Registering for Baby
This past week my sister Lindsey and her husband Chris found out that they are having a baby GIRL. It was exactly 7 years and 2 days after Scott and I heard the same news during our first ultrasound. Lindsey is due in September and we're all very excited to welcome another girl to the family!
Lindsey asked me awhile back to help her go through what she needs to register for and recommendations I have for different baby items. Now that she's found out her baby's gender she's ready to start registering for little Charlotte! I'm asked often by friends to give my input since I've gotten through three babies and have learned along the way what is necessary and what isn't. So today I thought I'd go through the Babies R Us registry checklist (available here) and give my own 2 cents...for what it's worth :)
Nursery: Furniture:
--Obviously you have to select furniture based on your own space, but I will say that having a dresser, chest AND changing table would be a bit much. Two of the three is plenty, especially if you have a nice closet in the baby's room.
--I would add to this list a bookshelf. Books will quickly collect and you'll need a good place to put them!
--Since today's pack & plays come with a bassinet topper, you do not need a portable crib or bassinet if you are registering for a pack & play. We have a beautiful cradle built by my grandfather that we've used for our girls, but if we didn't have that family heirloom I would not have purchased a bassinet in addition to our pack & play.
--FRUGAL FIND: We bought our crib mattress at Walmart for 50% less than the least expensive one at Babies R Us. Our three babies have all slept great on it! Babies do not need the fluffiest cover on their mattress or the most spring count. It does, however, pay off to have a crib mattress that has a waterproof coating :)
Nursery: Room Decor:
--Most people are decorating their nurseries now with non-traditional decorations. Look outside of baby stores for pictures and decorations that reflect the style of your home and can be used for years beyond the baby stage!
--You absolutely do NOT need 4 to 6 changing table pad covers. Two have been plenty for us! If one gets dirty, I wash it while the other one is on the pad. We also use a 12 x 12 inch waterproof pad on top of the changing table to protect the pad from having to be washed all the time. The little pads are available at BRU near the blankets, sheets, sheet savers, etc.
--I've chosen not to keep a waste basket or hamper (or diaper pail for that matter) in Bristol's room. This forces me to take her dirty clothes straight to the laundry room and to take all garbage and dirty diapers to the main kitchen garbage or straight outside immediately. This is our personal preference, but it does help in keeping her room smelling fresh and clean all the time!
--We haven't used a closet organizer or needed one, and same for a diaper caddy. We put our diapers into a basket. Again, personal preference on this!
Diapers / Formula:
--If you choose to register for diapers and formula, know that babies can be allergic to both and you don't want to stock up on something that you cannot use if that happens. Of all the babies Bristol is "friends" with right now, I don't think there are two who drink the same formula. Many moms have to try several different types before finding the best one for their baby. And as far as diapers go--my own brother and sister were allergic to all brands except for Huggies Supreme. So, just want to give a fair warning :) I personally never registered for these because I was more interested in receiving other items as gifts and we were willing to budget for diapers and formula monthly for our three babies.
Diapers / Formula: Diapering Accessories:
--Save yourself a LOT of grief and don't buy a wipes warmer. They dry out your wipes and every time you are away from home your baby will scream from having cold wipes hitting her bum instead of the warm cloths.
--Register for or buy a nice diaper bag that you are going to be willing to carry for a long time. The first time around I registered for one that matched all of our gear (stroller, carseat, etc.). It was pretty cheesy and needless to say didn't get used after a few months. Instead, I used a beautiful Kate Spade diaper bag from my sister and it is still being used as Scott's diaper bag (yes, he's very style conscious! ha!) My next diaper bag was plain black which I loved because it went with anything I was wearing and my last diaper bag has been even better in that it's black and white, has straps to wear it over your shoulder OR as a backpack, AND it's made of material to easily wipe off. My diaper bag is this one, but it's the black and white version with blue flowers:
--Instead of a small diaper bag, treat yourself to a big purse with a pocket that can be designated for your child. This way, you're not carrying two small bags (in which case you might as well just be carrying your big diaper bag with your wallet thrown inside!). I've had big purses for a few years now and my favorite have been this three-pocket style so that I have plenty of space for kid-gear AND mom-gear :)
(I arranged Bristol's stuff here so that you could see it, but it all fits down in the pocket so when I'm walking around you don't see gear coming out the top.)
