General Registry Thread

temmetime

Do you have questions about your baby registry? Ask them here! Examples below! 

What are the basic necessities that need to go on a baby registry? Where is the best place to register? How many registries should a new mom have? 
STM's -what do you regret putting on your registry? What did you not get enough of? 

Are you a second (or third, fourth, etc.) time mom who can answer these questions and more? Instill your wisdom upon us!! 

tumbleweed-1

I have a lot of close family in rural areas with limited internet access who shop in box stores, not online. I want an online registry. I can print it out and mail it, or send it to them privately on fb (most of them at least do fb on their phones). Has anyone else encountered this situation? I like that amazon has a spot where you can mark it as purchased even if it’s not purchased through them. Maybe I can appoint my sister to be the inbetween of what our family gets & how to check it as “purchased” on the list.
Also, I want to find a way to denote that most of the items I’m registering for don’t have to be that exact brand/item, it’s just to give everyone a style of what I’m looking for. I’m totally fine with used items too, as long as it’s clean and still in good/safe condition. I really worry about being flexible enough. I’m in a higher economic bracket now than I was growing up (and that a lot of my immediate family are still in), and SO comes from an even higher one. So I really struggle to not act “better” than them- which I don’t, there’s just a stigma when I go back to my home town now because I “made it” in the city. You know?
I’m just venting & reaching out for similar situations people have been in so I don’t feel like garbage. I still struggle with accumulating “stuff” and buyers remorse & all that $ drama. 

Jens_Hoes

My advice for registries:
-Don't put diapers or clothes on there. People will buy them no matter what, no sense in "wasting" someone's gift on diapers or clothes when people will get them for you anyways.  For those that have Target stores close, they do big sales that includes diapers where if you spend a certain amount you get gift cards back. 
-Put the big items on your registry even if you don't think people will buy them for you (dresser, crib, stroller, car seat, etc). People may go in together to get you big item gifts.  
-But also, put a lot of lower price gifts so that people who are buying for you that are coming to your shower alone, can get something in their price range.  
-Buybuybaby and Target have great return policies.
-Put everything on there you think you might need/want. You can always return afterwards.

kadeephd

I'll start I guess!  Like a few others I have a secret Amazon list of things I think I might add to my registry.  I'm trying to keep it minimal since we live in a small place.  Here is what I have on there so far:

wet bag for diapers (we are going to try cloth, my friend is giving me hers plus my parents are getting us a diaper service for the first bit)

changing pad

car seat (maybe two since we have two cars)

mini crib that can be adjusted to different heights + mattress + sheets

some nipple cream & witch hazel pads

muslin wraps for swaddling

some sleepers and onesies

stroller

baby-wearing device of some kind (my friend is also sending me hers, but I'm unsure of brand)

maybe a rock n' play or pack n' play for portable sleeping?

Anything absolutely essential that I am missing?  Did you register for any of the above and not find it useful?

Jens_Hoes

@tumbleweed-1 I would have the person sending out your baby shower invites to put a little message on it that indicates your wishes (used is ok, off brand is ok, etc). You can also put your sister as the go person if someone needs help ordering or whatever, and that can be on the invite as well.  Or once invites go out your sister/family member could send a message to everyone indicating your wishes

trucksntutus

@tumbleweed-1
My favorite was definitely the Amazon list. However, for other stores I had a good time registering on Target/Walmart. Lots of good stuff there! Too bad no Babies R Us anymore, I did register there too with my first. However, for baby specific stores, Buy Buy Baby is still around.  

AGK2015

Things that I feel confident saying should be considered universal no-nos:

• Bumbo seat (OT friend recommended against them, not great for baby's development... see also https://mamaot.com/beware-the-baby-bumbo-seat/ and https://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-03-15/health/ct-met-bumbo-posture-20120315_1_physical-therapists-developmental-benefits-babies).
• Crib bumpers (Suffocation risk... see also https://www.aappublications.org/news/2017/05/19/Bumpers051917)
• Orajel (see also https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm306062.htm)
• Aftermarket car seat accessories (strap covers, buntings that don't go over the whole seat like a shower cap... anything that comes between your baby and his carseat should absolutely 100% be avoided.... very very very important for our December baby crew! See also https://csftl.org/non-regulated-products/ or https://thecarseatlady.com/dangersoffluff/ or https://blog.allstate.com/car-seat-accessories-balancing-safety-sanity/).

Most everything else is pretty individual, and what you need/will use will depend on both how you live and what kind of baby you have. Our lifestyle at the time we had a baby was urban, public-transit heavy (though we do own a car), with a small living space. Breastfeeding worked well for us, and she wasn't particularly fussy, gassy, or prone to spewing, which also makes a difference.

