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I'm getting ready to make our baby registery and I am hoping that some mamas might be able to tell me what actually is good, and what I should just skip.

Anything that is great?
Anything that is horrible?
 

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I really like this booster seat in place of a highchair. We use it at home, and when we want to go eat over someone's house, or to a restaurant we just take it along. You don't have to worry about anything, you know how clean it is, and you know your child will be comfortable in it.
http://www.target.com/Fisher-Price-H...%20seat&page=1

Just some basic registry advice-
In my case, I got a ton of little blankets. An insane amount of baby bath products. Lilah is 16 months old and I have YET to run out. The second shelf of Lilah's changing table was nothing but bath products. I also got a ton of little rattly toys and teethers. If I was to register again, I would not even bother to put these things on my list. It seems like people are at the store and see this little baby blanket and they think "aww you can never have too many!" and they just get it. Same with all the little toys and the bath stuff. I would possibly even tell close family and friends not too get all this silly stuff. It's just too much!!
 

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I'm working on my registry too, and having a hard time with it. Overall, I don't really care what I get specifically. For instance, I want a changing table. Don't care which one. I want a crib, and all I care is that it's convertible (long time use, hopefully) and a lighter wood color. And so on and so forth. I just can't get worked up about getting specific individual things.

I'm hoping my registry will be seen as a suggestion list. I have a few notes on it along the lines of "or, really, anything close to this" on it. And I'm not registering for any toys or clothes because, really, I don't care what I get as long as it's functional. And with toys if I don't like them I have no problem either tossing them or regifting them.

This is SO different than a wedding registry.
 

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I always swore that wipes warmers were the stupidist thing ever and just another gimmick to get new sucker parents to spend money. I had DD in the late winter and she screamed bloody murder with every diaper change until I broke down and bought a wipes warmer when someone suggested it. Problem solved. We only used it for a couple months but it made all of our lives a little better.

I'm a working mama so I registered for a nice pump, breast milk storage bags, pumps wipes and sterilization bags, BPA-free bottles, BPA-free containers to freeze homemade baby food, etc. If you plan to baby wear, I'd register for a nice wrap, sling, or other carrier. I like my Moby wrap the best but loved having the Bjorn when I needed to pop something on really quick and didn't want to deal with the wrap. A Boppy nursing pillow was also really helpful.

I agree with the PP. You'll get a ton of baby blankets, teethers, rattles, etc. so I wouldn't bother putting them on your list at all. If you're planning to use natural type baby care products, registering for those might be a nice hint (hopefully) that you're trying to go more natural and stay away from the chemical-laden stuff. You'll probably still get a lot of mainstream products but maybe not as much.
 

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Look for all cotton clothing-lots of sleepers, onesies and a few hats.

Honestly, babies don't need fancy clothing for the first few months-they're most comfy in soft cotton things and it's easier for parents to change too


I always used the waterproof mats (they are bassinet mattress size and smaller) to save on middle of the night changing of sheets and in the car seat (small ones). I found these at Target but I'm sure others have them. They are washable and last forever. These are one of my must haves.

Some type of baby monitor-no brand recs but I'd get one with 2 remote speakers.

Skip all the crib and car seat accessories. The only thing I'd suggest is the mirror on the car seat so you can see the little angel.

Some may not like these but I did get one of the heartbeat bears with my first and I swear it helped him sleep sometimes. It velcro'd to the side of things so I didn't have to worry about it falling on him.

I love California Baby bath stuff and Burts Bees baby stuff-I don't trust the store brand stuff-Mothering had an article about the chemicals in them a while back-scary.....

In a nutshell:
clothing: onesies, cotton pants, cotton cardigans, sleepers, socks, hats
baby accessories: baby monitor, car seat mirror, waterproof mats, lots of blankets-different sizes, good quality sling (probably can't get at a box store)
extras: baby book, safe baby bath/body products
 

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i find my copy of the sears baby book to be quite valuable.

i couldn't live without my sling.

don't forget about yourself! i think the things that made me feel the best when i had DS #1 were all the mommy things. like a new bathrobe. and meals delivered. so don't forget to ask for those things too!
lansinoh and breast pads.

best of luck to you
 

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Check with the store you're registering at to see if they give discounts to you for fulfilling your list after your shower. If so, register for the big ticket items (glider and breast pump, etc.) as well, so you can get them cheaper after the fact, even if you're not expecting anyone to buy them for you. We were able to get the Medela PiS with gift cards mainly from our shower, and got it at a discount ourselves.

