? Unless others disagree that there should only be one thread?

pawcall

I think one thread would be great. 

DuchessOfCambridge

@BumpCaitlin @BumpAdmin @BumpTara can we get this thread stickied please?

kschref

Sure. Can we sticky this please. @BumpTara @BumpCaitlin @BumpAdmin

gipfish

STM here. Here's some registry advice from my personal experience.

Take a recent mom with you when you register.
If you know a mom of young children who will go with you to a baby store and tell you what to register for, that's the best way to go. Your own mom will probably have very valuable parenting advice for you, but don't ask her to help you register, because she probably won't know what half the items in Babies R Us even are. Even if you want to register on Amazon, I recommend going to a store to actually see and touch the items because odds are, you won't know what everything is either.

Don't be disappointed when you register for all the stuff you need and all you get at your baby shower is cute clothes and diapers.
People like cute baby clothes. People are going to buy you cute baby clothes. Don't even bother registering for cute baby clothes. They will come. My registry ended up being more of a personal checklist than anything. 

Go ahead and register for those big ticket items, but be flexible.
My mom wanted to buy me a stroller. She called me up and said, "Hey, how set are you on the stroller in your registry, because I found a very similar one on sale and I want to buy it for you." If you're buying me expensive things, I'm not that dead set on it.

Don't be offended by anything anyone gifts your baby.
The gifts are for your baby, not for you.

Some must haves.
-Diapers: You'll want plenty of size NB, 1, and 2 diapers on hand, whether you're cloth diapering or not. A registry is a good way to get a cloth collection started, too. As for brand, my entire N15 board agreed that Huggies are the worst blowout offenders with the little ones. Pampers are good. 
-Car seat and stroller. (Click connect combos are excellent, especially for our winter babies. You won't have to take them out of their warm cozy cover between car and stroller.)
-Cozy cover (a car seat cover that keeps them warm during those winter months; when zipped shut, it's like a sauna in there.)
-Bathtime: an infant sponge to lay them on for the first few baths, and a baby bathtub and baby shampoo.
-A bouncy seat, infant swing, or basinet. Somewhere to set them when you're not holding them. An exersaucer for when they get bigger.
-A highchair or bumbo. Not necessary right away, but not a bad idea to include on a registry.
-Swaddling blankets or sleep sacks. To keep them toasty and cozy!
-Pacifiers: I recommend Soothies because they don't have the risk of breaking off in their mouths and choking them.
-Baby thermometer and baby Tylenol. You do NOT want to make a 2am run for these things the first time your infant is sick. We love our forehead thermometer. It works really well for me.
-Diaper cream, baby powder, wipes, lotion, etc. When it comes to your baby's butt and other skin, it will be trial and error. I'd recommend asking for small/travel sizes of several brands because you won't know how your baby's skin will react to different products until you try them.
-Sheets and changing pad covers. You'll probably want at least three of each, because blowouts happen, sometimes twice a day.
-Babywearing: Expensive carriers like the Ergo are great, but I personally like my $20 Infantino mei tai just as well. Go ahead and register for a carrier if you want, but it might do to wait until you have your baby and try out different carriers with a local babywearing group before making your decision. 
-Furniture: cribs and changing tables can be expensive. Maybe try looking for used before registering for new. A very comfy nursery rocker is a must!

That's all I got for now.

elsieisamoocow

I made a list of my favorite products for some friends who are expecting their first so I'll put that in another comment so it's not the longest comment ever. My big advice is to do your research! Look up reviews in several different places, really see what is out there and what real moms have to say about how useful it is. Get the newest Baby Bargains book - this book (they probably have an app now too) goes through a ton of popular baby items in every category, in all price points too. It lists how the quality is and a variety of other points, before giving each item a letter grade. This really helped me decide on my crib, which was so much less expensive but so much nicer than the ones you can buy at big box stores. 

