Baby Registry Must-Haves
I remember the day like it was yesterday - my mom, David and I walked into Babies R Us to register for our baby shower. I was less than halfway through my pregnancy at that point, but I wanted my mom's help for the registry, so we did it while we were visiting for the holidays.I was overwhelmed. I was so excited. Didn't I just do this for our wedding? OMG CUTENESS!I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that baby registries are about 100 times harder than wedding registries. I remember thinking, "I've never had a baby before, how am I supposed to know what he needs?!" (Actually, come to think of it, we didn't even know Finn was a boy at the time of registering.)Thank goodness for Grandmas!So, with about 9 months of solid motherly knowledge under my belt, I've put together a list of must haves for your baby registry. My one piece of advice: Have Fun! And remember, every baby is different so what worked for us may not work for you!
- A stroller, carseat, and carseat base - We absolutely LOVE our Graco Click Connect Travel System. Essentially, we got three products in one - an infant stroller that doubles as a carseat AND a stroller for Finn as he grows. We also got TWO carseat bases (and my in-laws bought one as well) so we can easily move the carseat from my car to David's car. The carseat's weight limit is 30 pounds, so we will still be able to get a few more months out of it. This system certainly beats having to buy two separate carseats for each car and then a stroller on top of it!
- Rock n play - This is probably our most used baby product. Our swing was great, too, when Finn was an infant, but the great thing about a Rock n Play is that it's mobile! I used to drag this thing into the bathroom so I could shower. Finn even slept in this for months! (Little secret, sometimes he still does - especially if he's congested and has to sleep sitting up.) It's super useful - it even has a vibration feature, which was soothing for Finn as a little baby.
- Baby Bjorn or any baby wearing system - Okay, we use this thing all the time, too. When Finn was an infant, this came in useful when he was fussy and just wanted to be held, but I still wanted to be productive. Nowadays, it's useful when we go on long hikes or walks with Juneau. There has yet to be a time when Finn is fussy in the Baby Bjorn. It's more than just useful, it's practical, and it doubles as a soother.
- Play mat - I've yet to meet a mom who thinks a play mat is overrated. We used this from day one. Finn spent so much time swatting at his toys and learning to hold his head up while laying on his mat. This is a must have!
- The best bottles - OMG! If you take my advice on one thing, make it the Playtex Baby Ventaire Tummy Comfort bottles. On a whim, we registered for these, and they are the best! They come apart piece by piece, which make them super easy to clean. They also come in large and small sizes. The shape of the bottles help to decrease air intake which reduces gas issues. I cannot say enough good things about these bottles. Can I be their spokesperson?
- Boppy pillow - If you plan on breastfeeding, a boppy pillow is a must have. If you don't plan on breastfeeding, you still need a boppy pillow. These things are just practical. Finn used to lay in his and as he got older, it became a nice little backrest as he learned to sit up. It's also so helpful when nursing so your arms don't get tired.
- Vera Bradley Diaper Bag - Love this thing, and it's pretty! It's lightweight, washable, comes with a changing pad, and has more than enough space for everything you are carrying.
- Teethers - Whether it be teething rings, toys, or rubber animals, teethers are sooooo necessary. I was surprised at how early Finn started to teeth, even without having teeth pop through. I also swear by the Amber Teething Necklace. I know this one is controversial because it's technically a necklace, but another mom advised me to wrap it around his ankle underneath his pajamas. Just the amber on his skin helps to calm him!
- Diaper Genie - We found this to be helpful, especially early on when Finn pooped three times a day. They keep all the diapers in the same place, which contains the smell! It's also super convenient to have it right next to your changing table!
- Sleep sacks - I had no idea how much I would use these until I had a baby. We swaddled Finn as a newborn to keep him feeling snuggled in, like he was in the womb. We use it now as a an extra layer since he isn't supposed to sleep with a blanket until he's one. Stock up on sleep sacks!
I also want to mention that you should register for what I call "boring" things too - diapers, wipes, baby Tylenol, gas drops, gripe water (these relieve hiccups almost immediately), vitamin D drops, Boogie Wipes, Aquaphor, baby soap, etc. I would have never known that I would've needed these things unless other moms had gotten me them for my shower!
