Registry re-do

[bebeetmoi]

My sister's best girlfriend's sister is having a baby and neither her or her husband have any friends with children, so my sister gave her my number for someone to talk to since they recently relocated to NYC. They are jewish and it's a custom (for them at least) not to do the baby shower or purchase anything for the baby until the baby arrives. But the girl is freaking out and wants to be prepared and have the staples (nursery, basic clothing etc) ready prior to the baby arriving. I told her I'd spend a day shopping with her at BBB, Land of Nod, PBK and all those to give my input on what was useful and what wasn't.
I'm kind of excited because I feel like I get to do an imaginary registry re-do. I had a lot of things I would change about my registry and the things we purchased for DD.
What, if anything, knowing what we know now would you have added or not gotten at all? Again, it's just the basics but price isn't a factor for them so don't hold back!

[TrudyCampbell]

Well, I'm obviously a little biased because of Violet's issues, but I wouldn't register for a bumbo, exersaucer, jumperoo, or basically anything that artificially supports a baby. Except a swing! I would have died without that swing!

[bebeetmoi]

Jan 15, 2013 11:21:04 GMT -5 TrudyCampbell said:

Well, I'm obviously a little biased because of Violet's issues, but I wouldn't register for a bumbo, exersaucer, jumperoo, or basically anything that artificially supports a baby. Except a swing! I would have died without that swing!

I didn't get any of that (per my mother's threats), but if I have another I will definitely be getting a swing. I've looked into the Mamaroo and it looks like it takes up less space, so I think I'd definitely invest in one of those. I think having a swing would have saved my sanity!

[rjamz]

Definitely a swing! I had a mamaroo though, and J hated it. Didn't go fast enough. And swaddle blankets - especially the Velcro swaddle me ones. It took me a while to get my burrito wrapping down pat.

[Deleted]

My LO hated the swing. She napped in her bouncer everyday until like 3 months though. I also loved the playmat and my angelcare monitor. And a nice stroller, if they have money I highly recommend spending it on a really nice stroller or a nice carrier.

[mikehoncho]

I LOVE our mamaroo. So, I would definitely get that again.

[biblionerd]

I would get an angelcare monitor, but that's probably the only thing I would change.

[rjamz]

Oh and for sure one of those fisher price vibrating bouncy seats. J looooved his, but it took us a while to figure out that he would nap in it

[TrudyCampbell]

Jan 15, 2013 11:29:24 GMT -5 rjamz said:

Definitely a swing! I had a mamaroo though, and J hated it. Didn't go fast enough. And swaddle blankets - especially the Velcro swaddle me ones. It took me a while to get my burrito wrapping down pat.

We had the mamaroo at first, too, and it didn't go fast enough for her either. We sold it and got the snugabunny swing which was a total game changer!

[Deleted]

I know we are talking NYC, so this probably doesn't apply, but I wouldn't get an infant bucket carseat. I've done research since then and I just didn't like it for very long. It took up space in the house that I could have used.

Other than that, I wouldn't change much. I really kept my registry pared down. I got one swaddleme, one sleepsack and one sleepsuit thing. I'm glad I registered for a selection even though he didn't like being swaddled. If he had, then I would have bough more of the good one.

[erniebufflo]

I would have skipped the Bumbos. We barely used them. And no gowns. Everyone told me I'd want gowns for ease of MOTN diaper changes, but I never used them because they kept me from putting them in the swings and bouncer and RNP, plus their feet always got out.

I'd re-register for my Bjorn bouncers every time. So pricey, so worth it. They fold so nicely, they won't outgrow it until toddler years, and it's a fool-proof soother. I take them with me every time we visit someone else's house.

Also: our cheapo Fisher Price cradle swing is the shit. It plugs in, it's got a cute animal theme, and it swings nice and hard.