Also, PLEASE do your research on car seat safety. No aftermarket accessories are safe, so those cute little strap covers that look like teddy bears are a no go. Know this before you start shopping so you're not tempted. Nothing should be between the baby and the seat (like blankets, car seat covers). And especially since we'll be having cold weather babies, dressing them in thin layers (think fleece) is safe, where puffy jackets and snow suits are not. The Car Seat Lady has great information on her website, Facebook, and YouTube pages. *steps off soapbox*

Also if you want to babywear, look into your local babywearing group. Most areas have them now, and many will have a lending library of carriers that you can borrow and try out. Even while pregnant it is good to go and get an idea of what you like, and what is safest. Ergonomic carriers are better and more comfortable for both you and baby. Woven wraps and ring slings are great too. Stretchy wraps are nice for the newborn stage but once baby gets bigger they aren't very supportive. Just things to keep in mind. There are a million babywearing resources online, as well as YouTube videos showing you the correct way to wear a carrier. One thing to note is soft structured carriers (Ergo, Tula, Kinderpack) usually need an infant insert until they're a few months old and their legs are long enough to be in it without. Tula is releasing a grow with me carrier that actually doesn't need an infant insert in April, and that's definitely a purchase I'll be making (Tulas are my favorite, as I find them most comfortable by far). It's a lot of trial and error but again safety is important. 

Whoops this turned into into a novel

elsieisamoocow

Baby must-haves:

Aden & Anais burpy bibs - can be used as a burp cloth or a bib, and they're THE BEST!! Just get them. A bunch of them. You won't be sorry. 

Muslin swaddle blankets - can be used for everything (swaddle, burp cloth, blanket on the floor, stroller blanket...) in all weather!

Tula baby carrier and infant insert - seriously just get them. So good. 

Nosefrida snot sucker - sounds disgusting but works like a charm! 

Boon grass drying rack - cute and very handy for everything - pacifiers, bottles, teethers, etc.

Kiinde breastmilk bags and bottle warmer - if you need to pump at all, this system is awesome. Make sure to check that the bottle warmer (if you don't get this one) is made specifically for heating breastmilk!

Lily jade diaper bag - I think I bought 8 different diaper bags in Hugo's short 2 years. Finally I bought the Lily Jade, which is what I originally wanted. Just do it. It's worth the price!! 

Silicone teething necklaces - there are some great ones on Amazon that are cute as well as great for teething babies

Halo sleep sacks - loose blankets aren't safe in cribs, so we swear by these. Available in both fleece and cotton, and I suggest one of each so you can adjust based on the temperature and what material pjs the baby is wearing.

Halo bassinest - such a convenient bassinet that swivels so it's easy for you to pick up baby without getting out of bed. Especially convenient if you're a c-section mom.

Earth mama angel baby nipple butter - this stuff is the freaking best. Doesn't stain your bras, not a weird texture, it actually works, doesn't taste bad, and I've used it as lip balm because it's just that good

Uppababy Mesa car seat and Uppababy Vista stroller - I HIGHLY recommend these if your budget allows. Seriously this stroller is the best, and down the road it can convert to a true double. The mesa car seat clicks on with no converters needed, and it just made life a lot easier. 

Stokke tripp trapp high chair - I despise how most other high chairs look, and how much room they take up. This is not only pretty, it can be used by an adult up to 300lbs, so your kid can literally use it forever. 

I also have heard great things about the Dockatot cosleeper, and plan to buy one this time around. 

ugoglencoco

Don't register for just one kind of bottles if you plan on FF or pumping and bottle feeding, because you could end up with bottles that your baby hates. I think it took 3 or 4 different bottles for my first, he was super picky about it and had some reflux problems as well. Ask for one or maybe two from a few different brands to try them out first, and then save a couple of those gift cards to use once you find the ones that work best for baby!

DuchessOfCambridge

*snip*

Also, PLEASE do your research on car seat safety. No aftermarket accessories are safe, so those cute little strap covers that look like teddy bears are a no go. Know this before you start shopping so you're not tempted. Nothing should be between the baby and the seat (like blankets, car seat covers). And especially since we'll be having cold weather babies, dressing them in thin layers (think fleece) is safe, where puffy jackets and snow suits are not. 