Do NOT register for two different types of one item, unless you're having two babies. It's confusing to the buyers. Research the best prices and safest/highest reviewed items and go with one of each bigger item (swing, car seat, stroller, etc.).

If you're concerned about exposure to off-gassing, go with wool or tightly woven cotton puddle/lap pads instead of vinyl mattress pads.

When choosing outfits, make sure embroidered items have a backing so it's not scratchy underneath. Don't forget to register for some 3-6 month (and up) clothes too. I wouldn't register for anything beyond 6 months, personally, though. Don't forget socks and hats/caps.

You cannot have too many receiving blankets. Seriously. These things work for all kinds of messes and scenarios beyond swaddling.

Splurge on a papasan swing if you can. We have one and it was a lifesaver (or get an Amby Bed!).

Keep in mind that essentials for some babies are total wastes for others, though. So save your receipts and the original boxes!!! Even if you end up using something a lot, having the original box can bring you a little more money if you resell it later on down the road.

The more bells and whistles something has, the more things can break or be pulled off.


The more nooks and crannies a high chair has, the bigger pain it is to clean.

Get rechargeable batteries. And a charger. Register for those too.


If you and/or your partner were smallish at birth, you may want to go with an infant bucket carseat instead of a convertible, initially. I was a small baby (6#5oz) and my daughter was too (6#6oz) and I'm very thankful we had an infant carseat. The convertible seat would have swallowed her. We went with a travel system because the two items together (seat and stroller) were cheaper than buying them separately.

We registered at three places: BRU, Target, and www.nurturedfamily.com.

We researched everything and chose these three places because they had what we needed, with the *best* prices. We registered for our diapers at NF.com, and then between BRU and Target registered for what we needed, at whichever store had the best price. We did not register for the same items at both stores. We had no need to double up. So figure out what you need, which items are the best quality/reviews, then find the places that are convenient and/or affordable to register for those items at.

I don't understand why some mamas go nuts registering for things they don't need. We only registered for what we needed and we actually had several people comment at the shower how easy it was to find something off the registry. So from my anecdotal experience, I vote don't go nuts.
Splurge some, sure, but don't overwhelm people or yourself.

Research first, then find the best prices, then register.

Good luck mama and have fun!
 

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I LOVE these kinds of questions!

I loved the "My Brest Friend" nursing pillow. It helped to free up a hand while nursing (which was useful because I was ALWAYS thirsty whenever he nursed). I liked it MUCH better than the boppy.

I also loved the Arms Reach Co-sleeper, in theory, and for the few nights my ds spent in it. Unfortunately, ds wanted nothing to do with, but that probably had something to do w/ the reflux he had, so he ended up sleeping in his swing in our room.

A good swing.
If it's battery opperated, get rechargeable batteries (like the previous poster said).

A good stroller, if you plan on walking, strolling, etc. If you're taller, make sure it's comfortable for you and your spouse to push.

As for baby carriers, my 2 fav are the Moby wrap and the ergo carrier. Both got used a ton.

I LOVED this diaper bag- the colors available tend to change seasonally. The reasons I loved this bag: 1) outside pockets were open- easy to stash a burp rag, toys, small books, etc and be able to grab them quickly. 2) 2 bottle compartments (I mostly used them for MY beverages). 3) The shoulder strap detaches and there's "stroller" straps on the inside that come out to quickly attach to your stroller, shopping cart, whatever. SUPER easy and conveinient. 4)You can fit quite a bit in it.
http://www.target.com/Spark-Skip-Hop...p%20hop&page=1

Like another poster, I happend to get A TON if bath stuff for my shower. DS is 18 months old and I still have a few bottles left.

The BEST burp cloths I have are good quality, flat cloth diapers (not the cheapies you get at wal-mart- those will disintegrate after several washes). They are SO absorbant, they do the job well! I happend to get mine on an auction lot on ebay...but I would buy them again in a second.

Hmmm, that's all that I can think of at the moment.

Oh yeah, a good quality rocker. We got ours on clearance at BRU, and we know why...we've literally had to glue and screw the thing back together. It has fallen apart TWICE and it sqeaks all the time. I'm actually considering a rocker/recliner for this next lo. It would be nice to have something uber-comfortable to rock and/or sleep in those first few weeks when you're getting to know one another 24/7.
 