[bebeetmoi]

Jan 15, 2013 11:37:38 GMT -5 rjamz said:

Oh and for sure one of those fisher price vibrating bouncy seats. J looooved his, but it took us a while to figure out that he would nap in it

Yesss definitely this. We had the Bloom rocker seat but DD hated it with a passion. On a whim one day DH came home with this and my life was saved.

[erniebufflo]

Also: carrier wise, I wish I'd skipped the Moby and stuck with a ring sling and the Ergo. Hubby wouldn't let me get an Ergo until recently, but even he's a convert now.

[erniebufflo]

Jan 15, 2013 11:21:04 GMT -5 TrudyCampbell said:

Well, I'm obviously a little biased because of Violet's issues, but I wouldn't register for a bumbo, exersaucer, jumperoo, or basically anything that artificially supports a baby. Except a swing! I would have died without that swing!

Meanwhile, the jumpers and saucers are crucial for Claire, because they allow her to put some weight on her legs and develop muscles. So, they can be a very good thing.

[claralou]

Jan 15, 2013 11:33:32 GMT -5 mikehoncho said:

I LOVE our mamaroo. So, I would definitely get that again.

Ditto. This is definitely one of those things that's baby-specific. I would have died without the mamaroo and C loved it, but lots of babies don't.

I wouldn't change much about my registry, honestly. The halo sleep sacks with velcro swaddles were PERFECT for us, but she hated the swaddleme's and the miracle blanket things. the A&A cotton (NOT bamboo) blankets are still a godsend, as were the gerber cotton cloth diapers for burp cloths (The Ikea ones were great too).

For a bouncer, we went with this one and she STILL uses it to this day: www.amazon.com/BabyBj%C3%B6rn-009069-Babybj%C3%B6rn-Babysitter-Balance/dp/B0057D1RKW/ref=sr_1_13?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1358268269&sr=1-13&keywords=BABYBJORN+Babysitter+Balance (we got it in black WITH the toy bar)

so much is trial and error. But that bouncer, the boppy, my pump, some basic quality cotton onesies, blankets and burp cloths were the staples that I was so glad I had from day one.

[Deleted]

I definitely would have registered for a swing. Our apt. is tiny so we didn't, but I think it would have helped a lot. Instead, he spent months in our arms, and I think we are paying for it now. Don't get me wrong, I know you can't spoil a newborn, but he never learned how to chill independently.
A video monitor will be on my next list, as well as a humidifier. We didn't have one the first time we needed it, and were not prepared for the expense.
I love my boppy, should have registered for extra covers, white noise machine, and extra crib sheets. I never used a bumbo and don't think I will the next time.

[Deleted]

Jan 15, 2013 11:43:17 GMT -5 erniebufflo said:

Also: carrier wise, I wish I'd skipped the Moby and stuck with a ring sling and the Ergo. Hubby wouldn't let me get an Ergo until recently, but even he's a convert now.

Exactly this. I still use my moby because DH won't let me drop the cash on an ergo, but I WILL have one for the next!

[mumegs]

I feel like it is really hit or miss depending on the baby of course but also the parents and their lifestyle. I got both a Moby and a chicco carrier and I used the Moby twice I think, and have never used the other one. I just carried her in my arms or the car seat carrier when I went out.
Must haves for us were RnP of course and the swing. we were lucky to get a hand me down swing because those suckers are expensive! She hated the bouncer so we never used that. I used my boppy every day for 8 months for BFing and I still use it now to prop her up so she can feed herself in the mornings while I get ready without laying flat.

Knowing what I know now I would have garage saled all the baby "gear" because so much of it you barely use or you use for a couple months and they grow out of it.

[bebeetmoi]

Jan 15, 2013 11:53:24 GMT -5 @pcloadletter said:

Jan 15, 2013 11:42:22 GMT -5 erniebufflo said:

I would have skipped the Bumbos. We barely used them. And no gowns. Everyone told me I'd want gowns for ease of MOTN diaper changes, but I never used them because they kept me from putting them in the swings and bouncer and RNP, plus their feet always got out.