@elsieisamoocow I'm so unprepared!! I didn't think a puffy coat in a car seat for a winter baby would be a bad thing! Is it a suffocating hazard or something? I have heard from other mom friends that the US has bad infant safety standards compared to Europe so if you're buying a car seat you should go European.

@gipfish @elsieisamoocow @ugoglencoco thank you so much ladies, this is an amazing amount of information. The Uppababy seems to be a favorite here!

NYTino24

This was free a few months ago. Once you start a registry and buy an item worth $10, it shipped free of charge. Not sure if that's still the case. 
https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Family-Baby-Registry-Welcome/dp/B00N1NBOV2

This guy's reviews are well-known. 
https://www.facebook.com/TheBabyGuyNYC/

If you don't have FB, here is his page.
https://babyguygearguide.com/

NYTino24

@DuchessOfCambridge Wearing a puffycoat means the straps are too loose, and the baby could fly out in a car accident. If you take them out without the car seat, you put the jacket on then.

Something like this is safer.  And these are good for when they are older:

ugoglencoco

@DuchessOfCambridge the reason for no puffy coats is because in an accident the air in the puffy coat could decompress and leave the straps too loose. Plus it just being puffy leaves too much room between strap/baby in the first place. Don't worry, it seems all like so much stuff you just have to choose what's right for you and you'll get the hang of it all  

Edited, words are hard

DuchessOfCambridge

@NYTino24 @ugoglencoco horrifying. So glad I have 8 months to get my mom act together.

av2323

Amazon in amazing for baby registries and also for diapers.  Their completion discount is 15% I believe.  Maybe even 20.  Plus Prime.  Winner.  Typically you can get a huge box of Pampers diapers with a coupon and subscribe & save for about $23. I cancel the subscription after I receive the box and go restart it to clip the coupon again.  I didn't have to buy diapers for my little guy until he was about 9 months old.  We had a box of newborns, one box of size ones, 2 boxes of size two, and 3 of size three's on hand before he was born.  We also bought every brand imaginable.   We mainly use Pampers Baby Dry now because he is a heavy night wetter.  We used Huggies, Up and Up, and Luv's with no problem though.    
I found Lucieslist.com to be so helpful when making my registry.  She gives you economical, middle of the road, and high end options for almost every piece of baby equipment manufactured according to user reviews and safety.  Check it out!
I did a ton of research on infant seats and ended up with the Chicco Keyfit.  It was worth every penny.  I do not think you can go wrong with it.
As far as breast pumps go, I got a Medela free from my Insurance.  I hated it.  I wound up purchasing a Spectra S2 and loved it.  I wish I would have opted for it when making my insurance selection as it was a free option at the time.  It is much quieter and it didn't tear my nipples up.
For me, the diaper wipe warmer, bottle warmer, diaper genie, baby socks (his feet were covered by sleepers), and changing pad were a waste of money and didn't get any use.
I religiously used my Ergo carrier, Aden & Anais swaddles and dream blankets, and Halo sleep sacks.  We also got our money's worth out of the Mamaroo and our swing when he got bigger.   We also bought the $20 Ikea Antelope high chair.  It is hard plastic so we could just hose it down when he is finished eating.  We did baby led weaning for Henry and meals times were MESSY.  Not having to clean fabric was priceless.  Plus how can you beat a $20 high chair?!?

Tourmalily

@DuchessOfCambridge My understanding is that puffy coats do not allow you to fasten the five-point-harness securely enough. You THINK it's tight, but it really isn't, and during the force of impact during a collision, that puffy down coat will totally compress and the baby can move very violently and be hurt.

elsieisamoocow

@DuchessOfCambridge yep, the others explained it. Here's a visual of the effect that a puffy/bulky coat has. On the left, you think it is tightened correctly, but without adjusting the straps and taking it off, you can see how loose they actually are. You should not be able to pinch the strap at their shoulders, and the top of the chest clip should be even with their armpits. It's my one sanctimommy thing where I HAVE to say something if I see someone doing it incorrectly. It can be a matter of life and injury/death, though, so it's worth it! 

