March 2018 Moms

Registry regrets and purchasing tips?

There are so many experienced moms on this board and I'm hoping to take advantage of all your wisdom!  

What are some items that you REGRET putting on your registry or buying for yourself?

Alternatively, what is something you didn't think to put on your registry/buy yourself and now wish that you had?
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Re: Registry regrets and purchasing tips?

  • KLmyzKLmyz member
    Yay !! So excited for this thread ! 
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  • kmallskmalls member
    edited July 2017
    I regretted buying wayyyyyy too many clothes before the baby was born. He was much smaller than we anticipated and by the time he could fit some things, the seasons had changed. All babies need is a basic layette because those first few months are spent mostly in onesies and PJs, imo.
    YES. Fussy clothes are basically impossible to put on a newborn. Onesies and pants are all you're gonna want to do. 
  • I had it on my registry, but I love them and plan to use them (or buy more) again! Aden & Anais muslin blankets!  <3 For down the road, bibs with the little plastic pocket. Doesn't need to be the crazy heavy duty ones either, I think they have fairly cheap ones at Walmart. I don't know, but I loved them. No need to worry about stains and they catch a lot! 
  • @kmalls that's really good to know about the Halo. MH really likes it and wants to try it out for this baby but I haven't been so sure. I hear good things about the Rock 'n Play.
    Lilypie Pregnancy tickers
  • Regret: Our swing. I love having a swing but ours only went back and forth, and DS wanted to go side to side. All my friends got their babies to nap in the swing. DS slept ONCE in it. We will be investing in a different one for this baby. 

    Tip: Mamas and Papas seat. A lot of people get Bumbos but I've heard that chubbier babies get their thighs stuck even as small babies. The mamas and papas version has bigger thigh holes and can be used with insert under 1 year and without after 1. DS is 2 years old and we still use ours as a booster seat for him at all meals. Love it!
  • @justkeeptrying I will second the swing. Our son hated it and our daughter could take it or leave it. It takes up so much space! 
  • Loved our swing, it's a fisher price one and goes back and forth and side to side. Also loved our rocking recliner - great for putting DS to sleep.

    Definitely the rock n play! And a white noise machine for sleeping. We kept the rock n play in our room but it was easy enough to move into other rooms when I needed somewhere to out DS down while I did other things, I even brought it into the bathroom when I needed to quickly shower (I could watch DS while showering and he was content in the rock n play, mesmerized by our shower curtain :) ).

    Loved my KTan though I didn't register for it. For wraps or baby wearing equipment, I recommend going and trying out a bunch of different ones before buying. We initially registered for the Boba but ended up not using it, liked the KTan better.

    For things like bottles, pacifiers, swaddles, I recommend buying a few individual ones one at a time to see if it works for your baby (if the baby likes it) before purchasing multiple of them. We went through multiple different ones of each before we found the ones that DS loved (Dr Brown bottles, MAM pacifiers, Love to dream swaddle).

    Sorry a bit long, hope some of that helps!
  • I think we might share the same brain. @mdfarmchick I'm scared to get the Rock N Play because so many of my friends have had a hard time getting their babies move to their crib once they cannot use the RnP anymore. Maybe they just have crummy luck? We just use the Pack n Play the first couple of weeks while they're nursing around the clock and then I move them to their crib. 

    All that to say, my daughter was/is a terrible sleeper anyway, so I guess a RnP wouldn't have been the worst thing. She woke up 3x a night still at 2 1/2.  :# I should say though ya never know, our son has been a pro sleeper since he was a month old! 
  • kamio92kamio92 member
    edited July 2017
    I bought way more than I actually needed or used!

    My Must Haves:

    • Play Mat
    (somewhere to hang out with bubba on the ground)

    • Portable Seat/Vibrating Chair or swing
    (seriously the only way I managed to shower for the first few months was to stick bubba in the chair facing me while I bathed)

    •bottles 
    (incase breastfeeding doesn't go as planned)

    •Onsies with buttons or zips

    • Chair for bath once bubba is Bigger

    • Love To Dream Sleeping Bags
    (they changed my life!)

    • burp clothes/face clothes 
    (great for cleaning baby spit up)

    • Atleast 2 mattress protectors and 2 sheets for cot.