Things we actually needed for a baby: 

• A safe place to sleep
• Diapers
• A carseat
• Things to support our chosen feeding method (a starter kit of bottles if you're not gonna be a BFing SAHM; for BFing: lanolin cream, an extra set of pump parts and handsfree pumping bra because I pumped at work, milk storage bags)

Things we liked for a baby that we didn't register for that you don't necessarily need: 

• Baby carrier (we've got a mix of soft structured carriers, ring slings, and woven wraps; we also used the Boba, but not as much as our other options).
• A swing (worked for us, not all babies like them)
• Burp cloths... we mostly used plain floursack towels
• Changing pad liners
• Nosefrida

Things we registered for that we rarely or never used: 

• Stroller and stroller accessories
• Pacifiers
• A pack and play
• More than 2 crib sheets/mattress protectors
• Bottle sterilizer
• Swaddles
• Crib mobile
• One of those activity center jumpers
• Bottles! As it turns out, Nugget never took to the Dr. Browns that we registered for, so I wound up returning an entire large box of them (thank goodness we had only opened the starter pack!).

Things we didn't register for and didn't miss:

• Wipe warmer
• Bottle warmer
• Rock and play
• Clothes (people gave them as gifts anyway, and we supplemented by purchasing what we liked)
• Baby food steamer/blender

Other advice: don't open things until you're ready to use them; you may find yourself returning a surprising amount that way. Most places offer a completion discount at or after your due date for you to pick up anything that hasn't been purchased for you; we had registries at Buy Buy Baby and Target, and I had a shadow registry on Amazon that I never shared that included most of the same items. Towards the end, I made sure all three registries matched, comparison shopped, and got everything else on my list at a discount.

runrinserepeat

Lol I freaking loved the bumbo and will absolutely get another one this time around. Oh well. I feel like my kids don’t spend a ton of time in them so it’s probably fine. 

runrinserepeat

Also, I’ll just add “do you”. We loved the wipe warmer and bottle warmer. Everybody told us we’d never use them, but DH used that bottle warmer several times a day for at least a year. So like every thread here, take it or leave it. 

Im absolutely registering for stuff even though I won’t have a shower. I won’t even make it public, but the stores will send a coupon near December so I can get what I want at a discount. 

AGK2015

@runrinserepeat Meh. Figured I'd toss it on that list for information purposes (I wasn't familiar with the criticisms of them when I was making my own registry), but realistically... tradition will prevail, and people will still buy crib bumpers, bumbos, aftermarket car seat accessories, and second-hand dropsided cribs, regardless of risks/downsides. I feel better having brought the information up, in case it does influence people's decisions, but I'm not gonna, like, call CPS on you or anything.

ETA: Definitely with you on the "you do you" in most cases! Every family is different (like, what kind of weirdos don't use a stroller?) what's essential for me might be useless to you, and vice versa. 

kadeephd

I like the idea of not being tied to particular items and letting people know you are ok with used.  Some things should be bought new, like car seats and mattresses.  I wonder if there is a registry that allows you to indicate when you want something particular vs when you want something similar and that another option or used is OK. 

Good advice on not putting clothing on there.  I have already gotten several outfits as gifts so that makes sense!

tumbleweed-1

@kadeephd I know for my friend’s registry a few years ago she was able to add notes. For books she said something like “hard covers only please, used is fine”. She had an amazon registry. 

kadeephd

@tumbleweed-1 Oh I didn't realize you could do that on Amazon!  That's great.  We'll probably stick with Amazon.

runrinserepeat

@AGK2015 it wasn't really meant as a dig. Your post just seemed so firm on those things, and IME it's a lot like everything else here, where everyone has their own opinion. But you're right, it's good to have the information there. I think links about that may add weight, since I'm still kind of "eh, how bad could it be if my kids are fine" which I know is a great way to make decision

Jens_Hoes

Adding to the every baby is different, here is my take on @AGK2015 list

Things that I feel confident saying should be considered universal no-nos:

• Bumbo seat (OT friend recommended against them, not great for baby's development). - we have a bumbo and use it only for when my daughter eats at my mother's house since she does not have a high chair
• Crib bumpers (Suffocation risk)
• Orajel
• Aftermarket car seat accessories (strap covers, buntings that don't go over the whole seat like a shower cap... anything that comes between your baby and his carseat should absolutely 100% be avoided.... very very very important for our December baby crew!). AND TO ADD, BABY SHOULD NOT WEAR JACKETS/SNOW SUITS/ETC, that adds space between baby and the car seat straps, basically meaning if you were in an accident, baby is more likely to slip out of the seat since it isn't as tight as it should be

Things we actually needed for a baby: 

• A safe place to sleep
• Diapers
• A carseat
• Things to support our chosen feeding method (a starter kit of bottles if you're not gonna be a BFing SAHM; for BFing: lanolin cream, an extra set of pump parts and handsfree pumping bra because I pumped at work, milk storage bags) I planned to exclusively breastfeed until I returned to work, but I needed to pump the day we came home from the hospital because my daughter had a TERRIBLE latch and wasn't getting enough.  So I was glad to have the pump right away

Things we liked for a baby that we didn't register for that you don't necessarily need: 

• Baby carrier (we've got a mix of soft structured carriers, ring slings, and woven wraps; we also used the Boba, but not as much as our other options).
• A swing (worked for us, not all babies like them)
• Burp cloths... we mostly used plain floursack towels
• Changing pad liners
• Nosefrida

Things we registered for that we rarely or never used: 

• Stroller and stroller accessories - we use ours a ton
• Pacifiers - DON'T YOU DARE TAKE AWAY MY PACIFIERS! My daughter is 11 mo and still uses them for sleep.  Honestly, at times its the only thing that stopped her from screaming.  Not all pacifiers are the same and baby may take some and not others
• A pack and play - we used this as baby's safe sleep place before the crib
• More than 2 crib sheets/mattress protectors
• Bottle sterilizer
• Swaddles - HALO SLEEP SACK FOR LIFE!
• Crib mobile
• One of those activity center jumpers
• Bottles! As it turns out, Nugget never took to the Dr. Browns that we registered for, so I wound up returning an entire large box of them (thank goodness we had only opened the starter pack!).- I went back to work after 12 weeks, so we obviously needed them.

