Registry must haves

[Koala]

Hi - 
I generally post on GotP, but wanted to ask my question over here.

We are expecting our first babies this fall (boy/girl twins) and we just started putting together our registries this weekend.  What were your must have items?  What can I skip?  

Thanks in advance!

[spk926]

Get a rock n play, skip the wipes warmer.

[cricketwife]

This is going to be so different from person to person but for us....

And I'm going to say "things we loved" because really the only must haves are a car seat and a crib (or other safe place for baby to sleep ) . In no order--
Muslin swaddle blankets
Halo sleepsacks
Rock n play
Fisher price cradle swing
Stoke Tripp trap (or keekaroo)
Boon lawn drying rack (still using at 16 months!)
boppy lounger 
Chico key fit (snap n go equivalent )


skip:
Bottle warmer
Baby monitor (though with two I might feel differently!)
bouncer (though with two, I'd probably get one)
Baby clothes 
bottles - it's trial and error
baby food making anything 

[nextbigthing]

Burp cloths
Sleep sacks
Hooded towels
Carseat
Stroller
Waterproof bibs. I'm obsessed with these m.buybuybaby.com/m/product/green-sprouts-by-i-play-10-pack-stage-2-3-terry-cloth-bibs-for-boys/1015021489?mcid=PS_googlepla_nonbrand_clothing_&adpos=1o1&creative=48836383980&device=m&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=Cj0KEQjwkIurBRDwoZfi1bGCxocBEiQAmcs-eh1TxqFPj45sfhqKFQYX88o_wPnScpv3PampHE8EZxsaAiba8P8HAQ

Diapers
Agree on skip the wipes warmer

Bottles
Onesies
Swaddle blankets
eta definitely the Boon lawn, LOVE

Congratulations!

[vtdiamond]

As a fellow mom of twins, here is what I would recommend:

- Swing
- 2 boppys  (I only got 1 but wish I had gotten 2, they are great for feeding, propping them up and tummy time)
- OXO wipe dispenser
- A&A blankets
- J&J car seat covers for winter babies
- Joovy Twin Roo (Twin snap and go stroller)
- Gerber cloth diapers for burp cloths
- A&A hooded towels
- Video Monitor
- Diaper Genie
- Kick n Play piano

I used RNPs for the first few months with them.  If I were to do it again I would have used PNPs more as my kids both ended up with flat spots on their heads so are currently in cranial helmets.  As I've read more about it, I've found a number of people that have had the same experience.   I would recommend having a movable item for the babies to sleep in, DH and I decided to divide and conquer with the babies for the first few months to save our sanity. 

[glitzy07]

Get:
Rock N Play
Boon Lawn Drying Rack
Oxo Baby Wipe Dispenser

Skip:
Receiving blankets

[soso]

I agree with skipping the monitor - at least skip a fancy video one. We barely used a basic sound one.

We loved our handheld night light that had an on button and was battery operated... it made a soft glow -- perfect for diaper changes.

[houseoffrench]

I agree with cricketwife -- it will vary from person to person! For us:

Must Haves:
- Diaper Genie (we live in a condo -- we use the A&H Munchkin one and no issues with smell cleaning it out 2x week)
- A&A Muslin Blankets (we use them for everything -- tummy time, car seat cover, nursing cover, burp cloth)
- SwaddleMe or Halo swaddles (velcro) and Halo sleepsacks
- Rock n Play
- Boon Grass Dryer set (love this item)
- Boppy Newborn Lounger (saved our sanity during the first couple of months)

Skip:
- Bumbo
- Sleep Sheep
- Nursing Cover (you can buy a clip and use a blanket instead if you'd like to cover)
- Pack n Play (we have never use ours -- it is a glorified changing station for the family room)
- Wipe warmer
- Any type of fancy crib bedding -- we just opted for separated and a nice A&A crib blanket

[ssmjlm]

Loved:
My Brest Friend (if you plan to BF)
Boppy
Travel swing (she slept in it for the first couple weeks)
PNP (I was afraid of the RNP flat spot issues)
Miracle blanket swaddles
FP Kick N Play Piano Mat
Muslin blankets like A&A (I had a spring baby, so they were lightweight and great for covering her if she was asleep in the carseat/stroller. Also great as a BF cover.)
Wubanub
Ergo with infant insert
Boppy changing pad covers (because they are going to make a mess on the changing pad and these were easier than constantly changing the big cover).

