What would YOU say are essential registry items?

MBush4

I've been scanning a lot of blogs looking for the "essential" registry items and while I agree with some of them, I have to disagree with a lot (special rubber-handled feeding spoon? Bassinet, Moses basket AND cosleeper? Really?) I'm a minimalist and am trying to keep things down to the basics since I know that when all is said and done there is A LOT of baby stuff between books, a crib, play mats, etc on top of the true essentials of diapers and such. So here is my essential list. Let me know what you think should be added to the list.

Car seat with stroller frame 

Crib (mattress, sheets)

Changing pad and cover (to go on top of dresser)

breast pump

play mat

high chair

baby carrier

 

 

etude de la vie

I really couldn't have lived without my swing on both kids but after 4 months it was a huge piece sitting in the corner so next time (if there is a next time) I will get something small like the mama roo (or something like that)

also the crib aquarium  like this https://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-L6925-Ocean-Wonders-Aquarium/dp/B000NW5RWQ/ref=sr_1_sc_3?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1348586410&sr=1-3-spell&keywords=Baby+Eisenstein+crib+ssoother

my mobile was useless but they both loved looking at this. If they decide to sleep on their stomach they can still use it. At 3 am when they want to "play" and are 6 months old I just put this on with the remote and they would watch and fall back asleep. The lights dim after 15 min then the music fades after 30. Even in the morning they would hit the button and watch it until I came in to get them. A lot of baby stuff is useless or short term and much of it isn't essential but does make your life just more convenient. 

jasminelorraine20

Bottles

Pacifiers

First aid kit/digital thermometer/nail clippers

monitor

bath tub/towels/wash cloths

TX-Bride

Diaper pails

Diaper bag

 

MrsJetSet

For us the swing was a must have. She hated the bouncer. It could go either way. You really don't need both but it is hard to predict what they like.

You could skip the playmat and put dc on a blanket with toys. The playmat never did much for dd.

you can get by without a tub but it makes it much easier to wash a slippery squirmy baby.

We have tons of bibs but haven't used them till now that dd is eating food. Before that we just tucked a burp rag under her chin. She isn't a big drooler though.

Bottles
Milk storage bottles or bags
Extra pump parts if you are going back to work

Swaddlemes were also a must have for us but not others.

MrsJetSet

Oh and you don't really need the high chair before 6 mos

jasminelorraine20

MrsJetSet:

Oh and you don't really need the high chair before 6 mos

 

I agree with this. We didn't put one on our registry.

gfam23

I would actually say a play mat and baby carrier are not essential items (I never had a play mat).  I would add bottles/feeding supplies/utensils/etc. to the list, as well as bath supplies, burp cloths (cloth diapers work well), blankets, toiletry/medicine cabinet items, and obviously clothing/socks/hats.

pb_bride

MBush4:

I've been scanning a lot of blogs looking for the "essential" registry items and while I agree with some of them, I have to disagree with a lot (special rubber-handled feeding spoon? Bassinet, Moses basket AND cosleeper? Really?) I'm a minimalist and am trying to keep things down to the basics since I know that when all is said and done there is A LOT of baby stuff between books, a crib, play mats, etc on top of the true essentials of diapers and such. So here is my essential list. Let me know what you think should be added to the list.

Car seat with stroller frame 

Crib (mattress, sheets)

Changing pad and cover (to go on top of dresser)

breast pump

play mat

high chair

baby carrier

Like others said, you don't need a high chair right away.  And I'm not getting a pump until probably 2-3 weeks into BFing.

Other essential items missing from your list are:

burp cloths, diapering supplies, waterproof mattress pad, monitor, receiving/swaddling blankets, sleepsacks, baby bottles, first-aid items, bathtub, hooded towels, washcloths, baby wash/shampoo.

And depending on how your home is set up, you may want some kind of baby gear which you can put your LO down for naps during the day, unless you're going to use the crib or carrier for naps as well.  We have a 3-story condo, so we will have a PnP in the living area for daytime naps.  While not essential, we also got a RnP (off craigslist) and a swing (free) as well.  I also have a nursing cover and nursing pillow.   