     (I never used a bassinet or anything smaller. I loved not having to worry about transitioning from a bassinet to a cot and saved an unnecessary cost. 2 mattress proctectors and sheets are so you can just rip the sheet and mattress protector off of the cot and chuck them in the washing and not have to worry about airing the mattress or anything. Just pop on the spare sheet and protector and good to go.)

    THINGS I REGRET

    • Way to many/Fussy clothes

    •My Ergo 360 - horrible after my c-section and seriously uncomfortable as a bigger lady

    • Wraps of any description

    • Purchased way to many cot sheets. I survive now with 4. I bought 8. Way too many!!!


    THINGS I WISH I HAD

    • Travel System/Car Seat that connects to Pram

    • Carrier Wrap like hug a bug 
    (way more comfy than Ergo)

    •Moses Basket or the like something easy to transport a sleeping bubba around in
    [color=purple]Married July 2014[/color]
    [color=pink]First Monkey July 2015[/color]
    [color=green]Baby No2 March 2018
    ~Team Green~[/color]

  • @isntthatspeshul yes to the my breast friend! So much better than boppy for us. Once DS was a few months older and bigger, we used the Luna Lullaby also.

    @chasingroygbiv we transitioned around 3 months or so from the rock n play to a pack n play by putting a rolled up towel under the crib sheet, in a horseshoe like shape. It gave DS something to touch on the sides, similar to the RnP, while being on the flat surface of the crib. And the towel was a low enough "wall" that we weren't worried about suffocation risk (and DS' hands weren't swaddled)  - hard to explain without a picture, but it worked for us.

  • I originally registered for the Bumbo seat, but I switched it out with the Fisher Price Sit-Me-Up seat and I loved it!
  • Loved: DD loved her playmat and her vibrating bouncer that played music she also slept in her pack and play for first few months then I ended up moving her crib to her room which she slept in since and still does still in our room lol. With this one I'm hoping to transition to DD soon to her own room and put this one straight in his or her crib in our room. 

    Regrets: The swing was was a waste DD didn't like it I had a bumbo and sit my up she wasn't crazy about either she got bored I mostly sat her between my legs and she would tripod sit and play with her toys. If you decided to get a seat I would get sit me up DD def likes that one better when she would tolerate it. 
    Daisypath - nBGk

    Lilypie - GQnA

  • +1 On the Rock n Play! DS only used it during the day (we're major rule-followers and he slept swaddled in his crib from day 1), but it was amazing for naps because since it kind of hugged his body we didn't have to keep swaddling him all day. 

    Last time we got a hand me down RnP from a fellow grad student, and when DS outgrew it around 5 months we paid it forward to another grad student. This time we're definitely getting the kind that rocks on its own. 
  • Duds: swing my kids all hated it. 
    I got the biggest weight limit infant seat bc it would last longer, except it's rare for bsbyes to outgrow them for weight (ht first) not the 35# one at least! And the thing is a beast and soo heavy, and we wanted to switch to a convertible early anyhow. Go for lightweight!!
    none of my kids fit nb clothes
    monitor even when they slept in own room never needed it, I heard everything (and I used to be a heavy sleeper!)
    wait on bottles lots if navies have preferences. Buy 1 and try it, if it doesn't work but a couple more 1 packs 

    loves:
    ring sling for nb and Tula for bigger kids
    pack  n Play - for travel yes but we left it set up downstairs. In the early days having a diaper station fully stocked on the main floor was gold. Babies need diaper changes a lot. 

    Babies have preferences, I like suggesting to wait in tons of gear till you see what your baby is like. 




    11/18/16 missed m/c 9w1
    05/2017 cp
    08/03/17 no hb 8w

  • Regrets:
    Nail File Zoli - I have never used it.  When she was itty bitty I just bite them off while nursing.  And now that she is bigger I can't imagine getting her to sit long enough for my to file her nails, so I just use a baby nail clipper and some wrestling moves.
    Forehead and Ear Thermometer - The doctor's office is going to need a rectal temp anyways, so what is the point.  Maybe I'll use it more when she is older.
    Wipe Dispenser - I had grand dreams of storing my cloth wipes in it, but have never used it.

    Must Haves:
    Furniture Wall Straps - STRAP EVERYTHING TO THE WALL PEOPLE!
    Dohm Sound Machine
    Stoller Organizer
    Activity Gym/Playmat
    Boppy Newborn Lounger - Loved this thing

    I also loved the Snuza Hero, but it was probably unnecessary.  I just gave me peace of mind so I could actually sleep instead of worrying about whether she was breathing.  We had to stop using it when she started rolling over to sleep on her tummy.

