Must-Have Product Suggestions from STMs?

LilMama7182 · December 2013

What are must-have product suggestions to put on your registry that you didn't expect would end up being as helpful as they are??

ksulli · December 2013

Halo sleep sacks, not that they didn't look useful, but we loved them.

AcaAwkward · December 2013

^^^ yep, so different for every baby! But I'll play! Aidan+Anais everything - the swaddle blankets were the only thing DD liked to be swaddled in (so all out Velcro swaddlers are pristine for this new kiddo). I like the traditional muslin ones (boutique sized, not Target) for swaddling. The bamboo ones are SUPER soft but don't hold a swaddle tightly. We also used these for everything - nursing covers, car seat / stroller sun shades, changing blanket, blanket for play/tummy time, ginormous burp cloth, etc. We have 12 and used every one of them all the time! I also love their "burpy bibs" - they were my favorite burp cloth and they were great for drool bibs while teething (they stain easily so we didn't use them for solid food).

I LOVE the BrestFriend nursing pillow. I nursed until DD was 18 mo and we used the pillow every day. I hate the Boppy for nursing.

MamaFantastic · December 2013

and conversely, kiddo ONLY stayed swaddled in the ones that were shaped, velcroed/zippered and gimmicky... he broke out of ever a&a swaddle we ever tried. the a&a blankets, while adorable and useful now as forts, were utterly useless to us in the first year or two.

itzbeen timer was useless and we returned it.

boppy was essential. ameda nipple healing gel pads were essential. hmm, what else??

sarahbeth27 · December 2013

The things we LOVE LOVE LOVED:

Aden + Anais swaddle blankets (hadn't registered for b/c they are expensive. got one, loved it and ended up buying multiple more).
Rock n Play sleeper (registered for, but had no idea how much I would love it. We used it multiple times a day, every day -and night- for 4+ months).
Boppy newborn lounger (hadn't registered for it but a friend gifted it to me and we used it ALL THE TIME!).
This bath tub thingie. We tried 3 different baths until we bought this cheapie on a whim and it was perfect. https://www.amazon.com/PRI-Infant-Bath-Seat-White/dp/B000BXJZDY/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1387567629&sr=8-5&keywords=baby+bath

ckred27 · December 2013

-Snap n Go stroller for the carseat. Srsly that was a lifesaver. Have a double one now for the twins.

-ONE set of honking bottles. once you find the kind that works with your LO get rid of all the honking other ones and stockpile the one you like. Trying to sort through Doc Browns, Advent, Evenflow ect was a PITA! Guess thats more later advise than registry advise.

-Swaddles

-Lots of packages of those basic cloth diapers to use as burp rags

cwm11985 · December 2013

SwaddledMe, Rock n Play, Bumbo

momofmanyinthemitten · December 2013

A&A blankets-While my kids used other swaddle devices for sleeping, these were great for playing on the floor, nursing cover, blanket for car/stroller. Both my kids have used them as their loveys since 6 mos.

Twice the amount of burp cloths that you think you'll need. I like the gerber prefolds ones, but prefer ones I made with chenille in one side and flannel in the other.

Nursing pillows-I got both the MBF and boppy and kept one on each level of our house.

Something to sit baby in so you can things done, like shower.

Snacks and easy lunches for yourself, as you may find it hard to get some grub for yourself.

KatieKim0815 · December 2013

For me Aden and Anais swaddling blankets. I LOVE them. LOVE. I bought a new set for my second and am thinking of getting a third for my thrid. I just love them. They are huge, breathable and become softer with each wash.

A good quality breastpump. Worth its weight in gold.

I think as a third time Mum I am shocked at what you don't need for baby and what I wouldn't waste my money on again.

Rrrrrachel · December 2013

A GOOD nasal aspirator. Not the crappy bulb syringe kind. Nose Frida or if that freaks you out there are odometer other good battery operated ones.

Serenla · December 2013

poru said:
Why do people love the fucking itzbeen timer so much. Not sure why it gets me all riled up but it's stupid! I admit to tracking the first 2-3 weeks BFing on my phone though until we fell into a pattern.

I just looked it up, that seems silly to me.

Rrrrrachel · December 2013

Odometer? Really, auto correct? Where did that come from?

Smores730 · December 2013

I really liked the RNP. They weren't "invented" yet for #1 but I used the crap out of it for #2.
A white noise sound machine. Effing love those things. They soothe baby and drown out the noises you make around the house.
FP Healthy care booster seat in lieu of a high chair. Not only did I like not having a high chair floating around my kitchen, it's easy to clean, and I brought it with us out to eat so we didn't have to use their germ infested high chairs.
PJ's with zippers bc eff button snaps in the middle of the night.
Jumparoo. My kids looooved it.

Absolutely useless (FOR ME): crib mobile, swing (huge product replaced by smaller bouncy chair), messenger style diaper bags (every time you drop something the darn thing dramatically falls off your arm), I way overspent by thinking I needed the Graco PNP w/ changing area. Hmm that's it for now.

bacorrea · December 2013

Rrrrrachel said:
A GOOD nasal aspirator. Not the crappy bulb syringe kind. Nose Frida or if that freaks you out there are odometer other good battery operated ones.

I registered for the Nose Frida. The idea totally grosses me out, but everyone says it is the best! I assume becoming a mom I will get over a lot of things I consider gross

laf83 · December 2013

I agree with most of these...love a&a everything. But I must add the cottony Carter's gowns with the elastic at the bottom. They come in boy, girl, & neutral styles. They are perfect for the never ending diaper changes!!! Plus, they have the little fold over things on the sleeves to keep baby from scratching his/her face!

Rrrrrachel · December 2013

Yeah when your baby can't eat or breath or sleep because they're so stopped up you get over gross really quickly

klscas · December 2013

jellysparkles said:
Gerber CD prefolds as burp cloths. Inexpensive and super absorbant.
Pack N Play- ours had the changing pad, mobile, and bassinet/raised level. I feel like a sleeper attachment is redundant if you have the bassinet level.
Nursing pads - for me, Lansinoh disposables for in public, random cloth ones at home (they showed through my clothes, so they were a no go for leaving the house. Cheap disposables felt like ripping duct tape off my nipples.)
Something with motion to strap them into-swing/bouncer/whatever (every kid is different.)
A nursing pillow. I liked Boppy better.
PJs with zippers or open bottoms. Sleep bags are great. Snaps at 3 am pissed me off more memorably than anything I can think of regarding infant care.
Car seat, crib, some method of feeding.

We never had or missed a specially designed diaper receptacle, warmer of bottles or wipes, feeding timer, or a video monitor.

This EXACTLY!! I really thought i was the only one who used those CDs as burping cloths. I also wanted to ask.. my son used the soothie line of bottles and passi's and i heard they no longer sell them. Anyone know if this is true or not?

kmonroe2 · December 2013

A&A swaddle blankets & burpers. They are ridiculously expensive and ridiculously awesome.
Snap N Go stroller for car seat.
White noise machine for nursery.

sandylou · December 2013

Rock n play-used it nonstop for both of mine. Also a sound machine that stays on! We had one if those cute little lambs that only stayed on 30 minutes...guess who woke up every 30 minutes...