--Baby changing mats come w/ diaper bags, so only register for one if you're planning to use a bag that wasn't originally designed as a diaper bag.
--Disposable changing pads? Um, how about save a tree and use a reusable one that you can wipe off with antibacterial spray and a cloth?
--We had a diaper pail for Jaden, used it at the beginning with Sienna, and it has stayed in the basement ever since. It's nice in theory, but you're better off throwing dirty diapers away wrapped up in a plastic grocery bag if they're extra stinky. Would you want a pail holding all of your pee and poo from the past few days sitting in your room? Then why would your baby?
Safety:
--Most safety gear can be purchased later on as your child becomes mobile and you see exactly what you need. If you're anticipating that you'll surely need something specific, it doesn't hurt to register now though. Register for at least one gate. We have and use 2 removable gates and 3 swing gates on our staircase since it's a fully open staircase from 2nd floor to basement.
--Travel mirror? Never had one; somewhat silly it seems. If you're watching your baby in the travel mirror, are you watching the road? Protect your baby by not buying a travel mirror and by being a careful driver instead!
--Now, a baby monitor is something very important (I think) and nowadays there are a lot of options. Personally, we use this audio monitor and LOVE it. With the option to only turn on when baby makes a sound, we don't have to hear static or air all night long while we're trying to get our precious sleep. We have never used a video monitor or movement monitor and we've all survived just fine. It might be a fun perk to have one that had video and movement monitoring, but they are costly.
Baby Gear: Carseats:
--I highly recommend using a portable infant carseat (carrier) with a base that stays in your car. Convertible carseats will hold babies from 5 pounds on up, but you need to think about what you're going to do when you arrive at a grocery store and then have to carry your baby while you shop because you don't have a carrier for her. I guess you could put her into one of the grocery carts with an infant seat attached, but can you imagine the germs on those things??!! Or, what will you do with baby when she falls asleep in the car and you have to get her inside? Having an infant carrier seat will help her to stay asleep and you can just set the carrier in a quiet room for her to keep snoozin.
--Buy two bases. That way you have an extra for Dad's or Grandma's car.
--When looking at convertible carseats, consider the current recommendation for children to be rear-facing until age 2. Some carseats for toddlers are NOT convertible even if they look like they are. Make sure yours says that it can be rear OR forward facing!!
--Don't register for a booster. Do you really need that thing sitting around for 4+ years? In that many years there could be valuable safety upgrades made to the boosters and yours will just go to waste.
(I cannot say enough about the Chicco carseats; while heavy, they are solid and durable. Ours still looks new after a full year of use!)
Baby Gear: Car Seat Cushioning:
--Double and triple check what is included with your infant seat. We didn't need any of these accessories since they were all included in our seat.
Baby Gear: Car Seat Accessories:
--Depending on when you are due, I'd advise to register for a car seat cover or bunting (I think that's what BRU means by "weather boot?") so that your baby does not have to wear a coat while in the infant carrier. Babies get SO overheated in their seats and you aren't going to want to jostle the kid around to remove and then put back on their coat.
--Carseat levelers are unnecessary unless you end up with a problem installing your seat (our seats have been in many different types of cars and have always been perfectly level). Cup holders are unnecessary for infant seats and usually accompany convertible seats for toddlers. Finally, I don't know of an infant seat that doesn't come w/ a sunshade.
--Carseat undermats aren't a bad idea and we have one! They protect your car's seats from all of the crumbs and drips of drinks that slip out somehow. They are more useful during the toddler stage since infants aren't going to be eating on the go!
Baby Gear: Strollers:
--If you purchase or register for a travel system, PLEASE NOTE THAT IT INCLUDES AN INFANT CARSEAT AND BASE!!! You have no idea how many registries I've seen that include both a travel system AND an infant carseat w/ base.
--Over the years we've had all of the types of strollers mentioned. They are ALL useful for different situations. Especially if you're planning to have multiple children, I would register for all types mentioned (except for double until you're having your 2nd child).