MouseInLux

See to me the changing mat cover is useless and the stroller frame, we didn't use and don't use a stroller. My essentials would be a carrier, bed rail, car seat and cloth diapers

Mrs.KMid

There was so much that we felt that we needed, but a lot of it was just for convenience, but here are our essentials:

1- first aid kit, nosefrida (the snot sucker), Mylicon infant gas drops

2 - cosleeper, DD stayed in hers next to our bed until 5 months

3 - car seat and stroller that the car seat can snap into

4 - baby wash/lotion/towels/wash cloths

5 - newborn diapers and wipes

6 - side snap tshirts

7 - breast pump, storage bags, extra parts, breast pads, lanolin 

Rocklandholly

-swing and bouncy seat were life savers for us (you can get a combo one)...I would place my son in the bouncy when he was a few months old while i cooked dinner, showered, etc.

-mobile:  kept him entertained in the crib.  There is a tiny love brand one for $25 that attaches to the car seat/crib/pack and play - we ended up buying this b/c my son screamed in the car and ithelped, but this coudl be  cheaper alternative to a crib only one. If you do get one, ck to see how long it runs for...our original one only ran 2.5min so i was constatntly winding, the tiny love one -30 min

-digital thermometer (we constantly took his temperature as nervous new parents, only to find out you need a rectal one under 3 mts)....regardlesss a good dig one will get lots of use

-medical kit w/nail clippers

-I would hold off on mylicon or any other medicine (i saw that above, but had it butnever needed it - most do)

-newborn diapers - we bought and never used b/c we were sent home from the hospital w/so many

-baby bath, hooded towel, travel size set of bath stuff (you don't know how your little ones sensitive skin will react and for shampoo a travel size did us for months....they have so little hair), wash clothes. We got a cloth that is hte shape of an animal that you wet and put on the babies tummy to keep them warm in the bath (one of the most useful things!)- they sell at Babies R us and target

-if you plan on breast feeding, hold off on the pump until you see if you can get your baby to latch on and if you will continue to do it.  if you plan on trying, nuk makes ice packs to put around your breast/nipple to help with the pain and some nipple cream.  Also, nursing bras...the sports bra type adds pressure to the nipple and helps w/the pain.

-side snap undershirts

-pj's with flaps to cover their hands to keep them from scratching themselves, baby emory boards (I found hard to use) and mittens can be helpful (my little one always managed to push them off), also some newborn hats to help keep them warm

-some kind of swaddleme, swaddle blankets - although we just used sleep sacks b/c my son kept movign until he got his arms out...if you can borrow a swaddleme to see if your baby likes it and then buy if they do. 

-dehumidifier (my son is in daycare and had a lot of colds)

-if you experience a cold winter, a bundle me for the car seat

Jessica1232

jasminelorraine20:

MrsJetSet:

Oh and you don't really need the high chair before 6 mos

 

I agree with this. We didn't put one on our registry.

I am totally a fan of registering for everything possible! I would and did register for a high chair and got it. Now DH and I are not out of that expense. We also registered for a convertible car seat and bath seat. These are all things that cost money and if your a first time mom, can't see I'm mobile, you would rather register for these items then have to pay for them when you've ran out of baby shower diapers and wipes! I registered for it all. You never know what people who care about you will buy for you. Just remember to keep it balanced, register for a lot of small items, some medium priced items and a few large items. You do not want to intimidate your guest but they might see a big item they want you to have a get you a gift card to go toward whichever one you want the most. GL!

chardonnay24

Car seat, stroller, pump, Ergo, activity mat, swing, Rock n Play, FP Healthy Choice Deluxe booster, Miracle Blanket, and crib were my essentials.

For smaller things: baby shampoo, towels, washcloths, Take N Toss utensils and sippy cups, IKEA plates and cups, storage containers if you want to make your own food, bottles (a variety to see what you/baby like - we loved Playtex VentAire), CD supplies (pail or hanging wetbag, wipes, wipes solution, drying rack, wetbags for diaper bag), diaper bag.

We didn't use a changing table, or even a pad on the dresser. I just threw down a pad wherever I was and changed him there. We eventually bought a folding IKEA changing table, mostly to store diapers in a more convenient way, but only used it for a few months before he got so wiggly that we switched back to the floor. We also rarely used the jumperoo, PnP, bouncy seat, bottle drying rack, bumbo, and several other things that we had borrowed from my sister.