Must have registry items!

So I like a lot of us on these boards, am new to all this and totally clueless when it comes to registering.

So I thought I'd start a thread where BTDT moms could tell us some of their favorite must-have registry items.

(There might be a thread like this already so if there is, I apologize for the duplicate post! maybe someone could just bump that thread instead!)

Re: Must have registry items!

I am not a BTDT 'mom' but I am a BTDT full-time nanny and full-time caregiver for my wonderful nephew, who is now 11 , and things that I could not live without (I had my nephew first from birth until he pretty much went to school lol, I watched two kids - one was 2 and the other was 8 months)...

A good swing or glider. We registered for the 4-mom's swing:

Swing:

A good pack-n-play or playard... My nephew LIVED in this thing and one that opens/closes easily is key too because we did pack it up and take it all sorts of places and many times to Grandma's...

Playard

A stroller that is lightweight, easy to open and close, and one that navigates well -- good wheels and will go easily on all terrains. Whatever that one is depends on the person but we looked for that and I needed one that opens and closes easily when working with it on a daily basis. The one we actually registered for, after trying ALL of them lol, is:

Stroller

...The same goes for the car seats -- obviously, safety matters, but you want to make sure that thing is easy to open, close, and use 800 times a day.

My nephew used his excersaucer every.single.day... he lived in that thing and the one he had converted from being a stationary one, to one with wheels that he could walk with and control, etc. So, whatever excersaucer you prefer but I think that was a "toy" that he was particularly fond of.

The kids I was a nanny for full-time - well, the older one, adored his "Smart-Trike" -- just google that -- it is a little trike that graduates with them from real young all the way up to the point where they are riding it on their own like a little bike. I used it everyday to push him around the neighborhood vs. taking out the stroller and it's something that he just loved. I found that was another "toy" that was well worth it.

For me, a bottle cleaner or sterilizer -- one that takes everything from bottles to pacifiers and cleans them -- the one I registered for does so in a fifteen minute cycle. Because hand washing those things are a PITA - you can do it, but this is definitely convenient.

A stupid little thing that sounds silly but is a lifesaver are the pacifier holders - a little string that clips on to the child's bib or shirt so WHEN they spit their bink out and then IMMEDIATELY want it back in their mouth, it doesn't go very far lol. It was one of those little genius inventions that really came in handy day-to-day.

Now they have those little automatic bottle warmers - my nephew was very cagey about having his bottle nice and warm - but not too warm! So, this is something that is easy to use and quick - and since you do use it often, I think it was worth it. I think they are only like 30-40 bucks on a registry.

A chair-top high chair... my brother and the woman I worked for registered for a big stand-alone, traditional high chair that they rarely used. My brother actually never used his. But, they did use a chair-top one - just one that connects to a regular chair. They have great ones, now, that start off from the earliest of ages and transition to booster seats - those are best.

There are definitely other things but those are the ones that come to mind and the most essential items. I mean, things I used all the time and some things the kids just loved. HTH!

Re: Must have registry items!

-video monitor
-bouncy seat
-snot sucker
-rectal thermometer
-wipe case for diaper bag
-tiny love mobile
-bath cozy
-fisher price booster seat
-cool mist humidifier
-aden + anais swaddle blankets and burp cloths
-rock n play
-extra fitted sheets and changing pad covers
-feeding utensils (spoons, bibs, etc)
-car mirror (to see baby when driving)
-ergo

Re: Must have registry items!