Baby Gear: Stroller Accessories:
--All are unnecessary to an extent. If you purchase a jog stroller such as a BOB (love my BOB!) you will need a cup holder. If your purchase an umbrella stroller (lightweight stroller) that does not have a basket, you may prefer to have a net bag for the back of it to keep necessities in. Use your own discretion based on which stroller(s) you register for.
--One accessory that is a MUST HAVE: a Mommy Hook. BEST.$6.EVER! You can hang anything on it from your diaper bag to purse to camera bag to shopping bags. You might even want to register for 2--they're that fantastic.
Baby Gear: Entertainers / Swings:
--If you buy a full-size swing, get one that sways both back and forth AND side to side. Babies love both options and the side to side has been a favorite for all babies that have come into this house (mine & friends' babies). An alternative to bouncy seats and swings is this: http://www.4moms.com/
--A travel swing is GREAT if you do indeed travel much. Ours has made the trip to my mom's and to the lakehoues (and even on the boat last summer!) many times. It is also a great option for grandparents to keep at their homes. They fold up easily and can be stored fairly flat to fit under a bed.
--Jumperoos and Exersaucer entertainers are both great. We've had and used both, but if I had to choose just one I'd pick an exersaucer. They are much more entertaining for babies and have been helping moms to get dinner made and to shower daily for years :)
--Mobile Walkers are a thing of the past; buy a push toy for baby when she's ready to start getting around.
Baby Gear: Play Yards:
--Also known as a pack & play--it's a necessity. We've traveled with ours, have used it as a play pen a hand full of times to keep baby contained and used it for Bristol to sleep in our room once she was too big for the cradle. A couple of sheets are a good idea to have, but netting? Um, not unless you have a bug problem! Okay or maybe a cat. In other words, we don't have netting and have never needed it.
Baby Gear: High Chairs:
--We have both a high chair and several booster seats; they each have their place and purpose. A booster should have a seat belt if you plan to use it while your toddler is still young.
--A splat mat is silly--you're going to have to wipe it off anyway, so why not wipe off the floor?
--High Chair covers and such are a perk, but not necessary. I gave up on the cover that came with our high chair long ago since it seemed to need a washing after every meal. Bristol sits right on the vinyl seat pad which wipes off easily after each feeding.
Baby Gear: Carriers:
--Think about whether you're going to use these and what would be most comfortable for your body. Scott has a backpack which he's used a few times and it's so cute to see the girls in there. I have LOVED my moby wrap and baby bjorn. If you do get a front pack (baby bjorn style), it's DEFINITELY worth the extra money for a high-end one. We first had a $20 front pack, but there was such a small amount of padding that it literally hurt my shoulders and back to carry a tiny infant in it. For $50 or more you'll get much more comfort!
Toys / Gifts & Clothing:
--I always recommend not registering for any of these items unless there's something you absolutely MUST have. Friends and family love to pick out a toy to go along with their gift, so no worries as your baby will still have more than enough toys!
--The only toy I would register for would be a play mat like this one: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2402051 They are ridiculously overpriced, but babies get a lot of use out of them, especially in the early months before they start looking at other toys. If you don't register for one, look for one second-hand!
--The best baby books are available at book stores, not at BRU or other baby stores.
--As far as clothing goes, people LOVE to pick out their own things for your baby. If you must register for something, register for some basics like socks and onesies and maybe some sleepers. Beyond that, it's frustrating for shoppers to try to hunt down the exact shirt in the exact size that you want, so they avoid buying clothes that you register for. Once again though, don't worry because baby will have lots of clothing gifts! People can't resist buying tiny clothes.
--I'm a HUGE fan of the wearable blankets. Definitely register for those. They're also known as sleep sacks. It's the safe way for your baby to have a blanket in bed when under a year old :)
Infant Care: Nursing / Feeding:
--If you are nursing or planning to nurse, all of the supplies under this section are necessary to have on hand. Since I had a terrible time nursing, I did not take tags off of items or take them out of their boxes until I was going to use them and with all but Bristol, I was able to return a few items to exchange for bottle supplies.
--5 oz. bottles or smaller are a waste of money. Don't register for anything but the larger size. You can put 1 oz or 10 oz into a larger bottle, whereas once your baby drinks more than 5 oz, the small bottles are just a space waster.
