tcbest4211:

Thank you for this post, I am a FTM and am already overwhelmed at all the things you can register for. The responses here will be so incredibly helpful!

I sencond this - Thanks so much! This will be a HUGE help as we move into th  registery phase of pregnancy!

The only big ticket items i ever registered for were a swing and bouncy seat. My MIL got the swing for us and 2 of my friends put in together to get the bouncy. I purchased all the other big things myself.

Breastpump is great to have if you plan on breastfeeding even if you don't work. It's good for pumping during the first months when you are engorged and you can work on a back up stash to keep in the freezer, you will most likely need some of it at some point or another.

I usually registered after I found out the sex, sort of like a celebratory thing to find out then go scan a bunch of cute stuff. I have registered at toys r us and target, and with my 3rd pregnancy I had a cloth diaper shower, so i registered with our local cloth diaper business. This time I won't need much, especially if it's another girl, so i might register at a baby boutique we have here or something.

 I have always coslept and never used a crib (it was mainly for storage/closet/clean laundry lol), so it wasn't  a need for me, so i will not have one this time. Changing tables aren't a necessity for me either.

I'd say necessities would be onesies/clothes, diapers/wipes, nail clippers, burp cloths, swaddle blankets, bodywash and shampoo (my fav is earth mama angel baby), carseat, stroller, sling, and a bouncy seat. The rest is nice to have sometimes but not necessarily a NEED.

My contribution to this thread is this blog:

http://www.lucieslist.com/

 I agree with nearly all of her suggestions. I wish I had known about it last time I was pregnant! 

I will also answer the fun questions:

I didn't need as many receiving blankets as I thought. The only ones we used were the large Aden & Anais blankets, and that was mainly to cover the stroller for shade. We received a lot of random blankets and never used any of them. The SwaddleMe blankets were so much easier to deal with.

DC2London:

Wow, this could take awhile.
 

Where did you register?  Target and BRU; I like Target better

When did you register?  Don't remember - it was early on though because I was so excited! 

Car Seat (infant and/or convertible): Okay, I can't sing the praises of this convertible carseat enough.  I'm about to buy a second one for this baby!  http://www.evenflo.com/product.aspx?id=316&pfid=3625

It has awesome safety ratings, is rear-facing until 40 lbs, the harness has no holes you have to re-thread as your child grows - you just slide the straps up!, and the best part is you don't have to unthread the straps to wash the cover - it velcros around the straps.  Seriously, took me one minute to take it off and put it back on the other day when I washed it.  And it's machine washable and tumble dry.  Best seat ever.

 

Baby Monitor/Video monitor: The Fisher Price lights and sounds monitor worked well for us.  Our house isn't big though. 

High Chair: We have the Fisher Price Spacesaver chair.  It straps onto any regular chair and works like a high chair.  Later, it can be used as a booster seat.  My only issue with it is the arms.  They don't fit well under all tables and don't come off when it's a booster.  It's been great for travel and dinners at other people's houses though because it's super portable.

Swing/Bouncy Seat/Vibrating Seat: Just make sure you get a newer one without  a top bar.  The old ones with a bar = hitting baby's head over and over. :)  We got one at a JBF sale.

 

Baby Carrier: LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my Moby wrap!!!  I adore that thing.  When he was much old, like six months, and it was hot outside, I used a hotsling some too.

Feeding Baby

Breast Pump (if used): Medela Freestyle is worth every overpriced cent!  I pumped for 14 months with it and loved it. 

Breast Feeding Pillows/Supplies (if used):  I had a boppy and it was useful for other things, like propping baby on the couch while I pumped, etc., but I liked a regular bed pillow best for nursing.  I have giant breasts though and the boppy lifted baby a little too much.  You are going to want a few (like seven unless you plan to do laundry more than once a week with a newborn) sleep bras for nursing.  Especially at first, you won't want to wear a regular nursing bra, and they are great in the hospital when you are first learning.  I still wore one to bed up until I weaned.

Breast Feeding Comfort Items (breast pads, creams, etc): Johnson and Johnson make the best disposal pads I think.  Lansinoh make the best milk storage bags for freezing by far.  They are thicker and don't leak.  Medela makes the worst frozen bags by far.  They are horrid. 

A good trick for storing milk in the freezer is the gift bag trick:

http://greenlitebites.com/2011/06/02/breast-milk-storage/

 

A great pumping tip is the rubber band trick:

http://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/pumping/hands-free-pumping/

 

Kellymom.com and this site http://www.breastfeedinginc.ca/ are awesome bfing resources.

