What are your registry "must-haves"? « Back to Group Discussions

[CoBabyMaker]

On another thread someone mentioned being unsure what they needed for their babies.  I know there are a ton of variables but I thought it might be fun and helpful to share what our must-haves are. 

Here's one tip from me before starting:  While it's nice to have things already, remember the stores will be open after your baby is born!

My  basics list:

Diapers and wipes -cloth or sposie although I find it nice to have a few disposables for the very beginning

Boobs ;)

breast pads

Burp cloths

blankets-really though, we always received more than we needed as gifts

pack-n-play with bassinet- we are not cosleepers so I like to have something I can keep by my bed for baby to sleep in

Carrier of some sort

Carseat

Some sleepers, onsies and hats for the baby

a small fan for some white noise

A bouncy seat- I'm not huge on baby holders but it's nice to have a place to put the baby while showering etc.

A diaper bag/back pack or large purse

I would say that is my basic list of things I used with both babies.  We also choose to use pacifiers but that's a personal choice and even that it's a good idea to wait a few weeks on. 

[PhilsBabyMama]

Breastfeeding and co-sleeping really cuts down on the baby gear you need! That was one of the original selling points for my husband. If the baby slept with us, then I wouldn't go wild decorating a nursery we'd never use! Haha! Cloth diapers, wipes, a large and small (for outings) wet bag were musts for me. So was a diaper sprayer (hooks on to your toilet) but I didn't need that until my son started eating solids at 8 months. Diaper bag. A wrap was essential. Some comfy outfits for baby. Nursing tank tops make discreet nursing without a cover a breeze. I also needed breast pads for at least a year. (Gotta love an over supply with a tendency to shoot milk anytime you hear a baby cry, regardless of whose baby it is! ) Our Miracle Blanket (swaddler) got a lot of use. We also had one of those shower cap type car seat covers (the kind that go over the top of the car seat and doesn't interfere with straps, etc.) which was really helpful for a January baby in Alaska, but may not be totally necessary for our May babies.
Edited by PhilsBabyMama - 12/21/12 at 4:41pm

[TwilightJoy]

All we really need are boobs, diaper/wipes, and a carseat. My other Priority 1's are a breast pump/accessories and a ring sling.

Priority 2 are a Moby, burp cloths, a boppy, some onesies, and a baby monitor.

[Lynann]

So much depends on your lifestyle and budget.

This is my bare essentials list:

Diapers & wipes (we do cloth for both)

Somewhere for baby to sleep (if you co-sleep that's easy, your bed, but somewhere for naps is handy too.)

Some onesies and sleepers (I like to have about 10 of each of these, so I don't have to wash every day.)

Soft towels & wash cloths ( I've been given several hooded baby towels which are great for newborns.)

3 well fitting nursing bras

breast pads (I wear these 24/7 for the first few months as I make a lot of milk and leak, especially when sleeping.)

Car seat, if you have a car

Wrap or other safe baby carrier (please don't use a crotch dangler, even though they are cheaper.)

Love but NOT essential:

Muslin swaddling blankets ( the muslin ones are so, so soft and so versatile, so you can still find uses for them even if your bubs doesn't want to be swaddled)

Nursing tops (they can make nursing more discreet, especially while you get used to it, but not essential as I often will just wear a tank top under a t-shirt instead.)

Bouncy seat ( as others have mentioned these can be really useful for you to get a shower.)

Changing table ( I love having somewhere to keep all the diapers, etc handy and be able to change the baby without straining my back, but I also use my bed, the sofa and even the floor, so not essential.)

Diaper bag (even the small ones will fit a surprising amount of stuff in them much better than any of my other bags, but I do have bags I could make do with.)

Wet bag (this is a great item to have if you cloth diaper, but I used ziplock bags with my first until I found a wet bag I really liked, so again not essential.)

I am a SAHM, who doesn't go out much, so that is reflected in my list. I'm sure there would be other things on there if we went out of the home a lot, or if I worked and used a daycare.

[nstewart]

Originally Posted by CoBabyMaker 

On another thread someone mentioned being unsure what they needed for their babies.  I know there are a ton of variables but I thought it might be fun and helpful to share what our must-haves are. 