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The boppy was one of the best things I registered for. I used it all of the time.

Since we registered at BRU, the only non-Bjorn style carrier they had was called The Ultimate Baby Wrap. It is like a stretchier Moby. I actually wound up really liking it. I will probably go with something different this time (a sling and a Babyhawk), but if you need to register for your carrier and have only mainstream stores as options, this worked for me.

We had an older swing last time, but given how much sleeping DS did in it, I wish I would have registered for a papasan swing. We will buy one for the new baby.

I wound up getting some flat diapers at my shower from BRU, and they worked fine as burp cloths. We are still using them as rags around the house.

I did not register for a diaper bag and instead used a large purse/tote thing that I bought at Target. I got so many compliments on how cute my "diaper bag" was. This time around, with three kids to haul crap around for, I'll probably have to graduate to something larger.

Don't forget to check your medical insurance before registering for a pump - lots of policies will pay for one if your MW/OB writes a script.

We did not use the travel system stroller at all. We used the bucket in the car and I wore DS out of it. I do wish that we would have registered for a nice stroller for once he was old enough to walk, but not fast. I have a crappy stroller that gets used a lot, and it is annoying.
 

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I made my registry recently and haven't had the shower yet so not sure how things will go but from my sister (I watched and helped with my nieces a lot) the things that got used a ton were definitely a swing. She had this one
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index...ductId=2265072
Being able to turn it to go front to back or side to side was a great help and both of my nieces slept in it a ton. She gave hers to her SIL so I registered for this one http://www.toysrus.com/product/index...ductId=3090973 because the I think the little lamby is just so darn cute! But it's the same thing basically so whatever.


When they were older they used an exasaucer a lot too. My mom got it second hand for $25 so always something to think about later but was certainly useful.

She had a love-hate relationship with her boppy. So not sure what to say about that. Sometimes it worked really well, sometimes she wanted to kill it with scissors. I might look into the one a PP recommended and see if it appears to work better.

Her wrap was a God send. She had a Moby wrap and it was great for her. She rarely used a stroller but she did get a travel system and when she went places like the mall where she'd be trying on clothes and couldn't wear the baby then it was a huge help. Also for amusement parks, the zoo, etc. It's something that you might not use a ton but when you do you'll be so happy that you have it.

And I second the wipe warmer. If you're doing cloth diapers and wipes there are some that you can use. Some are designed for disposable wipes so be careful if that's a necessity. But yeah I don't want a cold wipe on my butt so I'm definitely not going to expect a baby to be OK with it.


I also did the whole register for the bath products that I want in hopes that I won't get the chemical laden stuff. I guess I'll find out how that goes. But my sister already got me stuff from her pharmacy (it's all natural, organic pharmacy in OTC products). So I know I have something that I can use.
:
 

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I registered for specific things we needed (crib, travel system, pack n play, etc.) and then put some clothes on there that we liked, knowing that clothes, blankets and toys are stuff that can be got pretty much everywhere and are the most popular things for people to get, even if they don't pull it off the registry.

Don't forget bottles/milk storage system/etc, even if you are breastfeeding, if you are going to be a working mom, along with the pump.

We also registered for a camera. Don't think we'll get it, but it doesn't hurt to register and depending on gift cards, we'll buy it anyways.

Oh, and we registered at Target and www.wildflowerdiapers.com. My shower is on Sunday, and I can't wait to see some friends and family that I haven't seen in a long long time.....and of course, the gifts will be great, because it means we can finally finish settling in. It's been rough, since we had next to nothing (my parents did buy our crib, MIL bought our travel system and we have my old dresser) but everything else we will need. Totally different from a wedding registry though for sure!
 

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Quote:

Originally Posted by AnnR33 View Post
Look for all cotton clothing-lots of sleepers, onesies and a few hats.

Honestly, babies don't need fancy clothing for the first few months-they're most comfy in soft cotton things and it's easier for parents to change too


Yep. I couldn't believe all the jean overalls with 15 pockets I got. In newborn size. Gimme a break! Who puts their kid in these things? It was july, so Lilah wore pretty much nothing but cotton onsies, creepers, sleepers, and those gown things with the elastic at the bottom.
 

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Quote:

Originally Posted by pinksprklybarefoot View Post

Since we registered at BRU, the only non-Bjorn style carrier they had was called The Ultimate Baby Wrap. It is like a stretchier Moby. I actually wound up really liking it. I will probably go with something different this time (a sling and a Babyhawk), but if you need to register for your carrier and have only mainstream stores as options, this worked for me.