Bottles (if used): I started with the Breastflow bottles and I hated them.  The parts warp really badly in the dishwasher/santizer.  I switched to the Medela bottles because they fit on my pump and they worked fine.  In the end all my bottles were actually the Parent's Choice/Gerber brand because they fit on Medela pumps.  They are super cheap and come with nipples/caps/etc!  Even if you don't use them for the baby; it's great to know where to get extra bottles for your pump!

 

Health and Safety

Soap, Babywash Shampoo: We use Aveeno.

Baby Lotion/Moisturizer: Triple Cream is the best product I have found for eczema!  Our whole family uses it now for that purpose.  We also use Cetaphil cream for the whole family.

Infant Bathtub: I found I liked the giant sponge in the kitchen sink the best.  When he could sit up, we bought a bath chair and used the big tub.

Linens (Towels, washcloths, crib sheets: how many did you need?): Towels: two, washcloths: thousands  crib sheets: two  burp cloths: thousands

"I could not have lived without _____": breastfeeding support!  I know it's not a thing, but find a good LC now because you will want to call her at some point.  Go to the LLL meeting and get your DH on board! 

"I wish I hadn't wasted money on _______"  We never used our crib!  LOL  Our baby bedshared.  It was a gathering place for dust in the end.  He went straight to a regular bed as a toddler. 

"I wish I had bought more ______"  Washcloths!  We have destroyed a lot of them somehow.

"I didn't need as many ______ as I thought"  Towels and blankets.  You really only use maybe two of them.

What items are unnecessary to have on the registry, bc people will buy them for you anyway?  Clothes and diapers, unless you have a specific diaper brand you want.  Everyone will buy you clothes!  People like to give blankets too, but you might specify a theme.

 

What are the must-have items for the first 2-3 weeks home with baby?

Nailclippers!  Take them to the hospital with you because some hospitals (like mine) don't cut nails or give you clippers to cut nails for some reason!  Breastfeeding book and resources.  A good breastfeeding sleep bra.   Pre-made meals.

Don't forget about mom!  What should a new mom have on hand for her personal comfort following delivery?

Best resource EVER for this - an entire list of things you need post partum

http://www.sonofmax.com/movable/archives/000110.html

If you could give one key piece of advice regarding "baby stuff," what would it be?

You'll use about half of what you buy and you don't really need most of it for the first five months or so.  Don't fret if you don't have it all.  You might love getting out of the house to shop later!

 

DC2London:

Where did you register? Just Target. If I were to do it again, I'd register at Babies R US too. I loved Target prices, but stuff goes "out of stock" so fast there that I was constantly having to change my selections on my registry. Also, a lot of there stuff is only available online and a lot of people like actually going to the store to pick out your gift. Plus I think it's nice to give people options on stores.

When did you register? Around 7 months, probably should have done it a little earlier to give people more time to shop.

Big Ticket Baby Gear:

Car Seat (infant and/or convertible): Get an infant! DS was constantly napping in the car and it was so nice just to let him keep sleeping in there once we got wherever we were going. We have a Graco SnugRide 32 which DS loved and was able to use for most of the first year, although at the end it got too heavy for us to carry around. You can also buy multiple bases so you don't have to re-install the car seat every time you switch cars.

 

We now use a Sunshine Kids Radian XT which I also love. It's way easy to get DS in and out of and he likes riding in it a lot!

Stroller (of any variety): We have a Tike Tech X3 which is nice, although not a jogging stroller. The only complaint I have is that it does not come with an attachable tray on front. I'm kind of jealous of moms with strollers that can double as high chairs when you're out and about.

Crib: Got ours (which converts into a toddler bed as well) at IKEA for half the price of regular cribs. They don't make the exact model anymore, but I'd definitely recommend looking into IKEA for this.

Glider: Got it used which was good because DS never liked it anyway.

Baby Monitor/Video monitor: We got a Sony Baby Call monitor which works well if you just want a plain old sound monitor. Major downside: it has a very restricted range so I'm not able to use it if I'm at another end of the house.

High Chair: DH insisted on finding an "all wood" high chair, so we did. Don't do this! Get one with a plastic tray-so much easier to clean.

Swing/Bouncy Seat/Vibrating Seat: We got a vibrating bouncy seat from Fisher Price. This was probably our most used baby item: worked for sleeping, just hanging out and play time. 

 

For a swing, we got a used Graco one and I'm really glad we didn't spend a lot on it because DS really hated swinging. Some babies love it, some don't. I wish we had gotten a Fisher Price Rock and Play instead (great for colicky babies apparently). 

 

Co-sleeper, Pack n Play, Bassinett or other Sleeping Place: I cannot recommend Graco Pack and Plays enough. Especially if you're planning on keeping the baby in your room for a while. We did have a separate Bassinett which ended up being kind of a waste. It was too flimsy and DS (being a feisty baby) made it shake every time he kicked so I wasn't really comfortable keeping him in there.

