Need help registering for baby stuff

[skuttle]

As most of you know, DH and I are expecting our first child in July. I will be having a shower in May (before I start studying for the bar exam). I would love if y'all could help me out!

What are things you could not live w/o?
What things could you not have enough of?
What are things that are nice to have, but don't really need?
What are things you did not use/need?

Also, I'd love to here about brands of different things if you have any opinions!

Thanks so much!!

 

[MosMom]

Register for it all and find out what you like/dislike yourself because I could tell you all the things I couldn't live without and someone else will tell you that they never used it....but for jollies I'll list my likes/dislikes.

What are things you could not live w/o?

I could not live without the swing. Both my kids loved the swing and my daughter's feet were dragging in it while it was barely swinging before we had to pry it away from her. I couldn't live without my baby sling. It is so nice to put the baby in there to sleep (and even nurse) while I had both hands free to do whatever I needed to do.

What things could you not have enough of?

Onesies come to mind...I would put a onesie on underneath clothes so blow-out diapers wouldn't get on their outfit. It sometimes soaked through but kept it off their outfits most of the time. We had lots of blow-outs!

What are things that are nice to have, but don't really need?

Hmmmm...diaper wipe warmer, sleep positioner, travel crib/bassinet for bedroom or other room besides nursery, bouncy seat


What are things you did not use/need?

I never used the diaper genie because changing the bags was an awful & very stinky experience. I also never used the changing table because I rarely changed the kids in their nursery and it freaked me out to have them up that high anyway so we just always have done them on the floor. I have several "changing stations" set up throughout the house with a pad, wipes, diapers, desitin, etc.

HTH!

 

[jamsmom]

I loved getting diapers of all sizes because that way, if I thought DS needed bigger diapers, I had them right there to try. I also really liked getting clothes of various sizes.

Oh, I liked having a big diaper bag AND a small one

 

[annemariec]

What are things you could not live w/o?

1.) Baby monitor, Fisher Price- It has the feature where it charges and you can clip it to your waist and you can set it on "vibrate" if you are doing something noisy (laundry, yard work...). I have used it everyday. Love it!!!

2.) Bouncy seat. I forget the name brand. If I come across it I will add it later. It has a little archway (detachable) that has toys attached and lights. It would vibrate on two speeds fast & slow. Baby loved it!!

What are things that are nice to have, but don't really need?

Diaper wipe warmer. I know the baby likes it.

I'm sure there is more. I'll add more as it comes to me.

Annemarie

 

[luv2nascar]

Our favorite is Luvs diapers
relatively cheaper than other diapers and they did not leak
DD could not wear pampers due to perfumes in them

could not have enough sleepers
encourage people to buy 3-6 or 6-9 month outfits
they grow out of the 0-3 month ones so quickly & they don't go that many places right away and the small outfits seem such a waste. I guess that all depends on the babies birth weight also.
DD was 8'3" so she was out of the the newborn diapers in 1 month or less.
I think the newborn diaper size is a waste. This time I'm going with the next size 8-12 lbs or something like that.

DD's swing was indepensible. She had a battery operated swing and would allow DH & I to eat a relatively peaceful dinner. We kept in the kitchen by the table. Her bassinet also got a lot of use. She just would not sleep in her crib for about 3-4 months. She slept on myside of the bed in the bassinet for the 3-4 mos.

We got so much baby powder, baby wash, lotion, etc. It really was a waste. The baby is so little you only need such a small amount. The bottles were so big. I never did use it all. Baby wipes on the other hand you can never have enough of. The cheaper the wipe the thinner it is. I found luvs, pampers, huggies were all okay. I am now starting to stock up for baby #2 in July.

good luck

 

[CamColt]

The thing I probably used most between 2 kids is the little vibrating bouncy chair. They arent very expensive($30.00 range) and my kids lived in them for probably the first 4-6 months. Even with it not turned on, it was great.

If you plan to bottle feed, I got somethig with my 2nd DS that I cant believe I did without with my 1st. Its a cheapy little platic tray like thing, with "spokes". It goes on the counter and the edge hangs over the sink. You hang the wet bottles & nipples on it to dry after you wash them. I cant tell you how many times I had bottles crash all over my kitchen with DS #1.

Something I never had enough of was cloth diapers. I used disposable diapers, but the cloth ones are perfect for spit rags. I had 1 DS with Pyloric Stenosis and another who had reflux. Those cloth diapers were lifesavers.

Good luck, and have fun!

 

[becka]

A lot of people hit on some of the same items that we really liked/disliked.

What are things you could not live w/o?

Swing and bouncy seat - I don't think DH or I ever would have been able to eat if it had not been for these two items. DS outgrew the bouncy seat but he still occassionally uses the swing and we are dreading the day that we have to put it up.

Diaper champ - it is a big diaper pail but it uses just regular trash bags so you don't need to buy those special refills...I love mine. Much better than the diaper genie IMHO.


What things could you not have enough of?
Sleepers/onesies. DS lived in them for the first several months and they were just so easy and I was so shocked at how many we needed each day.

Cloth diapers - we used disposables but those cloths one are great for spit-up and other messes. I wore one over my shoulder for weeks. I even left the house a time or two with it on because I would just forget about it.

What are things that are nice to have, but don't really need?

Those really cutesy newborn outfits. They were just too much trouble to deal with in those early weeks. You only need 1-2 for pictures and the rest are really not worn at all.

Baby monitor - for us it was really not too useful but nice to have. DS sleeps in the room directly across the hall from ours so I am maybe 10 steps away from my bed to his crib. Even during the day I can hear him when I am in the other parts of the house. This could be a necessary item if your house is set up where you are sometimes far away from the baby.


