question for all those that are mommies already

I'm going to register soon, but i'm dreading it. I want it to be as painless as possible!

For all you mommies, what are the things you put on your registry that you couldn't live without?

and

What are some things you got that was useless or you didn't need etc...?


Thanks!!!!

Message edited 4/15/2012 10:32:10 PM.

Re: question for all those that are mommies already

I did not need a diaper pail, bottle sterilizer or warmer. A waste of space in my opinion.

Definitely needed a pump, bouncer, diaper bag, pack n play.

Re: question for all those that are mommies already

Must haves:
Jumperoo
Pack N Play
Bouncy Seat
Bundle Me
Boppy Pillow (especially for c/s or nursing moms)

Not needed IMO:
Bassinet
Excersaucer
Bottle warmer

Re: question for all those that are mommies already

Do you have Baby Bargains? I highly recommend getting that. It was really helpful when I registered.

Every parent has different needs and all babies react differently to things. Some must haves for certain people were a waste for others. For us, I couldn't live without the swing. The snap n go and boppy were great. DS hated the PNP so I rarely used it.

Re: question for all those that are mommies already

Most used item- fisher price lamb swing!!! Angelcare monitor, tub, jumperoo, infant carseat, light weight stroller.

Re: question for all those that are mommies already

I agree with getting the Baby Bargins book. It's really helpful. I ended up not using the baby bjorn or any pacifiers, but that's just bc my DS didn't like them. It depends on the baby/family.

Re: question for all those that are mommies already

Def the Rock N Play my DH just commented on how it is the best thing we got! We take it everywhere. A boppy pillow, blankets, snap-n-go, and baskets for organizing everything.

Re: question for all those that are mommies already

For us it was:

rock n play sleeper
swing
boppy
monitor
car seat
snap n go
vibrating bouncy seat
breast pump if you're nursing
Summer Infant swaddle blankets (the really big ones)

This is the stuff my kid likes. Yours might be different. But obviously, you're going to use things liike the car seat, monitor and snap n go no matter what.

ETA - I used Baby Bargains as well, and it really helped me narrow down our specific needs without getting caught up in the overwhelming amount of baby gear available because most of it is unnecessary.

Message edited 4/16/2012 12:33:05 PM.

Re: question for all those that are mommies already

Must Haves:
Fisher Price My Little Snug A Bunny Swing (it plugs in!)
Snap & Go
Itzbeen Timer - has been a lifesaver.
Sleep & Play Rocker (since she has reflux, she sleeps in here not the bassinet)

Can Live Without:
Bassinet - she never used it.

Re: question for all those that are mommies already

where did your baby sleep if you didn't use the bassinet??

Re: question for all those that are mommies already

Re: question for all those that are mommies already

Faves:
rock n play sleeper
snug a bunny swing
exersaucer or jumper (you don't need both)
phil & teds lobster seat (AMAZING product def worth registering for, we use it EVERYWHERE)
city mini stroller with car seat adapter
bumbo (it has a very short time for use - and some hate it - but i found it perfect for snack feedings and for picture taking before she could sit up on her own, about 3-5months)
baby food maker that steams and purees
a hands-free pumping bra (if you plan to BF/pump)
microwave sterilizer bags
cheap scented plastic diaper sacks (so you can throw stinky diapers in your regular garbage - only if you take the regular garbage out EVERY day)
a roomy diaper bag
4Moms infant bathtub AND a summer infant bath sling for the sink
bibs
burpees


Unnecessary:
bassinette
bedding set (all you need are sheets and if you plan to use a bumper - the blanket is pointless and not worth spending more $$ on)
boppy (some swear by it but i barely used mine)
snap and go (was unnecessary with the city mini and car seat adapter)
wipe warmer (never had one, never needed one)
bottle warmer
bottle sterilizer
diaper genie

Some things you will need but i wouldn't buy yet cause baby might like a specific brand:
diapers (only buy some small packs to start off)
bottles (only buy sample or starter packs)
binkies

Message edited 4/16/2012 4:05:45 PM.

Re: question for all those that are mommies already

miracle blanket - truly a miracle if you want your LO to sleep

Re: question for all those that are mommies already

I used a bassinet in our bedroom and the pack n play in our downstairs family room. I felt the bassinet was more cozy of a feel.