--A bottle sterilizer, bottle brush and bottle drying rack are only necessary if you're planning to hand wash your bottles. If using a dishwasher, save your time and others' money by not registering for these things. (Dishwashers work GREAT for bottles and sterilize with their high heat!)
--You only need 1-2 pacifier holders, not one per paci as the BRU list suggests. When a pacifier is dirty, just pop it out of the holder to wash and put a new one on the holder.
--Disposable bibs are unnecessary, although I'll admit using them 6 years ago with Jaden when she first started solids. Save a tree and get plastic bibs for mealtime which can be rinsed off and hung to dry between meals. We had spitty babies (they spit up and drooled a lot), so we had at least 20 cloth bibs and I would highly recommend the tommy tippee bibs with the neck roll which collects fluid (milk, spit-up) that goes towards their neck. They are my favorite bibs of all time!!
--You'll receive a free insulated tote during your hospital stay along with a free diaper bag from one of the formula companies. So no need to register for one of those.
--One final note on pacifiers and bottles--beware that what you select and what your baby likes might end up being two different things. My babies weren't too particular on bottles, but I've heard that breast-fed babies can be extremely particular. My girls were much more picky about their pacifiers, so fortunately I didn't receive many as gifts and was able to try out a few brands until we found what worked best. It's a good idea to skip washing every single piece before you have your baby and only one or two until you see what they like. Just...in...case...
Infant Care: Baby Care & Grooming:
--Absolutely buy or register for everything in this category. And while I'm on this topic, MAKE SURE YOU TAKE THE NASAL ASPIRATOR FROM THE HOSPITAL!! You will never find one as good as the ones at the hospital (trust me!) and they will throw yours in the garbage if you don't take it.
--Also buy an emery board for your baby since their nails are so sensitive at first and an emery board will help to keep the nails dull and short until you can safely cut them.
Infant Care: Bath:
--Fisher Price makes the very best bath tubs, hands down. Theirs have a sling so that when they aren't able to be submerged in water (until the umbilical cord falls off) you can lie the baby in the sling and give a sponge bath.
--Infant bath robes are adorable, yet impractical since they rarely will get used.
--Consider asking for hooded bath towels from http://www.3marthas.com/ or registering for regular adult bath towels if you're registering somewhere like Target. The standard hooded baby towels are SO thin and can barely soak up any water, let alone warm baby up after a bath. We received a towel from 3 Martha's as a gift and I love it so much I would wash and reuse it for almost every bath during Bristol's first year. It's big enough too that she still uses it often and will be able to for at least another year.
Infant Care: Toiletries:
--Register for several bottles of each of the items listed, but leave off alcohol swabs because as you'll learn in the hospital after delivery, alcohol is no longer recommended for putting onto the umbilical cord. Also one bottle of baby oil will be more than you'll use, probably.
--It's also a good idea to register for a product that treats cradle cap. Most babies have a little cradle cap at some point during the first year and the products made to clear it up work beautifully!
Infant Care: Cleaning Products:
--You probably already have most of these items, so no need to register for them. Have a few extra bottles of hand sanitizer around when baby is new for guests to use. Keep it out of reach of your baby and small children though as it's basically straight alcohol.
--We've always used All FREE and Downy FREE & CLEAR for our entire family's laundry. Dreft, a baby detergent, is the identical product for 3x the cost. Skip it and save $$!
Well, that's it from the BRU registry recommendations list. If you print out the list from the link above, you can easily follow the list along with this post. I've tried to share my favorite products throughout these recommendations, but if you want to ask about any certain products, I'm happy to help. Even though my youngest is now officially a toddler, Babies R Us still is fascinating to me every time I walk through their doors. The baby products keep getting better and better, and of course the prices keep rising too. It's still such a fun store though--maybe because all of the items are for new lives coming into the world and everything about babies is exciting!
If there are items that you don't receive from your registry as gifts, specifically large items, don't ever buy them for full price. BRU sends out and hands out 20% coupons ALL.THE.TIME. They also run specials and sales constantly, so if there is something you can live without for awhile, check the sales ads often and buy the item(s) when on sale. I'm sure the same is true for other baby stores, but since BRU is the main store around here for registering at, they are my best example.