What are things you did not use/need?
Baby wipe warmer, sleep positioner (DS hated it)

 

[Fire14]

Things I loved for my nieces:
Baby Swing
Big and little Diaper bags
ONSIES
6-9 mo outfits
Bouncy seat
A stroller/car seat combo I personally love my Evenflo on my way combo. century also makes a nice one.
There is a pooh print out there.
Burp rags/cloth Diapers
Dreft detrgent
a fleece type blanket they both still love them I used to throw over car seat when going out in cold, they use as a comfort buddy even now at 4.
Baby monitor if your house is big

Things I coulda lived without:
Wipe warmer
diaper genie

 

[bsnyder]

#1 on my list would be a baby sling. I liked the one worn on the side, not the snugglie. I never could get the hang of a snugglie unless I had someone else to help me put it on and get the baby in it, but the sling was wonderful, and so easy to pop the baby in and out of!

#2 would be a battery operating swing.

#3 would be a list of take out places....you won't have time to cook for a while.

As for the things I could do without:

#1 - diaper genie - not worth the trouble

#2 - baby monitor - unless you have a really big house, I think this just encourages a new mother to react too quickly to every little cry and sigh.

 

[shep]

Good things..
1. cloth bibs that you put over babys head like a shirt..they seem to suck up everything...lol...

2. Bouncer--vibrator seat or whatever its called..lol..both girls loved this..

3. Swings are nice too...

4. Don't know if this fits in or not, but we got both our girls 'cribs to kids' beds that convert from baby beds into twin size beds...real nice...

5. 3 in 1 stroller's are nice too...it is nice if you get one that has a base in the car so it is real easy to get out of car instead of doing the seat belt every time...

Diaper Genie is okay but I have never changed it, DW always does that..I just put diapers in the garage next to the garbage cans...

That's all i can think of now...

 

[skuttle]

Thanks so much everyone!

We were planning on getting one of those 3 in 1 strollers. As well as a convertable crib.

I went to a baby shower yesterday, so I got some ideas there, too.

Any other suggestions?

 

[mtemm]

There is a great book you may want to check out, too. They give great ideas throughout, but also have a list in the back of items you might want to have, as well as a list of those that sound good but aren't that useful

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...104-7120454-2284759?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

Some things I registered for that I am glad I did:

Sheet protectors. These are little cloth pads that tie to the crib, laying across part of the crib sheet. You lay the baby on them, head on the protector. My son was a spitter...really helped to just change the sheet protector in the middle of the night instead of fussing with the whole sheet.

diaper genies plus many refills. Works like a charm. I wouldnt register for a ton of diapers...sometimes certain brands work better than others for you baby.

monitor. Especially for naps, if baby is upstairs, you are downstairs, or wherever. Might not need it at night, but daytime its nice to have.

swing.

bouncy seat

exersaucer.

thermometors...both rectal and ear

There was a cute medical kit at BRU we registered for...came with small sizes of infant drugs like tylenol, motrin, mylecon (have this on hand in case you have a gassy baby!), and some others.

baby bath. Really helps for those first few months

bottles and/or pump. If you do'nt have a dishwasher a sterilizer may help.

Baby Bjorn. This was probably one of my top 5 most useful items.

High Chair

If you are looking for a great cd that is soothing yet good to listen to as an adult, I highly recommend Return to Pooh Corner by Kenny Loggins. My son is 13 months now and I still love to listen to it. I actually bought this early and started listening to it while still pregnant, hoping the sound of it would help soothe Daniel once he was born.

 

[jpmom97]

Speaking of diaper blow outs, Natalie has had two already and it is only 8:45am!
Things I can't live without.....Bouncy Seat, highchair that has infant position (great for eating or going on the internet!) Swing( I have the one that will swing like a cradle or like a reg. one I love it and so did Jace and Natalie) A&D diaper rash cream, the one in the upright tube it is smooth and creamy, if you are nursing a boppy pillow is great!, lots of onsies, lots of pajamas, and....really small pj's. When I got home from the hospital not even the 0-3 months stuff fit, and Natalie weighed 8 lbs! Oh one more thing, A car seat cover the ones that fit over your car seat with the little hole in it for the baby's face. Depending on where you live it is great for cold weather. You don't have to bundle the baby and over heat her. Or you can get a light weight one for warmer climates for rain and wind. Good luck with your new baby!!

 

[mtemm]

I second the boppy, even if you aren't nursing, the baby can use it to help him/her sit when they get a little older

 

[ahutton]

I would have been lost without our swing. In fact, I'm not sure how we survived the first 2 months with DD#1 before we bought it. And DD#2 had reflux and slept in her swing for the first 4+ months, everytime she actually would actually lay down she would spit up very nasty stuff and wake up.

I love my snugli carrier, I found it the best thing on rainy days (especially at WDW) because I could carry my umbrella and we both stayed snug and dry.

There is no such thing as too many cloth diapers (we used them as spit rags), baby wipes, onesies or sleep sets. We rarely wore the newborn outfits, especially with DD#1 as we just never had "time". The second time around we managed a little better, but only slightly. I've never been able to get either girl to wear shoes before 9 months old, usually they come off before we can even get out the door, and socks got pulled off right after the shoes.

We had one baby who used the bouncer/vibrating seat and one who couldn't stand it, fortunately there is an off switch and she'll just hang out there.

Make sure you are prepared a month or so before your due date with diapers, wipes and infant medicines of all types - and if nursing I recommend a pillow that attaches to you so you don't have to worry about it sliding around. Also, I have a horseshoe shaped neck pillow that is my best friend so I could rest while I fed the baby.