Things we didn't register for and didn't miss:

• Wipe warmer
• Bottle warmer
• Rock and play - JUST A SIDE NOTE: *TW*  there have been infant deaths associated with the rock n play due to the position of the baby in them, and positional asphyxiation, it is NOT considered a safe sleep surface due to the incline.  There is a rock n play bassinet, which is not the same thing and IS considered safe *End TW*
• Clothes (people gave them as gifts anyway, and we supplemented by purchasing what we liked)
• Baby food steamer/blender

Once baby was in their own room, a monitor, black out curtains and white noise machine were important for us.  You also need a place to wash baby, whether it is in the kitchen sink or baby tub. 
I'm sure I'll think of more soon lol

AGK2015

runrinserepeat said:

@AGK2015 it wasn't really meant as a dig. Your post just seemed so firm on those things, and IME it's a lot like everything else here, where everyone has their own opinion. But you're right, it's good to have the information there. I think links about that may add weight, since I'm still kind of "eh, how bad could it be if my kids are fine" which I know is a great way to make decision

I'm sorry, are you suggesting that my input as a random stranger on the internet isn't sufficient to change your mind on its own?! Preposterous! But also, I didn't take it as a dig; I was more concerned about leaving the impression that I think there's something wrong with you or your parenting just because we disagree on a hunk of plastic or whatever. Motherhood is hard enough without adding random judgement from people on the internet; not really looking to make your parenting journey harder  

But also, I just edited to add some links to the information I have on those items; I think you make a good point that there's a difference between adding useful information to the conversation and just offering presenting a summary of information in a way that comes across as personal judgment or unfounded opinion, and I'd much rather do the former than the latter.

kristah2

I found I ended up registering for items that I did use later on but probably didn’t need right away. These include:
highchair
bigger car seat 
bath toys 
bigger kid toys 
etc. 

What i found was that you have to spend so much money early on and people think they are helping buying expensive things like a high chair but they don’t get used for 6 months. Versus I probably would have been in a better position financially at 6 months to buy a big item then I was before birth. 

AGK2015

Jens_Hoes said:

[.....]

• Aftermarket car seat accessories (strap covers, buntings that don't go over the whole seat like a shower cap... anything that comes between your baby and his carseat should absolutely 100% be avoided.... very very very important for our December baby crew!). AND TO ADD, BABY SHOULD NOT WEAR JACKETS/SNOW SUITS/ETC, that adds space between baby and the car seat straps, basically meaning if you were in an accident, baby is more likely to slip out of the seat since it isn't as tight as it should be

YES YES YES SUPER IMPORTANT THANK YOU!!!!!!!

[.....]

• Things to support our chosen feeding method (a starter kit of bottles if you're not gonna be a BFing SAHM; for BFing: lanolin cream, an extra set of pump parts and handsfree pumping bra because I pumped at work, milk storage bags) I planned to exclusively breastfeed until I returned to work, but I needed to pump the day we came home from the hospital because my daughter had a TERRIBLE latch and wasn't getting enough.  So I was glad to have the pump right away

Definitely! USA moms, take note: most health insurance plans will cover a pump for you; make sure you check it out so you have it on hand!

[....]

• Bottles! As it turns out, Nugget never took to the Dr. Browns that we registered for, so I wound up returning an entire large box of them (thank goodness we had only opened the starter pack!).- I went back to work after 12 weeks, so we obviously needed them.

We definitely needed bottles, but it took a few tries to find a bottle she'd take (and by a few, I mean I bought one of every bottle Target sells and then some). Depending on your plans/situation, it may make sense to have one or two smaller starter packs on hand instead of a full dozen of one kind.

