Registry BTDT

jenthehuman · October 2014

HELP! I'm trying to start a registry and I just don't know where to start. As a FTM, I'm so overwhelmed by all the choices and options for baby gear!! Honestly, I don't even know what some of these things are for...

Moms who have done it all before:

What is the one thing you would recommend to every new mom?

Any items that you'd consider a complete waste of time/ money?

Thanks for any input!

Hummingbirdbaby3 · October 2014

I remember arguing with my DH and crying in the baby isles at Target trying to figure out WTF all this stuff was for, and how we were sure to do everything wrong.

Take a deep breath. You don't need much in the beginning anyways and you can get what you need quickly and easily if you realize you need something.

Obviously there's the essentials... car seat, stroller, crib, etc. I highly recommend Aiden and Anais swaddle blankets. I also highly recommend the Honest Co. for your diapers and wipes.

I never went for the wipe warmer, bottle warmers, crib bumpers... I know there's more but you'll get lots of helpful info from others.

trlricha · October 2014

Hm. If you are breastfeeding, I recommend a boppy pillow and lanolin cream. If you are doing formula, I have heard from friends that those powder formula dispensers are great for when you are out and about.

Don't register for one of those nose suction ball things. Nose Frida is the way to go...it seems gross, but it works SO WELL. And you can actually clean it properly.

Hummingbirdbaby3 · October 2014

Oh! Boppy pillow. A pump if you feel like you'll need it. Nursing bras and tanks...

redneckmomma25 · October 2014

I found registering to be really over whelming. Lucies list has a great guide. Take your time. You have time to research and ask questions. There will be a ton of posts over the next few months on this topic. There is also a post linked in the pinned thread with advice from moms.

purple_2012 · October 2014

I'm so glad this question was asked! I've been wanting to go ahead a start a registry, but keep stopping myself because I'm not sure what all we need to register for.

STM: Did you find it easier to register online or in store?

redneckmomma25 · October 2014

I bought an awesome snuggle bunny (Fisher Price) swing on Craigslist for $30. One day they will like the swing, one day the bouncer, one day something else. I like options.

kread8 · October 2014

I loved the book baby bargains and the website Lucies list. Those two sources helped me SO much when I was registering. Like a pp said though, you don't need that much to start and a lot of stuff you will need will depend on your individual baby.

A few things I will recommend: swaddlemes, Aden & Anais blankets, rock n play, white noise machine, gripe water - these are things I couldn't live without the first few weeks.

kread8 · October 2014

Ok well clearly I should have read all the responses before I responded. These mamas know what they're talking about!

lindsayanne14 · October 2014

A lot of great suggestions have already been given. I will say when the time came to register I went with a girlfriend who has two young children. It was very helpful to walk the isles of the store with someone who had some practical advice about why or why not certain items are worth having. For example she recommended getting at least 2 water resistant mattress covers, which I've been glad to have more than once!

lacey0482 · October 2014

Just to reiterate: Lucies list is great, so are swaddle mes, boppys with extra covers, and second hand stuff is awesome too for the things they use such a short time and can be so pricy new. (Swings, pack n play, bouncers)

lacey0482 · October 2014

And you can decide for yourselves obviously, but I hate the travel system strollers. Test them out in BRU or BBB, but they are so bulky and hard to fold up and overpriced. I ended up with the city mini and still love it so much.

ally3242 · October 2014

Before I registered I took a look at lists of the things I would actually really need...which wasn't a lot. I also took my time registering, I went back to the store a few time and did it in chunks. Things I registered for and used most were: boppy, rnp, breast pump, baby carrier & Mamaroo. There is so much crap in those stores, it's easy to get sucked into thinking you need it all.

thelittlepear · October 2014

The ladies here have pretty much covered everything.

A couple other suggestions:

- If you're going to do any bottle feeding, don't register for a ton of one type of bottle; not every baby will take every type, and you may have to experiment a bit.

- I got handed down the rocking chair that my Mom used when I was born. Beautiful? Yes. Nostalgic? Yes. Comfortable? Heck no. You are going to spend a lot of time in that chair; it's worth spending some money on to get a comfortable one.