Happy registering new Mamas and Papas! Have fun dreaming about all of the great days ahead using all of the gear while you scan that gun over each and every bar code :)
Lindsey asked me awhile back to help her go through what she needs to register for and recommendations I have for different baby items. Now that she's found out her baby's gender she's ready to start registering for little Charlotte! I'm asked often by friends to give my input since I've gotten through three babies and have learned along the way what is necessary and what isn't. So today I thought I'd go through the Babies R Us registry checklist (available here) and give my own 2 cents...for what it's worth :)
Nursery: Furniture:
--Obviously you have to select furniture based on your own space, but I will say that having a dresser, chest AND changing table would be a bit much. Two of the three is plenty, especially if you have a nice closet in the baby's room.
--I would add to this list a bookshelf. Books will quickly collect and you'll need a good place to put them!
--Since today's pack & plays come with a bassinet topper, you do not need a portable crib or bassinet if you are registering for a pack & play. We have a beautiful cradle built by my grandfather that we've used for our girls, but if we didn't have that family heirloom I would not have purchased a bassinet in addition to our pack & play.
--FRUGAL FIND: We bought our crib mattress at Walmart for 50% less than the least expensive one at Babies R Us. Our three babies have all slept great on it! Babies do not need the fluffiest cover on their mattress or the most spring count. It does, however, pay off to have a crib mattress that has a waterproof coating :)
Nursery: Room Decor:
--Most people are decorating their nurseries now with non-traditional decorations. Look outside of baby stores for pictures and decorations that reflect the style of your home and can be used for years beyond the baby stage!
--You absolutely do NOT need 4 to 6 changing table pad covers. Two have been plenty for us! If one gets dirty, I wash it while the other one is on the pad. We also use a 12 x 12 inch waterproof pad on top of the changing table to protect the pad from having to be washed all the time. The little pads are available at BRU near the blankets, sheets, sheet savers, etc.
--I've chosen not to keep a waste basket or hamper (or diaper pail for that matter) in Bristol's room. This forces me to take her dirty clothes straight to the laundry room and to take all garbage and dirty diapers to the main kitchen garbage or straight outside immediately. This is our personal preference, but it does help in keeping her room smelling fresh and clean all the time!
--We haven't used a closet organizer or needed one, and same for a diaper caddy. We put our diapers into a basket. Again, personal preference on this!
Diapers / Formula:
--If you choose to register for diapers and formula, know that babies can be allergic to both and you don't want to stock up on something that you cannot use if that happens. Of all the babies Bristol is "friends" with right now, I don't think there are two who drink the same formula. Many moms have to try several different types before finding the best one for their baby. And as far as diapers go--my own brother and sister were allergic to all brands except for Huggies Supreme. So, just want to give a fair warning :) I personally never registered for these because I was more interested in receiving other items as gifts and we were willing to budget for diapers and formula monthly for our three babies.
Diapers / Formula: Diapering Accessories:
--Save yourself a LOT of grief and don't buy a wipes warmer. They dry out your wipes and every time you are away from home your baby will scream from having cold wipes hitting her bum instead of the warm cloths.
--Register for or buy a nice diaper bag that you are going to be willing to carry for a long time. The first time around I registered for one that matched all of our gear (stroller, carseat, etc.). It was pretty cheesy and needless to say didn't get used after a few months. Instead, I used a beautiful Kate Spade diaper bag from my sister and it is still being used as Scott's diaper bag (yes, he's very style conscious! ha!) My next diaper bag was plain black which I loved because it went with anything I was wearing and my last diaper bag has been even better in that it's black and white, has straps to wear it over your shoulder OR as a backpack, AND it's made of material to easily wipe off. My diaper bag is this one, but it's the black and white version with blue flowers:
--Instead of a small diaper bag, treat yourself to a big purse with a pocket that can be designated for your child. This way, you're not carrying two small bags (in which case you might as well just be carrying your big diaper bag with your wallet thrown inside!). I've had big purses for a few years now and my favorite have been this three-pocket style so that I have plenty of space for kid-gear AND mom-gear :)
--Baby changing mats come w/ diaper bags, so only register for one if you're planning to use a bag that wasn't originally designed as a diaper bag.
