My work shower is the week before Thanksgiving, which is about a month from now. Clay and I have been talking about how we need to go and register. We are planning to register at Target and Babies R' Us but we haven't had a chance to. And to be honest, I'm not in a big hurry. The thought of registering is so overwhelming to me. I could handle registering for my wedding. But for a baby, how do you know what to get? I've never had a baby before so I am not completely sure what is the best stuff. So that is where I need your help. I need to hear some suggestions from mothers about the best or worst items to have. You know those you MUST have this or DON'T waste your money (or someone elses.) For example I look online at monitors, swings, bottles and how do I know which is the best product?? Also, what diapers should I use for a boy? Anyway, if you mothers could help me out and ease my tension a little bit, I would really appreciate your suggestions!!
Smithsonian Museum of American History
6 months ago
11 comments:
You sound just like me. Registering for Jack ended up in one of the biggest fights Josh and I have ever had : ) Registering for a baby is soooooo much more difficult than registering for your wedding.
Anywho, as for suggestions:
diapers - Wal-Mart's White Cloud diapers are just as good (and cheaper) than the expensive brands
diaper pails - wonderful investment as long as you get a good one such as the Dekor or the Clean Air Odor Free one. I have had both and both are fantastic!!
I can't think of anything else right now but I will get back to you. Hope this helps.
Yeah, it is definitely daunting. I just went on Friday with a friend to register because she felt the same way.
Skip registering for a lot of blankets, because you'll get a TON of those.
I agree with Melinda about the diaper pails. And at first I thought they were stupid but then with the prospect of two in diapers, I had to get one and I love it.
I would start out using Pampers Swaddlers Newborn diapers. That's what the hospital will use and they're great for newborns. Both my kids wear White Cloud or Target brand now.
Get a bouncy seat that vibrates!!
You can start a registry online..and just add stuff that looks fun to you. People can still get things in the store/ online if they want to. That's what I did......I never even went to the store w/ the gun.
Here's my novel.
I never wanted a diaper pail. Never had one, so no clue.
Your baby will decide what pacifiers/bottles he likes. I have exactly 7 sippy cups that have each been used ONE TIME...and I'm keeping for if a future child WILL use one. My child has hated all sippies.
The only bottles he took were Avent, but that was after we tried Playtex VentAire, Dr. Brown's, and cheapo generic ones.
Don't register for pacis or bottles. Get those later, with some saved gift cards until you find the ones your baby prefers.
Dont' register for clothes. You will get so many clothes, and some your baby will never get to wear. People like buying clothes anyway, so they will get what THEY want you to have, not necessarily what YOU want your baby to have. Like my mom buying AJ OU stuff.
Must haves:
A boppy with slipcovers. I had two boppies, one in the living room and one in the bedroom. It helped to have one less thing to haul around with me.
A bouncy/vibrating chair. Did I get you one of those? Register for another. I wish I had had like, 4 of them, one in each room.
A Papasan cradle swing.
A Fisher Price convertible booster chair (that's the one I had...) if you don't want an individual high chair.
Burp cloths....tons and tons. My child was a llama, we never had too many.
Baby medicine kits, Mylicon.
Baby bathtub set.
Boon Frog toy holder. It's a blast!
The protective thingy that goes on your bathtub facuet. We use that more NOW.
Baby towels. We used the hooded ones the first year.
Toys...iffy. People will buy you toys no matter what. Same with clothes.
The bedding set you want, including things like baskets, containers, curtain, rugs, lamps, nightlights, wall decor, etc. People will buy it, they like it!!
Save a gift card to find yourself the "Coming Home from the Hospital" outfit for you and baby. Get something comfy IN CASE you have surgery (I'm not jinxing you) and something comfy for baby. AND WARM!!!
Diaper bag, although you'll get some of these anyway. The hospital will give you free ones, w/ formula samples. I can rant on that later as not to offend anyone.
You'll probably register for a baby carrier. I will promise you, there is NOTHING more comfortable than the one I have, and you can't find it in any store. I'll let you try it out after your baby is here, so you can see what I'm yammering about.
Go ahead and try the Bjorn's and what not. I heard the "hotsling" is good, and that is at Target. But if you and Clay have back trouble, the one I have is an Ergo (www.ergobabycarrier.com) and it puts the weight on your HIPS not your back. It's a DREAM. AJ falls asleep in his like magic. :)
Also heard the moby wrap is good and a babyhawk Mei Tai carrier. Google this stuff for more info.
Extra crib sheets, baby will have a big fat poo blowout on your one special gorgeous matching sheet.
