HI Mommies, help us registering moms-to-be and tell us what's just a waste.....

We need help registering and want to know what's a must have and what's a waste to even bother registering for.

So, let the advice begin!

And TIA!!!!

Re: HI Mommies, help us registering moms-to-be and tell us what's just a waste.....

Definites:

Boppy - get the naked Boppy with different covers. One round of projectile puke, pee pee, and/or poopy, and your Boppy will be out of commision!

Swing - get a good one with a mobile and music - it is a life saver!

Activity mat - great for tummy time

Bouncy seat - I love the Boppy brand - very comfy and soft - he sleeps in it at night because he doesnt like to lie down

So far, at 5 weeks old, thats what I use every single day

Re: HI Mommies, help us registering moms-to-be and tell us what's just a waste.....

Every mommy is different...it's mostly trial and error for each individual.

*I rarely used my boppy.

*I was given the FisherPrice Ocean Wonders Aquarium, but I couldn't use it on the crib because of the shape & width of the spindles. (I hung on to it in case we ever have a boy and get a different crib.)

*I tried a lot of different bottles and found that the Dr. Brown's Standard size worked best for DD...definitely helped reduce her gas.

*I didn't bother with a Diaper Genie. I have a regular trash can (foot pedalthat lifts the lid) and just take the garbage out often (I use Glad ForceFlex Odor Shield and I also put "soiled" diapers in those blue bags that are scented.) There's absolutely no "bad" odors in her room.

*I use ALL Free & Clear instead of Dreft. I can't stand the smell of Dreft.

*I never once used my Bottle Sterilizer. I put all my bottles in the dishwasher.

Message edited 5/8/2007 11:11:45 AM.

Re: HI Mommies, help us registering moms-to-be and tell us what's just a waste.....

I definitely recommend a wipe warmer...there's nothing worse than a cold winter's day & chilly wipes on the baby's bare bottom.

I returned my diaper genie and just use a small garbage can in the baby's room. I also never used my microwave sterilizer. I just boil the bottles...it's just easier. Never used my travel bottle warmer. I never really used the bumbo chair--my DD hated it.

Happy registering!

Message edited 5/8/2007 11:28:09 AM.

Re: HI Mommies, help us registering moms-to-be and tell us what's just a waste.....

My Must haves

Stroller frame
Video Monitor
Bouncy Seats
Activity Mat
Mylicon
Britax marathon carseat
Lightweight Stroller
Boppy pillow if Bf'ing-I only used it after BF'ing to prop baby upright, haven't used it in months.
A good diaper bag that expands and you can overstuff
Ultimate crib sheet
Vinyl bibs for eating solids
Cloth Diapers to use as a burp cloth
I use Advent bottles
Inflatable bath tub
Infant/newborn fold up tub

My Wastes of money

Bottle/baby food warmer
Sterilizer
Wipes warmer
swing
more than 2 crib sheets
more than 1 pnp sheet
Mattress pad
CLoth bibs-I have tons not used even once-DD was not a drooler and I don't use them for feeding.
Receiving blankets
Diaper pail

Message edited 5/8/2007 11:34:24 AM.

Re: HI Mommies, help us registering moms-to-be and tell us what's just a waste.....

Re: HI Mommies, help us registering moms-to-be and tell us what's just a waste.....

You are going to get VERY different answers. I had an angel baby, so my list is going to be vastly different than others.

Waste:
Newborn diapers and clothes-he was born at 10 lbs, so he never fit these things. I had packages of diapers that I couldn't use and stupid me opened so I couldn't return them.

0-3 month clothes - He only wore them for 3 weeks! I had a whole wardrobe. I recommend just getting a bunch of sleep and plays and call it a day.

Swing - he HATED it! and it took up way too much room. And, he had one at my moms house too! I highly recommend getting either a travel swing or now they have the Snugride swing, where you just hook in the car seat.

Infant Car seat - we use it but he is pretty much grown out of it already. He was born big so I could have used a convertible seat from the beginning.

