Hi - I am wondering what items other Moms have put on their Baby Registry, and what items you would leave off? Obviously, leave off clothes, but is there anything you wished you had put on that you didn't, or vice versa? Also, when it comes to things like bottles, should I register for a "variety" pack of sorts? Or, should I research basically everything in advance before putting it on the list? I've started researching the bigger items, strollers, high chairs, diaper genie, etc. so I can put on the items that have the best features or have gotten the best reviews. It seems so hard to know in advance what products you will end up liking & using! What items did you think you would use and didn't? Any advice or recommendations? Also, we're from a small town, so I was thinking of just registering at Walmart, to be more convenient for everyone. Is it bad to put on several items that are only available online?
We registered for a diaper genie and never used it, we switched to cloth shortly after our child's birth but the diaper genie was a big waste of money!
Bottles.... well we never used them so I didn't register for them. If you are nursing, then don't register for bottles. Register for a boppy pillow, Lansinoh, and nursing pads instead.
Register for onesies, socks, jammies, toys, an exersaucer, swing, pack and play, etc.
i agree about the diaper genie....waste of money. at our house garbage goes out every day anyways. but onesies are a big must. i used cloth diaper as burp towels.
Yes leave off the diaper genie & wipe warmers & other gadgets. They are a waste of moeny & space. Unless you are in love with a theme you can leave off blankets too since you will most liekly receive many more than you can use.
yes register for bobby pillow, a baby sling, the large items, onesies (several sizes) if you registrer for clothes make sure to register for larger sizes (season appropriate of course)diapers, diapers diapers. You can never receive to many. Plus when you get different brands from the shower you can experiment & decide which ones work best for your baby. if it is there register for the bullet food processor, it works great for baby food.
My experiance is noone went by my baby registry and did whatever they wanted anyways. I was kinda bummed as I recieved so many diapers in the same size I never used them all and so many clothes in the same size I couldn't possibly use them as well. I specifically asked for larger sizes in both and it didn't happen.
So don't count on your registry. But do put a variety of things/prices to help out who's buying for you.
Congrats on your first baby and good luck. Things with a first baby are scary and exciting at the same time. Take lots of pictures-that's my #1 advice.
I use Costco diapers and love them. Never had a leak once. I like the Diaper Genie and think it's worth it. I would try BPA-free bottles, even if you are nursing. That way someone else can feed the baby when you're gone. Also little things like a bottle brush, breast milk storage bags...As for onesies, yes, get many sizes. I think Gerber ones feel cheap/rough, but Carter's are nice. Sleep Sacks are great. Our little guy used one for a year! When the baby's little you can put him/her in a nightgown-makes night changes go faster. A baby monitor. I loved my Boppy and used it a ton! We borrowed a Baby Bjorn but didn't use it much. You could probably get a cheaper version or a sling. The Bumbo seat is a waste, I think. Ask for some cardboard books. I would spend more money on things that get used a lot-high chair, car seat, stroller. Good luck!
It is so much fun to give advice about what to get for the baby! Our little one was a miracle and it was so much fun picking out what we wanted.
Make a list of things you want...keep asking moms what they love and hate for baby gear. Get an idea of what the regular price of each item is. Keep a lookout on Craigslist.com, community baby sales, and yard sales for items on your list that are in great shape and at a great discount, especially if you think you won't get everything on your registry (and you probably won't). Even if you put it on the registry and find the item before the shower, you can take it off.
Register for one brand of baby gear...the parts and toys can then be interchanged.
Don't go overboard with things that you are not sure of (like bottles). I know you can always take things back, but with a new baby, you may be less likely to do so.
We didn't get the Diaper Genie, but got a stainless steel trash can with lid/peddle for disposable diapers. We can now use it in another part of the house. We did go to cloth diapering, which I highly recommend. Let me know if you would like a referral of a lady that hand makes them in Minneapolis for much less than commercial brands.
We live in a bi-level and I breastfed, so I liked having two bobby pillows. One for the living room and one for the nursery.