Don't mind me, just annotating @Jens_Hoes annotations

maureenmce

So, first time around we registered on Amazon and Target and both were great and we had no problems. Definitely put a bunch of different price range stuff on there so everyone from your mom and dad to your friend at work will have something to get you as a present. And, of course, giant disclaimer that every baby and every family is different and approximately one million things we assumed we'd need or the baby would love did NOT work out for us, so it's very much trial and error based on the preferences of a little one you haven't met yet! Anyway, here's the most helpful list I can make:

The things I found as close to universal as possible:
-diapers and wipes (we love Pampers and had a bad experience with Huggies, but again, YMMV.)
-burp cloths (any brand)
-car seat
-a little baby tub for newborn baths (we have a duck shaped one we adore) baby shampoo, etc.
-receiving blankets/lightweight blankets for when baby is playing on the floor (also, I say pick cutes one bc you'll take a lot of photos on them)
-safe sleeping place (we did a crib and she loved it since day one, so we got lucky there.)
-mattress, mattress protector, sheets (BUY MORE SHEETS THAN YOU THINK YOU'LL NEED because lots of accidents happen in the newborn days.)
-some kind of changing pad or changing table combo. We got an awesome changing table from Ikea we love that we still use for DD, but it's in her room so we're looking for something smaller this time around (or no table.)
-for pumping mamas - hands free bra for pumping, pump, bottle system,
-while breastfeeding I used my Breast Friend but there's also or the other one I'm blanking on the name of right now, Bobbie? Wtf is it? BOPPY. There is is. (Sorry, pregnancy brain!)
-stroller (and you do not need to go fancy here, if budget is a concern. Ours was a cheaper model and it's still going strong 2 + years in.) 
-diaper bag and definitely get a little portable, wipeable, changing pad to go in there.
-a lot of onesies and jammies and hanging around the house clothes (you'll be changing outfits multiple times per day due to accidents/spit up most likely, so calculate based on how often you want to do laundry!) As PP have mentioned, you do not need to register for clothes necessarily because people will buy them anyway BUT if you do have clothes you really like, I'd go ahead and put them on there so people can buy the things you actually want and/or get a sense of your style.
-a bunch of little hats! Since ours will be winter babies, hats are important to keep the heat in their little bodies. (Plus, luckily, they're very cute.)
-high chair - get one that's easy to clean! I hated ours because it had all these deep nooks and crannies that were impossible to clean and we got rid of it and are getting a simpler one this time.

Things that really worked for us:
-GLIDER. For the first six months my daughter would basically only sleep on me during the day. So every nap was in the glider. We also got a stain resistant one, which was the smartest move I ever made.
-Halo sleep sacks. We LOVED them.
-Dr. Brown's bottles. DD had some (very mild) spit up issues until we switched to these. Love them.
-Baby Bjorn bouncer - DD was OBSESSED with this, especially once she could bounce herself.
-I know a lot of people think it's unnecessary, but we really liked the little duck thermometer you put in the bath that gives the temperature and a blue, green or red color.
-Also totally not necessary but we have three little bath robes for her and she's always loved them.
-I got a small little organizer stand for right next to the glider to keep snacks and water while pumping or breastfeeding or being trapped in the glider for 2 hours while she napped on me and it was a lifesaver.
-We got an activity center with little sides you could fold up to keep wandering pets at bay, and that was great.

Things that kind of worked:
-Swing. It was hit or miss. Not as beloved as the bouncer, but frankly it was good to have multiple options of places I could sit her down safely for a moment while I cleaned up a mess or heated up food, so I did like having both a swing and a bouncer.

Things that did NOT work for us:
-Halo bassinet. She just hated it. It was a shame because *I* loved it, but she preferred the crib from day 1.
-pacifiers. She refused them starting basically immediately.
-Ergo babywearer - I was heartbroken by this, but my DD hated babywearing. She just not like being overly confined. She preferred the stroller from the time she was teeny tiny. I'm hoping next LO is different in this respect!

Things we did not even try:
-bottle warmer - DD drank her breast milk and formula cold always, which is actually SO much easier!
-wipe warmer
-rock n play/pack n play

Things I'm looking for recs on:
-Breast pump - anyone have one they LOVED? Especially any mamas with low supply? I'm looking for the strongest possible pump that's out there, basically.

k_m10

Totally agree with second hand baby stuff. Already scoping out Facebook marketplace, plus they have kids’ consignment sales here a few days a year.
BUT, I work for an insurance company. Don’t get a used car seat. It’s really dangerous.
If these seats have been in an accident, they can be structurally unsound. People are supposed to turn them in and have the straps cut, but a lot of people don’t. Buy new - it’s not worth the risk.
Also be careful with cribs - there have been recalls on some because of the sides sliding down when they’re not supposed to.
I’d quickly google any possible secondhand product for a recall before purchasing.

PensiveCrayon

Off the top of my head the things I really and truly loved:

• Keekaroo Peanut changer, which I mentioned in another thread. I loved its portability and the fact that whenever the baby peed or pooped on it I didn't need to do another load of wash
• Bumbleride Indie stroller -- I'm one of the ones who uses it daily for our walks
  
• Baby-wearing device -- If you want to join the world of crazy moms check out Wildbird ring slings. I also enjoyed, sort of, the Nesting Days skin-to-skin carrier I had. I say sort of because the baby didn't love being worn unless he was ready to fall asleep (and also we had to deal with oxygen cords, boo). Hoping this next one is more snuggly
• Generic cloth diaper liners -- I think we got Gerber brand? Just the thick trifold cloth kind are so handy for wiping up any kind of mess, using as burp cloths, etc. They're cheap and rugged.
  
• Spectra S1 breast pump -- Portable, quiet, closed system...can't go wrong.
  
• Cybex Aton 2 car seat -- $$ but it's German-engineered and has a steel foot to give extra crash protection. And hey, it kept our kid safe at 5ish months when I got into an accident! 
  