DuchessOfCambridge

@Tourmalily @elsieisamoocow thanks ladies! That visual is super helpful. I also just bought the Baby Bargains book!

elsieisamoocow

@DuchessOfCambridge I was such a nerd going through that book. I had a highlighter and those post-it flag tab things. Such. A. Nerd. I love baby products

jess0211

I am going to need this book and post-it notes and highlighters. Game on. @elsieisamoocow @DuchessOfCambridge

kschref

I did cloth diapering for quite a while so if anybody has questions about that, I've got lots of experience there. 

My products that I cannot live without for a newborn are:
-Armsreach cosleeper
-K'tan(LOVE these for newborns) and then we use a Lillebaby carrier when they get bigger
-Breastfriend pillow for a breastfed baby - especially in the newborn stage
-Baby Brezza Formula Pro for formula fed baby - it's a splurge for sure but it's idiot-proof for people helping
-Boogie wipes
-Nose Frida
-Muslin blankets
-Kissy kissy sleepers - Pricey but so so soft.  My kids hated any sort of sleep sack or merlin suit.  Luckily we don't get cold here and they basically lived in their sleepers for the first 4 months.
-Beaba Baby Cook Plus - Also pricey, but might be a good gift if somebody wants to splurge for you.  We use this almost daily.  Can steam small batches for when you're ready to introduce solids and turn them into purees in the same container.  I use them now to lightly steam things like carrots for snacks or whatever.  Easy to clean in my opinion and going strong after 3 years.


I agree with what some others have said about getting samples of products instead of buying large bottles of baby shampoos or whatever.  You never know what your baby might react to and both of mine had reactions to different things.  We also used different bottles for them because they had different preferences, so I wouldn't stock up on 1 kind of bottle.  Don't want to spend a ton of $$ and have them completely hate it.  (On a toddler note, I think we own every sippy cup ever made as we tried to find the "right" one for each kid.  Ugh)

Tourmalily

@kschref I've been tentatively reading about cloth diapering. What types of cloth diapers did you use? Is a toilet attachment a must-have for rinsing diapers before washing? How absorbent are they compared to disposables?

I'm looking into it for a few reasons, including the overall cost of disposable diapers, the environmental impact, and the fact that I live in a semi-rural area with once-weekly trash pick up. That's a friggin lot of diapers to be hoarding for a whole week, urgh. I'm not easily deterred by difficulty/complexity, so if there's a bit of a learning curve, I'm okay with that. What I'm most interested in is how well they hold up Thanks!

kissthesky32

I agree with a lot of the things on others' lists. I think it's important to note though, everyone and every baby is different and just because one family absolutely loved one item and used it every day, it doesn't mean you and your baby will like it at all.

Here's my list

Sleep

• Rock N Play/Bassinet
• Pack N Play - We used it as a diaper changing station downstairs until baby outgrew the RnP, then used it as a travel crib.
• Crib
• Mattress - Be sure to look at your crib and get the biggest mattress that fits in it. Cribs are maddeningly not sized the same and you don't want it to not fit or have huge gaps on the sides.
• Sheets
• Lovey - We use the Angel Baby ones. Both of my kids are obsessed with them. We only allow them in bed, so they are a nice sleep cue.
• Swaddle Blankets - We used Aden and Anais muslin blankets. Don't get the ones that are "for Target" or whatever store - they aren't as good. We used these blankets for everything. We probably have 8?
• Sleep sacks - Once again, I love the Aden and Anais ones. They have muslin ones and then also slightly thicker ones that we use most of the year. The sizes go up to basically enormous. My littlest is about 40lbs and 37inches and he's still in one (it means he can't get his leg up high enough to try to escape his crib).
• Pacifiers - If you're going to use them, just one pack of a bunch of brands. My first was super particular and would only take Nuk brand. My second tried them all and refused to use one.
• Sound machine - Good sleep cue for baby. Also helps you be louder in the rest of the house and not worry so badly about waking baby.
• Monitor - Camera or sound. Make sure you get a base where you can add more cameras as you have more children. We have the Motorola video monitor and it's been great.