We liked having our Bumbo seat with tray for when my daughter was first learning to eat from a spoon and for pictures...I bought mine at a yard sale for $10.
You'll want a humidifier for the nursery and a good nightlight. We also got a portable CD player and play instrumental music during the night.
Ask for the basics and gift cards. You may not know what you will need until you need it. It depends on how you set things up, who your baby is, and how you parent and what's important to you.
When getting furniture, you may want to look at lifetime cribs and dressers that have the changing table on them. We did this, and I love it. I don't have an extra piece of furniture (a changing table) that is only good for one reason and for such a short timeframe.
One last piece of advice...save all of the boxes and packaging, especially if you have room. It will make it easier for storage or for selling later. You'll get more money out of it if it is sold with it's container.
Have fun and enjoy that baby!
i have to diagree about the diaper genie. we have one and i love it! i would only register for one kind of bottle or leave them off all togeather and get some on your own. we registered for different kinds and our son only liked the advent ones so now i have 20 bottles or so that have never been used. i would register for a few onsies in different sizes and nuks, sippy cups, hooded bath towels, a jumperoo, play mats for when they get older, and gift cards. that way you can get things you need later. i would not register for blankets. you dont end up using half of them and people always get them anyways. have fun registering and congrats on your new bundle of joy!
Hi SJ! Congrats on the baby! Go out and register for anything and everything that you want or need! When I am buying a gift I LOVE to see a big registry! And if the person gets doubles of the gift I gave or need something else, I encourage them to take it back and get what they really need!
Register for a stroller, carseat, onesies, bottles, breastpump, crib, highchair... you name it! Often people like to pool their money to get a nice gift so don't worry about expensive things!
You can even register for baby clothes. Most people will include a gift reciept so you can exchange sizes.
ENJOY!!!
I agree with Anne. Register for everything you want or think you may need. I had a lot of people pool together and get me some of the bigger purchases. I also registered for some items only available online. I had an Aunt that got me some of this things. At my shower, she gave me a card and a picture of the online item she gave, it came straight to my house several days after the shower.
Best suggestion I could give is get the book Baby Bargains by Denise Fields. It is fantastic! It rates all the products, what's useful and what's not, and best of all how to do it at a lower cost. Best part is it's updated every 2 years and a new one is due out soon.
I read a few of the responses, and I agree with most of them, only request one kind of bottle, they seriously take up so much room, and you will end up prefering one brand over another, and it is such a waste to have so many different kinds. Secondly, I couldn't live without my boppy for the first couple of months with my babies, I don't know how I survived my 12 year olds first couple of months without one. You also really want to stay away from standard receiving blankets. They are so small and you can not effectively swaddle your baby in them. And within two weeks they are only good as burp cloths. I had a friend who made receiving blankets for me that were much bigger, and my 1.5 year old daugther still carries one around, so they have stood the test of time.
I would probably stay away from pacifiers, none of my kids liked them, and they give you one in the hospital to try. If they do like them, and you want to go that route, then you can buy the brand you like. Some people won't live without them, I think that if you can, that is one less thing to have to give up when they are older that is traumatic to you.
And the other moms are right, ask for the big things, but watch Craigs list and come spring garage sales. I don't know how many times at either garage sales or through Craigslist I have gotten an item that is practically brand new for half the price I would have paid for it new. As quickly as babies outgrow so much of their gear, you will feel so much better about your investment if you haven't paid full price.
Other things you can never have enough of: Sensitive wipes (just in case your baby reacts the the regular ones), diapers larger than size one, baby wash, onesies, sleepers, bottle brushes (again if you are going to bottle feed), diaper rash cream, (we like the new A&D with zinc the best), and bibs.
Things that we had never used or hated: diaper genie, vibrating seats, lotions, powders, ear thermometers, most of the blankets, and the grocery cart seat thing (just take antibacterial wipes with you to clean it.)