Must haves:
-Angelcare monitor and video monitor... I am paranoid when DS is sleeping (umm still at 19 mo ) and I felt at ease with these 2 monitors. I even used the angelcare in the bassinet.
-Bundleme. Much easier than getting an infant in and out of a jacket.
-Summer Swaddlers. DS loved these and after I left his arms out I would still swaddle him on the bottom.
-Fisher price precious planet bouncy seat. This was the best!!! I would put DS in this chair and lay on the couch and bounced him until he was asleep and I would nap on the couch
-Little lamb swing. DS would sleep for hours in this!
Waste:
-Diaper pail.. It was ok in the beginning but once they start solids its just gross. My DH loves it. I hate it. You get a lot of mixed opinions on these.
-Halo sleep sacks. Again, DS loved to be swaddled so I never used these
-Boppy. I used till I stopped nursing. Then I never or rarely used it.

Re: question for all those that are mommies already

If I could go back in time and reregister for my 1st I would have picked this

3 crib sheets
3 changing pad covers
1 mattress pad cover
Swing that has an a/c adaptor
infant to toddler bouncy seat
Tommee Tippee and Mam bottles
Wubannub pacifiers
36 GMD prefolds
6 snappies
4 Thirsties xs covers
4 Thirsties size 1 covers
Chicco keyfit 30 travel system
Moby wrap
Boppy and extra cover
Nuk milk storage bags
Reusable nursing pads
Tiny Love's Mobile
Space Heater- silly but sooooooo needed!
Aden and Anis swaddle blankets
Sophie
Sony 900mhz baby monitor
Baby Bullet
Baby Burt's Bees bath stuff
A bathtub w/a sling in it for the nb phase
Knee pad for bath time
Whimsyboo infant hooded towel and washclothes
Pack N Play w/a bassinet
Evenflo jungle exesaucer
Baby Einstein play mat

Message edited 4/16/2012 4:33:51 PM.

Re: question for all those that are mommies already

R N P sleeper (cheap and my DS stll sleeps in it at 16 weeks)

We have a swing and bouncer in one. Thank god I didnt buy both cause he doesn't like it as a bouncer but like sthe swing (hated it at first)

Jungle play mat (he could be on that for hours)

My DS hates to be swadled so we didn't use the blankets.

Don't buy too many of one bottle cause we switched kinds cause of gas issues.

Infant car seat - I got the regular Graco SnugRide. It only goes up to 22lbs but he is just over 12 lbs now and it is heavy. There is no way I am carrying it for much longer so the bigger one would be a waste for me. Also it slides into a booth at restaurants where a friend has a larger one and it does not fit between the seat back and the table. So we can leave him in it sleeping while we eat dinner. Lets us out without havign to worry about him.


ETA - don't buy pacifiers....take a few home from the hospital. My DS only used them for a short time. He hates them now at 16 weeks.

I also never had a snap and go. I used my Citi Mini with the adapter and people will tell you that a snap and go will save the wear and tear on the citi mini but I have been usign mine and you can't even tell its used except for some dirt on the tires. There is not spit up etc because they are in the infant carrier so that takes the brunt of any baby dirt!

Message edited 4/16/2012 4:46:42 PM.

Re: question for all those that are mommies already

We used:

Swing
Bouncer
Swaddles
Snap - N - Go
Extra Infant Car seat base
Summer Infant Video Monitor (can't live without it!!!)
You won't need them yet, but register for the bibs that have a catcher on bottom - this one don't bother with the fabric/plastic ones they get nasty.

DD never fit in an infant bath the right way, so we used this


ETA: Never registered for a bedding set. I registered for a bunch of fitted sheets (I was team ) and we made our own curtains & bed skirt
DD never got into binkies - the hospital ones were more than enough

Message edited 4/17/2012 9:35:37 AM.