• My Brest Friend nursing pillow -- I know the Boppy is the popular choice here, and yes this one is pretty fugly. But spare yourself the struggle. This is the best nursing pillow out there. It velcros around you so you can walk while you nurse if you need to greet someone at the door (heaven forbid) and doesn't have a space between the pillow and the body that the baby can get lost in.
  

Things I wish I'd registered for or appreciated after the fact:

• Breast pads -- Obviously you don't know how nursing will go in advance, but I went through these like candy. Every time the baby ate the other side would leak, or if I went too long between nursing...leaks.
• Haakaa breast pump -- So this one is interesting. It's a silicone "pump" that suctions to your breast and pulls milk out. I used it to collect milk on one side while my son nursed on the other. After a bit, though, it became difficult because he was so squirmy. Also I'm not sure about hindmilk vs foremilk balance with this. But if you hate pumping it's a nice, easy way to collect extra milk.
  
• Meal kits -- I got something like $200 worth of credits for Munchery from my MFA classmates and it was soooo nice to be able to make myself a homecooked meal in a half hour, without having to worry about getting groceries.
  
• Zippadee-zip and Merlin's Magic Sleepsuit -- a couple helpful sleep aids. I also got a ton of different swaddles and sleep sacks at my showers though.
  

As for things I didn't really use, I'd say 95% of all the medicines. And also the Burt's Bees skincare line. Babe turned out to have very sensitive skin and the only thing that works for us is Bella B Gone cradle cap shampoo and Aveeno Eczema Therapy for body wash and lotion.

I also really didn't love our baby tub (just the generic blue tub everyone gets) and preferred to bathe with the baby. I'm not sure what I'll do for this one, as I don't have quite the free time to take baths that I used to!

rosebud332

A couple things I will add for now...

-You might want to add large items to your registry even if you plan to buy them yourself. Some places have a discount for you to “complete” your registry so you may get money off just for having it on there.

-Would like to reiterate to check if your insurance covers a breast pump. I think most in the US do (maybe all?). And those suckers (ha) are a good $200+ if you have to buy it.

-If you are getting a carrier style car seat you will probably just need one car seat and just get multiple bases for extra cars. They are very easy to snap in and out of the base. And the bases are usually a lot cheaper.

-My kid hated the bouncer but loved the swing. It really depends on the baby. Bouncers are relatively cheap so I’d recommend getting one just in case your baby loves it.

-I didn’t use the pack n play at first but I use it frequently now that my daughter is older essentially as a cage. lol I’m kidding, but really I’m not.

-The Velcro swaddles are amaaaazing. So much easier than trying to do it with a real blanket.

-Also love the halo sleep sack and still use it.

-I did use the rock n play. My dd wouldn’t sleep in anything else, so it was the only thing that worked for us and I’m so glad we had it.

-One thing about registering for clothes and even some other things is that the same styles might not be available anymore once people go to buy them. Just something to keep in mind.

-I never used a real high hair. We have a travel type booster thing which has always worked for us. Recommend getting something like that if you will spend a decent amount of time at people’s houses that won’t have a high chair.

PensiveCrayon

@maureenmce I'd say definitely check out the Spectra S1 (or S2, the only difference is that the S1 is chargeable and portable). I've heard a lot of good stuff from women who have started with the PISA and switched to it. I think it calls itself a hospital-grade pump without the actual certification? Which, I don't know how accurate that is. But it worked for me when I was having to EP during my son's NICU stay.

coybig

Register for a carrier for your SO - one they would prefer to wear (even if it's just to get the discount).  I know my wife loved using the wraps, but no effing way I was messing with one.  I much preferred the Boba 3G in an earth tone and will use it again for #3.

AGK2015

@coybig good point! A diaper bag too, yes? My husband definitely didn't want to be carrying my purse-y looking one when he was out and about with the Nugget by himself, and I appreciated not always having to be the one lugging around all the gear.

coybig

Yes, I definitely had my own diaper bag.  Same Idea, I picked out the style I wanted.  Eddie Bauer bag with neutral colors.

CecilB93

I'll put in my two cents. And again, this is just my experience, definitely figure out what works for you.


Things I consider as needs:
Infant car seat plus base
Pack n play (great for naps and traveling!)
Diapers and wipes obviously (cloth or disposable)
Burp cloths (my son had a dairy sensitivity and spit up A TON so these were basically attached to us and/or him)
Breast pump if you're breast feeding, regardless if you're SAH or working, some type is necessary. For SAHMs who don't plan on needing to pump a ton, even a cheap handheld one works! There will be a time you'll need to pump or express milk.
Bottles (yes even you BFing mom's, especially for daycare)
Baby clothes hangers
Outlet covers
Furniture anchors
Rectal thermometer
Baby Tylenol 
Some sort of "diaper bag"