Gowns are a huge PITA! Their feet and legs pop out and they get cold. Luckily I didn't get too many

Yeah I'm with you on the gowns, luckily we didn't get many.
I also would have had an Ergo much earlier than I actually did.
It's terrible, but the #1 thing I would change would be her crib and matching changing table. We got the Stokke convertible system because I liked that the crib could start out mini and grow with her for years to come and I also liked it's shape. Well, it's shape is a PIA and I hate that all the bedding and accessories have to be via Stokke- it's all way overpriced and boring. Wish I could talk some sense into my pregnant self a year ago. Oh well.

[erniebufflo]

Jan 15, 2013 12:12:55 GMT -5 bebeetmoi said:

Jan 15, 2013 11:53:24 GMT -5 @pcloadletter said:

Gowns are a huge PITA! Their feet and legs pop out and they get cold. Luckily I didn't get too many

Yeah I'm with you on the gowns, luckily we didn't get many.
I also would have had an Ergo much earlier than I actually did.
It's terrible, but the #1 thing I would change would be her crib and matching changing table. We got the Stokke convertible system because I liked that the crib could start out mini and grow with her for years to come and I also liked it's shape. Well, it's shape is a PIA and I hate that all the bedding and accessories have to be via Stokke- it's all way overpriced and boring. Wish I could talk some sense into my pregnant self a year ago. Oh well.

I love our cribs. They're BabyMod from WalMart, and they came with the toddler bed rails. We had to have something affordable since we needed 2.

[TrudyCampbell]

Ah, I really wanted the Stokke crib! We ended up not getting it because it was expensive and because the shape didn't suit her room well because it's so small.

[bebeetmoi]

Jan 15, 2013 12:24:31 GMT -5 TrudyCampbell said:

Ah, I really wanted the Stokke crib! We ended up not getting it because it was expensive and because the shape didn't suit her room well because it's so small.

It is pretty, but all said and done, we got a lot of their products but the only thing I still love and am happy we got is the stroller. The quality is great and all, but evvvverything from them is brand specific and they way overcharge as a result. I will definitely disuade her from stuff like that, if I can! You couldn't tell me no when I was KU, hopefully she'll be a bit more reasonable.

[bebeetmoi]

Jan 15, 2013 12:29:13 GMT -5 jamaicam said:

Another vote for A&A muslims and the boppy. And things are so hit and miss - A hated the swing with a passion and never fell asleep in his bouncy chair. A sound machine was essential for us.

Yes! Sound machine! Forgot about that one.

[Deleted]

I absolutely love our angelcare monitor (my brother died of sids and i am just paranoid) and we got a swing/bouncy seat combo and i love it, it takes up less space and he loved it

[browneyedhunni85]

We have used the hell out of our swing and jumperoo. C loves his jumperoo. I also loved the gowns in the first few weeks. We also didn't want a fancy monitor. We just have a one story house so we just got a basic monitor. We still use it to this day.

[fusion]

For me I didn't use the bumbo (although my toddler uses it now sometimes), the boppy, gowns, and the swing.
We love the jumperoo for both kids, and I would've for SURE gotten a video monitor a lot earlier. DS hated to be swaddled and Anna loved it. I would've waited on buying much newborn clothing and diapers since DS didn't wear it (then Anna needed it, but it was easy to get after she was born). I think I would've preferred a Boba or Beco over the Ergo, but I got it used so I can't quibble much. I wouldn't have bought so much clothing for Anna, but I think that will be a life long problem

[gmoneymommy]

I loved gowns when he was tiny and I also love his bumbo, though I didn't really use it until more recently. I also loved my moby, but it didn't last us very long since he felt too big at 3 months when he reached about 18lbs. I would have registered for the angelcare monitor instead if the audio only, because we ended up buying the angelcare when he was a couple months old. I wish we would have done an ergo instead if the lillebaby carrier. I just got an ergo and it's so much more comfortable.

[thedahliharpa]

I would not have got a standing highchair and instead would have went with a model that attaches to a regular chair.