I am starting the process of baby registries and it’s more than a little overwhelming. Way worse than registering for a wedding. I mean, seriously, this is what I see when I walk into Buy Buy Baby or Babies R Us:
a WALL of pacifiers? Why are there so many choices? Which ones do I get? Here are my questions and I need you all to weigh in:
1. Convertible car seat or infant car seat? Which is your favorite? Is it worth it to spend the extra money to get the infant car seat so that you have the carrier or is it not that big of a deal?
2. Has anyone used cloth diapers? What’s your favorite brand? Do I need to use disposables for newborns? I’ve heard they don’t fit well when they are very small. How much laundry did you do?
3. What is your one favorite product that you couldn’t live without?
4. What is something that you thought you needed that you really never used?
5. What the crap is a bunting and a splat mat? (these are on the “registry checklist”")
I know, I know. I promised that I would have something interesting to post today. Does it count if it’s only interesting to me? I am going to post a delicious Slow-Cooker Lasagna recipe tomorrow!
I think you should register for lots of cute clothes and toys because no one will buy you that kind of stuff. :P
ReplyDeleteSorry I'm no help. The babies are a foreign language to me!
The two things I was told that new moms can't live without were the Nap Nanny and Fisher Price Rock and Play. Since my baby hasn't decided to come yet, I don't have my opinion on these two yet. Hope this helps a little.
ReplyDeleteyou don't need toys- seriously. maybe one.
ReplyDeleteand what i couldn't live without was the mirror for the car that allowed me to see my baby when he/she was rear facing. that was the best! i also couldn't live without that booby cream- was it lanolin or something? that natural stuff that kelps keep your nipples from getting chapped. lovely i know, but you need it if you breast feed!
Loved out convertible car seat. Very safe. Easy to move between vehicles. Never had to worry about baby readjusting to a new seat. Only negative was that it didn't fit in a compact car while rear facing (no problem fitting in the small SUV)
ReplyDeleteLove Fuzzibunz cloth diapers. Never had to deal with diaper rash. Have used them since my daughter was 1 week old ( had to wait for her umbilical cord to fall off). Have 15 diapers and wash them every morning. Highly recommend getting a diaper sprayer to hook up to the toilet tank if using cloth diapers.
My cousin recommended to book Baby Bargains to me and I found it very helpful!
Oh my gosh, we find out the sex of our baby next week, and then we will actually have to deal with this. The other day I read this post http://www.naptimetales.com/2012/04/must-have-baby-registry-items.html, and it made me way overwhelmed.
ReplyDeleteThe point is good luck with that, I'm terrified. :)
Aden + Anais baby swaddlers, Fisher Price Rock n'Play (we used our bassinet once and decided this was way better) and an entertaining bouncy seat so you can take in the bathroom and get a shower :) If you are going to use bottles, Dr. Browns are great. I would definitely get a infant car seat that you can carry so you can do things like grocery shopping and go out to eat and if they fall asleep in the car, you can just bring it inside and leave them sleeping. Until they are sitting up, it would be hard to not have anywhere to put them when you are out doing things. Also, get a lot of bibs...it will save you on having to change clothes after every spit up and therefore less laundry!! As far as toys go, you won't need a lot for a baby but it is nice to have an activity mat (especially for tummy time) and a couple of those car seat toys that you can clip on the handle so they have something to look at in the car (as long as the car seat you use says it is safe to ride with the handle locked in the up position). It feels so overwhelming at first, but when the baby gets here, it will let you know what it likes and doesn't like!
ReplyDeleteGet the seat with the removable carrier. That way if he's snoozing when you arrive at your destination, you just click it out without waking him. Also get a mirror for the headrest so you can peek back there and make sure he's breathing. (I'm a way paranoid mom) And he will grow MUCH faster than anticipated, so spread out the clothing and diaper sizes. I really liked the Bumboo chair - used it a lot!