    Also, if you do plan on bottle feeding - I actually do recommend a bottle warmer.  DD's daycare used one, so she got a bit picky about her bottle's temperature.  It is a lot faster than warm water in a cup.

    And if you do plan on going the daycare route - ours wouldn't allow glass bottles.  Which makes sense, but we had to go out and buy more plastic ones.  

    Me: 30 H: 30
    Dx: PCOS
    Married: June 2013
    TTC#1: January 2015
    BFP #1 8/24/15 | MC 9/3/15 at 6w2d
    BFP #2: 12/12/15 | DD born 8/29/16
    TTC#2: June 2017
    BFP #3: 7/15/17 | DS born 3/20/18
  • Gingermom15Gingermom15 member
    edited July 2017
    ETA 

    reiterating PP. strap/anchor all your furniture 

    Must haves

    We used the RnP until DS was 6 months. He couldn't lie flat until he outgrew his reflux, so it was a life saver. My best advice is to not overuse it, get them into a crib as soon as they outgrow the reflux. He was super easy to transition once he could be flat. Do lots of tummy time while awake. Overuse of the RnP can cause flat spots and delayed motor development. It's one of the risks vs benefits sort of deal. 

    Dr. Browns bottles. My baby had a poor latch from the beginning due to an undiagnosed lip tie. So when I would pump for DH to feed him during th night those were the only bottles he could eat from. They are awesome for reducing air and gas. NOT the green options bottles, but the original blue vent bottles. 

    Microwave steam sterilizer bags. 

    Free and clear soap of some sort because the scented kind like Dawn tends to leave behind a film and odor after awhile

    Muslin blankets. 

    Motherlove nipple cream (way better than Earth Mama Angel Baby)

    sleep sacks for the newborn days when diapers need changed every hour. 

    Bouncer so I could put him down during the day 

    Chicco Keyfit car seat. More expensive purchase, but it's amazingly easy to use and adjust, super light weight, and has an insert for tiny babies. My son was under 5 lbs and fit perfect. 

    Extended rear facing convertible car seat. We have the Graco Milestones when he outgrew his infant seat. Rear facing for life over here.  

    Wash clothes. The smaller kind are easier to wash a baby with and I still use them on my toddler. 

    Sound machine. White noise was life! 

    Dr. Brown's formula pitcher. When I stopped nursing DS liked his bottles cold. So I would make a days worth of formula ahead and it was always cold for him. 
     
    DIDN'T NEED

    Tummy time mats. We had one, but he preferred a fleece blanket. 

    95% of the clothes. Especially the cutesy outfits. Onesies, sleep sacks and warm sleepers (winter baby) were all he wore for the first few months. Newborn clothes are a big waste unless they're being dressed up for a holiday or pictures. 

    Swing. My son hated it. 

    Burp cloths. We used receiving blankets. 

    pack and play sheets. We still haven't opened them. 

    Socks. So many socks. He always kicked them off and still hardly wears socks to this day. 

    We were gifted a ton a ton of baby shoes. Babies don't need shoes until much older, these were returned. 

    Dedicated baby towels and robes. Way too small for practical use. 

    Bibs. He never tolerated them 

    swaddlers. They were too hot, the Muslim blankets were better. 

  • I never used a bottle warmer or wipe warmer. We always warmed milk bottles in the sink under warm water and it only took a couple of minutes to get to room temp. if this baby is fussier about bottle temp, we may pick one up, but my son never cared. he would also drink thawed milk cold without complaint, I just liked to have the sitter warm them because in my head it was more comforting for him.



    Things I won't go without:

    Muslin swaddle blankets. I used them for everything-swaddling, nursing cover, burp cloths, car seat cover..

    Second breast pump. My insurance pays for one and I plan to buy a second again. It was so nice to have one at home and one at work with my son. It saved me the trouble of having to pack it up and it was one less thing to carry back and forth. I washed my pump parts in the break room and stored them at work too.