- Try to register for a variety of price-points. Then you have lots of options for people to buy group gifts, or small gifts on their own. Even things like baby wash and diaper genie refills, will come in handy!

bayside14 · October 2014

My biggest piece of advice? Take your time! Go to BRU or wherever and play with the strollers. Make sure you can open and close them by yourself, and walk around with the car seat and make sure you can comfortable carry it (throw a heavy purse inside to pretend there's a 10lb baby in there!). Make sure you know how to work your equipment and feel comfortable that you like it. Shove a giant purse/diaper bag in the storage compartment of your stroller so you know it fits - I really freaking wish I had a better stroller with more space.

Get a few pairs of crib sheets and plenty of burp clothes and a pair of comfy sweatpants for you.

You don't have to register all in one day. Add things as you think/learn of them. And remember babies don't need a lot at the beginning. There's plenty of time to buy as you go!

dmcox10 · October 2014

I'm a FTM and it looks like a lot has been covered but a piece of advice that I'm glad I learned and other moms may find useful (I hope it's not posted above as my phone is being weird and i didn't get to read every single one)...a mom posted online to keep multiple sheets with the mattress protectors in between. That way if there's a mess at 3 am you can just whip off the sheets and there's another set ready for you! I hope you got some good advice, I know I did! Thanks for posting!

[Deleted User] · October 2014

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Ginja85 · October 2014

One huge piece of advice make sure your folded stroller and/or pack n play can actually fit in your trunk. Pull your car to the front of the store & try it out.

BabiesEverywhere · October 2014

I just want to add one suggestion because you've already gotten a lot of great advice.

Like you said, it's easy to get overwhelmed by everything! My game plan was to choose one of the big items (car seat, stroller, sleeping arrangements, high chair, etc) each week, research it for a few hours, make a decision, and add it to my registry. That way I didn't feel like I was constantly researching all the big stuff. Breaking it up helped a lot.

Critter015 · October 2014

I recommend reading the book Baby Bargains. It breaks down what you need and what you don't and which are the best brands to buy. Also if you plan on having more than one child, you may want to splurge for the extra awesome stroller or car seat or whatever you have your mind on. I'm fully regretting my infant carseat/stroller choice as I gear up to use it for the third time and can't justify getting a different one.

My #1 baby item was our bouncer for both children. We have the Fisher-Price Snugabunny one. I used it so much with the first two we may need to buy a new one for this baby.

If you are planning to breastfeed get bamboobies breast pads. They are amazing and I can't believe that I tortured my poor nips with the disposable ones for months after I had my first.

One thing we had a million of and never used were the flannel receiving blankets. They are too small to use as an actual blanket. One pack of 4 Aden & Anais swaddling blankets were plenty for us and those are still big enough for my 2 1/2 year old to cover up with.

ETA: I did my initial registry in-store because I wanted to see things in person and I wanted my registry to have mostly things people could get in-store because that is how most buy. I did go back and add things to my registry online as I did more research and to add specific things that were not available in-store like my nursery bedding.

Ncountrygal · October 2014

My biggest advice is hold off on optional things like swings, bouncers, etc until you discover you need them. Some babies don't like them, they are expensive, and they take up space. You really don't "need" that much. Baby needs safe sleep, a carseat, food, diapers, and clothes. Everything else is optional.

We liked our ergo, muslin swaddle blankets, snap and go stroller for the car seat, boppy pillow, nursing cover, a mirror and rug setup on the floor to put baby down, and those kimono wrap type outfits through about 3 months. Definitely have breastfeeding comfort items on hand ahead of time (lanolin, cloth nursing pads, a nursing bra or two, gel soothies, and those soft shells that go in your bra and keep your sore nips from touching anything).

kariemomo · October 2014

I'm a FTM and I love this! I started a registery so I could remember what I'm interested in. I only know for sure the car seat, stroller, and carrier I want. I did my research on the ones I wanted, YouTube videos, all sorts of crap and reading things. I plan on ordering those around the holidays because living overseas the stroller will take 3 months to get here. Also we are cloth diapering, so I've added a few that I've heard great reviews from friends who cloth diaper. But since we will be moving when the baby is around 6 months back to the states, I don't want a lot of big things or things the baby won't need.

