Hi, I've been lurking around this board recently and find it really helpful. I'm expecting and thinking about registering. I'm a ftm and it's pretty overwhelming! So here are my questions:
What things should I avoid when registering- things that are unnecessary?
What kind and size of bottle do you recommend? There are only about a million types. I plan on attempting breast feeding but will be going back to work 8-10weeks after delivery at which point I may or may not pump, depending on how things go.
Just checking in because I'm wondering about bottles too, haha.
I think the most unnecessary things are things like clothes because people will buy that kind of stuff anyways. We put a few toys on there (stuff baby would use within the first like, 6 months) but I'm sure a lot of that kind of stuff isn't necessary either!
i wouldn't say anything is wildly unnecessary. if you have an opinion on something, register for it, including clothes and blankets. you'll likely get a ton of both regardless, but if you love a pack of onsies or a few cute outfits, bonus if someone else pays for them, right? i tend to be more minimalist and just do without things that other people claim are absolutely essential, but that's my personality in all areas of life. if you're one to like all the gadgets or have multiples of things, do you. you'll get a completion discount for anything not bought on your list so even if other people don't buy it you'll save a few dollars yourself.
bottles are really hard and so specific to each kid. if you end up with store credit, it's not a horrible idea to set some aside so you can try your way through their bottle collection. i BF and have a bottle refuser 99% of the time. he will begrudgingly take a tommie tippee slow flow/just like breast something or other... sometimes. you can always register for a variety of bottles so you have some to try out right away. just pick whatever strikes your fancy. mostly, i would encourage you to just accept that you might waste some money on bottles finding the right one if you end up with a picky kid. hopefully you'll have an easy kid though!
best gift - does it count if i bought it with money that was gifted? my ergo. i thought it would be nice to have occasionally, but i've surprised myself. it gets daily use in our house and i've expanded to other carriers just because i have a kid that LOVES baby-wearing. he likes his stroller under the right conditions, but when he's fussy, being up with momma is the best. he just happens to be fussy a lot
other best gift - aden and anais swaddles. there are a variety of muslin swaddles that are good, i just happen to have a&a. i love that they are light weight and generously sized. we use them for everything.
i love being able to grab the diapering essentials and throw it in a different bag and to have everything organized in pockets on the changing table. i don't have to dig through my bag for wipes, bum cream, etc. it's all right there.
Post by statlerwaldorf on Nov 9, 2014 0:51:22 GMT -5
Bottles just depend on the baby, so I would only register for a few. I really like the new Munchkin Latch bottles. DS will also take Avent Natural, but his latch appears more like a breastfeeding latch with the Munchkin ones. The Munchkin ones also have a slower flow.
I didn't get gifts since this is my second, but my favorite things are the rock n play, Ergo, and Aden and Anais stroller blanket.
I planned on breastfeeding, wound up pumping because she couldn't BF. Bought fancy Playtex bottles but after a few weeks, switched to cheap Gerber bottles that interchange the collars and nipples with the Medela bottles that come with Medela pumps. Gerber bottles also work on the Medela pump. Bought tons of the Gerber cheap bottles to help minimize dish washing.
I was a minimalist with nearly everything at first. Things I registered for and am glad people bought us were our crib and safety kit - we used the nail clippers and changing pad in the kid right away. Clothes and blankets, we didn't register for them but people bought anyways. Diapers and wipes, also very useful. We ran out and bought a changing pad and cover and a sleep sack that first weekend so it would've been good to have those. She survived being changed on the bed on top of an old folded sheet for the first few days.
Best gifts? Most useful were the small thick blankets by Koala Baby sold at BRU (they are usually found in the themed nursery decor area). I didn't register for these but someone gave me two cream colored ones (I was team green for a long time). I loved them last winter to cover her in the RNP for naps and now again this winter to cover her in the stroller. Random gift was someone gave me a NB bear suit and she was just so darn cute stuffed in there. Big gift was my parents also bought us our Uppababy Cruz stroller and Mesa car seat and I have used that from the beginning nearly every time we go out for everything.
I always told myself "Babies in Finland sleep in cardboard boxes, everything will be ok. For everything else, there is Target and Amazon. Also BRU if you want to overpay."
ETA - Don't register for a Rockaroo. Or even the Mamaroo. Fancy waste of money IMO. DD hated hers.
What things should I avoid when registering- things that are unnecessary? Crib bumpers Or IMO, crib bedding in general. All you need is a fitted sheet. There is really no use for a bumper. A quilt can make a nice blanket for playing on the floor, but you cannot use it in the crib.
Also IMO, clothes. People are going to buy you clothes, and it seems like unnecessary trouble to specify exactly which clothes you get.
Seat protectors for under a car seat. I think I heard they're unsafe?
Take a friend who has her own baby registry shopping. She can guide you toward what is useful and what is not.
What kind and size of bottle do you recommend? I use the Philips Avent bottles, but some people have to try a few models to find one that their baby will take.
The best gift you received? Probably the handmade blankets that people crocheted. That seems outside the spirit of your question, though, so I'll say My Brest Friend.
i love being able to grab the diapering essentials and throw it in a different bag and to have everything organized in pockets on the changing table. i don't have to dig through my bag for wipes, bum cream, etc. it's all right there.
