Registry Ideas

[vivela]

In honor of Black Friday, I thought we could have a shopping thread. I've been looking at registry examples and I find it all rather overwhelming. Amazon has the 10% off completing your registry deal, so it seems like it is worth putting a lot on there.
Second (or third or fourth) time moms, have any "must" recommendations? What lives up to the hype? What did you get that you didn't know you needed?

[origamimommy]

Rock n play was my must have item
Swing was a lifesaver
Waterproof pads for on top of the changing pad were awesome! Get poop on them? Just throw them in the wash!

We did use a bottle warmer because it helped the Breastmilk combine after separation in the fridge.
You need a humidifier
We still use the sound machine.

Bouncer was a waste
Mamaroo was returned
Don't register for clothes, they sell out so quickly and people buy what they like anyway.

And on Amazon, add everything you buy to registry beforehand so you get the perks. I just bought a sound bar for my husband and threw it on a registry because you get something after you spend $100

[frecklesnbrains]

My cousin offered me their rock-n-play last night and I was like "YES!" Actually, I told her I'd take pretty much everything she wants to pass on. She has a 6 month-old, so my timing is good!

[sandandsea]

So much of the stuff is hit or miss. DS hated the swing but we obviously didn't know that when registering.
These were our faves with DS:
Aiden and anaiis swaddled blankets
Space saver high chair
Velcro wearable swaddle blankets
Pack in play with changing table and rocker thing - we used this for the first 6 months in our room before we transitioned DS to his nursery it also came with a music/sound machine
Fisher price rainforest play mat for tummy time
City mini stroller
Playtex drop in bottles
Madela pump in style advanced
Fisher prince jumparoo
Waterproof changing table pads
Waterproof mattress protectors for crib
Fisher price seat with toys around it (bumbo alternative)
An inexpensive bath with an infant to toddler transition ability to save water
Some kind of non slip bath mat
A bath "dumper" with the rubber forehead shield
Ergo baby carrier
Nose Frieda / yes it seems gross but it works

Things we didn't use much or skipped all together:
Cool mist humidifier
No bottle warmer - DS took cold breastmilk directly from the fridge so life was easy!
Baby washcloths
Skip clothes and toiletries and blankets
Swing
Separate changing table - used top of dresser or combo crib
Get an inexpensie crib- they really don't last long - DS was out of the toddler bed by 3 and I didn't want to spend more to transition his crib to the full size bed as I prefer twin beds for kids rooms so there's more floor play area

One gift I get people a lot is a bag of infant medicines like gripe water, Tylenol, teething gel, saline nose drops , ice pack, nose frieda, etc. it comes in so handy when baby is sick the first time and you are panicking and it's so much better than having to run to a store in that moment and buy it all. I also throw in some clothes/books/etc.

[sandandsea]

This time we are making a private registry and only putting things like diapers, wipes, bottles, pack, aiden and anaiss blankets, and little stuff on it. We saved almost everything big from DS and will only really need the non-reusable stuff.

[greysonsmom]

I think I'm the odd one out but I returned the Rock and play. I didn't want to have to worry about transitioning out of that thing after my friend had such a hard time getting her son to sleep in the crib after sleeping so great in the rock and play. I loved the mammaroo! Extra mattress protectors are a must! That way you an double layer the sheets. If there is an accident in the middle of the night you just peel off a layer and you don't have to worry about putting another set of sheets on. You don't need to buy an expensive sound machine, if you have an old iPhone or iPad you can just download a white noise app.

[soultrane]

I used Lucie's List last time and it was pretty spot on and does a good job at breaking things down by category so it's not completely overwhelming. She also has recommendations at different price points so I was able to find great options that fit within our budget for each item.

I loved our amazon registry too. I'm not sure if they still allow it, but I was able to add non-Amazon items to my list so those shopping for me had some other options to buy from too if they didn't want to use Amazon.


My splurges last time:
Mamaroo - we found a great deal on Craiglist though, so it wasn't as much of a splurge as it would have been buying brand new. G loved it but I've heard that some babies aren't a big fan, so it really is kid-dependent - just like everything else kid-related.
JujuBe diaper bag - I loved it.
Car seat - This was my hot-button issue. I'm big on car seat safety and did a ton of research before deciding. We used the Chicco KeyFit30 and then moved to the Chicco NextFit when we switched to a convertible. I recommend both highly.