Humidifier. Some at Target look like a penguin. So cute!!!
I'm a blanket junkie, so I registered, but I agree you won't need to. You'll get tons.
Oh, and packign your hospital bag, take your baby book. They'll footprint his feet in there, and maybe his hands before his first bath :)
Dishwasher basket for those small parts. Pump accessories, unless you want to get those yourself.
I'm the sucker who loved the wipes warmer. Your baby will be born in the cold months, he might appreciate a warm wipe on his bum. AJ did. I quit using them after about 9 months, but the Munchkin one had a nightlight on it and was our favorite.
Rainforest crib musical light. One out there has a remote. LOVE IT.
CD player for baby's room...might want for lullaby music or rain (hmm).
That was a book. OH and my favorite diapers were always Huggies. I loved the Swaddlers when they were small enough. AJ peed a hole through every. single. diaper. out there. Except Huggies, and the store brand of our grocery store here. He can't get through the night in a Pamper anymore because it's a little pillow of pee when he wakes up and his sheets are soaked. Nice to know, huh?
Exersaucer.
Hope this helps!
The best thing that I got when we were in America and I so wish that they did them in Scotland is - Zip up all in one sleep suits. You get them in target and they are amazing.
The only thing I can think of at the moment is that instead of getting the cutesy burp cloths, register for the cloth diapers. They are bigger, absorb more, and you will be glad for them later on. You can't have enough of those...
We uses the pampers swadlers until Cooper got into 3's, and we switched to Pampers Baby Dry which have worked great for us, you can buy 100 for $20 a wal-mart, we tried cheaper diapers, but they didn't work for us. I also agree on the diaper pail, we have a baby trend one which I like because you don't have to buy special bags for them. We use mostly playtex vent-aire bottles, he hasn't been to picky on those, but when it comes to pacifiers he loves the nuk ones...won't take another kind and throws a fit about it. Bouncey seats are great, and lots of things to chew on, and you will probably get a lot of blankets, registering for them or not..
I know how you feel. We've been looking over Logan's stuff to see what we liked & what was pointless. I agree that the cute burp cloths are pointless. As you know, Logan still carries around a cloth diaper every day & has to have it to sleep.
I would only register for one shampoo/soap/lotion, b/c you'll get tons, but it gives them an idea of which ones you want. I love the smell of the Johnson's bedtime with lavendar, but newborns are best without a scent until they're older b/c it can be harsh on their skin.
We have the diaper geenie & it works great. You'll want a little trash can in the room as well for the little things, like when you open a new pack of wipes & don't want to walk all the way to the bathroom to throw it away.
I wouldn't go crazy buying lots of passies or bottles. Logan never really took a pacifier & some babies take a while to get used to what bottle they want. We used Dr. Brown's & they worked great.
Must haves: exersaucer, boppy, swing, pack & play, sleep positioner (to keep him on his back while he sleeps & we bought the one that is on an incline which helps if he's congested), bath tub with the hammock (this is great to use until his umbilical cord falls off).
Things you didn't know you needed until you bring him home from the hospital: alcohol swabs for the umbilical cord, petroleum jelly for the circumcision. Keep the green bulb from the hospital to use to suction his nose when he's congested & keep the big pink basin b/c it's great when he's older & throwing up.
I think all we need is a few towels to cover him in. We don't need diapers...when it's time for him to go we'll just unwrap the towell and hold him out away from us. We don't need bottles...you'll be breastfeeding (nuf said?) - you'll just have to be awake and around every time he's hungry. We don't need a pacifier...he'll have a thumb. We don't need toys...we can find a cardboard box.
See? No reason to fret. It'll all work out, baby.
clay
I remember going into Babies R Us, approaching the jagnormous wall of a gaZILLION different bottles & thinking, "I have NO idea what I am doing...but my friend does!" I took my bestest friend with me. She had her first baby a little before I did--recent enough to know what was out there, but long enough before me to know what was really useful/helpful. Don't be overwhelmed by the jagnormous walls of baby mania...TAKE SOMEONE WITH YOU!!! (It's also fun to go w/a girlfriend.)
Hey Vanessa SO excited for you! I've been reading your blog recently. So I am a brand new mom and have felt the same way very recently. We have the diaper champ from Babies R Us and like it because you can use any trash bags and it keeps all smell out (so far!) I recommend buying at least one preemie outfit. We had all newborn clothes and our little boy was only 5 lbs 11 ozs at 39 weeks so NOTHING fit! My only other recommendation is to get a manual breast pump even if you get an electric one. It is easier to take places if you have to travel. Good luck! Enjoy the last few months!
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