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Three moms' recommendations for your baby registry and general items you may need (but don't want to register for).
If you are pregnant with your first child, you may have no idea what to register for. That is definitely how I felt when I was pregnant. I was lucky because my sister and my friend shared their lists with me. So I have taken their lists and added my own to create this post!
Tip 1: So first, I do not recommend registering for any clothes or baby blankets. People love to give these as gifts (even if you are not registered for them). Also, grandmas love buying baby clothes. You will get plenty of both even without registering for them.
A note about baby clothes: You really do not want to get too much before they are born anyways as you have no idea what size your baby will be and for how long. Some kids never wear newborn, some only for a week or two, and some for much longer (hello NICU babies).
A note specifically about pajamas: I love baby pajamas, but I specifically prefer the ones with zippers. I think they are so much easier than trying to snap things up in the middle of the night.
Tip 2: Every kid is different. So something my son loved, your child may hate. You won't really know everything until your child is here, so it is a good idea to register for a bit of everything.
Tip 3: See what you can borrow or take from family and friends. A lot of the gear your baby uses when they are first born is only used for the first few months, which means it does not get a lot of wear and tear. Plus, you don't know what gear your child will prefer (like a swing). So it is great to get these items for free from someone who is done with theirs (or borrow if they are between babies). Bonus, this is great for the environment too.
Tip 4: Register for a variety of price points, so people can buy off your registry no matter how much they have to spend. On some registries, you can set it up so people can put money towards something too. This allows multiple people to put money towards a more expensive item.
Note: I did a lot of research on what would work for me and my family. Some of the things worked out great, some of the things I would get a different version of if I were to do it over. I am including the items and letting you know if and why I would get a different version if I would do it over. In the two years since I had Parker, there are newer (and maybe better) items, so you may want to do your own research as well.
A Video Monitor
We use the Eufy Video Baby Monitor.
This video monitor has been great. Though at this point two years in ours has taken a beating. The picture is very clear though and we can pretty much see his whole room because the camera rotates. I also like that it shows the time, the temperature in the room, the volume in the room, and the strength of the signal to between the monitor and the camera. When doing research I read that the most secure baby monitor is one that does not connect with Wifi, and this one does not. So if you are wanting a baby monitor that connects to wifi, that you can check from your phone when you are not home, this one is not for you.
Car Seats
(Note: You may want to purchase a stroller/car seat combination. Also, Consider registering for an infant and convertible car seat and consider the number of cars you need a car seat in)
We had the Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat and Base.
I chose this one because it rated highly for safety (most importantly). I also highly recommend a car seat with a base. It makes it much easier to get in and out of the car with an infant when you can just take out the whole car seat. (Something I miss now that he is in a convertible car seat!) Additionally, it was compatible with the stroller I purchased (with an insert).
We have two different convertible car seats (two cars) and both are great. Both are also highly rated for safety. The Britax one is a little easier to move in and out of cars because it uses the seatbelt to connect and not the latch system. One
We have the Graco Extend2Fit Convertible Car Seat. I chose this one because it has one of of the highest weight limits for sitting back facing the front, which is the safest way for a kid to sit (so you want them to sit back facing as long as possible).
We also have the Britax One4Life car seat. This one uses seatbelts instead of the latch system.
Your baby will sit rear-facing for the first couple of years (at least), so a mirror makes it easier to see them well driving.
Protects the seats in your car from wear and tear from the car seat.
Playmat
This Baby Gym Activity Center is similar to the one we had.
A playmat is pretty much a necessity for tummy time. There are many that are very similar, so I recommend choosing one you like and do mind having sitting out a lot. Just get one that you can throw in the washing machine, because you want a clean place for you baby to lay. And you may need to wash it a lot if they have reflux.
Stroller
(Remember this one is an investment, they will use it for years!)
We have the Baby Jogger City Mini 2.