--Disposable changing pads? Um, how about save a tree and use a reusable one that you can wipe off with antibacterial spray and a cloth?
--We had a diaper pail for Jaden, used it at the beginning with Sienna, and it has stayed in the basement ever since. It's nice in theory, but you're better off throwing dirty diapers away wrapped up in a plastic grocery bag if they're extra stinky. Would you want a pail holding all of your pee and poo from the past few days sitting in your room? Then why would your baby?
Safety:
--Most safety gear can be purchased later on as your child becomes mobile and you see exactly what you need. If you're anticipating that you'll surely need something specific, it doesn't hurt to register now though. Register for at least one gate. We have and use 2 removable gates and 3 swing gates on our staircase since it's a fully open staircase from 2nd floor to basement.
--Travel mirror? Never had one; somewhat silly it seems. If you're watching your baby in the travel mirror, are you watching the road? Protect your baby by not buying a travel mirror and by being a careful driver instead!
--Now, a baby monitor is something very important (I think) and nowadays there are a lot of options. Personally, we use this audio monitor and LOVE it. With the option to only turn on when baby makes a sound, we don't have to hear static or air all night long while we're trying to get our precious sleep. We have never used a video monitor or movement monitor and we've all survived just fine. It might be a fun perk to have one that had video and movement monitoring, but they are costly.
Baby Gear: Carseats:
--I highly recommend using a portable infant carseat (carrier) with a base that stays in your car. Convertible carseats will hold babies from 5 pounds on up, but you need to think about what you're going to do when you arrive at a grocery store and then have to carry your baby while you shop because you don't have a carrier for her. I guess you could put her into one of the grocery carts with an infant seat attached, but can you imagine the germs on those things??!! Or, what will you do with baby when she falls asleep in the car and you have to get her inside? Having an infant carrier seat will help her to stay asleep and you can just set the carrier in a quiet room for her to keep snoozin.
--Buy two bases. That way you have an extra for Dad's or Grandma's car.
--When looking at convertible carseats, consider the current recommendation for children to be rear-facing until age 2. Some carseats for toddlers are NOT convertible even if they look like they are. Make sure yours says that it can be rear OR forward facing!!
--Don't register for a booster. Do you really need that thing sitting around for 4+ years? In that many years there could be valuable safety upgrades made to the boosters and yours will just go to waste.
Baby Gear: Car Seat Cushioning:
--Double and triple check what is included with your infant seat. We didn't need any of these accessories since they were all included in our seat.
Baby Gear: Car Seat Accessories:
--Depending on when you are due, I'd advise to register for a car seat cover or bunting (I think that's what BRU means by "weather boot?") so that your baby does not have to wear a coat while in the infant carrier. Babies get SO overheated in their seats and you aren't going to want to jostle the kid around to remove and then put back on their coat.
--Carseat levelers are unnecessary unless you end up with a problem installing your seat (our seats have been in many different types of cars and have always been perfectly level). Cup holders are unnecessary for infant seats and usually accompany convertible seats for toddlers. Finally, I don't know of an infant seat that doesn't come w/ a sunshade.
--Carseat undermats aren't a bad idea and we have one! They protect your car's seats from all of the crumbs and drips of drinks that slip out somehow. They are more useful during the toddler stage since infants aren't going to be eating on the go!
Baby Gear: Strollers:
--If you purchase or register for a travel system, PLEASE NOTE THAT IT INCLUDES AN INFANT CARSEAT AND BASE!!! You have no idea how many registries I've seen that include both a travel system AND an infant carseat w/ base.
--Over the years we've had all of the types of strollers mentioned. They are ALL useful for different situations. Especially if you're planning to have multiple children, I would register for all types mentioned (except for double until you're having your 2nd child).
Baby Gear: Stroller Accessories:
--All are unnecessary to an extent. If you purchase a jog stroller such as a BOB (love my BOB!) you will need a cup holder. If your purchase an umbrella stroller (lightweight stroller) that does not have a basket, you may prefer to have a net bag for the back of it to keep necessities in. Use your own discretion based on which stroller(s) you register for.
