Tomorrow I go for my A/S and if everything is good, we will be starting our baby registry. I'll am a little overwhelmed. I have my baby bargains book, have done some research but just too much info. So can you ladies tell me the one thing you couldn't live without and the one thing you regret buying/getting? Also, what is one splurge item you bought/received that was totally worth it? I would greatly appreciate any help. TIA
BFP#1 02/19/12 missed mc 03/30/12 1st D&C 05/16/12 2nd D&C 08/17/12
BFP #2 06/26/13 EDD 2/26/14 Hoping for my rainbow baby!
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Re: PGAL Lurker: XP STM's help FTM's with Registry
Loved: The Rock N Play! Excellent for sleep in the beginning because it's so small and easy to put anywhere, next to the bed, by the couch, in the kitchen.
Hated: The Bath seat/recliner thing. She was just too small for it so we had to go out and buy a baby bathtub with a newborn sling.
Wish I added: The humidifier. We never even thought about getting one until she got her first cold, and I freaked out! I ran out to buy one immediately.
And I agree with @mkc5869 about the Pack N Play. We've only used it a few times and it's when we're out of town. Others swear by it but our apartment was just too small to have it out all the time.
*** aka: andreahshields ***
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BFP#1 3/8/12; diagnosed w/ Anencephaly at 12w6d; D&C 5/9/12
BFP#2 7/18/12; A/S 10/26/12 It's a Girl! EDD 3/29/13
Phoebe Jordan Born 3/20/13
I really loved our Fisher Price bouncer...it was the only way I showered early on with both of my boys.
Right now the item I use the most is my snap n go stroller. I have the Safety 1st Clic It (with the huge basket and phone holder) that I got for DS1 but now that I have 2U2 I use it to cart DS2 (& all our stuff) into daycare while DS1 helps push it. I can leave the set up at daycare which is nice. There is no way in hell I would leave one of my good strollers there. Plus the snap n go is so easy for short trips and you don't have to mess with an adaptor-opens and closes in 1 step. I highly recommend both a SnG and a great stroller that suits your needs.
My splurge item was the Valco Snap Dual Stroller for both my boys. I love it. Pushes one handed, great sunshade, newborn rated, lightweight, huge basket, & opens and closes in one easy step. I've never spent that much on one baby item but it was worth every penny. It comes in a single too.
A lot of the stuff is personal and depends on what you like or your baby likes.
Great questions!
The one thing we can't live without--I'm cheating and picking two, because there are two:
1. Homedics white noise machine...DS still uses it. It's a lifesaver. When you turn that thing on, he knows it's bedtime and just totally mellows out.
2. Swaddleme's (the cheater velcro ones)...First six weeks without them...no more than an hour of sleep at a time. After them...3+ hours at a time. Hallelujah.
The one thing we regret purchasing/registering for--this is hard because honestly by now it's probably something we used for like a week and haven't thought about in 17 months. I do remember that I registered for and received about a dozen different kinds of pacifiers, and all DS ever took were the Avent soothies they give you in the hospital, and that was only for about 3-4 months. Minor purchase but still, I've got about 50 pacifiers we never used.
The splurge that was totally worth it: The Angelcare monitor that senses movement and sounds off an alarm if LO stops breathing. We had some false alarms before we realized we had it set to the wrong sensitivity, and then we had a few false alarms when DS started to move in his sleep, but totally worth it for peace of mind when he started belly sleeping. I knew if anything ever happened, that alarm would go off. My friends were freaking when their babies started belly sleeping and were going in there every hour to check on them, and I was sleeping like a baby. I think it was like $150 or something? Well spent. WELL. SPENT.
BFP #1 6/28/11 ~ EDD 3/7/12 ~ m/c 7/15/11 at 6w2d
BFP #2 8/29/11 ~ EDD 5/12/12. 4/25/12: Our take home baby is here!
BFP #3 8/27/13 ~ EDD 5/11/14. 4/27/14: Our second take home baby is here!
BFP #1 6/28/11 ~ EDD 3/7/12 ~ m/c 7/15/11 at 6w2d
BFP #2 8/29/11 ~ EDD 5/12/12. 4/25/12: Our take home baby is here!
BFP #3 8/27/13 ~ EDD 5/11/14. 4/27/14: Our second take home baby is here!
I could not have survived without my moby and ergo. I literally carried him everywhere for the first 6 months.
I also think the PNP was a waste, but didn't get a RNP either. Our swing (that was also a bouncer) while only used for 4 months was his favorite thing. I also got the stroller/car seat combo thing, and I hate that stroller - it is waayyy too large and I mostly carried him so I ended up getting a smaller stroller that he could sit in at 6 months old. I bought the travel system myself too, that really, really hurt in the $ department.
I got so many blankets, swaddles, burp cloths and bibs I never used, most are still packaged up.
Splurge - glider and video monitor system. We have the motorolla and I LOVE that thing.
#1 BFP 1/10/11; missed m/c discovered 7w5d
IF Dx: Endo, hetero MTHFR mutation, poor morphology
#1 IUI: 1/18/12 = BFN
#1 IVF/ICSI 4/2/12 = 2 x 7-cell and 1 x 5-cell transferred (3dt) = BFP!!
H was born at 41w2d on 12/29/12 - be still my heart!
#2 IVF/ICSI 1/19/14 = 2 x 8 cells transferred (3dt) = BFP!! EDD 10/09/14
M&W born at 37 weeks on 9/18/14 - I am the momma of 3 boys!!!
I forgot this one too:
https://carseatblog.com/carseatblogcoms-recommended-car-seats/
Helpful reviews.