There are so many awesome strollers out there, so I really recommend doing your research on this one. The Baby Jogger City Mini 2 is awesome if you need a stroller that is easy to fold quickly and easy to take out. It also doesn't take up a ton of space relative to some strollers. The sun shade on it is excellent, it goes down very low, but has the option to not. It's been a good stroller. That being said, I would probably buy a different stroller in the future. When Parker was smaller, I would want him to be able to sit up straighter than it would allow. He could not see out very well. I had to buy the adapter for the car seat separately. I also bought a water/snack tray for the stroller separately. I wish the bottom basket was larger.
Another mom recommended the Uppa Baby Vista stroller, but it is definitely on the pricier end. This is probably what I would invest in If I were to do it again. It has a number of attachments as your family grows. Everyone I know who has one, loves it.
Another mom recommended the Britax-B Ready Stroller, it was compatible with their car seat.
If the stroller you get doesn't have a cup holder or place to put your phone, you may want to get an organizer.
Baby swing
We had a Mamaroo baby swing.
This is one of those things that if you can borrow it or buy it used, it may be a good idea because they are only used for a short time. I bought ours at Once Upon A Child and I sold it back once he was done with it. I really only chose this one because it is what they used in the NICU. There are a ton of different options, and every baby is different on if they will like a swing.
A baby swing is useful for soothing. It is also useful to have a place to put down your child so you can do something. (Baby should never be left unattended in a swing.)
High Chair or Baby Seat
We had the Joovy Nook High Chair and now we have the Fisher-Price Portable Toddler Booster Seat.
We used the Joovy Nook High Chair when we first started feeding Parker and it was okay. We worked with an occupational therapist who said it didn't sit up straight enough though. Also, it was very hard to clean. It folded up fairly small but takes up a lot of space when out. I did a lot of research on high chairs and I could not find one that was highly recommended without flaws.
We now use the toddler booster seat and, we love it. I would probably skip the high chair in the future and start with it sooner since it does have a back. It straps onto your dining room chair. It has a tray that attaches and you can just throw the tray in the dishwasher. Once your child is old enough, you do not need the tray anymore and the booster helps them reach the table.
Another mom recommended a hook on high chair. It doesn't take up a lot of space and baby can sit at the table with you.
Other Places to Put Baby
It is very helpful to have places to put your baby down where you can see them and they are content to sit and/or sleep, while you do something. Otherwise, it is hard to get anything done or take a shower, etc.
This bouncer is great because it works for kids for a long time. It is also easy to fold up to put away or take with you when traveling.
Another great place to put baby down. Parker fell asleep in this one fairly often when he first came home. And it's easy to move from room to room.
Bath Supplies
Bath Tub
I would recommend something like Angelcare Baby Bath Support.
We purchased a bathtub that "grew with the baby," but I found that once he could sit up on his own we stopped using it and just let him it up in the tub. And because it could come up apart, sometimes it did, so since this one is just one piece.
Other Bath Accessories:
Save your knees. We have one of these and it makes bath time, so much more comfortable!
This makes it easy to scoop up all the bath toys and store them.
The best for rinsing hair and it's fun to play with!
We love hooded towels. They make cute pictures, but they are also the easiest to use with little ones. I would get at least two.
I love baby washcloths. They are so much better than adult ones for little ones. They are thinner and smaller and just work better for babies.
We love a good bubble bath and I love this one because it makes a lot of bubbles, is super cheap, and works well with his sensitive skin.
Bath Toys!
Baby Care
Parker has eczema, and so I have tried probably five or six different soaps and this one is the best. It smells good and is great for his sensitive skin!
This stuff is magical for anything going on with baby's skin. Our doctor assures us this is what a dermatologist would recommend for a baby. We go through this stuff. Because of the eczema, Parker gets completely moisturized in this at least once per day. If he gets any spots or marks on his skin, this helps!
We still use a lot of the things in this kit two years later. You need little tiny nail clippers and the little emery boards come in handy too! Plus it all comes in a handy kit that is easy to store.
You NEED one of these. A snot sucker is the best thing ever when baby gets sick. And the ones that do it themselves are not as powerful as you doing it.
A humidifier is a critical piece of your sick kit with a baby. It helps loosen mucus up to help them feel better.