One more thought, my friends and their moms signed up for enfamil and similac's clubs, you get coupons and freebies, and if there is any chance that you are going to be using formula, this will help defray the expense some.
Congrats on your upcoming baby. Enjoy your sleep now, you will probably miss sleeping and nice long showers the most for the first couple of months. I hope that everything goes well for you and bottom line is that you will get tons of stuff (and advice) you never use and a few things that you will use constantly and you just won't know what you love and dislike until you have your baby.
Hi SJ. I see lots of folks here have opinions on products which I think is largely just personal preference (however just IMHO I do love my diaper genie II) but one thing I tell EVERY SINGLE pregnant friend they have to get, is a video baby monitor. We have the one by Summer and its GRRREAT! I had no idea how many little noises babies make while sleeping (snorts, grunts, groans, even cries!). If you run in each time, you disrupt your own sleep pattern, but most importantly theirs! They need to establish solid sleep blocks. Soooo with the video monitor, you just click a button, take a peek, see that they are fine, and then go back to what you were doing (like sleeping!!). I know they are expensive (around $200) but for hubby and I they are the #1 thing we would have to have if we did it all over again!
You'll probably quickly learn that there are many differing opinions out there! Alot of it varies based on the parents preferences and then also the individual baby.
I'll share some of the life savers for us: A low reclining bouncy chair that vibrated for when our son was a newborn, and then a little more upright one with more bells and whistles as he got older, a swing (I would encourage one that is almost like a bed when a newborn but can be more upright as he/she gets older), Tiny Love Black/Red/White gym, a sound machine, a simple exersaucer, some type of baby carrier (which one really depends on you and then what your baby will tolerate), a stroller frame that the infant car seat just snapped into, and then a really nice stroller the baby could grow up in (I personally was not a fan of the combo sets, but that was just us), a kick toy (but the best one out there is not made anymore...I found it at Once Upon a Child), a dresser/changing table combo, a fast read thermometer (not the ones that come in a kit or the ones for ears), infant seat cover to keep baby warm until summer, an extra head support, next step in car seat, high chair, booster seat, deluxe diaper bag, Medela Pump In Stlye Advance Breast Pump, GOOD stain remover such as OxyClean and Zout (test first to make sure baby is not sensitive to), Aquaphor, lots of baby wipes.
Things that were nice: several brands of pacifiers, several brands of bottles, a diaper pail (we've tried several, but I think I like the Diaper Champ the best), a changing pad with at least 2 covers, newborn and size 1 diapers, burp clothes or cloth diapers for this purpose, crib sheets and waterproof pads, extra small waterproof pads to use in varies places in case of leaks or spitups, simple onsies in several sizes, a pack of bibs (velcro), eating set, small wash clothes, a couple baby towels with hoods, a sleep sack, swaddler, baby book, Desitin Orignial, Aveeno or other more natural baby wash and lotion, baby clothes in bigger sizes, pack n play (but we did not need the ultra deluxe one we got!), baby gates, a few basic baby proof items, baby monitor (we did not have video but that would be a nice extra), vaporizer, books for baby, books for parents, teethers, rattles, toys up to 9 months (then you can get more at Christmas), Robeez, a mirror for baby in car, a mirror so parents can see baby in car, simple infant seat toys, car seat protector, car shades unless you have tinted windows, infant toothbrush and toothpaste, pacifier clip, nursing pillows if nursing (I liked My Brest Friend when first learning and then Bobby pillows as I got the hang of it!), hooter hider for nursing, cart cover for germs and comfort,something you are OK with as a lovey when child gets older, bottle drier, microwave sterilizer (for pacifiers and/or bottles), substantial bibs for when baby starts food, back carrier if you lead an active lifestyle, front carrier for when baby is able to hold head up, high chair toys, 1 or 2 nice lullaby CD's,
What we were given that was not necesaary: Wipe warmer, bottle warmer, grooming kit, medical kit, baby product kit, baby oil, baby powder, Vaseline, baby medicine, way too many blankets, way too many bibs, way too many stuffed animals, odds and ends of momentos, Baby Einstein DVD's (our son did not get into them...try from library first!), Dreft (use something like 7th Generation instead...Dreft has perfumes and such that can be irritating.)