Re: question for all those that are mommies already

Love -
Diaper champ - uses regular kitchen garbage bags instead of the expensive refills for diaper genie - dh changes it twice a week on garbage night.
Jumper
Glass Born free bottles - started off with Dr browns thinking i'd be ok with the extra parts cleaning, but it really became a PITA.
MAM pacifiers
FP newborn to toddler rocker -
PNP and quilted PNP sheet - 3
Snap n Go.
Fold up stroller - lightweight
crib soother toy - aquarium
Carters Bibs- they have a waterproof layer
FP starlight papasan swing -can go left to right & front to back.. and the starlight one has a plug- some of the other papasan were battery only.
3 or 4 bassinet sheets and crib sheets
2 crib mattress
couple of waterproof blankets to use under bassinet sheet
1 large case of pampers swaddlers size 1, and size 2.

Didn't miss:
wipes warmer - wipes wouldn't be warmed outside the house.
Bottle Warmer - in the NICU they would fill a container with hot/warm water and put the bottle in it to warm up, thats all we used.
Boppy
video monitor - had a handme down from my sister, tried it once but was too creeped out that people could see the video from their car driving down the street.

Message edited 4/16/2012 9:38:22 PM.

Re: question for all those that are mommies already

One piece of advice I have that made registering MUCH easier was this:

Register ONLINE first. Put all the items you know for sure you want and then put doubles of the ones you're not sure of and want to check out in the store. Or just keep a list of the ones you want to check out in the store and add your final decisions.

Made registering MUCH MUCH MUCH easier for me.

Re: question for all those that are mommies already

Must haves:
Boppy! Used this for nursing and for lying baby on, once DD could hold her own bottle I'd prop her there, then when she could sit up but was still unsteady I'd sit her in the middle of it so if she tipped over she didn't fall on floor.

Monitor (depending on size of your house)

Swing and/or bouncy chair

Nursing cover (if you plan to bf)

Car seat

Stroller

activity table for baby to pull up on and also to play with - physical therapist I use for my back said she recommends this to all her patients b/c it's helpful for babies to build leg muscles

bottles

thermometer

high chair or chair that you secure to table/counter

Sophie the Giraffe!!! My DD's favorite thing ever and we bought a new one for DS. Safe materials to chew on, shape is perfect for little hands, the best!

bottle drying rack/cleaning brush

burp cloths/bibs (can never have too many)

towel/washcloth

cover for shopping carts for once they can sit up (sooo many germs on shopping carts and babies always put their hands in their mouths!)

Breast pump (if you plan to nurse/pump)

Aden & Anais blankets - love them! Great for swaddling but they're so lightweight I also covered stroller/car seat with them when sun was strong, also used them to put down when I had to lie baby down somewhere (like on an airplane seat).

Don't need:
bottle warmer/sterilizer

wipes warmer

too many toys for young ages

Message edited 4/18/2012 2:48:51 PM.

Re: question for all those that are mommies already

Re: question for all those that are mommies already

i needed more changing pad covers than i originally thought for the very beginning.
muslin blankets are fantastic



did not need:
bottle warmer
bottle sterilizer
garbage genie type product
wipe warmer

Re: question for all those that are mommies already

Couldn't live without items are:
- tons and tons of burp cloths and bibs! I like having a lot so I wasn't doing a laundry every single day.
- Ultimate Crib Sheet! At least 2 so you always have a clean 1 (lays on top of fitted matress sheet...it's waterproof and just snaps on around crib rails. Great for middle of the night pukes or diaper leaks or whatever...pull it off for a quick change rather than having to change the fitted sheet which requires removing the entire mattress from the crib. You still see the pretty fitted sheet from side of crib...this just lays on top.
- Miracle Blanket is a MIRACLE! Only swaddle we liked - no noisy velcros that pop open and wake/startle baby. Again have 2 so you always have a clean one.
- Those Aiden and Anis blankets are great to have as well.
- Fisher Price Rock & Play hands down my 1 cannot live without item for baby!!!
- Snap-N-Go for the infant carrier - also couldn't live without.
- MaClaren or other lightweight stroller...trust me you will never use the big heavy bulky ones unless for long walks in the park. Lightweight is best for quick in and out of store runs/errands

Don't go with anything too gender specific color-wise...you don't know what you'll have next and would hate to have to re-buy stuff just b/c of color.

ETA: Bottle warmer, wipes warmer and bottle microwave sterilizer all top my list of do not needs...I didn't have any so I'm proof you don't need them! Total waste IMO!

Message edited 4/18/2012 3:48:39 PM.