Things we loved but aren't "needs":
Pacifiers (we liked those ones that are hollow)
Bouncer
Baby carrier and/or stroller
Changing pad
Bottle drying rack
Blankets for tummy time
Door frame bouncer
Monthly numbers (I didn't plan to use these, but we got them as a gift so I did and I liked them!)
Rear view mirror for car
Some sort of seat (ours was like a bumbo and could be used on the ground, but also works as a table seat. It buckles onto our chair, we never used a high chair)
Hair brush (DS was born with lots of hair, it was nice to be able to make it lay down after a bath)

Things we received and rarely/never used:
Swing (by the time the ILs bought one, he was too old/too big. We'll probably pull it out for this babe, but it was kind of a hassle. DS did 100% fine in the bouncer)
Some blankets (we received so many, and at least 3 were hand made, a lot were store bought, probably half if that got used)
Baby bathtub (I held him while I showered then passed him to DH or vice versa, so much easier)
I bought ear covers for 4th of July, that's about the only time those got used.
Playmat (again, a gift that DS never showed interest in)
Lotion (oops...but yea, rarely unless his skin seemed dry, and that wasn't often)
Door knob covers (I like him knowing how to open his bedroom door incase of emergency)
CD of lullaby's (seriously, never got used. May still even be wrapped.
Teething rings/teethers 
Bibs (we used the Tommee Tippee ones with the pocket once we started solids, but nothing before then)

Things I plan to get for #2:
Wubbanubs for the pacifiers! We constantly lost DSs and I never got around to buying these. I will this time!
Swaddle blankets (I'll try a couple, DS never liked it though)
A new rear view mirror (my seats are weird and what we have doesn't currently work well, it's kind of McGyvered on)
Backpack style diaper bag

Things we didn't use/receive/want:
wipes warmer
bottle warmer
sound machine
black out curtains
sleep sacks/swaddle blankets (he didn't like being swaddled)
bassinet
baby monitors (especially video ones, those creep me TF out)
rock n play (never received one, didn't feel the need to buy)
baby food maker/baby food (we did BLW, skipped the nasty mushy crap (my personal opinion ))
I never used rash cream; we did cloth and most creams aren't cloth safe anyways, I just used coconut oil, but some babies absolutely need the cream. My son just never had rashes.
Teething necklace/bracelet

Also, we totally used crib bumpers (*ducks from flying objects*), but he also slept in our bed until about 8/9 months anyways, so he was plenty old enough. They're actually still on the crib mostly out of laziness at this point lol. He's getting a new bed for Christmas most likely anyways, so whatevs.

I agree, don't open some items unless you're absolutely sure you need them. Bottles especially, don't open every package. Start with one and go from there. Then you can return any you don't need/baby didn't like that brand.

PensiveCrayon

Me again. @rosebud332 is so right about the PnP. We didn't even get one until after my son was a year old and it's the best decision I ever made. When paired with the sound machine, the snooze shade, the PnP mattress, and my son's favorite blanky, sleeping while on the go is not an issue at all.

Other favorites this has brought up:

Dohm Sound Machine -- though I may try out the fancy Hatch baby night light one for the next baby
SnoozeShade -- A breathable dark mesh shade to black out the Pack N Play
PnP foldable mattress -- folds into three and comes with a convenient carry case to provide a thicker mattress feel instead of the standard hard nylon bottom. Not technically safe-sleep approved.

Also I didn't get any sort of a play gym (aside from a frame to hang stuff on) last time around and I regret it. I'm really looking forward to purchasing this one.

hkom

This is a fantastic thread.  Lurking for now and taking notes.  There are so many baby things that I just have no idea even exist.

maureenmce

@PensiveCrayon YES the Dohm sound machine is my favorite thing ever. We have one for DD's room and one for ours. (I'm a light sleeper so white noise is a must - I am basically addicted to it.)

PensiveCrayon

@maureenmce MH keeps asking when we’ll wean our son off it. Um, never? It’s totaly acceptable to sleep with a sound machine as an adult!

hkom

PensiveCrayon said:

@maureenmce MH keeps asking when we’ll wean our son off it. Um, never? It’s totaly acceptable to sleep with a sound machine as an adult!

Yes!  White noise for life!  We just use a fan, but same idea.  Neither my husband nor I can sleep without a fan going.

tumbleweed-1

@coybig thanks for pointing out the SO gear too! I’m looking at carriers, and my SO gets a lot warmer than I do, so we will get 2. I’ve been looking at mesh/athletic wear type materials for him. He also likes bright, flashy colors and I’m more into neutrals, so we need his & her baby gear. Lol

coco2787

I definitely recommend registering for a nice big glider or rocking recliner.  I got a pretty cheap small glider and I wish I had gotten something bigger and more comfortable.  You will likely be spending a lot of time in that chair (and there’s a good chance you’ll be sleeping in it, there will always be nights that baby refuses to be put  down)

The swing and baby wearing can be life changing for some people, but some babies hate it, so I recommend buying second hand or borrowing one to try out if possible before dropping tons of money on either.  

CecilB93

@coco2787 I thought I'd spend all my time in the rocking chair we got, but it's not really good for sleeping in. I ended up just being in our regular recliner that doesn't rock.