     


    Married 6/2013, TTC 9/2013.
    ***TW***
    MC 12/2013, Blighted Ovum 04/2014, CP 06/2014
    Began RPL testing 07/2014
    BFP #4 10/26/2014; Theo born 07/2015
    BFP #5 06/17/2017, EDD 02/28/18


    BabyFruit Ticker
  •  Oh another thing I love! Waterproof lap pads. Probably about 12 x 12, little white pads that are waterproof that I use on top of the changing pad. That way in the early days when diapers leak and babies pee all over the place… You aren't having to change the pad cover every single time you change a diaper. Just switch out the white lap pad and throw it in the wash 




    11/18/16 missed m/c 9w1
    05/2017 cp
    08/03/17 no hb 8w

  • @kiki75 yesss! So true, the zippered ones are a million times better!
  • @kiki75 Yes. Or for summer babies  (DS was born in spring), he only slept in white onesies and velcro swaddles for like 4 months. Super easy. 
  • Do not buy many NB sized diapers or clothes. My oldest never fit into them..she was a chubby wubby and went straight to size 1 diapers and -3 month. 

    When buying bottles just buy one of a couple brands until you know which your baby takes (this is a tip for formula and nursing mamas). Same thing with pacis, if you plan to use them.

    Vibrating chair is the only thing both my kids would sleep in when not in my arms. Neither kid was interested in the swing.

    We use a lot of blankets and burp cloths

    As far as clothes go just a handful of onesies and sleepers. You will end up using the same handful over and over. Especially in the first few months they grow so freakin fast you will be moving up size in clothes faster than you'll realize.

    I know many people are saying only zippered sleepers, but if you have a super chubby wubby baby they might not squeeze into them as well.

    Baby socks will not stay on try and buy only sleepers and pants with feet already in them.

    Sound machine

    I recommend only bibs with snaps.

    Boppy pillow, even if you don't BF it's a great support pillow.
          
  • @kiki75, I actually preferred buttons for DS. At least in the early newborn stage. Reason being that to unzip you have to unzip the whole thing. Buttons you can just do the bottom half for diaper changes. It keeps their top half warm. 
  • kiki75kiki75 member
    @justkeeptrying I have seen a few where they've gotten smart and started doing top and bottom zips like coats so you can just undo the bottom part. I also saw a couple hella expensive ones that had magnets in them. Which sound like kind of a good idea but still make me nervous. 
        
    Me: 34 DH: 38
    Married: June 2011
    TTC since Feb 2016
    BFP#1: 7/7/16 MMC: 8/16/16 
    BFP#2: 5/8/17 - CP
    BFP#3: 6/27/17 EDD: 3/10/18
  • @kiki75, that's awesome! Magnets would terrify me. If one got loose and the kid swallowed it, that's a recipe for disaster. I would be very leery about purchasing ones with magnets. 
  • Adding a few things:

     the Dohmie white noise machine has been amazing from day one...you'll also need blackout curtains to make the room really dark for naps. 

    a lot lot of people say not to buy too many newborn diapers and clothes, and while I agree, know that if you have a small or slow-growing baby you will end up needing more. I had a peanut (she still is) and she was in newborn clothes until 3 months old.

    the nose frida works better than the bulbs. 

    gripe water and gas drops are a godsend for gassy babies. 

    chenille sheets don't get cold like cotton ones and will help with transitioning. 
     
  • Oh, I forgot one! Maybe someone has said it. The snap n go stroller or whatever it is. We have the Chicco brand. It's just the little stroller frame and you pop the infant seat in and stroll. Soooo nice at the mall and such. I always feel like our stroller system is too big. We also have a Chicco umbrella stroller, but it's super nice. It reclines, has a basket underneath, a little better wheels than your average $10 umbrella stroller. 
  • I agree with @gazelle319 about the rock and play. My SIL had them for her twins and they both had to wear helmets, they also had torticollis. They were told to stop using them immediately. 

    Neither one of my babies liked being swaddled, so I feel like I wouldn't want to go too crazy with the receiving blankets until you know if LO likes to be swaddled. The main things I used both times were my pack n play, high chair, walker, and a playmat for tummy time. 

    I used a baby bath for DD but said the hell with it for DS and just used the sink until I felt comfortable enough to go with the regular bath. We have a crib but I ended up bed sharing both times and it worked out great for us. 

    Honestly, I plan to get and use the bare basics this time.
    DD born August 17, 2010
    DS born October 13, 2014
    Baby #3 due March 2018

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