For an infant a forehead thermometer is not proven accurate, you would need to do a rectal temperature. However, if you are concerned it can giver you an idea. We would see if the forehead thermometer said he had a fever and if it did, take a more accurate reading after.
A necessity for sick days.
Sometimes needed to switch between this and Tylenol.
You can use any diaper cream you prefer. Another mom said she preferred SensaCare. I personally recommend a thick paste to prevent diaper rash. Diaper rash is the worst, so you want to prevent it if at all possible!
I almost always have at least one pack of these with me at all times when Parker is with me. Saline is safe for use on the face (including to wipe eyes). When the baby's now starts running, these come in handy.
Saline spray is a must when your little one is congested since you cannot give them stronger medicines to help. We always have some around the house.
I pretty much always have these in my bag as well. These work on hands and surfaces. Great for wiping down the table and high chair at restaurants. Great for wiping down Parker's hands after activities.
When Parker was really little I would use these for anything going immediately back into his mouth (pacis, toys, teethers)
Pacifiers
It might take a few tries to find the ones your baby likes.
Mam (these glow in the dark, so helpful at night!)
Diapers/Changing
I would recommend getting two. We had one we kept in Parker's room and one we kept in our room.
Changing pad covers (at least two)
This makes for easy clean up - you can put one under your baby while changing and then throw it in the wash after.
I cannot recommend a diaper subscription enough. We love the Honest Diaper Subscription (Not sponsored.) I absolutely love having diapers delivered to my doors every four weeks. We have had this happen since Parker was born and I never have to think about if we need to buy diapers and wipes. One less thing to think about as a mom is a win! Plus I love the quality and cute prints!
Honestly, we just use a trash can with a lid. But some moms love the diaper pail.
I have three different diaper bags. You need at least one. Long term, I highly recommend a backpack diaper bag, but you have to pick one that works for you. I recommend a backpack because it's nice to have your hands free. Especially, once they start moving. I actually just replaced my diaper bag with an Osprey commuter bag because it was the biggest non-hiking, non-travel bag I can find. I just want a lot of space, so I can take all the things with me. Other things to consider - pockets, bottle storage, wipe storage, and ease of access.
Many diaper bags come with one. But you definitely one because you will want to put your baby on it when using public changing tables. I recommend getting one that is machine washable.
A note about changing tables: Personally, I don't recommend one. They take up space. We put the changing pad on top of Parker's dresser. Once they start really wiggling, it is really safer to change them on the floor anyways.
Feeding:
Nursing:
Unfortunately, I really didn't get to nurse much due to our situation and some other factors, but other mom's made recommendations to me when I was building our registry.
Having a support pillow makes nursing much easier. This was recommended over the Boppy. Though the Boppy is a great place for baby to sit.
Pumping:
If you are going to be pumping at all, you should talk to your OB about getting the forms for insurance. Your insurance may cover the cost entirely of a pump. Mine covered the pump and even a backpack bag for it. I pumped exclusively. Had I know that was what was going to happen from the jump, I would have gotten a hands free pump too, but things didn't go to plan.
I would recommend finding out what is covered by your insurance first before making any decisions. You may need to do some research as well. Once you decide, you may want to order some extra parts if you are going to be pumping a lot. I would definitely recommend buying extra duckbill valves because they do wear out and then the pump isn't as effective.
I used the Spectra breast pump and it worked well for me. Towards the end of my pumping journey, I wanted something more powerful, so I ended up renting a hospital grade pump from my local hospital. However, I really don't think it was necessary.
I know some Mom's also like the Medela breast pump.
If you are going to be pumping a lot and/or need to be productive while pumping (like at work), you need one of these. Otherwise you will be sitting there unable to do anything and it is super frustrating. This is a complete necessity for productivity.
If you plan to pump at work, register for a bunch of these. They are the best. Each bag can be used 20 times. With a baby in the NICU, I sanitized everything after each use. So I used these all of the time. They are super helpful and they are small so they are perfect at work.