[bowies]

I saw a Joovy twin stroller while out this weekend - ingenious. Looking back I wish I had gotten a Bob stroller for my singleton.

DS loved:
RNP
Sleep sacks
Bouncer (amused him while I showered and put on makeup)
A bath pouf instead of a washcloth
Freddie the Firefly
Clevamama towels

Never used:
A&A blankets, but I had a summer baby
K'tan
My Brest Friend (next baby gets a Boppy)

Have on hand:
Rectal thermometer
Nose Frida

[jewel]

Definitely varies from person to person. Some of the skips above, are well-used here! LOL.

Must haves:
Wrap - boba was my favorite
Exercise ball - good for the end of pregnancy, and then bouncing a screaming baby
Structured carrier - Ergo was a good one
Video monitor
Pack n Play - used as his bed in our room, to date
White noise machine
A variety of different bottles and pacifiers

I think the biggest thing is that you won't know what your baby will love/hate until he or she gets here. Mine refused to sleep in the Rock N Play (or anywhere away from my body for months, actually). He also HATED his infant seat, so if we went anywhere, I had to carry or wear him. I have a ton of sleepsacks and swaddles that he wouldn't wear. I didn't plan for these sorts of things. Your best bet is to keep receipts and tags on as much as you can, and exchange after the baby is born, if you need to.

[countthestars]

The people saying to skip the monitor are nuts unless you live in a small house. And even then, we couldnt live without it.

[linz]

Coming from a twin mom:

Must: 2 RNP
burp cloth - tons
Bottle drying rack and lots of bottles if you plan to EP
video monitor with 2 cameras - have a levono and love it!
Double strollers - get tandem that you can snap car seats into. Also a side by side for later
I had 2 bouncers but you may want 1 to start in case they don't like them
2 boppies
swaddle me swaddles and a&a blankets



Skip: bottle warmer and wipe warmer
2 of activity stuff - only got 1 play mat, swing, saucer
I didn't get the bassinet attachment for PNP since we used the RNPS
skip diaper genie, just buy a large trash can with lid. You'll empty it every 4 days. NO JOKE!

stock up on TONS OF diapers and wipes. Even if you think you have enough diapers you will still need more. I also did space saver high chairs.

[degal99]

Love:
My breast friend
boppy
video monitor
breast pump
a & a blankets
jj cole shower cap car seat cover
pacifier
Lawn drying rack

[KaraOrNot]

Stuff from my registry/I bought that I actually use(d):

Rock N Play
Halo Swaddles
MAM pacifiers
FP Swing (Snug a Monkey?)
Video Monitor
FP Kick N Play Piano Mat
FP Aquarium
Muslin blankets
Mirror for my car
Shower cap style car seat cover
Boon lawn drying rack and accessories
OXO wipe container
Changing pad and multiple changing pad covers (I hate the disposable ones, so I like to have a few of the full covers on hand, in case one gets dirty)
Burp clothes/bibs (I had a messy eater)
Nose Frida
Diaper Genie


Stuff I don't use:
Pack N Play

[Velar Fricative]

Here's what we got excellent use out of (singleton):

-PNP (rarely used it at home but great for travel/sleepovers)
-Boppy Newborn Lounger (like the regular Boppy but no donut hole)
-Uppababy Cruz (not a double stroller but the Vista could be)
-Motorola video monitor (still using it at almost 20 months, truly a wonderful thing for lazy parents lol)
-Oxo wipes dispenser
-Big tub of Aquaphor for diaper changes/rashes
-Kiinde Kozii bottle warmer
-Any of those Fisher Price playmats
-My Brest Friend when breastfeeding
-Dr. Brown's formula pitcher when formula-feeding
-HALO sleepsacks

Here's what we didn't need or didn't have good luck with:

-Swaddles (she hated them)
-Swing (we had a small portable one)
-Glider (we were in a small apartment and just used a comfy living room chair for feedings)
-White noise machines

[AlpineSlide]

MAM pacifiers
sound machine that stays on all night. some shut off after 45 minutes.
crib sheets (4), we have a combination of flannel, minky, and cotton, plus 2 mattress pads.
various swaddles with velcro, Halo makes good ones but we used swaddlemes when ds was tiny.
diaper changing pad and 2 or 3 covers.
RNP
Vicks rectal therm.
nail clippers
washcloths to bathe and cover the penis at diaper changes. I have about 20.
vaseline, aquaphor, butt paste,
baby wash and lotion (I like Burt's Bees)
jumperoo
activity floor mat
board books
whale bathtub

I could have skipped the boppy, and we never had a swing.

