June 2019 Moms
ami500
member
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FTM Registry List
ami500
member
I know there are quite a bit of us FTM that don’t know what to put on the baby registry, so I decided to just make this thread to help throw out ideas and such. I know every family has different needs but there has to be universal needs that every parent should have. Some of us may have already gotten help/advice from friends and family and it would be nice to see input on certain items. There is the STM registry list, which is nice to see what STMs get the next go around.
Re: FTM Registry List
I'm curious about what bits of advice people have gotten from family and friends about particular baby items (like make sure you get a swing that does X, don't bother with that brand, etc). I'm also wondering how far ahead some of you ladies are planning; like some of the registry lists I've seen include things like dishes and cutlery for when baby starts learning to feed themselves but that seems a long way out!
And for any STMs, was there anything that you received that was a total life saver? Anything you registered for that ended up being useless?
Advice I've received so far:
- Plastic highchair over fabric, just for ease of cleaning. Unless the fabric easily removes and can be thrown in the washing machine it'll be filthy and you're better off with a plastic highchair that can be wiped clean.
- Get a baby bath with a mesh or fabric sling/hammock that can be clipped in and then removed later when they can sit up on their own. If you go all plastic then you have a slippery wet baby on slippery wet plastic! The hammock keeps them in one place and gives you both hands free for bathing.
I’m one of those that put dishes and cutlery into the registry. My friends tell me that kids grow up pretty fast and before you know it they’ll be using it, so it’s best to have it now.
Some of the advice I got were:
- don't get alot of newborn clothes or diapers, babies will grow out of them really quickly. Just get a couple packs and buy as needed if you need more.
- register for all different brands of diapers and wipes, you won’t know what will work best for baby until you try them.
- don’t get a traditional diaper bag, backpacks are much better. Just find one with enough storage space.
- make sure to have change of clothes for you and baby in your diaper backpack and car in case of accidents on the go.
- changing table is unnecessary, a dresser or using a changing pad on the bed or couch does the job without the extra furniture.
- get a stroller combo system. It’s a must have especially for newborns.
- get a bouncer or rock n play, lifesaver when you want to get a shower in. Had a friend regret not getting one and had to wait for dad to come home before she was able to do anything.
- skip the baby laundry detergent if you already use dye and fragrance free detergent, since it should be gentle enough.
- if you plan on breastfeeding, get a breast pump through insurance.
- register at different sites to get free sample baby items.
- baby banana toothbrush/teether is a baby favorite, definitely get this item.
- add things like pantry or frozen (homemade or premade) food. You may not find a lot of time to grocery shop and prepare meals with the newborn.
- add favors like walking the dog or any other needs your family would have.
- all of the cute burp rags are completely useless if you have a baby with reflux. My MIL made me so many cute ones and the ones that worked the best was the white pack of old school thick white cloth diapers/cloths. They were the most absorbent and useful.
- I only really used changing table when baby was in our room other than that, changing pad on the top of the dresser works the same.
- stroller combo was the best b/c I did NOT want to pull baby out of the carseat to transfer every time I had to run in somewhere. We did switch to the convertible fairly prob around 6 months. My husband and I each had a base in our car so all we had to do was transfer the carrier. total life saver!
- I only used the bath tub a handful of times. We have a big farm style sink and I used that. It was way better on my back not having to bend down.
- the backpack is WAAAYYY more practical than my $180 petunia picklebottom bag that is soooo cute.
- my boppy and boppy lounger were life savers. My son had reflux so he always had to be propped up.
- the little fisher price bouncer worked the best for us, but every baby is different. my son hated the mama roo. I had a friend give me a swing that I am going to try out this time to see b/c I've heard great things about it.
- loved the activity mat/pad. the one I had even came with a little prop for tummy time.
- literally used the bumbo maybe 5 times. propped him up against the boppy and he liked that better.
- i personally hated the moby b/c I could never get it to fit by myself. I used my ergo 360 ALL of the time even added the infant insert. I am going to try the baby K'tan this time b/c I've heard its lighter like the moby but comes in 3 pieces and seems really efficient.
- If you aren't planning on exclusively breastfeeding (or find out you can't) don't stock pile on 1 type of formula. It may take a few different types to see which one baby likes best. Your OB & pediatrician always have samples.
- bottle sterilizer was total waste of money. I used it once and it left everything with condensation. I just boiled water and sterilized that way. I literally had a glass bowl for bottles on my counter for about a year.
- I used dr. brown bottles b/c they have that internal vent system b/c they are supposed to reduce gas/reflux/etc but try out a couple and see what works before you buy a ton.
-lots of swaddles or receiving blankets. I really liked the muslin ones b/c I live in Phoenix so lighter weight and summer time is really nice.
- I did like the wipe warmer for late at night when I was changing the baby b/c with a boy every time air hits, he pees so the warmer wipe helped reduce that.
- I HATED sleepers with buttons. This time around I only want zippers b/c getting all of those buttons to line up at 3am when you can't even see is a treat.
At the end of the day, if you don't have it all right before baby gets here (so many people give gift cards now anyway), don't stress out. You can get everything 2 day delivered on Amazon and as long as the baby is fed with clothes you are good to go. All they do in those first few weeks is eat and sleep. I am saying this as someone who is totally type A and that was SOOO far out of my comfort zone but my son was 3 weeks early right before the holidays and came the day I was supposed to be signing paperwork on my new house. Plus in 16 years, they aren't going to remember if you had the right bouncer or diaper bag or perfect toy for them the day they were born
TTC since Oct 2013
IVF round 1 January 2016 (w/ ICSI)
ER: February 17, 2016; 15 eggs retrieved, 14 mature, 11 fertilized
Day 5 Blastocysts: 8 sent for PGS - 5 Normal
FET date: April 12, 2016 - DS born Dec 7, 2016
IVF round 2: FET : Oct 4 - 1st Beta 188!
TTC since Oct 2013
IVF round 1 January 2016 (w/ ICSI)
ER: February 17, 2016; 15 eggs retrieved, 14 mature, 11 fertilized
Day 5 Blastocysts: 8 sent for PGS - 5 Normal
FET date: April 12, 2016 - DS born Dec 7, 2016
IVF round 2: FET : Oct 4 - 1st Beta 188!
Everyone also tells me not to register for just one type of diaper since you don't know what's going to work best for your baby. So instead I set up a diaper fund on Amazon.
TTC since Oct 2013
IVF round 1 January 2016 (w/ ICSI)
ER: February 17, 2016; 15 eggs retrieved, 14 mature, 11 fertilized
Day 5 Blastocysts: 8 sent for PGS - 5 Normal
FET date: April 12, 2016 - DS born Dec 7, 2016
IVF round 2: FET : Oct 4 - 1st Beta 188!
@ami500 I keep being cautioned that the hospital won’t give me anything to take...I feel like I need to prepare for the worst!
@holyboobsbatman It sounds like that’s what’s happening for one of my showers too, and my sister-in-law just gave me a bunch of baby books that she was clearing out, so I’m excited to start a library for our guy!
@holyboobsbatman That’s what I was planning on doing! With all the technology these days, it’s better to get the little one started on books and reading.