Here's one tip from me before starting:  While it's nice to have things already, remember the stores will be open after your baby is born!

My  basics list:

Diapers and wipes -cloth or sposie although I find it nice to have a few disposables for the very beginning

Boobs ;)

breast pads

Burp cloths

blankets-really though, we always received more than we needed as gifts

pack-n-play with bassinet- we are not cosleepers so I like to have something I can keep by my bed for baby to sleep in

Carrier of some sort

Carseat

Some sleepers, onsies and hats for the baby

a small fan for some white noise

A bouncy seat- I'm not huge on baby holders but it's nice to have a place to put the baby while showering etc.

A diaper bag/back pack or large purse

I would say that is my basic list of things I used with both babies.  We also choose to use pacifiers but that's a personal choice and even that it's a good idea to wait a few weeks on. 

My list is pretty much the same as this.  It was nice to have a bassinet even though we did co-sleep.  I could put it in the kitchen/living room for DS to nap in if I wanted him close by while I did chores, cooked, etc.

I would add as must haves:

small wash cloths

first aid stuff (aspirator, nail clippers, eye dropper, thermometer)

wet sac for home/ wet bag for diaper bag (if you do cloth diapers)

bio gia probiotic (seriously, after DS I consider this a necessity!)

vitamin D (I know not everyone gives this, but we did especially living in northern climes)

diaper cream (although once we started EC we didn't need it any more!)

I would add as really nice to haves:

baby monitor (depending on the size of your house and where you spend your time)

breast pump and bottles (although ours got less use than I'd hoped as DS refused a bottle after 3 mos of age and was strictly a boob man)

a really good book or the entire sex and the city series (for entertainment while BFing hours a day )

nursing cover for NIP (some people hate them, I was just more comfortable having one along to use if I couldn't nurse discreetly)

change pad (we didn't have a table, DS's dresser was the right height to put the change pad on top)

comfy nursing chair

good nursing pillow with washable cover

[TwilightJoy]

Originally Posted by nstewart 

bio gia probiotic (seriously, after DS I consider this a necessity!)
vitamin D (I know not everyone gives this, but we did especially living in northern climes)

Would love to hear more about these supplements! How/when/why did you give them?

[Loogiejane]

I think we're not going to buy much. This is our first, so we need stuff, but I feel like I'll feel weird buying things before the babe is here. Also partially stems from my Jewish background but also just me being me. Since we're planning a HB we're going to *have* to have some things....essentials more than anything so those things will probably be:

basic onesies

diapers+wipes (we'll probably go with disposables as we do not and cannot have laundry in our building and the dipe services here are pricey..but we'll see..not fully ruling it out)

receiving blankets

brest friend

small wash/burp cloths

whatever carrier I decide on (sling, woven, we'll see)

nursing bras

maybe's:

breast pump+bottles

pad for the top of the table we're going to use as our changing table

creams and oils n' things for changing table all tucked into a cute basket :)

cosleeper

pack n'play

baby tub

diaper canister (though they kind of gross me out and I'd rather have them sealed up in a plastic shopping bag and thrown out at the end of each day or couple times a day as the garbage is right outside the front door of our building)

little seat thingy for when I shower or cook

and I mean maybe.....one of those nursing blanket cover-up thingies with the built in wire. It seems to be what many ppl use these days but they just seem weird to me for some reason

would love to have in advance:

king size bed upgrade from our old and crappy queen

upholstered glider and ottoman, the kind where the wooden base does not show and it looks like a normal piece of furniture. Hoping to buy one used off Craigslist as they retail for like....$800 or something. Eek.

We don't have a car but we'll use one from time to time if we get Zipcar to do big food shops or go out of town for the weekend to see family so we will eventually wind up getting one. But I wonder, if we're planning a HB, do we still need to get one in advance anyway? Because what if I have to transfer then how does babe get home?

[jessmn]

This is fantastic, thanks everyone! Now this is all seeming a little more manageable...
 

[berrymama]

My list is similar to those above. I am adding a link from a blog I follow that has a great list (IMO) with a bit more detail. http://lusaorganics.typepad.com/clean/2010/01/new-baby-checklist.html

[adventuregirl]

Just starting to think about this...