My must-haves:
Arm's Reach Co-sleeper - I loved it and used it until he was about 8 months old. It was perfect right next to our bed and gave him his own space to sleep, but was super convenient for middle of the night feedings.
Ergo Sport - Loved it and plan to use it again this time, although we may add a second carrier this time around. DH and I are similar in size so we were able to both use this without having to adjust the straps too much.
Gripe water - This stuff is amazing and helps with gas and hiccups. It's seriously like magic and I buy a bottle for any expecting mom I know. When he had hiccups or was fussy and nothing else worked, dipping his paci in this was a lifesaver, so we didn't even give the full dosage usually when we used it. Regular gas drops never really did much for him.
Aiden + Anais muslin blankets - They're lightweight and so freakin soft and we used them a lot. They doubled as playmats for tummy time when we were out, burp cloths, nursing covers, and of course as blankets. He's 3 and still uses them in the summer when he sleeps.
Sleep sacks - G never liked being swaddled so these were a great compromise and we used them up until he was old enough to use blankets.


Items you really can't have too many of, IMO:
Baby wash cloths - we used these for everything! They're super soft so they didn't irritate his skin, but I always kept a handful in his diaper bag for impromptu clean-ups, runny noses or spit-ups when we were out.


Wastes:
Wipe warmer - G had really sensitive skin and developed major diaper rash. As soon as we stopped using the wipe warmer, it cleared up. I've read that they're major bacteria-breeders, even when cleaned often, which we did. I'd skip it. I also figured that when we were out, he would have room-temp wipes anyway so who cares if his wipes were warm at home or not.
Bumbo - We didn't use it that often.


Maybe wait and buy later:
High chair - you won't need it until the baby is a little older so if you're short on space (which we were when he was born) put this on your list of things to pick up when you actually need it.

Totally kid-dependent:
Humidifer - we use ours through the winter because the air gets super dry
Pacifiers - some kids love em, some kids hate em.

[soultrane]

This is also a good place to tag txmommy14 and an FYI for anyone else. The JuJuBe BFF is listed for $124 on Amazon this morning. Just saying...

[greysonsmom]

Just saw jujube is on sale on zulily today for $99!

[greysonsmom]

I forgot to add don't waste your money on an expensive high chair. I made that mistake and when my son turned one I couldn't take it anymore and got the $20 ikea one. I wish that is what I got in the first place, so much easier to clean!

[soultrane]

Nov 27, 2015 12:31:36 GMT -5 greysonsmom said:

I forgot to add don't waste your money on an expensive high chair. I made that mistake and when my son turned one I couldn't take it anymore and got the $20 ikea one. I wish that is what I got in the first place, so much easier to clean!

Agreed! We held off on getting a high chair due to space and then got the Ikea one. I loved it, it was so easy to clean up and super light and portable. We could easily take it to the backyard and hose it off after particularly messy meals. lol

[origamimommy]

soultrane YESSS to the chicco car seats! We also did the key fit to next fit. DS is huuuuuge, just very tall. We were able to RF until 2 in the nextfit. Most other seats would've only gotten us to 15/18 months because of his height.

I also agree with the city mini stroller. So worth the money. The travel systems are expensive, bulky and short. My husband is 6'4" so we went with the city mini due to height. So worth it.

Also an ergo or Tula carrier.
Aden and anais blankets for sure!
I also agree with the space saver high chair. Much more convenient than a bulky stand alone.

I love reading these! It's so funny how some of our must haves are someone else's skips. We had an expensive tummy time mat that DS hated! He would only do tummy time on the boppy.

Which reminds me--for breast feeding, the breast friend is so much better than the boppy, but we still used our boppy a lot, for different things.

A rocker was a necessity for us, with a stool, for breast feeding, and just to have somewhere to rock him and hold him MOTN.