ReplyDeleteWe chose the Graco snug n ride travel system for ellery and it was perfect. I didnt use cloth diapers, something about smushy poop in my washing machine grossed me out. From a professional stand point, if u do use cloth diapers wash them seperatly and do a cold bleach cycle after. We used pampers and ellery has never had a diaper rash and we havent had problems with potty training. I totally agree with the car mirror as an essential also a bouncy seat. I couldnt like with out my Moby carrier. Get the expensive breast pump, its worth it!!!! Soothie is the pacifier my pediatrician recommended, ellery had no confusion with latching. Dr Brown bottles have soooo many parts it was killer on the dish washing, Nuk or Avent are jist as good. I never used the boppy pillow when nursing it wasnt convenient or comfortable for us. Bibs qith water proofing on the back are essential otherwise theor collar and front gets soaked and ur chaging clothes ten times a day. Lastly dont bother registering for clothes ppl will buy u whatever looks cute to them, regardless of your registery. If u have any other questions let me know! Miss u guys ;)
ReplyDeleteIt's been years since I had my kiddos and things were a lot different back then (way back then). We didn't have the variety that is out there now. I remember only having a small selection of pacifiers to choose from and I did use cloth diapers when Curity diapers were popular. Do they even make cloth diapers anymore? HAH We didn't have car seats back when my kids were little (shock and dismay) so I didn't have to worry about a car seat. So many things have changed since then...it blows my mind!!
ReplyDeleteKevin and I are going to try cloth diapers. The "easy" way to try it at first is to use a service. We found one with home delivery. http://www.diaperdutysc.com/ We figured that we could try it without the investment in a plethora of diapers. But we were also thinking that we would use disposables for extended naps and overnight to avoid diaper rash. I'm sure there are other services, but we heard that one was pretty good.
ReplyDelete1. Infant car seat. You need to be able to carry them in from the car while they're still sleeping. TRUST ME. I have Graco Snugride 35. It is not worth it spend the extra for the Snugride 35. Get the Snugride 32. Pair it with the Graco snap-n-go stroller. It is lightweight and easy and you will never ever wish you'd bought a full travel system.
ReplyDelete2. We do cloth diapers exclusively, even traveling. No matter what, you will need disposables for the first week or two. You will need a special newborn size for the first 5 or 6 weeks. We like Fuzzibunz sized pocket diapers after that. We buy them used (it's not gross, promise) from diaperswappers.com, then resell them when we're done. By buying and reselling like this, we spent exactly $7 to diaper weston for his whole first 6 weeks. I could write a whole post on cloth diapering. :)
3. If you'll be working after you have the baby, a good breast pump. I have the medela handsfree, and the handsfree option is CRITICAL. But only if you'll be working.
4. I'll think of something right after I finish submitting this comment. :)
5. I have no idea. You don't need them.
Woah! I'm nowhere near having a baby and this makes me a whole lot less likely to want to start soon! Hahaha!
ReplyDelete1. We used infant carrier and Convertible car seat with Miriam and doing the same with Lydia...ours started off too small to initially go into a convertible anyway, but otherwise, the carrier makes it SO MUCH EASIER to go in and out without having to get baby in and out of a seat (forget the fact that half the time they'll be asleep anyway...). In other words, you won't be wasting money by going both routes.
ReplyDelete2. I have no desire to use cloth diapers, and have found that the target and walmart brand diapers work well for my babes (after size 1 - Pampers Swaddlers all of the way!). Be advised that some day cares/nurseries/preschools/and even churches have a policy AGAINST them, so you'll have to have some disposables around anyway.
3. BREAST PUMP (obviously, if you'll be nursing - I got the Medela Pump In Style double electric and WORTH EVERY PENNY plus some!). Even if you stay at home (like I do now), you'll want to have a way to get that stuff out for your occasional outing without baby. But if you don't plan to nurse, Johnson and Johnson face/hand wipes - I could take stock in those!
4.While I love the thought behind those disposable changing pads and air freshener bags for poppy diapers, I'd rather spend money on better paper towels and cute plastic cups to drink out of at parties. No worth it in my opinion - and we were/are ALWAYS on the go and changing diapers in funky places and in the car.
5. Ha - I seriously don't know what a bunting or a splat mat is...if that's the case, you may not need them (unless they are for boys....)
What an exciting time in your life that you are considering what to baby register for!!!
ReplyDeleteMy kids are 14, 12 and 10 so I don't know brands anymore, but this I know: people will tell you that you NEED this or that, but there is very little you actually NEED when the babe is tiny. We had the swing, bouncy seat, pack & play, crib, basinette, changing table, floor mat, wipe warmer, Diaper Genie, everything all set to go when our first came home and it was so hilarious…..He spent 90% of his time sleeping on one of us :)
However you totally need and can't live without the car seat that is a carrier, and that coordinates with your stroller!!! (After 3 kids our motto is never wake a sleeping baby.)