Must haves:

diapers & wipes

wet bags (one for home, one for out & about)

blankets

onesies, sleepers

breast pads

nursing bras

car seat

bouncy seat

breast pump & bottles (I'll be going back to work)

pack & play with bassinet

sling

booger sucker

nipple & butt creams

puddle pad (for changing and for night boob leaking)

Things I would also like:

stroller

changing pad for on top of dresser

monitor

dresser

crib - ok this is DH's thing, I am going with it for his sake. I am sure we'll use it for naps at least.

diaper sprayer for later on

high chair or some sort of seat for joining family meals for later on

baby nail clippers

glider/nursing chair

nursing pillow

My list seems long. I was so anti-gear with my first, but was desperate for a breast pump and a bouncy seat within weeks of having her...when my milk came in, I needed to pump as I was so engorged she couldn't latch on, and there were times when I really needed to nurse but wasn't about to wake her. The bouncy seat was essential if I wanted to shower or cook - you can only do so much with a sling. This time around, I am happy to have a few luxury items, I know they will get used.

[CoBabyMaker]

bio gia probiotic (seriously, after DS I consider this a necessity!)

These are a must for us too!  I discovered them with DD2 and she was a different (much more pleasant) baby in less than 24 hours!  I will be bringing them to the hospital with me this time!  I love that the drops are SO easy to give! 

[Quinalla]

Must haves:
Boobs
Carseat
Diapers & wipes
Side snap shirts
Blankets to swaddle with (muslin are the best)
Burp cloths (prefolds are the best for this)
Double electric breast pump & bottles & bottle brush & little cooler to carry bottles ( essential when going back to work at 4 months like I did/will)
First Aid stuff
Pack n play
Nipple cream
Big bag to use as a diaper bag

Really liked:
Sling and other carriers
Bouncy seat
Sleep n play outfits
Zip up sleepers
Lovey or pacifier
changing table
Crib
Netflix & DVD tv series for long bring sessions
Flat regular pillows for BFing support (getting twin pillow this time)
Recliner in baby room for night nursing (never got the hand of nursing laying down)
Cheap umbrella stroller (getting a twin stroller that will allow two cars seats to snap in this time)
Infant cars eat (not just the bigger convertible)
Variety of blankets (you will likely get plenty as gifts)
Backpack diaper bag
Teeter toys

[jacquelinej]

Originally Posted by CoBabyMaker 

These are a must for us too!  I discovered them with DD2 and she was a different (much more pleasant) baby in less than 24 hours!  I will be bringing them to the hospital with me this time!  I love that the drops are SO easy to give! 

Are these probiotics for the baby and where would you find them?

[nstewart]

Originally Posted by jacquelinej 

Are these probiotics for the baby and where would you find them?

Yes, they are probiotics for baby.  They come in a dropper, and you give a few (it was either 3 or 5) drops per day.  SOOO easy!  I bought them at the pharmacy (Shoppers Drug Mart here in Canada).  They need to be refridgerated so you have to ask the pharmacist for them.  They were a bit pricey, but SOOO worth it! 

[CoBabyMaker]

I ordered them through the manufacturer but they didn't ship them anymore last time I looked.  They were available through Walgreens.com.  I am not sure if they keep them in the stores.  The drops make it much easier to give to baby than a powder. 

[TwilightJoy]

Do you bf'ing mamas take probiotics of your own as well?

Is it possible for baby to get too much probiotic?

I love supplements, so if it's okay for both me and babe, I will definitely be buying them!

[CoBabyMaker]

Do you bf'ing mamas take probiotics of your own as well?

Is it possible for baby to get too much probiotic?

It's certainly fine and a good idea to take probiotics as a BFing mama!  In regards to your second question the answer is yes, sort of.  If you are not currently taking probiotics you want to start very slowly.  Taking a lot to start can cause a die-off (sort of like detox) reaction that could release toxins into your milk.  So it's a great idea, just start slowly.

[jacquelinej]

Ok, those are top of my list for need to get then. Probiotics have been a lifesaver for me and were so hard to get into dd when she was a baby.