So, my good friend Joanne recently asked me for some help with her baby registry. I remember how stressful starting a registry was for me, so I wanted to give her a very detailed list of what I recommended. I got help from my good friend Liz who past down a list from her friends.
If you are a mom-to-be and you are looking for some registry help, here is my very long but detailed list! I hope this helps:
Top seven things you must have:
1. A swing - see list for brands I recommend, this is a must right away for newborn and on. Riley slept in hers early on for 3 hours at a time.
2. A basinet or co-sleeper - We did not put Riley in the crib until three months, so you will want a basinet or co-sleeper so she can sleep in the room with you. I did not buy a basinet because the Pack and Play I got had one (a lot of people do this).
3. Diaper garbage can thing and changing table...enough said
4. A monitor. Register for the one that has a monitor but it is wireless. We were not thinking and got a bigger one but it plugs into the wall, so we have to unplug and move it room to room. If you get the battery operated one you can just take it with you everwhere. You do want this though.
5. Car Seat and a stroller. Stollers can be complicated, my best recommendation, get a Graco Snug Ride (everyone has them and they are the best), and put a Snap and Go stroller on your registry (it is only $69 or something). The car seat clicks into the snap and go and you can stroll anywhere. I keep my Snap and Go in the car and then we have The Uppa Baby system for longer walks. This comes with a basinet and then a bigger girl seat which she is just getting into. Most strollers also have a car seat adapter you buy seperately...register or buy one if you know what stroller you want. Keep the stroller in your garage. Good for long walks, snap and go is not. You can also get the Bob or a jogging stroller now and use the carseat adapter until the baby gets bigger. I am going to buy a Bob later when she is ready for it, but really you can get it now and just use that.
6. Ok, you need a sound machine of some sort. People will probably you them, register for a good one. Tim put in a Sonos system in our house, and we have speakers in the nursery and our room. We put all of her sound CD's in the system and we still play the Ocean wave sound when she goes to bed...you want this from when she is right out of the womb for a while!
7. If you have room, a glider (rocker) is very helpful especially in the beginning. It is not necessary if you are holding off on the nursery or if you already have a reclining chair. Also, an excercise ball will help you pregnant and after when they are crying and you bounce up and down.
Below is most of the registry list I used with the brands I went with. I only registered at Babys R Us because it just seemed easier to register in one place and you can get a lot that you need there. Another place people are registering these days is Amazon.com or Diapers.com. Babies R Us gives you the option to pick what kind of mom you are and then they will recommend a variety of things for you. This helped me too...I did that and then supplemented with the list below.
1) Pack-n-play - I got one with the bassinet like this one: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3572949. This is great for home and travel and can be used when they are bigger. Order quilted sheets - I did not get sheets and it was very uncomfortable when she moved from the basinet to the mattress (probably around 6 weeks).
2) Bouncer - We have this one: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3310993. A girl I know has this one and loves it: http://www.babybjorn.com/us/products/bouncers/babysitter-balance/balance/. This one is more of a natural rocker which is nice especially when they are older like Riley's age...but for a newborn, the swing worked best.
3) Swing - A must! Riley slept for hours in this during the day so I could clean, shower, etc. This is the one we got: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3090973
4) Jumper - I have yet to get the jumper because Riley is just now big enough. You can hold off on this until later...or borrow one.
5) Carrier - Definitely register for a baby carrier. We got the Bjorn but I also went and bought a sling to just put her in when taking the dog out and such. Everyone in LA loves the Moby Wrap because it keeps the baby close to you and is like having the baby in your womb again. I did not get this one because it looked to hard to get on, but in hindsight, I probably would have because the sling I bought was not very secure. You might like this one a lot:http://www.pumpstation.com/pumpstation/product.asp?s_id=0&prod_name=Moby+Wrap++Moss&pf_id=PAKFICHNIKHHBGJE&dept_id=3481. When the baby gets a bit older, they want to look out and explore, and the Moby does not allow for that, and the Bjorn does. A lot of people get the Bjorn and a wrap like the Moby. The ERGO Baby carrier is supposed to be the best for your back but again does not allow for the baby to face front.
6) Playmat - You will start putting the baby on the playmat within a month or so, so register for one. We have this one but there are many options out there...this will be something you use for a while: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2266983.
7) Bottles - I use the Born Free ones - http://www.toysrus.com/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=&kw=born%20free&origkw=born%20free&f=Taxonomy/TRUS/2255957&sr=1 and Riley likes them. Don't buy too many, because you may find the baby does not like them and you need to try another brand. Dr. Brown's are supposed to be good too. You can start with the starter kit and maybe register for a few more 9oz bottles and some extra stage 1 nipples. Get a bottle brush. We got a warmer but hardly ever used it. So kind of up to you on that.
Get a bottle drying rack as well like this -http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2747237
Pumps - Medela is the most highly recommended one...I got this one because it is supposed to be handsfree but I never really used it because it was too much work, so you can probably register for the one that is not handsfree and it is like $100 cheaper. This comes with bottles and stuff to get you started. http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3214492.
