Registry help!

indianasunshine

My family is throwing a shower for us in 3 weeks because I will not be able to take time off of work to travel during the fall season (retail manager).  DH and I are trying to get our registry going, and so far so good but here is my question.....

Do we really need a bouncy chair, a swing, a jumper, and a walker? Wouldn't 1 of the 4 be sufficient? I am so confused by all of this, and certainly don't want to register for stuff I don't need.  I know all babies are different, and it is difficult to predict what they will like.  Any advice would be appreciated! 

violetblue72

I'd say get the bouncy chair and swing.  Bouncy chair so baby can be alert and "sit" with you, swing to lull baby to sleep.  My little guy never liked his swing but apparently he's not the average bear as a lot of parents swear by them.

The jumper and walker are in the same category as the exersaucer and are for when baby starts to get moving a bit.  You can always pick up one of these once your baby is a bit older.  If you want to register for one now, I'd say get the jumper or the exersaucer as to me they're pretty much interchangeable.  Not to say that you couldn't use it safely but the walker comes with a lot of safety warnings as it is on wheels and isn't stationery. 

 

 

Julia-Henry

You'll want both the bouncy chair and the swing - one is for naps when you're desperate, the other for portable calm time. We had a lot of dinners with ds in the bouncy chair on the dining room table.

As for the jumper and walker, they're pretty interchangeable with the exersaucer. We preferred the exersaucer as it had built-in activities and a neat tray to catch whatever came out of the wrong end of our kid...

NewMrs07

I recommend the book Baby Bargains to help start your registry. It was a lifesaver for me b/c it gives reviews and tells you what things are important and what things are a waste of money. The walker is not recommended b/c it's a safety hazard. I would put the swing and bouncer on the registry and keep the receipts b/c you don't know what the baby would like. Some babies hate those things and some love them. We got the bouncer and swing as gifts so we'll keep them although the swing seems like it takes up so much space, I'm not sure it's worth it. We'll see.

Start with the important stuff on your registry (furniture, car seat, stroller, bottles, diapers, etc) and then add little things. You'll probably change the registry a million times, I did for sure, it was a sick hobby, lol.

GL, it's a fun errand to do!

indianasunshine

Thanks for all of the input!  I have been reading Baby Bargains, and it is a huge help.  I would be completely lost without it!

NoelleHansen

FWIW - this is what we use and why.....We only got the swing, but got a little one that fits on the table. We don't have a large house/tons of room, so I got what I knew would work. Swings are gifts from heaven... We take it everywhere in the house - and even in the yard when we eat outside. She doesn't care for straps so I don't think a bouncer would work as well for her. To be honest,though, if we had more room and didn't mind having something hanging around that only sort of/ or didn't get used I would probably have gotten one also to try - since the more ways you have to soothe a baby, the better. She LOVES her Boppy Pampasan Swing. We also have a P&P/Bassinette/mobile. We just barely put it up though since we jsut started needing it. She can only "play" so much in her swing and needs more room now that she is getting more interested in interacting with her toys. We have a large dog (lab) so I don't let her lay on blankets on the floor for fear he will accidentally step on her - so we need the P&P. I am getting the play gym sometime this week. I think it will be a must. I like the rainforest one because it looks like it has so much to interest her.

The rest of the time she is either napping in her crib, being held or worn. It's sort of our day, I think of it as rotating through her "stations".... hold/nurse, boppy, P&P-bassinette, hold/nurse, get worn, hold/nurse, nap in crib, repeat as necessary. That way she gets lots of different stimulation and she doesn't get bored.

NoelleHansen

Oh, and we'll definately get a jumper soon. She already loves to "stand" and jump - so I think she would like jumper. I know we'll be getting an exersaucer also at some point. I think I would like one of those seats that the little ones can sit up in before they can actually sit up, but I am wondering if they help or delay sitting - or make no difference...? I am going to have to research that one...

We didn't register for these things - only the swing, bassinette and carseat. We are just adding the rest as we need them - since I didn't know what our LO would like... Now that I read back through my posts, I realize I probably wasn't much help. So, uhhhh, hopefully some parts of were helpful. Maybe I should lay off the caffeine this late at night....

 

stever

I'd say only one. We don't have any yet but will be getting a bouncer soon.

KD288

Now granted I haven't had the baby yet, but I recommend the Graco newborn soothing center which is a swing and a bouncer. This way you kill two birds with one stone.  My BF has this also and uses it with her 2 week old and loves it. She didn't the first week but when she learned of the magic it was perfect.

to each is own but I am all about efficency so this center maybe the cadillac of all swings but it has so many options and can be plugged in, plus when I read it can be used as a bouncer I was sold. Oh and if you have a graco carrier (which I do not I had my heart set on Chicco) it fits right in the swing. GL!

Kristina

gotchagomo

If you can only go for one, go for the swing! It was a lifesaver for me and DD#1! There were nights she slept 4+ hours at a stretch in the swing. They now make the ones you can plug into the wall so you can save a ton on batteries--we're getting one of those with DD#2 due in December.  If you still have extra cash after getting the swing, get the bouncer. They aren't expensive. The $100+ exersaucer sat in the corner mostly. Walkers are dangerous, IMO, as are jumpers (if you're talking about the ones that hang in a doorframe).