[linz]

Oh sound machine is a must for us, esp having nicu babies they needed white noise when they came home. Also I debated getting 2 PNP since we don't travel much. DD is a shitty sleeper so she naps in one in the office and DS naps in his crib. I will keep the 2nd one by our backdoor once they go to convertible seats as a drop off/pick up point for one baby.

[estrellita]

Ditto anyone that said Lucie's List, so helpful! Here are the things so far that we use(d) the most:

-Travel system
-PnP for traveling, or we would have used it if his crib wasn't in our room
-Swing
-Rocker (I only got it because it was such a good deal but we use it a lot!)
-Play gym
-Bumbo (we didn't get one but we're borrowing one. Some babies hate it though so I'd suggest getting these second hand)
-Halo swaddle sacks
-Boppy (even when I stopped trying to BF, I still use it to prop my arm on when I feed him and to sit him up some)
-Hands free pumping bra if you're planning to pump at all
-Dr Brown formula pitcher if you do formula
-Video monitor
-Carrier (we have the Moby wrap and Moby Aria. They don't get used a ton but they are so nice when pushing a stroller around would be a pain)
-Diaper genie (we have the Munchkin one)
-Changing pad liners

Things we don't use/need
-BFing/pumping supplies. Unfortunately it didn't work out so I'd be careful getting a ton of things beforehand. I ended up giving my nursing pads and milk bags to a friend and saved the pump and containers in hopes it will work next time.
-Diaper cream. Maybe controversial but we rarely use it. I've only put it on a couple times when he looked slightly red. Good to have some on hand and obviously every baby is different, but that's my experience!
-Noise machine. I thought I wanted one, but we usually have the fan, humidifier, or AC on in the room anyways. Plus there are tons of white noise apps for free that it wasn't worth it to get anything else.
-Swaddle blankets. We use the swaddle sacks way more. I find them so much easier.
-Don't register for clothes, you'll get a million! And blankets, especially if you have a lot of crafty friends and family!

[redheadk]

I just helped my sis register. She's having boy/girl twins in September, so just a little ahead of you!

Most double strollers are not great for twins. She settled on the Joovy Twin Roo (not the +, because it's apparently not compatible with the Chicco Keyfit, which is the carseat she's using) for a snap n' go type stroller and the Baby Jogger City Select for a regular (tandem) stroller. She'll probably end up with the Kinderwagon Hop for an umbrella stroller at some point, too.

All twin moms have told us to stick to just 1 of most things except for carseats and RnPs. Only 1 bathtub as it's apparently best to bathe one baby at a time until they are old enough to bathe together.

A good white noise machine is a must. I personally use an old iPod and docking station. Works perfectly. SKIP the sleep sheep. Cute but worthless.

Motorola Video Monitor. Get one with 2 cameras and you can set it to switch back and forth every 10 seconds.

Skip the wipes warmer but do register for the OXO wipes holder. It is a million times better than the free plastic tub that comes with the wipes.

I'd personally go with 2 Boppys (for lounging) and a My Breast Friend for twins pillow if you plan to nurse.

Skip the Bumbos but I've heard great things about super seats from friends that have recently had babies.

[sarahsas]

Things I use all the time: rock n play, burp cloths (get the gerber pre fold diapers- they make the best!! Big and absorbent!), boon drying rack, dishwasher basket for bottle parts, baby socks, boppy infant lounger, nursing pillow, extra pump parts, dr. Brown bottles, baby clothes hangers, diaper organizer.... Also a diaper bag that comes with a changing pad!

Two splurges on my registry that I LOVE and are so worth it are my ubbi diaper pail and my keekaroo peanut changing pad. Both recommended by lucies list and so awesome.

Things we got a lot of that were off registry- clothes, books, diapers/wipes and toys. Register for minimum of those.

Things I registered for that I wouldn't again if I had a do over: pacifiers (soothies are the ones he liked, I got tons), lots of swaddles (he doesn't like it and it's too hot- I highly do rec the a&a muslin swaddles though, multiple uses), different bottles, a high chair, and a pack n play.

We don't use warmers for bottles or wipes. If they are used to that it is difficult if you're out and about and can't warm!

One bigger item I didn't register for but ended up buying myself after he was born is a bouncer.

[MamaMaui24]

Must have - Kick n play piano!