Baby Carrier: Baby Bjorn if you want a front carrier. Moby if you want a baby wrap.

Feeding Baby

Breast Pump (if used): If you're only planning on pumping an occasional bottle or just using the pump to relieve engorgement during the first weeks I would recommend getting a Lansinoh Manual Breast Pump. Great price and works really well!

Breast Feeding Pillows/Supplies (if used): Boppy Pillow worked great.

Breast Feeding Comfort Items (breast pads, creams, etc): I preferred Lansinoh's disposable breast pads and Medela's Lanolin cream for my nipples.

Nursing bras, tanks, clothing sources: I registered for the Target brand nursing wear. Big mistake! Sizing is really funny and the chest portion seems disproportionately small compared to the stomach portion on the tops. The bras didn't wear well either.

Bottles (if used): Evenflo Glass Bottles worked great for us. Just make sure you get a smaller sized bottle brush. The regular sized Munchkin one didn't fit very well into the narrow opening of the bottles.

Bottle Warmer (if used): We bought one. It was a waste. Good old stove top works best in my opinion.

Health and Safety

Soap, Babywash Shampoo: I love Method brand Baby Shampoo/Soap.

Baby Lotion/Moisturizer: Aquaphor is the only kind of lotion that worked for us. DS has really sensitive skin and the Johnson and Johnson stuff just made it worse.

Infant Bathtub: I didn't get one; I wish I did.

Linens (Towels, washcloths, crib sheets: how many did you need?): We got one set of infant towels which I'm fine with, we usually just use our regular towels with DS b/c infant ones tend to be really thin. You cannot have enough washcloths or burp cloths. We have only three crib sheets and that's worked fine for us.

"I could not have lived without _____": The bouncy seat. DS also has a little cloth animal blanket he sleeps with (small enough that he can't suffocate himself) and it proved vital during the crib transition. It's an "Angel Dear." Oh, and swaddle blankets!!! Aden and Anais make the best swaddle blankets ever. They're really breathable and light so you don't have to worry if your overactive baby unswaddles himself in the middle of the night.

"I wish I hadn't wasted money on _______" Nursing tanks. In the future I'd just buy the bras and wear low cut tops.

"I wish I had bought more ______" Pacifiers and bottle nipples. For both make sure you buy/register for ones for later on too (pacifiers come in 6 month+ too and bottle nipples come in three different "flows" which you change up as your baby gets older). A note on pacifiers: buy most these AFTER your baby comes, that way you know which brand/type your baby prefers. We registered for one kind and then ended up buying a bunch of new ones because DS hated them.

"I didn't need as many ______ as I thought" I don't know. I feel like most of our stuff has gotten pretty good use. But I also registered really minimally.

What items are unnecessary to have on the registry, bc people will buy them for you anyway? Clothes, toys, diapers (unless getting a special kind or cloth diapering) and stuffed animals.

What will BRU try to tell you that you "need" but you really don't? Bottle warmer, wipes warmer, special cover for Boppy Pillow, newborn shoes...I'm sure I could think of more. If you're going to make your own baby food they'll probably try to sell you a special baby food maker, when you could honestly just use the blender you already have at home.

What are the must-have items for the first 2-3 weeks home with baby? Lots of diapers and wipes & two piece outfits for before the cord falls off.

Don't forget about mom!  What should a new mom have on hand for her personal comfort following delivery? If you're planning on a vaginal delivery definitely make sure you pick up some witch hazel pads before the baby comes. They're great at relieving itchiness/discomfort down there after birth.

If you could give one key piece of advice regarding "baby stuff," what would it be? Getting all your stuff brand new is over-rated. Crib mattresses, pacifiers, bottles, breast pumps-these are all great things to get brand new. But a lot of the other stuff is fine to buy used if you don't get it at your baby shower. Also, even if you're finding out the sex ahead of time, buy all your "big stuff" neutral if you're planning on having a 2nd kid. This is saving us a ton of money this time around.

DC2London:

Where did you register?

Amazon.com and then added things that weren't on amazon off other sites and compliled them onto Myregistry.com

When did you register?

I'm not sure--but probably around 20ish weeks? I did it over a period of time after doing lots of research rather than all at once. That's one of the perks of registering online. 

Big Ticket Baby Gear:

Car Seat (infant and/or convertible):

We used the Graco Snugride. It was okay, didn't love it (very basic, inexpensive, safe). 

Stroller (of any variety):

TBH, we didn't use a stroller much until he was about 6 months+ See baby carrier. 

 

Crib:

I think we have the Basset baby cape cod (or something like that)? I really like it. It's fairly easy to assemble, and very sturdy. It's a 4 in 1. 

