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2nd Trimester
catsinawindow
member
"Must haves" and "don't needs" for baby registry
catsinawindow
member
I got this idea reading about a first timer's overwhelmed reaction to starting a registry. I had the exact same experience this weekend. So, to all the second-time or more moms out there give us first-timers some help on deciding what to put on our registries.
List 1 baby item you couldn't do without, and 1 baby item that you didn't end up needing. Try not to repeat what others have written. Thanks in advance!
BFP#2: EDD 2/11/14, MMC confirmed 7/15/13 (growth stopped at 6 weeks), D&C @ 12 weeks 7/25/13
This discussion has been closed.
Re: "Must haves" and "don't needs" for baby registry
Need: A bouncy seat in a pattern that you don't mind seeing in ALL your early photos of the baby
Don't need: A stroller travel system. Get a cheap stroller frame the car seat fits into, and pick a better stroller once your baby is old enough for one.
Must have - Miracle Blanket
Didn't need - Evenflo Snugli carrier. HATED it ... although I love my Ergo now!
The Mouse ~ 06.12.08 | The Froggy ~ 02.23.11
Loved
Breastfriend pillow
Didn't use
Moby..hated it, I rec. an Ergo
Must have: Bobby Pillow
All of my registry items were pretty practicle so I don't have a "don't need".
MUST HAVE: Swaddle blanket or two, the kind that velcro up, like the kiddopotamus Swaddleme.
What a waste: baby shoes
Well, since MrsTotty already said Miracle Blanket (TOTALLY argee), I'll say:
Must have: Ultimate Crib Sheet
Don't need: wipe warmer
Ok i cant resist listing more than one..im bad.
MUST have:
OLDER kid items. We made the mistake of only registering for baby items and didnt register for things like : sippys, spoons, booster seats, potty seats, older toys, etc.
DONT need:
baby washcloths, TONS of infant toys (they cant even play with them)
Must Haves: (have to second the Boppy for sure) but aside from that, I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE my video monitor. There's nothing more reassuring for a mommy, especially first time to have that video when they hear a cry in the babys room. It's my #1 favorite thing.
Don't Bother: Diaper Genie (probably will get flamed for this one) and wipe warmers. Honestly, I work full time and still manage with a normal lidded trash can. Most of my girlfriends do the same. I like to take dirty diapers out to the trash that goes out daily but it's never felt like a chore at all.
Must Haves for me: Moby Wrap, Dr. Brown Bottles, Snap and Go, Bouncy Seat, Older Kid stuff (convertible car seat, etc), Swing, Pack N Play
Stuff to skip: Bumbo, Bottle Warmer (unless you plan on ONLY formula feeding), Wipe Warmer, Baby clothes (people will buy you them regardless of what you register for so don't bother), fancy monitors, shoes prior to 8 months old....I could go on and on, but these are the major ones.
Need: FP Papasan swing. It's pricey, but so awesome. It's the only way I got anything done the first few months!
Don't Need: expensive high chair. My kid hated it and it's been in storage forever, replaced by the $30 Fisher Price booster seat.
don't have a kid yet. lol but imo...
don't NEEDS (personally)-
wipe warmer. if ur baby never uses a warm wipe. he/she will never miss it.
diaper genie. especially if you're bf'ing and they're poo doesn't stink. plus i've never heard a good thing about one.
bassinet.
TONS of newborn clothes. ya they're cute. but kinda a waste. especially if you end up having a 9pound 12 oz baby haha. i'm going with mostly 3 months and up. oh also, people will probably give you a ton of nb clothes without them being on your registry.
bath thermometer. last time i checked, my hands had feeling in them and i could gage the temperature of water fairly well on my own thanks.
most of the grooming kits seem a bit ridiculous to me.
we won't be getting a high chair. we're getting a booster seat only. some ppl buy both. or one. but we feel like both would be a waste of money. so if we're only getting one, we're getting the most functional one.
we have also debated getting a crib at all.. (we're pretty tight on money) we are thinking... if we don't get the one on our registry we'll probably just use the pack and play. (my friend with 4 under 4 recommended this.)
diaper stacker.
changing table. once again...friend w 4 kids recommended this as a place to safe major money. ya they're pretty. but couches and floors etc. work great and you already have one.
also. we have a jogger on our registry and it'll be nice if we get one. but i have 2 nice baby carriers and feel like they're significantly better (for us) strollers can be such a pain...
