When I was pregnant with Baby C, I had no idea what to register for. While I wouldn't exactly classify myself as a minimalist, I didn't want more than I needed and I didn't want a lot of stuff. Each baby store will tell you that you need everything and probably at least two of them. Here's my quick and dirty list of what I wish I knew when I was registering:
Feeding Must Haves
*
Pillow - If you choose to or are able to breastfeed, some sort of pillow really helped in the first few months (I have a
Boppy, but I've heard good things about My Brest Friend)
*Pump - Again, if you choose/are able to breastfeed, some sort of pump is really helpful. If possible, try to rent one from the hospital or borrow one (with new accessories of course) from a friend before you register for one. Pumps can be really spendy, and some moms don't take to pumping really well. So then you're out more than a hundred bucks. I was super lucky to have a friend loan me her automatic pump that I used frequently for the first few months. Also, I have a
Medela hand pump and while it takes longer, it's nice to be able to do in bed and it's quiet.
*Bottles - while Baby C gets almost all of her food straight from the source, having a handful of bottles is great for pumped milk or formula. It's tricky because not all babies will take to all bottles so don't stock up on a ton. Another hint: if you're breastfeeding, try to find bottle nipples that match your, eh, shape. I look for bottles that are BPA free, and personally, we could get by with about 3-4 bottles. My suggestions are
lifefactory and
Phillips AVENT.
Feeding Nice-to-Haves
*Nursing cover - if you'll be out and about with your baby, having some sort of privacy might be nice if you're not into putting it all out there. Personally, I just used one of the larger swaddling blankets from Baby C's collection and draped it over my shoulder.
Feeding Take-it-or-Leave-Its
*Bottle warmer - some parents really like having these - personally, if I needed to heat a bottle up, I'd just run it under a warm faucet for a few minutes. (Microwaving bottles zaps a lot of the nutrients in breastmilk/formula)
Bath Time Must Haves
*Hooded towel/washcloth - you could probably get by with one of each, but you really need no more than two or three. Most likely, you'll be doing wash at least evey other day, so if you wash your towels with every load, you'll always have a clean one to use.
*Baby soap/shampoo - I love
Baby Bees and
California Baby - I use the same stuff for myself, so it cuts down on products in our bathroom!
Bath Time Nice-to-Haves
*Baby bathtub - I give Baby C a bath in the sink, but it is nice to have a bathtub you can tote with you so you don't kill your back. Since our bathroom is small and we have very little storage space, I have the
Puj tub I can fold flat and store in a cupboard. It only works until babies are about 16 pounds, so it may not be for everyone, but I really enjoy it.
Playtime Must Haves
*Bumbo seat - Bumbo seats are great! It helps your baby develop neck strength and this is particularly helpful if your little one is not a fan of "tummy time"(since it's recommended that babies are put to sleep on their backs, pediatricians recommend giving babies ample amount of time on their tummies to work on their neck strength). When babies get a little older, it helps them develop the muscles to start sitting on their own. And I also used it in place of a high chair for the first few weeks of solid food feeding.
*Books - it seems silly to read to a 2 week old baby, but babies can get a head start on learning language development skills just by listening to you talk. One of my showers was a book shower - I loved it and I hope to instill a love of reading and books to Baby C. For young babies, look for books in black and white - it's easiest for them to see contrasting colors.
*Toys - I never thought about registering for toys, but I'm so glad my good friend gave me some at my shower. Look for toys that are age appropriate, and do a little bit of research before handing over any toy to your baby. There have been many scares the past few years about toys made with lead based paint, particularly toys made in China. Since about 25% of items in the US are made in China, know what brands are safe and which ones to avoid. Check out
The Soft Landing to find toys that are safe for baby. Baby C's personal favorite toy is Sophie the Giraffe. It's soft, it squeaks and it's great for teething!
Playtime Nice-to-Haves
*Activity mat - if you have a blanket and some toys of different colors, shapes, textures and sizes, an activity mat isn't necessary, but it is really nice to have. I definitely recommend getting one that's easy to wash (babies are yucky), and one that has toys that are easy to take off so you can pack a few in your diaper bag when you're out and about. I have one from Baby Einstein that's not made any more, but all different brands make activity mats. Find one that you like
*Exersaucer - when babies get a little older and have good head control, many of them will love an Exersaucer. Again, mine from Baby Einstein isn't made any more (scored it on Craig's List for $40 when they retail for above $80!), but many different types are available.
*Jump Ups - these fun contraptions you can hang in a doorway and watch baby go to town jumping and laughing. I don't have one of these, but I have some mommy friends who swear by them.