[babyzebra]

The things I loved for DS:

- Tommee Tippee bottles
- Target brand formula
- Medela PISA
- Fisher price bouncer
- Travel swing (cheap and could easily fold up)
- Halo swaddle and sleep sacks
- Sleepers with zippers (aint nobody got time for 100 snaps in the MOTN)
- Samsung video monitor
- Gas drops
- Pampers diapers
- Pack n play with newborn bassinet and changing station
- Chico key fit bucket car seat
- Chico stroller frame
- Diono Radian convertible car seat (super narrow and great crash ratings)
- Rocker for MOTN (still use for story time)


Things I didn't love as much:
- Moby
- Bumbo (what baby thighs can actually fit in those things?)
- Bob non-jogging stroller
- The 4 bottle warmers I went through (maybe user error??)


Things I want for this LO:
- K'tan
- Ergo
- some type of double stroller - anyone have any recommendations? I've looked on Lucie's list.


ETA- more things

[txmommy14]

Nov 27, 2015 12:14:58 GMT -5 soultrane said:

This is also a good place to tag txmommy14 and an FYI for anyone else. The JuJuBe BFF is listed for $124 on Amazon this morning. Just saying...

Ahhhh really?! I don't see it, the color I want still says $165. Interesting....let me do some searching! Thanks guys!

[txmommy14]

Love this thread. Here are my must-haves with DS:

-Rock n' play: he loved it, great to have him off the ground, you can fold it up, easy to transport, relatively cheap-can't say enough good things
-Ergo-I loved it for the later stage-super easy, although pricy
-Aden & Anais were good-I think they will be great for a summer baby because they're breezy. They're still the blankets we throw in the crib with DS for naps/bedtime
-Summer Infant velcro swaddles
-Dr. Brown's bottles-worked great for us
-Medela pump-instyle if you plan to breastfeed (call insurance to check if you can get one for free)
-Chicco Keyfit 30 carseat-loved it, but not many double stroller options now that I am looking....
-Motorola video monitor-it's been great!
-Snap n'go Chicco stroller-so easy and convenient, and only like $100. Now we use a lightweight stroller from Target called the Echo

I want a good carrier/sling for a new baby that is not too expensive and NOT complicated (I know the Boba and Moby aren't too difficult, but I just couldn't figure it out), also something cooler for the summer. I'm thinking K'tan-thoughts?

[txmommy14]

Our DS didn't really care for his swing, but we used the bouncy seat some. We did use the bumbo some, but you could easily go without. I LOVED having a glider in the nursery-we still use it daily to read books to G.

[txmommy14]

Nov 27, 2015 12:29:38 GMT -5 greysonsmom said:

Just saw jujube is on sale on zulily today for $99!

Oh I just looked! That's really good. I do like that one, but I am obsessed with this pattern:


www.amazon.com/Ju-Ju-Be-B-F-F-Legacy-Collection-Convertible/dp/B00I0P7WIU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1448655036&sr=8-1&keywords=ju+ju+be+diaper+bag+queen+of+the+nile

[sandandsea]

Oh we had the angel care video monitor and movement pad and donated t already. The handset battery life was awful and while I like the alarm for non movement I think we want to try the Snuza this time and just get a better video monitor.

[lakecountrygal]

If you plan on nursing add nursing tank tops and washable pads! They will be a huge help and it saves you some money after baby arrives.

[sandandsea]

For a double stroller my friend loved the city mini double. She bought the city select first and hated it. I think we will just get the ride on board for our city mini and bring the ergo in case DS wanted the stroller. He's a stroller kid and has always loved it so I'm not sure if he'll give it up by this summer. He will be 4.5 so the skateboard may be tempting enough to make it work!

[sandandsea]

Nov 27, 2015 15:19:22 GMT -5 lakecountrygal said:

If you plan on nursing add nursing tank tops and washable pads! They will be a huge help and it saves you some money after baby arrives.

I actually never had to use pads and preferred non nursing tanks as I couldn't find any nursing tanks I loved. I eventually figured out it was easier for me with a regular bra and tank.

[txmommy14]

I never used my nursing tanks, either. I did use the washable pads some, but the leaking only lasted a few days or a week.

Any of you with the Chicco Keyfit 30 know what you're doing for a double stroller?

[sandandsea]

The rubber bibs are great once they get to the food stage. Just wash it off in the sink and let it air dry.
We also like the boon bowl and plate with the spill tray and suction cups to the table. DS still uses the bowl for cereal.