Bouncy - He had a bouncy for my mom's house and he really didn't care for it.

Must Haves:
Boppy-he is a big boy and I need all the help supporting him I can get.

Fisher Price Infant to Toddler rocker - I can't recommend this enough!

Lots and lots of burp cloths. We use the Gerber cloth diapers.

Loads of bibs

For moms expecting boys and planning on circumsizing, loads of vaseline (I prefer the one in the tube, not the tub that you scoop out) and lots of gauze. The hospital give a lot, but it's never enough.

Lots of sheets. you may not need them right away, but now that he is sleeping on his belly, I am changing them so much.

Lap Pads. Carters has these reusable lap pads. They are great to put under the baby's head and over the sheet. So for those middle of the night spit ups
you can just change that lap pad and not have to remove the whole sheet.

Extra change pad covers. We have about 3 or 4.

I really recommend focusing on the smaller stuff because that stuff can really add up if you have to get it. It's easier to run out and get a $40 bouncy if you decide you need it. But, that is JMHO.

Re: HI Mommies, help us registering moms-to-be and tell us what's just a waste.....

I'm surprised how many people didn't use the sterilizer. I used mine every day, sometimes twice a day. Now I use it once a week.

But, I don't have a dish washer.

Re: HI Mommies, help us registering moms-to-be and tell us what's just a waste.....

Re: HI Mommies, help us registering moms-to-be and tell us what's just a waste.....

Like I said, every mom is different!

*I didn't want a Wipes Warmer b/c I didn't want my DC to freak out when I used a cold or room temp. wipe on her (if we were out somewhere and I had to change her.)

*I used and still use the bottle warmer. (I kept it in the bedroom with me when she was still in her bassinet.)

*I have multiple sheets for the crib (3 velour) and P&P (2 velour). Nothing worse than not having clean sheets when you DC leaks when they nap/sleep. We travel a lot w/DD, so we don't always have a washing machine handy.

*DD LOVES her VELOUR SHEETS!!!!!! I can't recommend these enough!!! She snuggles right into them. HIGHLY RECOMMEND THEM!!!!!

*I have 2 mattress pads. DD's crib mattress is very hard and the pads made all the difference. (I have 2 in case she leaks.)

Re: HI Mommies, help us registering moms-to-be and tell us what's just a waste.....

Please do yourselves all a favor and get three things:
-The book Happiest baby on the Block
-a Miracle Blanket
- a CD of white noise.

Those are the keys to the baby sleeping. Read the book before the baby comes.


Never used; travel bottle warmer, regular bottle warmer( she either got room temp or i warmed it up in a cup of water)
- Maddy didn't LOVE the swing, but spent a lot of time in the bouncy. make sure you get a vibrating bouncy. Maddy slept in that the first few weeks b/c of reflux, the vibration really helped
- Boppy was good, epsecially for when she was older to help prop her up
-Don't bother with those baby 'dressing gowns'- the one they are just elastic at the bottom. They ride up and make it difficult to pick up the baby.
- Dr Browns are good bottles- HOWEVER< i would try to use other bottles first. I don't have a dishwasher and washign those bottles for 15 months has me on the verge of insanity.
- I didn't use those cloth diapers for diapers, but they are great to put over the baby in the bath. maddy hated baths b/c she was always cold, I warmed up the blanket and put it over her belly as I wash ed her.
Good luck !

Re: HI Mommies, help us registering moms-to-be and tell us what's just a waste.....

Must haves for me:
Vaporizer
Saline drops
nasal bulb syringe
Tylenol
vasoline and gauze for a boy
Bigger clothes (3-6 months and up)
Pacifiers
travel swing
sleep sack
bouncy seat
boppy
breast pump
Dr. Brown's bottles
burp cloths
night lite

Nice to have:
I never even considered vinyl bibs until he started solids
light weight stroller (we have the maclaren and I love it)

Re: HI Mommies, help us registering moms-to-be and tell us what's just a waste.....