@coybig thanks for chiming in! I've been looking at carriers and trying to find prints MH will be okay wearing. I'm wanting to wait until we figure out if it's a boy or girl though, if it's a girl I may be able to get away with "prettier" prints that I like. If not, guess I'll just have to buy two! Lol

ebk20

Great lists! A couple more things...

Waterproof pads-great for the crib, pack n play etc. You can cut the large ones in half for smaller spaces. So helpful for the blowouts or leaks when sleeping.

Blooming Bath Cushion- I always found it easier to give my LO a bath in the sink and loved this.

Boppy pillows, maybe more than 1- I also had the breastfriend but did not find it comfortable when nursing. I always used the boppy when nursing and would keep 1 upstairs and 1 downstairs and even bring one with me when we went on trips.

Nursing tanktops- I lived in these for the first 6 months. When you are nursing 24/7 you need comfort and easy access.

Definitely agree with the hands free pumping bra and noise machine  ( ours had a projector and a nightlight on it as well.)

tunnel

It was really comforting for me to know that I could get virtually anything delivered to me in 2 days or less via Amazon Prime!  YMMV, but the things I loved and used a ton included:

• Baby books - I focused so much on pregnancy that, as a FTM, I felt pretty lost when it came to how the heck do I care for a baby (which I think is a pretty normal feeling).  The two books that helped me the most that I wish I had read pre-baby were "Secrets of the Baby Whisperer" by Tracy Hogg and "On Becoming Babywise" (not attachment parenting, so may not suit your style, but it worked fantastically for me!).  
• Video monitor
• Nose Frida
• All the thermometers 
• My Breast Friend nursing pillow (I much preferred it over the Boppy)
• Preemie nipples for bottles if breast feeding, even if your kid is not a preemie (I recommend getting just a couple different bottles to make sure which one works for your baby before buying a ton)
• Dr. Brown's Formula Mixing Pitcher (if formula feeding or supplementing)
• Bottle warmer - I tried, but our kid just did not like cold bottles.
• The really huge size Anais and Aden muslin swaddle blankets
• Halo Sleepsack Swaddle (so easy!)
• White noise machine (we had a cute Sleep Sheep, but sometimes I wished it was remote controlled)
• Humidifier that is easy to clean
• Wash clothes 
• Hooded bath towels (Pottery Barn Kids were my favorite)
• All the car seats!  Infant car seat, 2 bases and 2 convertible car seats (one for each car)
• Breathable car seat cover that connects to the infant car seat handle so it doesn't blow off (so great for going out to a restaurant and letting your little nap)
• Stroller and connector for infant car seat to pop right onto it - we used our stroller a ton, but know your environment and life style.  I absolutely loved our Baby Jogger City Mini GT and was so happy I ultimately got that one over the Uppa Baby Vista because it's lighter, a cinch to fold, and easy to get in and out of my car.
• Pack N' Play with changing table and bassinet/elevated sleeping area for when baby can't sit up (so you don't need to reach down so far) - we have a 2 story home and used ours downstairs for at least a year and traveled with it a ton. The changing table on it that was a gift to our backs!
• Diaper Cream - good to have a tube of extra strength Destin on hand
• Rock N' Play - a lot of the first couple months is just figuring out different places to put your baby.  Rock n' play is pretty universally loved, small foot print, easy to move and store when not in use
  
• Activity Gym/play mat - see comment above about where to put your baby.  Great for tummy time and I loved watching our son look at the different things.
• My son would have loved a wipe warmer (he still complains about cold wipes) but we never got one because it was on so many people's don't get it list.
• We received sooooo many receiving blankets as gifts and had nothing to do with them

deutschmama

You guys! This thread is the best!! Thanks for all of the expert advice. Especially re: what to get secondhand/what to buy new. We'll only be in Germany for about 6 more months after baby arrives so we are hoping to buy some of the big things secondhand as we won't be bringing them back with us. Any other things you would NOT buy secondhand?

Question #2 : Did any of you have a baby wearer/wrap/carrier that you loved and would recommend? Here the Didymos slings are popular but seem kind of expensive for what they are. 

hbmama21

Things/life savers that I used the most: 
Ubbi diaper pail (we’ve done cloth and disposable and it’s great for either. Still awesome two years later)
Sound machine (do not not have one!)
Moby Wrap- was great during the first 6mths
Swaddles! My son loved to be swaddled and I loved having them. 
Vagina Instant Cold packs, nipple cream, mesh panties (yes nipple cream was on my registry). The ice packs felt amazing on my C-section scar and I used them anytime I was in the car between me and the seat belt) 
A great diaper bag (we got skip hop. It works)
Waterproof mattress pad.
Tons and tons of burp pads/diaper cloths (my baby was had reflux and chronic diarrhea, even if you have a happy spitter, these are just great)
Forehead thermometer and anal thermometer (I use the former first, the latter to verify actual if it got very high)

Things that were awful/dangerous/hard to use:
Halo swaddle sacks in Muslin. My son was very strong. Regular swaddles were great for him, but he one night I woke up to muffled cries and the Halo sack was up over his mouth and nose. Read the reviews, it’s a common problem. I cut mine up, wouldn’t even sell it. Haven’t heard of this with the cotton ones, but I won’t use them either this time.
Momaroo 4 swing thing- he had reflux and HATED it. 
Ergo baby- I was so excited about this one, but it never fit me or him properly. We put car seat strap protectors on it bc it would rub and irritate his face even when adjusted properly. Carriers are very individual, you may find you don’t like the one you picked out. 
Nose Frieda - just... not for us. 