Eating

• Bottles and Slow Flow Nipples - Get a couple brands. Open one at a time until you find one baby likes. Return the others and buy a bunch of those.
• Bottle Brush
• Drying Rack
• Breast Pump - Most insurances will cover one completely free.
• I just used my food processor to make baby food. Didn't bother with the Breeza or anything.
• Spoons
• Burp Cloths - I like cloth diapers for this
• High Chair

Out and About

• Car Seat
• Stroller
• Adapter to make car seat snap onto stroller
• Jogging Stroller - If you're into that. Love our BOB.
• Baby Carrier - I'm partial to the Ergo and the K'tan.
• Hiking Backpack - We hike a decent amount, so get a lot of use out of this.

Clothes
Do not put these on your registry. You will get 10 BILLION unwanted outfits that baby will never wear. Smile politely and then return them to get realistic clothes like onesies and sleep and plays.

Other

• Nursery furniture - Dresser, glider, crib. Changing tables are a waste, IMO.
  
• Baby memory book
• Playmat - My kids were on ours all the time.
• Swing/bouncer - Neither of my kids liked these.
• Diapers/Wipes/Diaper Cream - We use Pampers Sensitive because my babies have sensitive bottoms.
• Agreed with others on the Baby Tylenol, Mortin, Nosefreida, saline solution - DNW to run out in the middle of the night.

I'm probably leaving things out, but that's all I've got right now.

kschref

@Tourmalily - We were lucky enough when we started that a friend gave us their stash and we were able to try out everything.  What ended up working best for us in the early stages were Green Mountain Diapers.  We used prefolds folded into an "angel fold" with a Bummis cover.  Sometimes would add a soaker or two.  Later, we ended up using Twinkie Tush Diapers and the Green Mountain Cloth-eez.  Also a fan of Buncha Farmers Stain Stick, Bac Out, and Rockin' Green Detergent in terms of cleaning supplies and we do have diaper sprayers on one toilet downstairs and one upstairs.  There is a bit of a learning curve for sure - mostly finding what works right for your baby and how much of a "super soaker" they are will determine some things - also what you're willing to do in terms of laundry, lol.

My favorite resources are: 
https://mother-ease.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Motherease-Guide-to-Cloth-Diaper-ebook.pdf
https://dirtydiaperlaundry.com/cloth-diaper-information/
https://www.greenmountaindiapers.com - lots of good information on how to choose size for different babies, washing instructions, etc.  They also have Cloth-Eez diapers which are made from prefolds but already in a diaper shape.  We had a TON of these.

Also, there are really good sales on Black Friday.  I always cleaned up online.  I did use disposables for the first few days in the hospital because of meconium poops, but after that they did really well in cloth.

sarahunderthesea

@Tourmalily I love the Charlie Banana cloth diapers and the g-diaper system cloth diapers. DD was small so I was suspicious of the Charlie Bananas but once she outgrew NB size they were a dream, she is 13 months, wearing 12 month size and they still fit with room to grow. The G-diapers are a hybrid system so we can use biodegradable inserts for travel or whatever or put cloth inserts in for everyday wear. The down side to the Gs are that they are sized so you have to have a stash in each size which can get pricey.

I tell DH that the diaper sprayer is a must. It wasn't a big deal when she was BF but once she started solids I was thankful for it. My hands don't have to go in the toilet and poop water as long as I don't drop the diaper in. Spraypal, basically a cover for spraying, is nice as it protects from sprayback, but I wouldn't call it a must.

slaven

@kschref I plan to cloth diaper to help afford being a SAHM. I've done lots of research already but more opinions/experience is always better. I originally wanted to go with only pockets or AIOs but it seems like GMD flats and covers is the cheapest and can get the best fit for little ones. I know we'll use some disposables, especially in the beginning, but since we're starting with LO1 and plan to use them for future babies too, I have no problem getting NB sized cloth diapers

DuchessOfCambridge

@BumpTara @BumpCaitlin @BumpAdmin can we sticky please?