PinkDahLia44 · October 2014

The rock-n-play was awesome for naps and just for a place to put the baby with a toy while I made dinner or cleaned. He also LOVED his wubanubs.

I don't remember a lot that we didn't use, except extra pacifiers, swaddlers blankets and sleep sacks (from day 1 DS hated to be swaddled, so we never used them...that doesn't mean they are useless for others, though).

keifekm · October 2014

Good advice ladies! I don't think anyone touched on bottles yet. We used Dr. Browns and thought they did great for gas reduction, however, they have a million pieces that have to be cleaned. I was helping a friend with her registry and saw great reviews for Tommy Tippee.

I second Amazon for registries. Free shipping with Prime or over $30 purchases and a great selection of items. Many times the prices are cheaper too.

I also love second hand stores for big items like strollers, swings, bouncers. Just be sure to check recalls before purchasing. Once Upon a Child and Kid 2 Kid are good places to shop.

As you have already seen from other posts everyone prefers different things so trial and error is unavoidable. Best of luck!

keifekm · October 2014

One other thing! Plan ahead! I had a friend pay close to $1k for a stroller and accessories that are only good for one baby. She has another on the way now (2 under 2) so now she has to go buy something that will accommodate 2 little ones.

jenthehuman · October 2014

Thanks for the great advice, everyone! I can't wait to get started. I have a ton of researching to do!

rosemama116 · October 2014

SharkFarts said:

I highly recommend buying the most recent Baby Bargains book to see what the ratings are on things like carseats and see what they suggest to get/not get. For me, I didn't get a highchair right away beause you don't really use it until they're about 6 months. You also don't need a playmat (a blanket is fine) and you may want to wait on a bouncer/swing because your baby could hate those and they are expensive. I borrowed one from a friend first before buying.

I took Baby Bargains with me when we went to register. It was my Bible while I was trying to figure out what to buy - I recommend it for everyone for sure!

We skipped the wipe warmer, but the bottle warmer was used daily to warm frozen/refrigerated bm. We used the miracle blankets to swaddle, and I have about 1726 of them, and will use them all again this go-round.

Once we switched to formula, the Dr. Browns formula pitcher was a lifesaver in making batches of formula to pour into bottles for daycare, instead of having to make each bottle individually.

Mel&John2013 · October 2014

The things I liked most were my travel system (three wheel stroller, rolls so nicely), vibrating bouncer, nose freida, video monitor, and a nice sound machine. Our sound machine was expensive but I found that for some reason I couldn't stand the sound of the cheaper ones. They sound like radio static and drive me nuts. So before you buy, take a good listen and make sure it's something you can live with.

Buy Buy Baby near me said that if you register for the bigger items like a swing but it turns out baby hates it you can return it. Even if it's been used a couple of times.

RIngReady · October 2014

I completely agree with the advice of 'take your time'. It is amazing what friends may just give you, if you have friends with babies. I Stores also are always rotating inventory and nothing is more frustrating then making a registry in Oct. only to have to redo it in March because the store no longer carries items.

Research things that you like/think are important ie are you a runner? ?Do you need a running stroller like a Bob, or just an awesome walking stroller to take around town? Are you going to explore cloth diapering or do disposables. Start looking at safety ratings, and get advice on which carseats fit best in your automobiles.

A lot of great advice and items have been mentioned, but my list of must have's

-I would absolutely recommend a very very comfortable glider for the nursery. You will use it all the time-in fact DH slept with our 15 month old almost all last night in ours because LO is sick (not the first time either)

-Sound machine or fan for nursery. We got the Sleep Sheep and I loved that it was portable enough that we could take it to a hotel or grandmas and it could be similar to home. (There re also some great apps though if you have an extra I-anything laying around)

You can also register for bowls, sippy cups, plastic flatwear, toddler toys, walkers, ect that you can use as baby gets older. We registered for a ton of toddler things and they were great for co-workers, or distant relatives to get because they tend to be inexpensive.

topaz7777 · October 2014

Baby bargains book is really the ticket.