Must Haves

Papisan Seat - Great seat for when they are an infant to about 4 months old. Very comfortable.

Dr. Browns bottles - the best out there and babies don't get much gas from them.

Boppy - you might not use it a lot in the beginning, but now that the boys are holding there own bottles, I put them on that and they feed themselves.

Infant to Toddler Rocker (I like the 2006 version better then the 2005 one, but i have both). The boys have been sitting in this since they were 4 months and they can get another year or so out of them. It's great.

Activity Mat - One of the few things a younger baby can play with. My boys loved this.

Pak N Play - I use mine a lot, and we use it as the boys crib if we sleep over my families houses. I have two siblings out of state so it comes in handy

Exersaucer - Again you won't use it until they are at least 5 months old, but they love this thing now. They could spend hours in it.

Also, registrer for an infant car seat and a convertable car seat. If you get both that is great. Your child probably will go into a convertable at 6 months old.

Snap N Go - Great to have when you have an infant car seat. Allows you to go places with babies without waking them up.

Things that I found to be a waste:

Diapergenie (i never actually got it), but you should get those little blue bags at BRU that smell like baby powder. I just put the smelly diapers in there and bring them down to the trash.

Wipe Warmer

0-3 month clothes....I had premies and they were out of them within 2 months. And everyone buys you these clothes when you bring the baby home.

"Bringing Baby Home Outfit". We registered for one from BRU and got it and it said fits 0-6 months?? Yeah, they never wore it, it was HUGE on them when they were born. Just get a nice 0-3 month outfit if you want to bring them home in something nice. We wound up using a nice Baby Gap outfit someone brought them.

Robes - Cute for a picture but not very practical.

Walker - my boys cannot figure out how to walk in it, so it's been useless for us.

Re: HI Mommies, help us registering moms-to-be and tell us what's just a waste.....

Wastes:

Bottle warmer
Wipes Warmer
Spa Bath tub with shower
Swing - she hated it
Bouncy seat - hated this too
Play yard - other than the bassinett part, she hates to be confined in the play pen part. Of course I have 2 of them one for my house and one for travel and she has never used either. WASTE

Re: HI Mommies, help us registering moms-to-be and tell us what's just a waste.....

I agree with many of the must haves..
Nasal Aspirator: we have an Especially for Baby one from a travel baby care set, which seems to work best with our DD (seems easiest on her nose and really sucks things out!)

sheet savers: you tie these to the slats in the crib over the regular sheet - catches a lot of drool/spit up, saves you from having the change sheets so much for these things..

miracle blanket/swaddle me: I was swaddling-challenged (baby always broke out) so I relied on these..

Mylicon/Gripe Water: because its better to have handy than realize you need it in the middle of the night with a gassy baby! Stick it on your registry, someone will probably throw it in with their other presents..

These are ones that stick out the most for me! Aside from the bouncy seat/swing, other items, etc.

We use All free and Cheer Free (so far) for detergents, they seem good to us instead of Dreft as well! Happy Registering!

Re: HI Mommies, help us registering moms-to-be and tell us what's just a waste.....

Must haves for me:
Eurotub
Tiny Love Mobile
Britax Marathon
Baby Nail clippers
I had the OCean Aquarium swing and the Acquarium take along swing (he loved them both)
Angel care Monitor

Take it or leave it:
Boppy: I BF and I found it uncomfortable


He never needed the saline drops, or mylecon drops. My baby had the best stomach!

Re: HI Mommies, help us registering moms-to-be and tell us what's just a waste.....

Waste:

Bottle warmer

Wipe Warmer

Large Swing, the travel size one works fine for us and takes up way less space.

Co- Sleeper that goes IN the bed. She is almost to long for it, and she is still pretty little.

Must haves:

Diaper Champ

Gerber cloth diapers for burp cloths

Tons of Carter's Bibs (they are the only waterproof soft ones I've found)

Changing Table - A lot of people say they don't use theirs, but I use mine for every changing and it's great to store stuff.