Things I loved bc they just were fun or made life easier:
4mom Baby tub with Digital thermometer. It fit in our sink and was just so easy to not bend over (c section). Loved it.
Diaper Warmer. Love mine! Wish i had bought it sooner. Used it for disposable and cloth wipes. Will use for Baby 2. 
AIOs - for moms thinking of dipping a toe into cloth, these were so so easy. 

Where is the best place to register? Amazon worked best for our family and friends. I loved babylist, but many didn’t know how to use it. Word to the wise- you have to tell other places not to make your registries public, so watch for that. 

How many registries should a new mom have?
As many as you like or that the people who will buy for you will find easy to shop from.
 
STM's -what do you regret putting on your registry? 4moms Mamaroo (boo hiss) 

What did you not get enough of? Clothes! We didn’t get much at all. 

FUN TIP: For our shower we had a cute note on the invite asking for favorite Baby books instead of cards. It was wonderful. He got notes from loved ones in his Baby library and it’s just very useful and special. 

ETA- a lovey or blanket and a duplicate back up (rotate them!) He didn’t like the one we picked out, but fell in love with a little giraffe blanket someone else got him. Ran out and bought another one! 

Also- I did not have one, but all of my Mom friends who did swear by the Merlin Sleep Sack after swaddling. Good luck!! 

kristah2

@deutschmama TBH I found that most wraps were very similar. I read a lot of reviews for different ones on amazon and picked one that was cheap with amazing reviews. I think I probably spent about $45 Canadian.

Though I have to admit, I didn't use the wrap much. BUT H did use the carrier a lot. In fact, I don't think I ever wore the carrier. So keep SO in mind when picking out carriers!

I was also one that LOVED my bottle warmer. I still use it daily. In fact I have 2 because I leave one at my mom's for when LO sleeps over. I am a huge fan of the kiinde warmer. It has a timer and perfectly heats up regular milk, formula or breast milk and can do so from frozen, fridge or room temp and in bags, glass or plastic bottles. There is a chart to follow and it's perfect EVERY TIME! worth every dime. 

Some other opinions on items that didn't work for us:
-Bassinet: It was maybe used for 3 hours total. LO refused to sleep in it.
-Baby bath tub: used it twice. Found it easier to bath DS in the big tub. DH usually baths with him.
-swaddles: he hated being swaddled - waste of money!
- baby wrap (see above)
-Pacifiers / wubbanub: LO was not into pacifiers
-clothes. Some is great but seriously you spend most of your day in sleepers.
-Shoes. I don't think DS wore shoes for the first 5 months.
-breast pads. I stocked up like a mad man and I seriously didn't use a single one. Breastfed for over a year and never leaked a drop. 
-Bouncy chair: Maybe used once. we preferred the swing.

Items we couldn't live without (that many think are useless):
-bottle warmer (see above)
-extra crib sheets
-vinyl change pad (screw those cloth ones! You'll spend more time with them in the wash. Vinyl you wipe down and keep going - it's the best!)
-humidifier. I never thought I would need one until the first time baby gets sick or gets croup.
-sleepers. SO MANY!
-baby bullet. 
-Swing. This didn't work at first but eventually I found it a great place to contain LO and let him sit by the table with us etc. 
-breast feeding pillow!! Seriously, save your back and get a good one now!
-playpen with change pad attachment. We used this for all diaper changes in our basement
-diaper genie. We have 2. I still use it ALL the time!! AND my advice is get the elite over the basic. I have both but the basic you have to stick your hand in and hope the poo diaper isn't too full so you didn't end up with it all over your hand. The elite has a handy foot pedal that is amazing!!



Basically every single baby is different. My advise would be not to buy/register for too many of anything and/or open and try one before you rip the tags off and wash everything like a crazy nest-monster like I did. I definitely would have returned many more items for other things I knew I needed once I actually met my child and got to know his preferences. 


Also, if you're super into books: I asked my baby shower guests to provide a book instead of a card. I got so many books that are signed by family we love and it started DS's collection. 

And last thing - don't ask for diaper brand opinions. You will find what works for your baby. I know so many people who swear by kirkland and we thought that would be our go to. Except every time LO wore a kirkland diaper he would pee through. We switched to huggies and it's been a dream.
However I do prefer kirkland wipes over any other brand. 

Jens_Hoes

@deutschmama I personally wouldn't buy a used mattress.  You don't know if they ever had bed bugs, or peed through their sheets, or whatever. Also, nipples for bottles, don't buy those used.  You should get new nipples for each baby.  If the bottles aren't too old, then you can use those. 
I had a baby bjorn.  I liked it because you can wear forward facing or towards you.  The kind I had, the baby had to be at least 8 lbs so I had to wait a little bit because my daughter was born 6 lb 4 oz.  I still use it from time to time and she's almost 1 year old