I used the baby comb, snot clearer, vaseline, tub and such from the hospital. I also just used Olive Oil for Cradle Cap instead of Baby Oil. I tend to like to go natural for the most part, but I was not able to find a natural solution for stains.
I'm sure I've missed things, but I hope this helps. I wish I had gotten help with my registry. Oh...register at a couple places. Target and BabiesRUs, or something like that.
Have fun and best wishes.
Congratulations!!!
How exciting for you. Best of luck!
The thing about bottles is that you have no idea what kind your baby will like so I got a lot of bottles that I ended up getting rid of. I would take that off. Later, when you're ready to start bottle feeding, buy just one or two of a couple different kinds. Same with pacifiers.
Diaper genie - I have found to be a waste of money. Diapers stink no matter what bucket you put them in. We like a small metal garbage can with lid and empty the can almost daily.
Stroller - We loved our Jeep Urban Terrain stroller for 4+ years!! I wish they made a double. We bought, and were given many others that didn't compare to the versatility. For little car jaunts while peanut is still in the car seat - a snap-n-go is lite, compact and wonderful!
This is the big one: Register for, or ask for collection toward, a really good, really comfortable glider/rocker. This is something you will spend a lot of time in. Invest in one that you would be comfortable sleeping in. Seriously - this is the one item I wish we had splurged on or asked for more help towards. Now on our second child - we still spend enough time half asleep in it to warrant a way better chair. Ugh...
Pack n Play, Bouncy seat, and a good Breast Pump (medela is the best) should cover just about all you'll need besides clothes and diapers.
Online stuff seems fine to me!
One thing that we didn't register and got as a shower gift was a Wipe Warmer. At first I thought, "What kind of a spoiled-brat kid needs warm wipes??" But our son loved it! LoL The other thing was a bouncy seat that vibrates. What a life saver that was!
We actually got a very nice baby monitor that several of our relatives went in on to purchase for us and we have never used it. I am hoping that when my son (and daughter arriving May 2nd) is older we will find some use for it if they are outside playing,or in the playroom, etc. It just didn't seem to fit our needs. One of us is always in close quarters with my son. Anyway, it was a big ticket purchase that I thought I would get a lot of use out of and now it just sits here.
The item that I absolutely loved that was not on our registry was a swing. We bought one when my son was about 3-4 months old and I wished we would have had it sooner because he really enjoyed it a lot.
Another item that I have really found useful is the Chicco Keyfit travel system. You get the carseat carrier that fits inside the stroller. It is very user friendly and the stroller is lightweight. It is also the only brand that has a base that goes up to 30 pounds.
I only chose one store to register at as well, but I did choose Babies R Us over walmart or target. There selection is beyond compare and prices are very competitive with other places too.
HTH,
Angie
I think it is fine to put on;ine only items as long as you have lots of in store items. Walmart usually has free shipping if you pickup at the store. You could also consider registering at Amazon.com. They have huge selection, and competative pricing. This is a good place to reister for clothes because the buyer doesn't need to search the racks for it.
These were my favs:
-basic clothes that are always available (packs of onies, sleep sacks, socks, sleepers, front snap shirts, swaddling wrap sleep sacks)
-Lullaby sound spa - I like the one by Homedic it has white noise and music and a projection mobile
-changing pad w/cover for changing table
-teething rings, plastic keys, rattles, peek-a-boo rattle
-books including parenting books
-night light
-rocking chair
-infant carrier that you wear (sling and baby bjorn)
-cloth diapers to use as burp clothes
-terry cloth bibs
-crib sheets (we have 4)
-bouncy chair
-pack and play
You have a lot of good advice, although I didn't read through everything. I wouldn't register for too much of anything (bottles, diapers, onesie sets), because we found our little one had his own preferences that mattered more than our own:)
I wouldn't worry to much about the registery; in my experience, people who could buy from it did, but many just got what they wanted to:) Online stuff is okay, realizing that you may be less likely to get it.
