If you've read my previous posts regarding all things pregnancy related then you know I'm just a FTM trying to figure it all out, so my hope is that this post helps another FTM, or at least provides some insight if you're working on your own baby registry. 😊
As a first time parent, it can be insanely overwhelming when you dive into the world of baby products. So many retailers (and people) will tell you what they think you need, or what you should register for; so hands down please know it's okay to register for what YOU want for you and your baby. Don't ever feel pressured to use something just because your sister's best friend used it and she looved it. What works for some people, may not work for you and vice versa.
In our case, we decided we wanted to take a somewhat minimalist approach to our registry because A) we live in a smaller home, and B) if you aren't careful you can easily register for waaaaay too much and won't end up getting the true essentials. That being said, our registry still had several items on it - 96 now to be exact!! <-- a lot of those were requested duplicates so we could stock up on various items (example: 5 tubs of baby lotion, 3 jars of nipple cream, 3 packs of breastmilk storage bags, etc).
So you're probably reading this going okay okay, just give us the goods already!! I've categorized the items and linked to the products, so without further ado, let's jump in!!
FEEDING - Honestly, anything related to feeding will really be based on YOUR preferences. We are planning to breastfeed (Lord-willing) so I wanted to stock up on supplies for that. (You'll notice I did not have an electric breast pump listed here and that's because my insurance paid for mine so I didn't need to register for it.)
With regards to breastfeeding itself, I registered for Burp Cloths (specifically these, these, and these) and LOTS of them as my closest friends said some days you can go through several, a Boppy Nursing Pillow (with waterproof cover and a patterned cover), a Nursing Cover that duals as a carseat cover, and the NatureBond Silicone Manual Pump to catch let down (don't want to waste any of that precious liquid gold LOL).
I do plan to pump a bit to help build up a storage of milk for when the Grandparents babysit for us, or for those times when Hubby really wants to bond with baby and feed her a bottle. So to prepare for that area of feeding I registered for Lansinoh Breastmilk Storage Bags (x3 because I wanted to stock up), NUK Simply Natural Bottles (both a 3 pack of 5 oz and a 3 pack of 9 oz), the Kiinde Kozii Bottle and Breastmilk Warmer (as it's made specifically to safely warm breastmilk), a Bottle Cleaning Brush, a Bottle Drying Rack, and Dapple Baby Bottle and Dish Liquid Soap.
Finally, a tip from some of my other momma friends was to also register for a few feeding items you'd need once baby is a few months older and ready to start learning some new skills. So we registered for the Fisher-Price SpaceSaver High Chair because it literally saves sooo much space in the dining room, the NUK Learner Cup, and of course Bandana Drool Bibs because they're so much cuter than the old school bibs.
DIAPERING - This all depends on whether you choose to use disposable diapers or cloth diapers, and as you can tell, we opted for disposable. So first and foremost we chose the Munchkin Diaper Pail for our nursery and also registered for refills (x2) and scent discs (x2). Though you don't necessarily need a diaper pail this was something we decided we'd like to use. You'll also likely want a Changing Pad and a few extra Changing Pad Covers (we registered for this and this). We did choose to register for Amazon Elements Baby Wipes (x2), along with a variety of ointments for diaper rash - Boudreaux's Butt Paste (x2) and A+D Ointment or Aquaphor (x3). Last but not least, don't forget about your Diaper Bag!! We LOVE ours!
BATHING / SKIN CARE - We have opted to skip a few of the more popular brands for baby skin care simply due to our own preference, however, should you wish to do your own research on various brands, products, or the ingredients then I would highly recommend you visit EWG's database. That being said, the basics for us includes: a Bath Tub, a Hooded Bath Towel, Bamboo Baby Washcloths, and Shea Butter (x5). For the first little bit we plan to only use water when bathing our sweet girl, so we opted to use Norwex Baby Washcloths (antimicrobial and antibacterial), and once we're ready to use some baby soap, we've opted for Earth Mama Calming Baby Soap (x2). Last but not least, don't forget to stock up on some Badger Baby Sunscreen (x2).