kschref

@slaven - So, I know lots of people that use pockets and AIOs with great success and no complaints.  My only issue with them was that my son had super sensitive skin for about the first 9 months.  Some days I would put him in a prefold without a cover because he had to have something that breathed very easily.  He did need to be changed more, but wasn't peeing the amount he does as a toddler now for sure, lol.  So I was really glad to have that separation of diaper and cover for his rougher days.  The good thing with flats too is that if you get small ones for a NB, then later you can fold them up and use them as a doubler for a bigger baby so you can get constant use out of them even past the newborn stage.

slaven

@kschref Thanks for the advice on using a newborn prefold as a doubler! I don't think I've heard/thought of that. 

elsieisamoocow

Ladies! I totally forgot about this until I realized we lost ours after traveling a while ago. This is one of the most amazing inventions ever. So the Nose Frieda (the snot sucker) is wonderful for the gooey boogers, but doesn't work great on crusty ones. This thing does. I've lovingly titled it the booger picker. It's amazing. The single ones are out of stock on Amazon currently, but I just ordered a two-pack after DS stuck food up his nose for the first time, and now I plan to keep one in my diaper bag essentials and one in the nursery. 

oogiebear Ear & Nose Cleaner https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GXTTPKI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_J9kYybWXP35ND

ugoglencoco

Awesome @elsieisamoocow !! I was just putting some stuff on my amazon wish list and a new nose Frida was one but I'll check this out too!

kissthesky32

Random note - If anyone is already shopping, Aden and Anais is on Zulily today and they have pretty good deals!

DuchessOfCambridge

@kissthesky32 I'm trying not to buy anything until after we move but I told DH these blankets are on sale and he is pushing me to get one if I want to. There are too many options! What's the best kind? The classic? The cozy? The soft? The silky soft?

c+mpeachey

This seems so bizzare....registering for baby items. I must come from a different culture or background....different country definitely. Here even wedding registries seem tacky. A baby registry just seems beyond the pale. 

I think if someone wanted to buy me a gift that i knew was a big ticket item i would politely decline. I dunno..... seems so odd.

Or am I just old fashioned?

DuchessOfCambridge

@c+mpeachey it definitely could be a culture thing, I'd be surprised if someone I knew wasn't having a shower and even more surprised if they didn't have a registry. It's viewed as helping out the new parents since a baby is such a big expense and a registry avoids them getting things they don't need or want.

As far as big ticket items go, it's generally close family members such as parents who get those which I would have no trouble accepting because they're my parents and they want to do it. PP also mentioned that you get a discount off any items you buy on your registry after the baby is born for a certain amount of time so you can put things on there you don't think you will receive but want to buy later for cheaper!

I don't think it's tacky unless the parents-to-be flat out say they expect gifts. Gifts are generally the point of baby showers, but not required.

ElizabethSchuyler

c+mpeachey said:

This seems so bizzare....registering for baby items. I must come from a different culture or background....different country definitely. Here even wedding registries seem tacky. A baby registry just seems beyond the pale. 

I think if someone wanted to buy me a gift that i knew was a big ticket item i would politely decline. I dunno..... seems so odd.

Or am I just old fashioned?

Where are you from? I wouldn't consider you "old fashioned" if it's just something your country/culture doesn't do. The baby registry conversation isn't weird for Americans. It's quite normal. 

kissthesky32

@DuchessOfCambridge - I love pretty much all of their stuff, so this is a hard question! The Dream blankets are thicker, soft, and pretty big. They work well as a blanket to lay on the floor to put the baby on or as a blanket for a toddler. The Classic Swaddle are what I have a bunch of and use for everything from swaddling, to keeping sun out of the stroller, to laying in the grass. I've never used any of the silky soft ones, so have no idea about those.

DuchessOfCambridge

@BumpCaitlin @BumpAdmin @BumpTara can we sticky please?

kschref

It took them about three days I think to sticky the last thread - they'll get to it eventually I think, lol.  

c+mpeachey

@ElizabethSchuyler Im in Australia. Baby showers here arent a massive thing either. Becoming more popular then when i had my first 10 years ago! But still not expected. I suppose its all just so different. I have been to a few showers and they all said "please no gifts" on the invites. Those that brought gifts anyhow put them in a seperate room to be opened in private later. Not during the party. 

Well i like the differences.....makes reading these posts fun.