.
I second the ultimate baby wrap!
 

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Do you guys think it would be rude to post "Please no blankets, we have plenty!", etc at the top of the registry, for things we've already got a ton of? I still have all MY baby blankets from when I was a baby.... several of them! I know people will buy them anyway, but maybe this way I can prevent overkill, and get things I actually need?
 

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Quote:

Originally Posted by filiadeluna View Post
Do you guys think it would be rude to post "Please no blankets, we have plenty!", etc at the top of the registry, for things we've already got a ton of? I still have all MY baby blankets from when I was a baby.... several of them! I know people will buy them anyway, but maybe this way I can prevent overkill, and get things I actually need?

Sorry but yes, I think it would be rude. Best you can do is not register for any blankets and liberally spread the word amongst parents, family members, the shower host that you really do not want or need blankets. Unless they are homemade. If someone wants to go to the trouble to knit, crochet or sew your little one a blanket, trust me, that's what you are getting.
 

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There are some things that I really liked and a couple that I had to have and then didn't work.

I personally would ask for a convertible car seat from the get go. The bucket seats are used for such a short time, we had one for DD and would use it again, but they really are just used for a tiny bit. Plus I wouldn't be lugging that thing around again with a newborn, I'd use a sling.

I asked for those nightgowns that are open at the bottom, DD HATED them from day one-they never were used. I'd put one on her and she seriously would cry until it was off her. I also don't "get" tiny baby dress up cloths, they really are silly. They need soft cotton jammies and lots of them because of laundry.

My wish list would have these things:

Breast pump(manual or electric depending on use, I had an Avent manual and I liked it, but that was before the whole BPA thing)

Convertible car seat

onsies, jammies

Breast feeding supplies-nipple cream, pads, storage bags or system

Teething supplies-teething tablets, Tylenol(or something), those baby safe feeders are great for a teething baby(my DD teethed for nearly 2 years, so we had teething woes)

Ring sling, pouch sling and an Ergo

DIAPERS-whatever kind you going to use whether sposies, cloth-you need a bunch of diapers

I also LOVED my bouncy chair for DD, she sat in that when I took showers

No baby bath products-so much of it is just gross IMO, the ingredient list reads like a chemical commercial, plus baby skin is so delicate my DD got a rash from most baby products.

Oh and I never used our baby monitor-our phone has a room monitor and it worked 100x's better-so taht was money wasted for us.
 

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Norasmomma View Post
I personally would ask for a convertible car seat from the get go. The bucket seats are used for such a short time, we had one for DD and would use it again, but they really are just used for a tiny bit. Plus I wouldn't be lugging that thing around again with a newborn, I'd use a sling.

I asked for those nightgowns that are open at the bottom, DD HATED them

from day one-they never were used. I'd put one on her and she seriously would cry until it was off her. I also don't "get" tiny baby dress up cloths, they really are silly. They need soft cotton jammies and lots of them because of laundry.

I *LOVED* the sleeper gowns that were open at the bottom. DS couldn't care less what he slept in (and still doesn't to this day), and the open bottoms made diaper changes SUPER fast and easy. My dh loved them too, and I had sent him out for more, and he came back w/ like three packages of them! So we had a ton.

I totally agree that the infant seats are used for SUCH a short time (my ds was born in early june and had outgrown it by Christmas). BUT, if you're in a place that gets cold
: in winter AND your lo won't outgrow it by winter, I would want the infant seat again in a heartbeat. It is SO much easier to get bundled up inside (you and the babe- cause once he she is ready to go you can just set the infant seat down while you're getting your coat on and they won't go anywhere) and then go out to the car. Once we were out of the infant seat, my ds like to wriggle away while I was getting my stuff on.

Personally, I don't have a diaper warmer. I have yet to meet an infant that LIKED having their diaper changed- warm wipes or not. Once he outgrew that newborn, every transition is an emotional event stage, the coldish wipe didn't bother him, and still don't. JMO.
 

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I agree baby gowns!!! I looooooooooooved them and I give them to everyone for baby shower gifts. There's nothing like waking up in the middle of the night trying to deal w/ snaps and such on pj's
You just pull the baby gown up, change the diaper and ta da! It was so convenient for my poor tiiiiired mommy eyes
 
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