You will want to get nipple creams, breast pads for leaking. I definitely used the cream and the pads in the beginning but after two weeks I did not need them anymore. I also bought a few nursing bras before the baby came...I should have waited....I went and got fitted right after the baby and had to buy 2 more because my boobs were yet bigger! But you can get some nursing tanks before baby because you will want to bring them to the hospital and u will use them right away! Also, get a nursing cape to cover you when you are out...I never thought I would nurse in public, but you just have to some times.
The hospital gave us some formula to use for supplementing and we still use Similac. You probably don't need any because the hospital can give you some. Just ask them...they gave me some because Riley was getting frustrated with the small amount of milk coming out at the beginning. Within a week, my milk came out in full force!
8) Car seat - I mentioned that we got the Graco Snugride 35 (http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4089529). Again, everyone recommended this and it is great. We also registered for the Snap and Go (http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2327597). Lastly, register for two of the bases so you can put in your cars, makes it easy to just plop the seat in there: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3749233.
9) Bathtub - just get a cheap, plain plastic one that the baby can be comforable on. We have this one and it comes with a newborn sling: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2403667. As you know we don't even have a tub, so this works great right now and you will need this. Riley loves her baths. You can also register for hooded towels and wash cloths, people like to give these as gives (Riley also got robes). On baby soap, I like California Baby or any of the more natural options.
10) Diaper Pale - The Diaper Genie is probably the most well know, but I got the Diaper Dekor: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2919753. I do like it better because with the Genie you have to push the diaper in through a hole and the Dekor you just throw it in and it does a good job hiding any odor.
11) Diapers - I used the newborn pampers swaddlers. Register for big boxes in newborn and size 1. and pampers sensitive wipes too. We now order these at amazon.com. They have a moms section where you can get next day delivery and I think discounts. Again, diapers.com works well too.
12) Pacifier - You can pick what you like and baby adjusts...the hospital will get you started. St. John's gave us these and Riley loved them...for a whole week, then she gave up: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11004923
14) Highchair - We have not got a Highchair yet...soon but I am not going to start her on solids until 6 months. You can wait for this unless you want to register for it now.
15) Monitor - I would get something like this if I were to do it again: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3763010
16) Boppy Pillow for feeding - http://www.toysrus.com/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=&kw=boppy%20pillow&origkw=Boppy%20pillow&f=Taxonomy/TRUS/2255957&sr=1
(I ended up getting another one so I had one in the bedroom and one in the nursery or living room..I have this second one: http://www.pumpstation.com/pumpstation/product.asp?s_id=0&prod_name=Luna+Lullaby+Bosom+Baby+Nursing+Pillow&pf_id=PAKFACDDIKEADFDB&dept_id=3030.
17) bumbo chair - they can learn to sit in here and you can feed them in these...good for travel...Riley was in hers by two months
http://www.toysrus.com/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=&kw=bumpo&origkw=bumpo&f=Taxonomy/TRUS/2255957&sr=1
18) First aid kit - Definitely register for this. You will want to also get a thermometer, they say the anal one is best, I have three of them. You can buy your own children's tylenol, gas relief and so on. Also, make sure you get baby clippers for the nails, you will need them.
19) Clothes - You don't need to register for clothes - people love to buy baby clothes. However, I did have to go and buy a lot of Newborn white and basic onesies and 3 month white and basic onesies. This is something you can register for and/or just buy yourself.
20) Diaper bag - this is obvious. I got a medium sized bag, but I am looking at buying a bigger one. This should come with a travel changing pad, if it does not, register for one. A travel wipe holder is good too.
21) Mobiles - register for one for the pack and play if you are not going to do a crib for a while (or get one for the crip). Mobiles are great early on for them to start focusing their eye sight and such. I bought a more modern looking one but there are lots of options
22) Swaddle blankets - the absolute BEST are Aden and Anais because they are breathable and big. They are worth the price.
23) Burp cloths, register or buy a big pack of disposable diapers....you will need a ton! The swaddle blankets are great for this too. If you get multiple swaddle blankets, that is OK, I use 8 in a rotation all week long.
24) Glider - This is the one we got, but there are many options and styles out there: https://www.minijake.com/mjcategory.cfm?L1=living&L2=seating&L3=adult%20seating&categoryoid=123&productoid=102073&itemoid=64875
25) Toys - we got some toys but not a lot. You don't need a lot right away, but chew toys will be one of the first things you need. Sophie the Giraffe is a big one.
26) A few other things: A lot of people get the Miracle Blanket for sleeping. I tried this but it was too much work to get her in and then get her out to change her during the night. I just ended up using the swaddle blankets. When your baby gets a bit older, around 3 months, these Angel Blankies are great for sleep training: http://www.pumpstation.com/pumpstation/product.asp?s_id=0&prod_name=Angel+Dear+Blankie+Pink+Giraffe&pf_id=PAKFACFLPBJEAMFM&dept_id=3339.
27.) I registered for baby hangers, you will need them. You will also need to get baby detergent because you need to wash everything before the baby comes.
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