We were also big fans of the vibrating bouncy seat but not every baby loves that. Oh and the Baby Bjorn baby carrier - absolutely priceless for that fussy time of day!
That's my two cents - have fun - so excited for you Maury!!!!
By "people" I don't mean the commenters on this post - they are all spot on!
ReplyDeleteThe book "Happiest Baby on the Block" helped us know what our girl needed to go to sleep. Already mention swaddler, if you can't wrap the baby in a receiving blanket yourself. I never had this ability but the hubs did, so the swaddler was awesome. If you plan to breast feed or thinking of doing this, you need a mommy bib to cover you and baby while away from home (and start noticing Nursing rooms at places you visit most.
ReplyDeleteThe first real "toy" we discovered we needed and hadn't received as a gift were bath toys. It won't be long that you'll need that toy they only get while bathing to get the bathing done.
Catching up on blogs and looks like I missed a big announcement! Congratulations :)
ReplyDeleteThis is a GREAT idea and now a great resource! Wish I had thought of it before my BabiesRUs-registry-meltdown. It's so overwhelming, and I just ended up registering for five things and commenting at the bottom of the registry "I have no idea what to register for; hopefully, you know what I need better than I do" before walking out. I'm serious. :)
ReplyDeleteYou don't need at least 80% of what's in the baby store (but boy is it fun). The book Baby Bargains helped me too (Consumer Reports for the baby world).
I think the infant-carrier car seat is a must. I got a Snap-N-Go stroller frame for the carrier . . . MUCH easier to set up and maneuver than the combo system stroller. My advice . . . test the strollers with your mom IN the store before deciding! Think taking them in-and-out of your trunk and putting baby in-and-out.
As far as the poop in cloth diapers . . . flush it down the toilet (don't put it in the wash if you don't have to). I liked washing them in Borax. For disposables (and I was a diaper/wet-wipe "snob") Costco's Kirkland brand for both diapers and wipes is the best (and that's not even factoring in that it's the cheapest). For newborns, get Pampers Newborn.
What I couldn't live without:
2-3 good swaddling blankets (Carter's aren't big enough, so go online or boutique for these-it's worth the extra $$),
2-3 kimono shirts for those first few weeks,
2 elastic bottomed gowns for that first month (even for boys),
Johnson's pink baby lotion (it still makes me happy),
AND forget a baby bath tub (they 'll just make you CRAZY - trust me). Instead, place a bath sponge in the kitchen sink then, as they grow, the bath tub . . . fill with enough water to soak the sponge . . . bathe baby . . . rinse out sponge. Boom. Done. Baby is happier on the pseudo-bath-pillow, and hormonally-emotional-Mommy is happier without fighting with that big plastic thing (trust me).
Congratulations! I'm so excited for you!
You have some great questions!
ReplyDelete1. Yes splurge on the infant seat! When that kids falls asleep in the car {and they will often} you will not want to wake them by taking them out when you get to where you are going! I did buy the whole travel system... it is was good for holding all of my bags and such shopping, but I would look and the click in go bases. They take up less room in the car and are mush easier to handle in a store. Also look for an infant seat that has the option to attach to a travel swing. I loved mine and took it with me everywhere!
2. I so wanted to be greener and use cloth, but in the end I stuck with the disposables and just promised to be green somewhere else in my life! I loved pampers for all stages. No other diapers held it all in like these! And weirdly huggies wipes... pampers are too thin!
3. I could not live with out tons of gerber try fold cloth diapers but for burp clothes. The kid will be drooling and spitting up all of the time, thought it is nice to have some pretty burb clothes, in reality they are the most absorbent, least expensive and work the best! I buy them for every shower gift!
4. I bought {and used for a while} the diaper genie. In the end the whole thing ends up stinking {maybe like 6-8 months in} and you are more likely to be changing them somewhere where that thing is not!
5. I have no clue! HA! Two kids and you think I would know the answer to that!
You will figure it out, and if you think you need it buy it and then keep the receipt because all can be returned if not for cash then at least for a store credit. And you will spend it on something you need!!
How exciting!
One moment, I'll post mine soon. just wanted to say I love your new site!
ReplyDeleteTook me time to read all the comments, but I really love the article. It proved to be very helpful to me and I am sure to all the commenters here! It’s always nice when you can not only be informed, but also engaged! I’m sure you had joy writing this article. Toddler Toys