Bedtime Must Haves
*Multiple sets of fitted sheets/mattress pads - your baby will puke and/or wet through their pajamas. It'll probably be when you have the other set in the wash. I have two fitted sheets and two mattress pads, and there have been occasions (rare, but they happen) where I have no linens left. Start with at least two, but if you have a baby with acid reflux or a heavy wetter, I'd recommend having at least three.
*Swaddling blankets/wearable blankets - having loose bedding in your crib is not recommended until baby is much older. All babies need in their crib is a fitted sheet and a swaddle or wearable blanket. I totally recommend swaddling babies the first few months. It helps them sleep and gives them a sense of security. Once they outgrow their swaddles, put them in a wearable blanket to keep them warm and also give you a sense of security.
Bedtime Nice-to-Haves
*Cosleeper - this was a must have for us, but some people want their babies to sleep in their cribs from Day 1, which is totally fine. Baby C slept in our room until she was about 3 months old. Cosleepers (mine is from
Arm's Reach) come right up to your bed, making night time feedings so much easier. It also gives you peace of mind - you can keep your baby close, but not in your bed with you. Many cultures sleep with baby in bed, but I kept having these horrible feelings that I'd roll over on our tiny newborn (you won't, unless you're on medication, narcoleptic or drunk). Plus, it serves as our travel crib when we go out of town.
*Pacifier - babies have a very powerful sucking reflex. It helps them to relax and go to sleep, especially in the first few months. For Baby C, a pacifier was a must have, but some babies don't like them, or some parents don't want to give them to their babies. Look for BPA free pacifiers. I love
Soothies or
Phillips AVENT.
*White noise machine - if you're looking for something else to put on your registry, a white noise machine can be a great addition. I love our
Sleep Sheep, but you can also use a fan or humidifier for white noise. It helps block out household noise to aid in baby's sleeping.
Bedtime Take it-or-Leave-It
*Crib bumpers - I have beautiful bumpers for my crib. Guess what? As soon as Baby C made the move to her crib, they had to come out because they are a suffocation hazard. Now that she's a bit more mobile and knocking her head into the crib rails, I may put them back in. However, in a few months, the bumpers can turn into baby ladders that they can climb to stage a crib breakout. You can look into breathable bumpers, but I say forget it. It'll make your nursery cuter, but that's a silly reason, especially when they can increase the risk of SIDS.
Travel Must Haves
*Stroller/travel system - I have the
BOB Revolution, and while it's pricey, I think it's worth every penny. It's a jogging stroller and it's sturdy enough to handle terrain off the beaten path. I know friends who have multiple strollers for different things, so the way I figure, I have one stroller that does it all, which probably saves us money or breaks even in the long run. Look for something lightweight, and that you can easily fold up with one hand (you'll most likely be holding baby in the other). See if there are consignment stores in your area that will let you "test drive" a stroller before buying it.
*Car seat - this is probably the most important thing to have, as you can't leave the hospital without having this in your car and properly installed. I have a Graco Snugride (snaps into the BOB with an adaptor you buy separately) and while I don't absolutely love it, it does its job.
*Baby carrier - a baby carrier is great to have your hands free to go on walks, go to the store, or do things around the house. I have a Bjorn and a Moby, and for security reasons, I definitely like the Bjorn better (I feel better when I can snap my baby into something).
Traveling Nice-to-Have
*Mirror - this is to see what your rear-facing baby is up to while you're in the car. I don't have one, but I'm looking into getting one.
Traveling Take-it-or-Leave-It
*Cart covers - obviously, people want to protect their babies from what they can, and who knows where that store cart has been or when it was last washed (if ever). I say kids are going to get sick, regardless of if you have a cart cover. Save your money (or your friends and family's money), wipe down your cart with some sanitizing wipes, and call it good.
Miscellaneous Must Haves
*Swing/bouncy chair - it is great to have something to put your baby in besides a crib. I personally wanted a bouncy chair - it was smaller and more portable than a swing, plus it was less expensive. I loved mine from
Bright Starts.
*Thermometer - I can't give any recommendations because I'm still searching for the perfect one myself, but for very young babies, pediatricians usually recommend taking rectal temperature (it's the most accurate).
*Baby monitor - although Baby C is in the room next door to our bedroom, it's really nice to have a baby monitor. A) I can hear her better than I can through the walls and B) it can travel. I can be in the kitchen preparing dinner, or I can be outside working in the yard, and I can hear her when she wakes up. We have a great one from
Sony with two wireless receivers. One is always fully charged and ready to go and you can take them anywhere without having to worry about an electrical outlet.
Phew - I think that's it!
Moms - was there anything I missed? What did you consider a must have or what was something you wish you didn't register for?
Psst - none of these companies getting a plug have sponsored or paid for my endorsement. I just really love them and wanted to share my recommendations.