Used to carry and organize all the breast pump stuff. Could also be used to organize diapering stuff.
My best friend swore by this with her first and so it came highly recommended to me. She said she would use it on the breast her son was not nursing from (he would usually just nurse from one side) and so it allowed her to start storing breast milk for when she went back to work.
Nursing Clothing Needs:
I wore these pretty much exclusively postpartum without another bra. They are comfortable and make it really easy to breastfeed or pump. Personally, I would get several. I love them because they keep your stomach fully covered and it is easy to remain modest. They were also great for skin-to-skin in the NICU.
Wearing a regular bra is impractical if you are breastfeeding or pumping because you have to get your boob out every couple of hours, so you need easy access. You may want to wait to purchase a nursing bra until after you see how large your boobs will be. Start with a nursing tank and then you can buy a bra once you know what size you will need.
You will need breast pads so that you do not leak through your clothing.
Bottles
You may want to register for a small amount of a variety of bottles until you know which kind your child prefers. It may take you a couple of tries to find a bottle your baby likes to use.
Something I did not know until I was in the NICU with Parker is that there are different Nipple flow sizes for bottles. So if you will be using bottles immediately, you may need a slow nipple flow as your baby learns to drink and then as they get older, they will move up to a faster flow. Parker started with an ultra slow flow nipple, but I do not think that is the norm.
They used Dr. Brown's in the NICU, so we continued using them. We actually had a few other types because I registered for a variety, but he never took to any of them the way he did with Dr. Brown's. Some people do not like Dr. Brown's because they have extra parts. The center part is supposed to help with colic and reflux. Personally, the extra parts didn't bother me.
Dr. Brown's Level T Nipples (Transition/Newborn)
Dr. Brown's Level 2 Nipples (This is what most come with)
Dr. Brown's Level 3 Nipples (Medium/Fast Flow)
A lot of people said a bottle warmer was unnecessary, but I LOVED having one. Since I did not get to nurse there were a lot of bottles and the warmer made things so convenient and easy. It sat out on my counter, but it really isn't that big. We did have an issue when this one stopped working at one point (I think it was a user error), but their customer service was awesome! Even though I registered for this so I didn't have the receipt, they sent me a brand-new one!
If you will be using formula at any point:
This was great for traveling or just being out and about to have it all pre-measured.
This made it super easy to prepare formula in larger batches and not have it be all clumpy. It was super helpful in preparing it to send to daycare.
Bottle Cleaning
If you travel a fair amount (even to go to the grandparents), this is helpful. I like to have cleaning tools that are designated for baby stuff to avoid as many germs as possible.
Having a NICU baby during the pandemic meant that we were super worried about germs. So even after he was home, we sterilized everything at the end of each day. This was easy, just put some water in it and put in the microwave. There are electric ones too though.
Feeding Accessories
It is a good idea to go ahead and purchase or register for things you will need immediately and those a bit more long term. You definitely want to get bibs that have a pocket. You may also want cloth bibs too, which are great if you child spits up a lot or drools a lot. Plates and utensils will be needed before you know it too!
My son spit up, a lot. So I needed a ton of burp cloths. They don't need to be fancy. You can even get washable diapers to use. They are just good to have everywhere if your child is a spitter.
These are the type of spoon you will use to feed your baby when they are first learning to eat. Not the ones they use once they start using utensils.
As your child starts to feed themselves, these utensils are great. (Soon they will not be effective enough for your little one though!)
These are our current favorites (2ish years old). They are effective with the more adult ends but ergonomic for little hands.
We went straight from a bottle to straws (this is what was recommended to us by an occupational therapist) and it worked well for us.
It is a good idea to work on drink from an open cup early (on my to do list).
Because it is likely that once your child is eating solids, they will want all of the snacks.
We love these things because of all of the snacks!
Once Parker started eating solids, he learned pretty quickly he could throw his plate. The suction cups prevent that from happening.
These ones are great because they have lids!
Because food really does get all over. Help protect your table. Then when your child is done, you can just throw this in the dishwasher!