I agree with the wipe warmer, especially if you live in a cooler winter climate. I also thought it seemed like something that just spoiled the baby, but in reality I spent a lot of time warming wipes in my fist:) It's harder than it seems to put a cold wipe on a little baby's bottom, knowing he won't like it!
Good luck!
ETA: I would hold off on the swing and pack'n'play -- mine didn't use the swing much, and I was glad I just used a hand-me-down. We thought we'd use a pack'n'play all of the time, as we go out of town often; but for monnths, he wouldn't sleep in it, then my MIL got one and we just use hers. More to think about:)
Happy New Year!
I haven't read through all of the posts, but I would agree that a lot of the things you register for are personal likes and dislikes. Don't take one of the lists that tells you what you "have to" register for. I found that overwhelming and looking back at those lists now, I have never used or even had most of the things on those lists.
One of the best things we got was a clothes hamper for the nursery. I registered for it on a whim and am so glad I did. I got one that has a removable netting that holds the clothes. It's so easy to just pull out the netting and haul it all to the laundry.
We also got a Boppy bouncy seat that was a life saver! I finally had to hide it because our daughter is over the weight limit for it, but still loves to sit in it.
I also really appreciated the bottle drying rack that I registered for (again on a whim). It was nice to not have to dig small pieces out of the big dish rack. I also used the Platex bottle bag (that cools in the freezer) every day for almost a year to take breast milk to daycare.
I did register for just a few bottles. I had researched what I wanted, but didn't want a ton of them if they didn't work for our daughter. I still ended up with some that we never used (and I couldn't return because I didn't know where they came from).
Blankets, burp cloths, onsies (in a couple of different sizes), sleep sacks (in a couple of different sizes), both light weight receiving blankets and heavier blankets, baby towels and washcloths, a baby bathtub, changing pad and covers, and lap pads (highly absorbant and great to put on top of the changing pad) were all things that I used almost daily.
If I had it to do over I probably wouldn't register for a baby sling. The one I registered for our daughter hated, the next one I got she hated, and the third one she hated until she was almost a year old. We also have rarely used the baby monitor we got, the Baby Bjorn carrier and the dishwasher holder for baby items. The storage unit to keep breast milk in the freezer went right back to the store. (It worked a lot better to use an extra ice bin from our ice maker.)
I wouldn't register for things that you won't use right away (sippy cups, Bumbo seat, place settings, etc). It just is one more thing you have to find a place to store until you need them. I saved up some gift cards to have on hand for when we were ready for those things. I also wouldn't register for medications (they expire before you use them) or bath products (our daughter is almost a year and a half and I still haven't had to buy soap or lotion!).
I'd be careful about wipe warmers. Some of them have been recalled because they have started fires.
Most of the big items (stroller, car seat, pack and play, diaper bag, etc) we didn't register for. We just bought those on our own because we wanted to be sure we had the one we wanted. (We did use some gift cards to help buy those.)
We didn't register for a swing, but I wish we had. My mother-in-law ended up buying one for us that was a piece of junk and never worked right. (But I was stuck with it because she would have taken it personally and would have had a fit if I had returned it!
I think it is fine to register for on-line only items. We have a lot of family and friends who live out of town and it was really easy for them to have things shipped from online. The only thing I would caution you about it looking at what the return policy is. Walmart and Target usually let you return items to a local store (even if it is an on-line only order). Babies-R-Us will only give you store credit (a gift card) and if you don't live close to a store it can be a pain to box things up and mail them back.
Have fun registering, but don't think you have to register for everything. I'm glad I mostly registered just for things that I was going to need in the first couple of months. It gave us time to learn what our daughter's likes and dislikes were and what we really needed and didn't need.