If I could do it again I would have splurged on the City Select stroller since it can turn into a double. I've done a ton of research and truly believe it is the best stroller out there.
Pass: infant towels-we got so many of them and really you can only use them when your LO is teeny. After 4 months they were pointless. I prefer the toddler or adult size. Also, I never used my mamaroo as DS didn't like it. We also barely used our exasaucer, as by the time he was big enough for it he didn't want to be confined and wanted to be free to roll/crawl but that might just be him. Maybe if I has gotten a jumperoo one that would have been better.
Splurge: a good stroller! We splurged on the City Select GT and it was worth every penny for a variety of reasons.
BFP #1 6.19.11 ~ EDD 2.23.12 ~ CP on 6.22.11
BFP #2 7.23.11 ~ EDD 3.28.12 ~ MC on 8.16.11
BFP #3 11.17.11~ EDD 7.31.12 ~ MC on 1.18.12
BFP #4 4.12.12 ~ EDD 12.25.12~ Born on 12.26.12
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[/RA with Sjogren's Syndrome. Risk of heart block in newborn. Age: DH and I are both 38.
BFP #1: 11/25/2007, EDD 7/28/2008 - Missed m/c (blighted ovum) 12/6/2007 6w3d, D&C 1/3/2008.
BFP #2: 4/2008 - Natural m/c at 6w.
Met with RE in 5/2008 full cycle analysis and SA normal. Not considered high risk for blood clots but prescribed 1 baby aspirin a day precautionary during TTC and Progesterone suppositories during 1st trimester of pregnancy.
BFP #3: 10/17/2008. EDD 6/23/2009, Third time's the charm! Healthy baby boy born 6/27/2009 via emergency c-section.
BFP #4: 6/14/2011. Healthy baby boy born 2/16/2012 via elective c-section.
BFP #5: 1/15/2014. EDD 9/22/2014. 2/17/14:.We have a BABY!!! Heart rate 167 and measuring on time. 3/10/14 u/s #2 baby measuring perfectly at 12 weeks at heart rate of 166. NT u/s was normal. Maternit21 blood draw on 3/5/14. Results back on 3/19 - Normal. It's a BOY!!! 4/10/14 at 16 weeks, 3 days discovered baby's heart stopped at 15 weeks, 6 days. D&C 4/11/14. Pathology results were all normal. New information on 8/11/14 - blood test revealed 1/3 of babys blood was in mine caused, most likely, by a tear in the placenta from extreme coughing. Doctor believes this to be the cause of death. Repeat D&C and Hysteroscopy scheduled for 8/19/14. My Chart
I think the nursing pillow is a waste of money. Just use a regular pillow, works the same.
Definitely register/buy something to swaddle baby ( we used the miracle blanket), white noise machine ( the one that stays on all night-not the timer ones), a carrier ( the nuroo pocket is AMAZING)!!! get it, you will not regret it. It's great for the first three months, then transition to an Ergo. If you are going to pump, invest in a good electric one. Get the Medela freestyle!!!
Good luck with your a/s!

BFP#1 D&C May 18th 2012 at 9 wks. EDD Dec 17 2012BFP#2 CP Sept 17th 2012 at 4.5 wks. EDD May 23 2013
BFP#3 EDD June 24th 2013 IT'S A GIRL!
BFP#4 EDD March 2 2015
I wish we would have bought a RNP. DS ended up having reflux and I think it would have made sleeping so much easier for him. Also, it would have been easier to take on vacation than the PNP (which I know we will get more use out of as he gets older).
Our other must haves:
A&A blankets- We got a ton (and I do mean a ton) of homemade blankets for DS, but the A&A blankets are so versatile that they're what we use the most. They're really light so he doesn't sweat with one over top of him in the car seat and they make a great blanket to lay out to play on.
Diaper Genie- Target makes a generic (and cheaper!) refill, so that's a big plus.
Cradle Swing- I know the Snugabunny is popular, but we have the My Little Lamb Platinum. It's basically the same except I think ours takes up less floor space.
Bouncer seat- B/c let's face it, you have to shower and you need LO to be portable lol
I would also recommend adding a variety of diapers and wipes to your registry. Even if no one buys them, you can use your completion discount on them!
If you don't already have a good camera, register for one. I know way too many people who relied on their phones, only to find out that quality was crappy once they ordered prints. A memory card also wouldn't hurt.
Things we got but don't use:
Receiving blankets and burp cloths- We found that washcloths work best with DS. That being said, he doesn't spit up a ton (since he's on reflux meds) or drool a lot. If he did, I might feel differently.
Baby carrier- DS hates it. Maybe register for one, but don't cut the tags off right away.
Bath tub- It was great while DS fit in the newborn sling, but now he's at an awkward age/size where he's too big for the sling, but he can't support himself enough for me to feel comfortable with him in the tub, so we end up giving him sponge baths on his changing table.
I agree with what everyone else said. It is all very personal and you'll get stuff you like and stuff you don't its the name of the game. Two small details I always like to tell people:
The A&A swaddling blankets come in two sizes. Get the bigger size so you can use them to swaddle your LO longer.
My travel changing pad from Skip Hop is awesome. It holds everything and I still us it with my 20 month old.
https://www.amazon.com/Skip-Hop-Pronto-Changer-Diaper/dp/B000F1SCJK/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1380895294&sr=8-5&keywords=skip+hop+diaper+bag
BFP #1 9-22-10 Missed M/c 10-18-10 D&E 10-28-10
BFP #2 5-9-11 EDD 1-12-12 Audrey Rachel born 1-12-12
BFP #3 9-21-13 EDD 5-30-14