Secondly, What you really need, something to diaper the baby, wipe the baby, feed the baby, safe sleep environment. The rest are really extras. Some are sanity savers, some are medications like baby tylenol, some are convenience factors.

Register for whatever strikes your fancy, if you don't get it, there is usually a discount to buy the remaining items on your list. So even if you aren't sure, if you put it on there, you basically get it at sale price.

I got tons of blankets at my shower, more than I will ever be able to use.

I recomend getting the necessities and then building the convience from there after baby comes. You will be going to the store for all kinds of odds and ends anyway.

Edit to add: Oh but definitely a carseat!

amacksta14 · October 2014

Thanks for the suggestions! I just purchased Baby Bargains on my Kindle.

JaneShops · October 2014

I'm also a FTM, but got so many helpful lists & recommendations from my friends. Here are some items they all seem to agree on

Car seats
- many different recommendations, most have similar safety ratings. It defends on your preference, how easy it becomes for you, etc etc. I'm going to end up with chicco key fit
- summer infant cushy straps, they have ivory bear or pink bunny

Bath
- mustela infant foam shampoo for first month, as they shed their womb skin
- then earth baby mama angel shampoo
- some type of seat tub with newborn sling
- wash clothes, my friends seem to love casters & Aiden anais

Diaper
- diaper; huggies little snugglers
- wipes; Huggies one and done
- cream; earth baby mama angel
- diaper bag, your preference. I was recommended to pick from Skip Hop since it goes well with the strollers
- summer infant contoured changing pad
- multiple covers for the changing pad
- diaper organizer
- playtex diaper genie elite pail system with odor lock carbon filter
- playtex diaper genie refill

Sleep
- swaddle blankets, cotton muslin or bamboo from aiden anais
- some love woombie sleep cocoon, another said the summer infant swaddle me infant wrap is awesome, then another thinks Halo sleep sacks are the best. So who knows
- several mattress covers,for quick changes if there's lots of spit up
- baby okay laundry detergent

Feeding
- if pumping, medela pump in style advanced breast pump
- medela value pack BPa- free feeding set
- lansinoh or medela Breast milk storage bag
- Boppy pillow, my Breast friend pillow, or the leachco cuddle-u nursing pillow
- lansinoh hpa lanolin
- lansinoh disposable nursing pad
- drying rack, you can get the fake grass or spinning rack
- Baby okay dish soap
- snap bibs, again many Recs for Aiden anais muslin
- burp bib, again Aiden anais muslin

Health
- baby nail scissor
- baby nail clipper with magnifier
- nosefrida baby aspirator with extra filters
- Vicks rectal thermometer
- optional, non contact forehead baby thermometer OR ear thermometer

Gear
- baby monitor, couple of my friends got the Samsung 3.5 inch
- Rock n play sleeper
- bumbo floor seat
- activity gym, infantino had a grow with me one that later becomes a ball pit
- carrier; baby njorn for infancy. But you can always get ergo baby & but the insert.

Toy
- mobile for the crib, you can get musical moving but newborns love the b&w Manhattan toy wimmer-ferguson infant stim mobile
- cloud b sound machine soother, most get the sheep. But they have a cute fox hehe
- Sophie chew toy
- wubbanub pacifier, they have bears dogs sheep eveyrthing! I think I might get the owl

MagalinaH · October 2014

As someone who has had to buy a lot of baby gifts off of registries lately, I second the poster who mentioned having a variety of price points.

One thing I didn't notice being mentioned is registering for things that you are pretty sure/certain that you want, but don't necessary expect others to buy (big ticket items) because of the completion discount you get with most registries (10-15% off).

Also, along with making sure that your stroller will fit in your trunk, do the same with carseats if the store will let you.

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