These are great when you are out to eat at a restaurant. To me it just feels cleaner and less germy. And they peel off super easily.
These are fantastic when your baby is first learning to eat solids. You put food inside and they can chew on it, but nothing big enough to choke on can get through. I had never heard of these until our doctor recommended them when we were having trouble transitioning to solids.
Sleep
I don't personally think you need one that is designed for kids. This is the same one I have in my bedroom and it works great for Parker.
The most important thing for me is that my son's room is quiet and dark so he can sleep well.
Our crib was a gift. But I love it. It is good quality and I trust that it is absolutely safe.
I bought a quality waterproof crib mattress, so we would not have any issues with it. And we have not.
Get two. When there is throw up, diaper leaks, etc. it will come in handy to have a back up.
Get at least two. You will probably want cute ones that match your decor. But I really like these basic ones.
When your baby first comes home, they will sleep in the bassinet next to your bed. I had a hand-me-down Halo Bassinet. I loved the Swivel - it was so convenient in the middle of the night. If you can borrow one or get one from friends or family used, you should. Because these are used for such a short period of time and they do not take a lot of wear and tear. Also some babies may not like the bassinet you have waiting at home.
Every baby is different, but these ones worked great. It is velcro, so it makes it super easy to swaddle them tightly. It can take a few tries to find what works best for your baby though.
Once baby is a bit older and doesn't need a swaddle, these are my favorite sleep sacks!
I rarely actually swaddled Parker in these, but I used them all of the time for other things.
Travel Crib or Pack n' Play and sheets
This is a necessity if you go anywhere there is not already a crib. We love our Baby Bjorn Travel Crib. It is really easy to set up/take down and it is compact.
Baby Carriers:
So great to be able to carry your baby around hands-free! And this one is pretty simple.
Another Mom loved her Moby carrier!
If you like hiking and being active, you NEED one of these. Or even if you just like going places the stroller isn't super easy to push around. We take Parker on hikes in this, but we also take him to the farmer's market and to different events in it. We love it! I know a lot of people like the Osprey one, but I did a lot of research before I chose this one and it has a couple of features for comfort that the Osprey did not. That being said, I think both are probably excellent.
Toys:
Personally, I would just register for a few small toys (if any). You will buy more as you figure out what they like and they become more mobile. Friends and family also may have some to give that their children have grown out of. Here are toys that are similar to some that were Parker's favorites:
I wish I had known about these sooner. I found them when I was researching traveling with a baby and they are amazing. There are a bunch of different stories. Your baby can chew them, cannot rip them, and you can wash them! They are the best! Register for a bunch!
Other:
Other things you may want to have or consider:
Lanolin ointment (for nipples)
Two robes (great for around the house after having a baby and you may want a backup in case you get baby bodily fluids on one)
Comfy and loose clothes and underwear
Waterproof mattress pad for your bed. This is great if your water breaks in bed. It could be helpful during your recovery depending on your situation. If you have your baby in bed (like when nursing in the middle of the night), they may spit up or have a blowout in your bed.
A removable showerhead - can be helpful with your recovery.
Baby proofing - you have a bit of time before they are mobile and it needs to be done, but it comes fast!
Tucks cooling pads can be helpful in your postpartum recovery
Gauze pads and vaseline for baby boys (circumcision healing)
Shopping cart cover - I was very wary of germs (again, NICU baby during a pandemic) and so this thing made me feel a lot better. Also was handy when Parker would spit up at the store because it would get on the cover instead of all over the floor.
Noise Cancelling Ear Muffs - helpful if you plan to take your baby anywhere things get loud
Kitchen Helper Tower - I bought one on Facebook Marketplace but Parker LOVES it. He loves to help in the kitchen. He also will also go up and down eating a snack as we get ready for school in the morning.
Borrowing or getting things from friends and family who are done having children or between having children is a huge help! You can also find used items at consignment stores like Once Upon a Child. In my community, there are community consignment sales twice a year as well with great deals.
If you are a new mom, don't worry - you are going to do great! You got this! If you are already a mom, you are doing great!
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