[heygrey]

May 25, 2015 19:56:31 GMT -5 countthestars said:

The people saying to skip the monitor are nuts unless you live in a small house. And even then, we couldnt live without it.

i live in a 650 sq/ft apt and you can pry my monitor from my cold, dead hands.

although i will say that i wish we would have gotten an independent video monitor, but in the name of having one less thing in our house we opted for a webcam type that we can view with our phones/ipads. i don't love it. it's okay, but definitely not something i would recommend.

[Koala]

May 25, 2015 20:58:15 GMT -5 linz said:

Oh sound machine is a must for us, esp having nicu babies they needed white noise when they came home. Also I debated getting 2 PNP since we don't travel much. DD is a shitty sleeper so she naps in one in the office and DS naps in his crib. I will keep the 2nd one by our backdoor once they go to convertible seats as a drop off/pick up point for one baby.

Ooh, the PNP by the back door is a good thought. Our garage is 1/2 flight of stairs down from our living room, so we will definitely need something like that once we switch to convertable car seats.

[heygrey]

less item specific, but more something i learned along the way...

get a diaper bag with a zipper top. if that thing gets upended (and it will, in the most inconvenient place ever) it is a nightmare trying to wrangle all of the tiny things that have fallen out. i have a Skip Hop Bento and i love it. it's the third diaper bag i tried and it's by far my favourite. it's quite large so it would be great for twins.

[Deleted]

May 25, 2015 19:33:19 GMT -5 glitzy07 said:

Get:
Rock N Play
Boon Lawn Drying Rack
Oxo Baby Wipe Dispenser

Skip:
Receiving blankets

Agree.

old fashioned cloth diapers are my favorite burp rags.

My son as well as my nieces and nephew liked Mam pacifiers. But you might register for a couple different types since babies have different preferences.

Get the $80 Rock and Play that will move on it's own.

I have lots of reqs for pumping; so if you need those just let me know.

[Deleted]

Oh and don't register for baby wearing devices. You'll need to check them out after the babies are born to see what they like. Then I would get one for you and your husband so you can each wear a baby if they will tolerate it.

[Koala]

May 25, 2015 21:46:40 GMT -5 @kcpokergal said:

May 25, 2015 19:33:19 GMT -5 glitzy07 said:

Get:
Rock N Play
Boon Lawn Drying Rack
Oxo Baby Wipe Dispenser

Skip:
Receiving blankets

Agree.

old fashioned cloth diapers are my favorite burp rags.

My son as well as my nieces and nephew liked Mam pacifiers. But you might register for a couple different types since babies have different preferences.

Get the $80 Rock and Play that will move on it's own.

I have lots of reqs for pumping; so if you need those just let me know.

Thanks. My plan is to EP, so I'll definitely need pumping supply reqs.

[estrellita]

May 25, 2015 21:41:42 GMT -5 heygrey said:

May 25, 2015 19:56:31 GMT -5 countthestars said:

The people saying to skip the monitor are nuts unless you live in a small house. And even then, we couldnt live without it.

i live in a 650 sq/ft apt and you can pry my monitor from my cold, dead hands.

although i will say that i wish we would have gotten an independent video monitor, but in the name of having one less thing in our house we opted for a webcam type that we can view with our phones/ipads. i don't love it. it's okay, but definitely not something i would recommend.

Yes, all of this! Even though we room share right now and the crib is probably 10-15 feet from where I sit in the living room, I like being able to see him. I do also wish we had something other than an app on our phones because we can't both watch it and I can't do anything else on my phone while using it (I've tried even just responding to texts and the monitor app will freeze. My only real gripe about it).

[bcarp30]

I just have one but here's what I found useful-

GOOD stroller. We spent the money on the Uppababy Vista and it is so worth it. The new one is very comparable to the baby jogger city select and you can fit 2 car seats on it.
Chicco Keyfit 30 car seat. With twins you may go early and this car seat goes down to 4lbs. We have multiple car seat tech friends and this or the britax are their favorite seats.
Video monitor- DD slept in her own room at 6 weeks and it was helpful to be able to see her. Also now she is a climber and I watch her through the monitor to make sure she stays in.
Boppy pillow- man I love that thing.
Boon grass drying mat- amazing. So worth it and we use it now as a drying rack for our regular dishes.

Waste of useable space-
Wipe warmer, no need.
Baby food maker. I just used a regular steamer and a cuisinart grinder thing I already had.
Blankets- I would only get a few because people love to give blankets as a gift

Congratulations!!