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Indiana Babies
Laura & Jason
Registering tips
First, I'm 20 weeks today!! Wow! And the coolest thing happened this evening. I was taking a bath and could feel him moving around a bunch. Then I decided to look down and actually watch my belly - AND I SAW IT MOVE! It was like he punched it from the inside and made it shove out for a second. So so very cool! I can't wait to see him again tomorrow!
Anyways, after our ultrasound tomorrow (in theory we should be confirming it's a boy!) we're going to start registering. Any last minutes tips? Things that you just love, things you wish you'd registered for, things you wish you hadn't, etc?
TIA!
Laura & Jason
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Registering tips
I have zero registering tips, but I just wanted to say that it feels like yesterday you announced your pregnancy. How are you 20 weeks already???
Ditto Teresa (or is it with an H, like Theresa?). Time FLIES since the best BFP in the history of the Bump.
Anyway...
Don't register for clothes.
Do register for "big ticket" items - people like to go in on stuff.
If someone buys you something NOT from your registry, and they carry it at BRU (I'm assuming you're registering there), add it to the registry so you can return it hassle-free.
I don't have any other tips because products that work for one baby/family often don't for another. I'm happy to provide feedback on specific items, though!
no H!
oh my gosh! yay Laura, that's great!
The only thing that I have that I really couldn't live without is my Moby wrap. If you think you will baby-wear at all, I could not recommend it more.
I also didn't register for cutesy baby things (frames and whatnot) but got tons of them at showers. For the most part, registering was a waste of time and a lot of careful planning. Most people bought us clothes (and maybe threw in something small off the registry.)
I don't have any tips obviously...but wanted to say happy 20 weeks also!! I can't believe that you're 20 weeks!!!
Edit: I'm so jealous that you're seeing the baby move now AND that you get to register tomorrow. Have you watched the videos on youtube of babies moving? It is so amazing...
YAY 20 weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My advice is to play with stuff...push the stroller around the store, put the car seat in and out of the stroller (if you're getting a travel system), mess around with the cribs, etc, etc, etc. DH and I decided against a Graco stroller b/c when I pushed it, I kicked the wheels, and chose the Chicco b/c we thought it was the easiest to fold up.
And yeah, skip registering for clothes. People will buy you too many anyway, and it's really likely clothes you register for now won't be in stock when your shower rolls around.
If you do register for swaddling blankets, get BIG ones. Mike's aunt made us some that are about 3.5' square, and they were perfect. We tried using some smaller ones, and he just didn't stay tucked in tight with them.
Ignore a lot of the crap the BRU "helpful" guide tells you to put on the registry...I mean, what's the point in registering for a potty chair???
Ditto on registering for the big "ticket" items. I put the next step up car seat on my registry just for kicks when I was pg with Elliott - and 5 of my sorority sisters from college went in on it! And my sister-in-law got me my papasan swing which has been a lifesaver for both boys.
Don't forget some of the medium-sized things like a bathtub, bouncer, play mat (for tummy time).
I also agree with not registering for clothes - you'll get plenty of those. Don't bother with a wipe warmer - we only use ours as a container to hold the wipes.
Have fun!
Sara
Everyone's right... Every baby is different.
But you asked for things we love/hate, so here's my top 5 list of must-have things for newborns (for us!):
1) Boppy and 2-3 extra slipcovers
2) SwaddleMe's
3) Receiving Blankets - as big and as close to square as possible
4) Floor Playmat
5) Burp Clothes - Gerber prefold cloth diapers (we have about 50!)
Plus all the basics... Car seat, bedding, bath tub, diaper champ, swing, bouncer, etc. The baby crack machine is another must-have.
Don't register for clothes, bibs, books or bottles. You'll receive a shitton of clothes, bibs, and books. Bottles can be expensive, and many babies are picky with them... buy yourself 1-2 of a variety of kinds with slow nipples (Avent, Born Free, Dr. Brown's, NUK, etc) - don't invest a lot into any one brand or spend a lot of time registering for them.
If you register for (and get) a breast pump, don't open it until you're sure you can BF or EP. Once it's open, it's yours.
Things that we have that have absolutely no merit in our house: rectangular receiving blankets, bumbo seat, pacifiers, nice rocking chair and bottle drying rack (we immediately wash and dry bottles). Every baby is different! :-)
Have fun!!
I obviously don't have a baby to see what I will actually use yet but from my registering experience and then my one shower so far, here are just a few thoughts.
1. Baby Bargains book was very helpful for me to have an idea of what I wanted before going into the stores and what I really just didn't need. I also registered for some of the stuff, per Baby Bargains recs, online and then just printed my registry when I got there and made sure that was what I wanted. It made the store experience less overwhelming. (i.e. I didn't spend 3 hours in BRU) and I was able to show DH what was recommended and just make sure he was ok with it.
2. I don't know where you are registering at but I went to Target first since they probably have the smallest selection in-store and registered for what I could there since I knew some people would never get to a BRU or BBB. I then went to BRU and BBB and filled in the rest.
3. If you can, and have one near any of your family, I really recommend registering at Buy Buy Baby, the store and people are so much nicer and they have things that neither Target nor BRU have. Plus people can use the 20% off Bed Bath and Beyond coupons there for larger ticket items.
4. I did register for plain white onsies but that was really the only clothing item. On bibs I would just register for some if there are specific ones you want, like the kind with the catchers on the bottom, but regular ones you will get a ton of, w/o registering for them.