--One accessory that is a MUST HAVE: a Mommy Hook. BEST.$6.EVER! You can hang anything on it from your diaper bag to purse to camera bag to shopping bags. You might even want to register for 2--they're that fantastic.
Baby Gear: Entertainers / Swings:
--If you buy a full-size swing, get one that sways both back and forth AND side to side. Babies love both options and the side to side has been a favorite for all babies that have come into this house (mine & friends' babies). An alternative to bouncy seats and swings is this: http://www.4moms.com/
--A travel swing is GREAT if you do indeed travel much. Ours has made the trip to my mom's and to the lakehoues (and even on the boat last summer!) many times. It is also a great option for grandparents to keep at their homes. They fold up easily and can be stored fairly flat to fit under a bed.
--Jumperoos and Exersaucer entertainers are both great. We've had and used both, but if I had to choose just one I'd pick an exersaucer. They are much more entertaining for babies and have been helping moms to get dinner made and to shower daily for years :)
--Mobile Walkers are a thing of the past; buy a push toy for baby when she's ready to start getting around.
Baby Gear: Play Yards:
--Also known as a pack & play--it's a necessity. We've traveled with ours, have used it as a play pen a hand full of times to keep baby contained and used it for Bristol to sleep in our room once she was too big for the cradle. A couple of sheets are a good idea to have, but netting? Um, not unless you have a bug problem! Okay or maybe a cat. In other words, we don't have netting and have never needed it.
Baby Gear: High Chairs:
--We have both a high chair and several booster seats; they each have their place and purpose. A booster should have a seat belt if you plan to use it while your toddler is still young.
--A splat mat is silly--you're going to have to wipe it off anyway, so why not wipe off the floor?
--High Chair covers and such are a perk, but not necessary. I gave up on the cover that came with our high chair long ago since it seemed to need a washing after every meal. Bristol sits right on the vinyl seat pad which wipes off easily after each feeding.
Baby Gear: Carriers:
--Think about whether you're going to use these and what would be most comfortable for your body. Scott has a backpack which he's used a few times and it's so cute to see the girls in there. I have LOVED my moby wrap and baby bjorn. If you do get a front pack (baby bjorn style), it's DEFINITELY worth the extra money for a high-end one. We first had a $20 front pack, but there was such a small amount of padding that it literally hurt my shoulders and back to carry a tiny infant in it. For $50 or more you'll get much more comfort!
Toys / Gifts & Clothing:
--I always recommend not registering for any of these items unless there's something you absolutely MUST have. Friends and family love to pick out a toy to go along with their gift, so no worries as your baby will still have more than enough toys!
--The only toy I would register for would be a play mat like this one: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2402051 They are ridiculously overpriced, but babies get a lot of use out of them, especially in the early months before they start looking at other toys. If you don't register for one, look for one second-hand!
--The best baby books are available at book stores, not at BRU or other baby stores.
--As far as clothing goes, people LOVE to pick out their own things for your baby. If you must register for something, register for some basics like socks and onesies and maybe some sleepers. Beyond that, it's frustrating for shoppers to try to hunt down the exact shirt in the exact size that you want, so they avoid buying clothes that you register for. Once again though, don't worry because baby will have lots of clothing gifts! People can't resist buying tiny clothes.
--I'm a HUGE fan of the wearable blankets. Definitely register for those. They're also known as sleep sacks. It's the safe way for your baby to have a blanket in bed when under a year old :)
Infant Care: Nursing / Feeding:
--If you are nursing or planning to nurse, all of the supplies under this section are necessary to have on hand. Since I had a terrible time nursing, I did not take tags off of items or take them out of their boxes until I was going to use them and with all but Bristol, I was able to return a few items to exchange for bottle supplies.
--5 oz. bottles or smaller are a waste of money. Don't register for anything but the larger size. You can put 1 oz or 10 oz into a larger bottle, whereas once your baby drinks more than 5 oz, the small bottles are just a space waster.
--A bottle sterilizer, bottle brush and bottle drying rack are only necessary if you're planning to hand wash your bottles. If using a dishwasher, save your time and others' money by not registering for these things. (Dishwashers work GREAT for bottles and sterilize with their high heat!)