also. we bought a convertible carseat. and unless someone gives us an infant one we wont be spending an additional 100+ on one. like i said. we're pro baby wearing.(so much more convenient) so i won't be toting around a freakin carseat thru walmart. also, convertibles can rear face longer than infant car seats and rear facing is significantly safer. even if the baby's knees are bent.
expensive crib set. we'd be absolutely giddy if we were given the one on our registry. but. if not. thats ok. cheap one it is.
baby toiletries- they the lotion/detergent and stuff is better. but it really doesn't make sense to me. they still have perfumes and dyes in them. after a little research. i'm buying generic dye/perfumes etc stuff.
play mat. a good blanket and a cheap toy will suffice
i'm also using a nice backpack we already have instead of a diaper bag.
bottle sterilizer. bottles are allowed in dishwashers. they have been cleaned this way for a long time
we're pretty short on cash and anything other than bare minimum we won't be purchasing.
i typed something along the line of "don't need baby items" and saw some serious trends.
obviously still waiting for my LO but my experience from when the last baby I nannied was born was (and trying not to repeat here):
MUST HAVE: BIG muslin swaddling blanket. We used Aden + Anais for her. Regular receiving blankets ended up mostly being used to clean up spitup.
DON'T NEED: (harder not to repeat here, sorry) craploads of toys. it's an infant, people. they eat, poop, and sleep. Make sure they have something to eat, something to poop in, and something to sleep on - and you're golden.
~EDD Nov 18, 2017 with my IUI success story~
[spoiler]
Must haves:a pack n play with a bassinet - before DD was born, I thought they were frivolous, but it ended up saving my sanity when she came home and wouldn't sleep in a crib.
Don't need: Boppy ... I know others loved the thing, but it never seemed to work for me (maybe because I am plus sized, or maybe because I am inept, but either way I never really used it).
Popping in for a post:
Must have: some kind of bassinet-we got a PNP, but only used it for the bassinet part, diaper caddy-have all of the supplies in one container to take to different places, baby bath-I felt safer giving him a bath in this over the sink (especially those first few months), glider, travel system-could not have survived without it!, Moby (made my own)-used this until he was 9 months old, a good pump-I had the Medela Swing and EPed for 12 months, mittens, bouncer, exersaucer, jumper
Didn't use-infant toys (rattles etc), shoes, sizes of clothes too far ahead, Boppy, swing, playmat, picture frames, bibs
Didn't have to have, but loved!-Bumbo-it was great to have another place for him to be, coordinating bedset-I have to look at it so much, it's nice for it to be pleasant to look at, changing table-we put two old end tables together and covered them with fun cloth, it's nice to have a designated place to change him most of the time where everything is located, shelves for the LO's room to put all of his display gifts on
I know there is more. I really used more than I didn't use. Don't turn anything down! So many things can be repurposed to fit your needs.
(I have not read all the responses...)
I truly think that you should only register for things that you NEED (unless you are having a huge shower and know that you will get everything on your registry). I only put must haves: car seat, stroller, front back, diaper champ, personal care. I didnt put clothes, diapers, bibs, or smaller things like that. I also think that bedding sets are stupid. All you need is a sheet and a breathable bumper. Decorate the room how you want to, but these big baby comforters are pointless.
My must have: diaper champ.We loved having ours! We needed it once DS started solids! Also must have a boppy, video monitor and a good baby book!
Never used: extras for the carseat such as the pad under the seat and the cozy head rest. Our PD wouldnt accept those when they inspected the seat.
www.facebook.com/TryVermontFirst
I love these two beautiful children!
Must have- a swing of some sort
Don't need- lots of blankets
Must Haves - Bouncy chair, boppy, swaddles, baby wash clothes, white noise machine, pack 'n play, snap 'n go
Don't Needs - Bumbo (DS hated sitting in it), wipe warmer, baby towels (I hated them. They were only big enough for him for a month.) diaper genie, sterilizer
MUST HAVE: A properly functioning boob and one box of diapers.
DONT NEED: anything else at first. All that baby wants the first two months is mom and milk.
The registry is great, but I think it overwhelms first time moms because they think it is all stuff they need. In reality, you dont NEED any of it. You can buy as you go, and if you do that you are more likely to get the stuff you will actually use. Register for everything, but don't worry if you dont get stuff.
BFP#2: EDD 2/11/14, MMC confirmed 7/15/13 (growth stopped at 6 weeks), D&C @ 12 weeks 7/25/13