Baby registry help

[Manders77]

I spent hours in Babies R US looking at EVERYTHING, making notes to see what I want NEW, what I can have USED. You'll be surprised how some of the little things you want NEW add up.

DD was a "surprise baby" so at the time of the shower Nobody knew the sex. But I asked for practical things, Big Items like the Travel System with Infant Seat, Convertible Car seat, Pack N Play, Baby Gates. Then I put smaller stuff on there too like bath items, thermometers, bottles, breast pump accessories small stuffed toys etc...

I got some clothes, not too much though (people actually didn't like buying neutral clothes), but I got most of the stuff I wanted. I didn't ask for a tub but someone bought me one with the bath towels, shampoo, baby wash etc... I happily accepted. Someone was creative and got me an assortment of bottles with a gift card towards my pump. I got to try each bottle until I found the one DD liked. People can get creative with what you put on your registry.

 

[stitchfan18]

Thanks for all the tips! It's great to know from veteran moms what is worth the $ and what isn't!

 

[cel_disney]

Congratulations!!!


I am a mom of two....I absolutely needed entertainment/containment stations for my children...I could not be with my child every minute to entertain them or ensure they were safe so these were a must for me. I had everything except my jumperoo purchased new for my first child - but I ended up buying 2 more bouncy chairs and the jumperoo second hand and had no regrets! And most things have now been passed onto my neice....There are definitely some good ways to get things second hand (the moms club or twins club tag sales are the best way around here) but I think it's good to register for more - you can always return them if you want and exchange for things you need but no one purchased.

I would absolutely get the following large items new:
- infant carseat (see car-seat.org for recommendations) - this should NOT be a used item unless you know who it's coming from and can verify its straps were never washed and it was never in an accident
- if you find a bouncer you like - get it
- fisher price healthy booster chair (we had both this and a full size Chicco - I LOVED my Chicco and wouldn't trade it for anything but I had plenty of space for it and wheeled it around my kitchen for years!....but I used this booster SOOO much over the past 7 years. It's perfect, super easy to clean, easy to travel to grandmas with, etc) (although if you prefer an older color combo - buying used is fine - they last forever! But they are perfectly priced for a registry item
- diaper disposal system - if you plan to use one, get it new! (Diaper champ, genie, etc)
- a good stroller (or two!) - depending on what you want, I would probably get atleast one of these new - we used ours daily for 3-4 years with each child - our most used item for sure!!,
- an exersaucer
- an activity mat (good registry price range item)
- bath sponge

You can get these second hand if you want:
Exertsaiucer
Swing
Jumperoo
Pack n play
Ergo Carrier
High chair
Bassinet
Baby bath tub



I think that you can get one new exersaucer and the other used to have two stations for your 4-10 month old to be contained when you need to shower or do laundry or cook dinner.... I had two because I had a two story house. My sister did not expect to need two in her 1200 sq ft apartment , but the idea of lugging the exersaucer from room to room for 5 more months made them go find a used jumperoo! Now they can shower AND and make dinner with a happy baby!!

For a stroller - put some serious thought into it...don't just get sucked into the typical graco beast size stroller without knowing if it will work for you. Many moms prefer the britax B-agile system instead now....or others want a newborn facing you stroller...etc....strollerqueen is a great online help!

There is affair amount of research that says that the baby bucket carseat is very safe for the car, but not good for them to be In ALL the time. We made sure we had a clickable stroller/carseat combo but that we also would be able to put our newborn directly into the stroller without the bucket for long trips to the mall or a walk etc....(we have inglesina zippy strollers and maclaren quests - but that's advice from 7 years ago - there are better / other choices today!)

Ou can usually get the blue plastic bath tubs for a few dollars at a twin moms sale - dont spend 20$ on it! We loved the bath sponges - much smaller to store when not In use and easy to travel with...work in the sink if you don't get the tub....

If you think you might breast feed - atleast out the hand pump on your registry and some supplies - I know most can get an electric pump from insurance now but the hand pump is nice to have especially in those early days when electronics could be scary contraptions to operate! And it's helpful when you are at the ball game or the power is out etc....

Definitely make sure you have enough on your registry to avoid people being left up to their own devices..... Ugly clothes without receipts are never good!

Good Luck!

 

[AKL_Megs]

We are a "one and done" family, and we've sold all of DD's baby things (and we had them!), looking back, if I was to get pregnant again, these are the only (big) things I would buy:

Boppy pillow
Bouncer/Bouncy seat
Space Saver high chair
Chicco's fancier umbrella-type stroller, for the recline

We had the Pack 'n' Play, the Jumperoo, the HUGE high chairs and strollers, the baby activity floor mats, this, that, and the other thing. The top four were the only (big) things I couldn't live without.

I second the socks in various sizes. I agree with the diapers and wipes; my DD could only wear Pampers and use their sensitive wipes. I'd also suggest adding side snap t-shirts to your registry; they were life savers during DD's first weeks, before her cord stump fell off.