-Pampers Diapers
-Huggies wipes
-Diaper Genie and refills
-Carter's clothes: just the basics! (The outfits turn over with the seasons and might not be available in store when it's time for your shower etc...Carter's just fit the best too. I'd register for Long Sleeve and Short Sleeve for the months they'd be in season for DC)
-Snap and Go (or similar)
-Humidifier
-Baby bathtub
-Rectal thermometer (Vick's one is SO easy to use and works great)
-Aquaphor
-Desitin (the PURPLE one! DS' ped says this is the only one out there that has the highest amount of ingredient that treats the diaper rash)
-Bright Starts Carrier Bar Toy (DS LOVED this as his very first toy)
-ExerSaucer (As soon as DS could hold his head up he was in this and was in it A LOT. He loved it)
-Tummy Time Mat
-HALO SleepSacks (not just swaddles but bigger sizes in appropriate material as they get bigger. I had these on DS every night until he could pretty much walk!)
-Bouncer seat (DS slept in this for the first 4 months for naps AND at night -- refused crib, couldn't have cared less about swing)
-Breathable Bumpers (please don't use what comes with the bedding sets... it really isn't safe for them. BBs come in all different colors and designs now too that will easily go with bedding)
-Sassy Ring O Links to hold toys to stroller/carrier
-Sound machine for crib (we used the Fisher Price Ocean Wonders Aquarium and the FP Rainforest one. DS now uses the Fisher Price Seahorse)
-Stroller covers for rain
-Depending how much you do laundry I'd have at least 3-4 crib sheets / changing pad covers etc
-Changing pad
-Car seat
-Extra base for car seat for DH's car
-Toddler food items (snack bowls, spoons with an easy grip, throwaway placemats for restaurants)

I'd go easy on registering for things like blankets, bibs, and clothes in general. People love giving these items as gifts. I swear DS got like 20 different blankets - some handmade, some store-bought. So unnecessary.

Message edited 6/20/2013 11:45:18 AM.

Re: Must have registry items!

here are some of the things that DD loved:

rock n play
aiden & anais muslin blankets
dd slept in a swaddle me when she was first born and then went into the swaddle sleep sack when she was about 6 weeks old
lovey
tiny love tummy time mat
tiny love crib mobile

the basics:
crib
crib sheets
bibs
diapers (to be safe size 1)
diaper cream
diaper bag
diaper genie & refills
wipes
video monitor
first aid kit
we got the temporal scan thermometer in addition to the rectal thermometer
bathtub
baby wash & lotion
towels
burp cloths
bottles (register for a few different types bc you dont know which your child will like)
high chair
car seat
stroller
infant carseat/carrier
swing
bouncer seat
exosaucer/jumparoo
teething toys

if you want to register for medicines:
gas drops
tylenol
teething gel/tablets

Message edited 6/20/2013 11:39:17 AM.

Re: Must have registry items!

Many things listed already are great. But you'll find that every baby is different. DD#1 loved the swing, and hated the exersaucer. DD#2 hated the swing but loved the exersaucer.

Definately get plenty of burp cloths. And receiving blankets. My DD#2 spit up so much that we actually used a receiving blanket as a burp cloth! Get the flannel ones of both. And my #1 recommendation to all new moms is a Miracle Blanket. It really swaddles them so perfectly!!! Both of mine loved theirs!! And be sure you have a comfy place to sit during the night for feeding. Those are the only things I can think of that haven't already been mentioned.

Re: Must have registry items!

Re: Must have registry items!

My must haves:

-swing (preferably one that plugs into the wall as opposed to batteries only)

-Rock n play

-Boppy pillow (I didn't BF and still used this often)

-Bumbo (both my girls enjoyed sitting in this)

-Bouncer/Rocker seat

-plenty of receiving blankets/burp cloths, hooded towels, extra crib sheeets

- a baby care kit- nail clipper, soft brush, finger toothbrush, rectal thermometer

-monitor

-mobile or projector

-Mustela rinseless baby wash (I loooove this stuff- great for wiping baby down on non-bath days and before the cord stub falls off and it smells AMAZING!!)

Things I never used:

-tummy time mat (a blanket and a few toys and YOU for entertainment worked best)

- basinette- neither of my girls would sleep in one

-pack n play- I just never used it, but I know I'm the exception not the norm

-wipes case. I used it a few times, then I just started throwing a re-fill pack into my bag. Those cases just don't hold enough.


A few things to note- the BEST snot suckers are the blue ones the hospital has! Take a few home. I find the ones you buy in the stores are really stiff and don't work as well.

-Make sure you register for a high chair that can be easily cleaned!!!

Message edited 6/21/2013 12:16:35 PM.