Carters Newborn booties, all of the socks that people bought have been way too big since the size range is 0-6 mos.

Johnson's Head to Toe washcloths

Wicker baskets to hold baby items, toys, etc.

Practical mobile, not those cutesy ones that come with the bedding sets that basically do nothing to stimulate a baby. We have the FP Rainforest one.

Re: HI Mommies, help us registering moms-to-be and tell us what's just a waste.....

Must haves for me:

*Swing - she loves to nap there
*Papasan - great to be able to put her down somewhere.
*Infant to toddler rocker.
*Night and Day bottle warmer.
*Excersaucer
*tons of burp cloths and bibs
*soft boks - she loves them
*infant car seat - she's smaller and still in it
*inflatable bath tub and travel swing - we travel a lot.
*euro tub and safer bather
****my new vicks professional style thermometer- Love it


Didn't use or never needed:
*sterilizer
*too many receiving blankets
*really big diaper bag - I prefer a smaller one

All answers are going to be really different...

Re: HI Mommies, help us registering moms-to-be and tell us what's just a waste.....

worth it....
Swing
infant to toddler rocker (better than bouncy seat) they can use this much longer
playgym
lots of burp cloths
excersaucer
travel swing


waste:
any wipe warmer
sterilizer
diaper genie
swaddle blankets

Like evryone said everyone will have a different answer

Re: HI Mommies, help us registering moms-to-be and tell us what's just a waste.....

Well, DS is only 12 days old, so I can't give a TON of input, but I wanted to say that DS was born at 6lbs, 11oz and ALL of his 0-3 are HUGE except the gerber onesies, he basically lives in those. My parents had to go out and buy him the Newborn size sleepers b/c the 0-3 were ridiculously huge on him, it was actually comical.

I didn't think that DS was that tiny, but I guess he is. I have a TON of 3-6 clothes from my shower too.

Re: HI Mommies, help us registering moms-to-be and tell us what's just a waste.....

Wow everyone, thanks!!!!

I'm gonna put a link for the pregnancy board.

Keep em coming!

Re: HI Mommies, help us registering moms-to-be and tell us what's just a waste.....

Get a tub with a newborn sling. I got the Safety First tub, and it's fine, but I have to put rolled up hand towels on either side of her to keep her from slipping, and she was a big baby. I registered for a tub with a newborn sling, didn't get it, and it wasn't in stock when I went to the store.

I love my FP Rainforest swing and activity mat, mostly because DD loves them too. We don't use the bouncy seat at much now but we did in the beginning.

Don't bother with newborn sized anything.

I didn't get a wipes warmer because I read that they were a fire hazard.

Get a pack and play with a changer that swings away. Our pack and play changer snaps on, and now that DD is getting bigger, I have to unsnap and remove the changer every time I want to lay her in the bassinet.

I have been very happy with my Avent bottle/food warmer, though I don't think it's a must-have. I also like my Dr Browns bottles.

Get waterproof pads for under the sheets in the pack and play and bassinet/cosleeper (if using).

ETA: My Diaper Genie (original) STINKS! No pun intended.

Message edited 5/8/2007 2:08:49 PM.

Re: HI Mommies, help us registering moms-to-be and tell us what's just a waste.....

1254978 receiving blankets-lol!!! Dont register for any you will get toooooo many just a couple are needed.

Re: HI Mommies, help us registering moms-to-be and tell us what's just a waste.....

Re: HI Mommies, help us registering moms-to-be and tell us what's just a waste.....

MUST HAVE:

**Fisher Price Papasan Cradle Swing**
Its been a lifesaver when I need a little break--and Taylor likes to sleep in it

**Baby Papasan Bouncer

**Dr Browns Bottles
Taylor doesnt get the hiccups as much or as bad as she did with other bottles

**Ocean Wonders Gym
at 8 weeks old, she loves to kick and make the music go on

**Lots of Gerber Flannel Burp Cloths