We used Tommee Tippee bottles (5oz.) and they were just fine; however, each baby is different, so you might want to get a few kinds before committing to one.
Favorite gifts: a handmade baby quilt, our Britax B-Agile stroller, and the Boon lawn drying rack.
And ditto the recs for Lucie's List (if you haven't checked it out already).
Some of this stuff is trial and error. I got a ton of different bottles from free gift bags and DS ended up liking all of them. I eventually chose Tommee Tippee for him.
For every person who loves something, there will be another who hates it. I used my nursing pillow all of once since I had a reflux kid and it's recommended not to feed them laying flat. I also rarely use my A&A blankets.
My favorite things were the Halo SleepSack Swaddles and Rock N Play. And board books!
Honestly, I wouldn't go hog wild on the registry until you learn about your style and your kid. Stock up on things later. And if you aren't going to have huge showers, leave off the later stuff like a high chair, spoons/bowls, etc. My H's cousin ended up with a bunch of stuff for a 6 month+ baby and nothing for a newborn.
I liked lucies list (online resource) and the book Baby Bargains to guide me. And yes, for everyone who loves something there is a hater. Two things I loved were the my brest friend pillow and the boppy lounger (not the regular boppy pillow) . For bottles I would register for single bottles of several brands rather than big starter packs because you have to trythem to know if your baby likes them. Some babies are picky and some are not. And then some have gas that affects which bottle you choose. Fwiw not a single person bought any bottles off my registry --blessing in disguise because I registered for bottles we weren't able to use in the end.
Things I don't use/need: I have a giant sterilizer that I never really use. I prefer the Medela steam bags. Receiving blankets are useless, and I don't love the A&A swaddle blankets either. We don't have a video monitor, just a basic audio one.
Things I need/love: I use my snap n go stroller every day as well as the pac n play with changing station. It's nice to have a fully stocked changing station on our main level. I love the Beco Gemini baby carrier and Miracle blanket swaddle. I got lucky and my kid is happy to eat from the Medela bottles that came with my pump, so that's easy. I'd never shower without the Ingenuity automatic bouncer. It's light enough to take into the bathroom with me every day.
Another vote for Lucie’s List and Baby Bargains. Those provided good starting points for me. My trouble is that, even with a “this is perfect, you must buy it” backing, I won’t buy something without comparing it to umpteen of its competitors. So, those resources gave me springboards and pointed me toward certain things, but I still spent way too much time hemming and hawing over choices that ultimately didn’t matter.
I try not to give much advice to new moms and moms-to-be, but since you’re asking for help, my best advice to accept you’ll have some hits and some misses. Try not to drive yourself insane, because extra weeks of researching product Z still won’t guarantee it’s going to work for you or that your baby won’t decided to be difficult and hate it. Collect some basic info/recs, make sure the stuff is safe, pick a pattern/color you like well enough and move on.
Once you get going, it may seem less overwhelming. I had trouble getting started - didn’t know how/where to begin! - but once you get a handful of things on there, I bet you’ll find you get on a roll. Try to enjoy it!
And congratulations!
PS - I’d hold off on bottles. If you get a free pump from insurance that comes with any, try that/its nipple first, then use gift cards or spend a little cash to try other brands one at a time, if necessary. Same with pacifiers, if you plan to use them: don’t stock up on anything ahead of time. See what the hospital uses and whether that works if/when you decided to try one and go from there. And I think my favorite gifts were the rock-n-play, the pack-n-play and my Skip Hop Pronto changing station.
Post by cricketwife on Nov 9, 2014 11:27:26 GMT -5
I don't think anyone answered the question of size for bottles. I went right to the 8/10 oz (depending on brand) and skipped the 4 oz bottles. That way you don't have to buy two sets of bottles. There's not rule that you can't just put 4 or fewer ounces in a bigger bottle. Another consideration is you combo feed when you return to work, wide mouth bottles are much easier to deal with when you're pouring formula. But narrow bottles that screw on to a pump are easier if you're pumping. All that to say, wait on the bottles
Everyone's answers have been SO helpful! Unfortunately I don't have any close friends in town with small children but I think I'm going to email my registry after I register to some friends for critique in case I'm missing anything/don't need something.
Post by AlpineSlide on Nov 10, 2014 8:23:36 GMT -5
The Rock n Play was my favorite gift, also the baby bathtub was great too. It has a sling on top for a tiny baby before they can sit in the tub portion. It was filled with hooded towels, baby wash, lotion, etc.
I didn't register for any clothes and only got like 3 things, so I wouldn't assume you'll get a ton of clothes. I was only gifted 2 blankets also. I bought my own aden and anais blankets, which I LOVE.
I'd register for these must haves: Sophie, a variety of bibs, PNP, changing pad and several covers (I have 4), fitted crib sheets (I have 5, some are flannel some are cotton), burp cloths (but small towels work fine too), jumperoo, tummy time mat (kick n play piano), monitor, sound machine.
The bumbo and boppy were nice gifts too, but not essential.