BEDDING - This one is pretty simple these days, thanks to the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations for safe sleep (skip the bulky crib bumpers and quilts, baby just needs a flat surface free of extra blankets or stuffed animals). We already had a crib, purchased our own mattress, and my talented mother made a crib skirt for us that matched our theme, so we didn't need a whole lot in this area. We opted for Waterproof Crib Mattress Protectors (x2 so you have an extra clean one to throw on for those middle of the night diaper explosions) and four Crib Sheets (we registered for this, this, this, and this). We also registered for a Graco Pack 'n Play to use as a bassinet during the first few months (as well as while traveling). Last but not least we registered for a pack of the Halo Sleepsacks (x2) as they come highly recommended to help soothe baby for a restful sleep.
NURSERY - We opted to purchase several of the larger items needed for the nursery ourselves (rug, dresser, curtains, bookshelf, etc), BUT we did put our Rocking Chair (this one is SO comfortable!!) on the registry with the intent of using our 15% off discount and buying it ourselves. Low and behold, someone bought it FOR us for Christmas, so if there are larger items you want but maybe can't afford right away, then perhaps put them on your registry as well. You never know who might purchase those for you. Other items we registered for in this category included a Hamper, a Cool Mist Humidifier with Replacement Filters, some Baby Hangers (did you know baby clothes don't fit on regular hangers?!), and some Dresser Organizer Drawer Dividers.
SAFETY / HEALTH CARE - We chose this Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor for our own reasons, so please make sure to do your research on which one will best fit your home and lifestyle. Additional items we wanted to stock up on in this department included: Philips AVENT Soothie Pacifiers (x2), a Forehead Thermometer, some Gas Relief Drops, Infants Tylenol, and an Amber Teething Necklace. We wanted to make sure we were prepared with some of the basics should a need arise.
GEAR - This category might not seem as fun initially, but we enjoyed looking at all the options and choosing what would fit our home and lifestyle best. First things first, you should absolutely register for a carseat / stroller combo (these are known as travel systems). We registered for the Graco Modes Jogger Travel System (comes with one carseat, one base, and one jogger stroller) due to it's good reviews for runners, and of course registered for one Extra Car Seat Base so we can keep a base in both of our vehicles. You'll also likely want a set of Car Baby Mirrors (x2), and depending on your vehicle, potentially some Car Window Visors. Other "gear" we chose included the MamaRoo (due to space saving size and functions), an Activity Play Mat (for tummy time), a Bouncer / Saucer, and a Tula Carrier.
FOR MOM / POSTPARTUM - I think a lot of us FTMs forget about these items when registering, but trust me when I say you'll want these on your registry LOL!! For postpartum care in general, I opted for Depends Fit-Flex Disposable Underwear and TUCKS Medicated Cooling Pads. I'll likely have to pick up some other items as needed, but I feel better having these ready to go! Other things you're going to need, and items I registered for included: a pack of Nursing Bras, some Nursing Tanks, Lansinoh Soothies Gel Pads, Lansinoh Disposable Nursing Pads (x3), and some Earth Mama Angel Baby Organic Nipple Butter (x3).
FUN MISC: - It's always fun to include some extra little items on your registry so we opted for a few Floral Swaddles (this one and this one), a Pack of Headbands, a Baby Daily Log Book, and of course the What to Expect the First Year book.
Items we chose not to register for - You likely noticed there were several typical baby items that we didn't register for so I figured I'd hit those real quick and explain why. We didn't register for a crib because we got a hand-me-down from my SIL and it was exactly the type and color we were looking for. We also didn't register for nursery decor as we chose to purchase that ourselves, BUT if you're working on a registry, I would strongly encourage you to consider adding some of the big ticket items to your registry (rug, crib, dresser, curtains, etc) as you just never know if someone might purchase those for you. You probably also noticed we didn't register for diapers and that was due to two factors: 1) there's a killer diaper fundraiser in our hometown so we stocked up on those way in advance for around $2 per pack (score!), and 2) we hosted a "Diaper Bash" for my husband and his friends to fill in any gaps (more on that in my next post). Lastly, we also didn't register for clothes, simply because people will give you clothes regardless AND because a friend of mine has twin girls just about a year older than what ours will be, so I was able to purchase tons of great quality hand-me-downs from her.
I hope you have just as much fun curating your Baby Registry as I did with ours! As always, do your own research and choose products and brands that YOU feel comfortable with. Happy researching!!
0 comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.