And the reusable pouches are great for things like applesauce and yogurt or smoothies.

[csat]

Some really great lists and suggestions so far!

Our must haves:

- Fischer Price Playtime bouncer
- Skip Hop Treetop activity mat
- K'tan carrier
- Becco Gemini carrier
- Ergo Sport (DS was a carrier happy baby which is why we eventually had 3)
- Aden & Anais swaddles
- Halo sleepsacks
- Old school cloth diapers for spit ups, all around baby clean up uses
- Basic long sleeve and short sleeve onesies
- Backseat mirror to see rear facing baby in the car
- Video monitor
- Boppy
- Chicco Keyfit bucket seat
- Ikea Gulliver crib - Modern style, good full sized crib for smaller spaces, lasted 2.5 years including taking side off for toddler bed (could have lasted longer really). And at $99, can't go wrong.
- Bumbleride indie stroller - this was our one big splurge and if you think you will use your stroller a lot it's worth every penny. Ultra smooth ride, one and off road, narrower than a BOB and I know a 'friend' who fit a whole case of wine in the undercarriage storage. You can get an attachment for an infant carseat which we might do this time as well as add a riding board for DS.

What we didn't end up using as much or at all:

- Swing - DS hated it, hopefully baby 2 will use it
- Cloth bibs, not a big drooler and plastic ones much easier once he started solids
- Baby bath tub
- Any infant clothes other than onesies, soft pants and jammie style
- Bumbo seat
- Changing table

[manybellsdown]

Second/third/fourth the Rock and Play, Arms Reach Mini Cosleeper, Aden and Anais swaddles (great as light blankets, burp clothes, everything when you're done swaddling), Nose Freida. Check out the Beco Gemini carrier--it has three different ways to carry (front, BACK, and hip). Get one of those mat things with arches over it for tummy time.

I also second Lucie's List. It may seem overwhelming, but it's so so helpful in the end.

Edit for typo and to add that you can totally skip the bumbo.

[csat]

txmommy14, I loved the K'tan, DS and I practically lived in it from months 0-4. My advice is to try a size smaller than you might think you need, hold on to the receipt and packaging until baby is here to make sure you have the right size.

[babyzebra]

Nov 27, 2015 15:19:06 GMT -5 sandandsea said:

For a double stroller my friend loved the city mini double. She bought the city select first and hated it. I think we will just get the ride on board for our city mini and bring the ergo in case DS wanted the stroller. He's a stroller kid and has always loved it so I'm not sure if he'll give it up by this summer. He will be 4.5 so the skateboard may be tempting enough to make it work!

That's good to hear your friend liked the city mini double. I *think* that's the one we'll end up getting since it will work with the Chico key fit 30 car seat (with a $110 adapter of course).

[txmommy14]

I also agree that I didn't use an actual changing table-I put a changing pad on his dresser and it worked out great. I also loved the NoseFrieda-it sounds gross, but trust me, get it.

[thisismyforumname]

txmommy14, I didn't like my K'tan. I would second what pp said, though. Make sure you keep the receipts and try it out so you can be sure you have the right size. Even though I wore (and still wear) a medium in clothing, the medium K'tan was so snug on me I felt like I was squashing my baby. We rarely used it. I'm thinking of attempting the moby this time. We love our Ergo, though, and still use it with DD (2yo).

I followed Lucie's list for our registry the first time around, and that helped a lot. I second pp who mentioned My Brest Friend is far superior to the boppy for nursing. I was so put off by the stupid name of the product that I refused to buy it, but when I tried it at my lactation consultant's office I was in heaven. Our must haves were: the rock n play, our britax b-agile stroller (which was recalled . . . but we got the repair kit), and aden and anais swaddle blankets.

I would also caution against registering for bottles and diapers. DD didn't like the bottles we chose originally and it took me a few tries to find ones she would take. As for diapers, they all fit a little differently and some may irritate your baby's skin.

[vivela]

This is awesome ladies, thanks! Anyone have a diaper disposal they particularly like? A lot of them on Amazon have mediocre reviews and I don't want to get something fancy if it really doesn't work that well in the long run.