--You only need 1-2 pacifier holders, not one per paci as the BRU list suggests. When a pacifier is dirty, just pop it out of the holder to wash and put a new one on the holder.
--Disposable bibs are unnecessary, although I'll admit using them 6 years ago with Jaden when she first started solids. Save a tree and get plastic bibs for mealtime which can be rinsed off and hung to dry between meals. We had spitty babies (they spit up and drooled a lot), so we had at least 20 cloth bibs and I would highly recommend the tommy tippee bibs with the neck roll which collects fluid (milk, spit-up) that goes towards their neck. They are my favorite bibs of all time!!
--You'll receive a free insulated tote during your hospital stay along with a free diaper bag from one of the formula companies. So no need to register for one of those.
--One final note on pacifiers and bottles--beware that what you select and what your baby likes might end up being two different things. My babies weren't too particular on bottles, but I've heard that breast-fed babies can be extremely particular. My girls were much more picky about their pacifiers, so fortunately I didn't receive many as gifts and was able to try out a few brands until we found what worked best. It's a good idea to skip washing every single piece before you have your baby and only one or two until you see what they like. Just...in...case...
Infant Care: Baby Care & Grooming:
--Absolutely buy or register for everything in this category. And while I'm on this topic, MAKE SURE YOU TAKE THE NASAL ASPIRATOR FROM THE HOSPITAL!! You will never find one as good as the ones at the hospital (trust me!) and they will throw yours in the garbage if you don't take it.
--Also buy an emery board for your baby since their nails are so sensitive at first and an emery board will help to keep the nails dull and short until you can safely cut them.
Infant Care: Bath:
--Fisher Price makes the very best bath tubs, hands down. Theirs have a sling so that when they aren't able to be submerged in water (until the umbilical cord falls off) you can lie the baby in the sling and give a sponge bath.
--Infant bath robes are adorable, yet impractical since they rarely will get used.
--Consider asking for hooded bath towels from http://www.3marthas.com/ or registering for regular adult bath towels if you're registering somewhere like Target. The standard hooded baby towels are SO thin and can barely soak up any water, let alone warm baby up after a bath. We received a towel from 3 Martha's as a gift and I love it so much I would wash and reuse it for almost every bath during Bristol's first year. It's big enough too that she still uses it often and will be able to for at least another year.
Infant Care: Toiletries:
--Register for several bottles of each of the items listed, but leave off alcohol swabs because as you'll learn in the hospital after delivery, alcohol is no longer recommended for putting onto the umbilical cord. Also one bottle of baby oil will be more than you'll use, probably.
--It's also a good idea to register for a product that treats cradle cap. Most babies have a little cradle cap at some point during the first year and the products made to clear it up work beautifully!
Infant Care: Cleaning Products:
--You probably already have most of these items, so no need to register for them. Have a few extra bottles of hand sanitizer around when baby is new for guests to use. Keep it out of reach of your baby and small children though as it's basically straight alcohol.
--We've always used All FREE and Downy FREE & CLEAR for our entire family's laundry. Dreft, a baby detergent, is the identical product for 3x the cost. Skip it and save $$!
Well, that's it from the BRU registry recommendations list. If you print out the list from the link above, you can easily follow the list along with this post. I've tried to share my favorite products throughout these recommendations, but if you want to ask about any certain products, I'm happy to help. Even though my youngest is now officially a toddler, Babies R Us still is fascinating to me every time I walk through their doors. The baby products keep getting better and better, and of course the prices keep rising too. It's still such a fun store though--maybe because all of the items are for new lives coming into the world and everything about babies is exciting!
If there are items that you don't receive from your registry as gifts, specifically large items, don't ever buy them for full price. BRU sends out and hands out 20% coupons ALL.THE.TIME. They also run specials and sales constantly, so if there is something you can live without for awhile, check the sales ads often and buy the item(s) when on sale. I'm sure the same is true for other baby stores, but since BRU is the main store around here for registering at, they are my best example.
Happy registering new Mamas and Papas! Have fun dreaming about all of the great days ahead using all of the gear while you scan that gun over each and every bar code :)
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