 

Glider:

We just used a comfy old rocking chair, however it's wearing out, and I think I'll be investing in a real glider this pg. 

Baby Monitor/Video monitor:

The one we have is a POS. We'll be getting a video monitor for #2. 

 

High Chair:

Fisher Price Space Saver FTW. Seriously. Very easy to travel with, easy to clean, and we don't have tons of space, so it's great. Highly recommended. 

 

Swing/Bouncy Seat/Vibrating Seat:

We got a "Sassy" jungle bouncy/vibrating seat and borrowed a fisher price swing from a friend.    

 

Co-sleeper, Pack n Play, Bassinett or other Sleeping Place:

Pack 'n' plays are essential. We have the Graco type with the changing station and the newborn napper. I was really glad to have both.  

 

Baby Carrier:

For the newborn phase: Moby (or something similar--K'tan, sleepywrap, etc). Don't be afraid. There's a learning curve, but I'm telling you--if you have a colicky baby, this thing will probably save your life! Also, we have a maya wrap which we love. That was better for quick in/out of the store type trips. 

For 3 months+: Ergobaby carrier hands down. It's front or back carry, and is really easy on the back. 

BEWARE OF CROTCH DANGLERS! Seriously. Stay away. Research infant hip development. Those things are not good for babies or parents. 

Feeding Baby

Breast Pump (if used):

I have two--Medela Pump In Style Advanced, and the Lansinoh Affinity. I'd say they perform equally as far as comfort and output. For reference, I went back to work FT at 8 weeks PP and pumped 2-3 times daily for 10 months. The breakdown:

 

Medela: Pros--fairly quiet, easily adjusted, replacement parts very easy to come by. Cons--open system (research open vs closed system breast pumps. This is a must), No individual speed/strength adjustment, a little loud, Expensive (I think they run $279?), heavy.

 

Lansinoh: Pros--Just as good at getting milk (if not better) than the medela for less than half the price ($105 on amazon), individual speed/suction strength dials, Lightweight and compact, the flanges have a nice silicone edge (makes a better seal), closed system.

Cons--fairly loud, Has a bit of a learning curve (at least for me). 

 

Breast Feeding Pillows/Supplies (if used):

I liked the breastfriend pillow.  

Breast Feeding Comfort Items (breast pads, creams, etc):

 pure lanolin (I preferred Lansinoh), nursing pads (Lansinoh, again, hands down), Soothies (these are like....gel things that you stick on sore nips. For the best relief, chill 'em in the fridge first). Booby Tubes from earth mama angel baby. These are flax-seed filled ice/heat packs perfectly shaped to your breast. MUCH better than frozen peas. I love that they're re usable and cen be used hot or cold.

 

Nursing bras, tanks, clothing sources:

I got the target nursing tanks, but honestly, don't care for them much. I'll be upgrading with baby #2.  

 

Bottles (if used):

we used the cheap-o evenflo glass 4 oz bottles with Dr. Brown's nipples. Thankfully DS was never picky about his bottles/nips. I really shy away from plastic, even if it's BPA free. Glass is so much easier to clean (and they're really tough. We've never had one break, even with lots of abuse. They make silicone sleeves you can buy for them too if you're worried). 

Bottle Warmer (if used):

We swore we'd never use one, but when DS was refusing to eat more than 1 oz of BM out of a bottle, a friend picked us up the Munchkin bottle warmer. It's great. I love that you can sterilize things with it too.  

Health and Safety

Soap, Babywash Shampoo:

Burt's Bees baby wash. Smells so good, and is low in chemicals. Fairly reasonable. 

Baby Lotion/Moisturizer: 

DS developed Eczema, so vaseline was a serious life saver. I also like the Aveeno Lavender (it may be lavender vanilla even) lotion.  

Infant Bathtub:

We got a Summer Infant tub that came with an attachable stool/platform at BRU. It had the infant sling, and worked up until recently when DS decided to start trying to climb out of it and faceplanted. It worked. 

Linens (Towels, washcloths, crib sheets: how many did you need?):

Towels--hooded towels (try to stay away from those thin gerber ones. They're not terribly warm/absorbent)--we have 5 and have never run out.

Washcloths--one pack. We didn't use them much. We actually switched over to a sea sponge bc of DS's sensitive skin. 

Swaddle blankets--we only had like...one good swaddling blanket. I think you need 3-4. I will be getting the Aden + Anais ones this time.

Crib sheets--3 or 4. Also, those pads that go under the sheet aren't a bad idea. 

"I could not have lived without _____":

The moby wrap for sure. 

 

"I wish I hadn't wasted money on _______"

 Newborn size "dress up" clothes. We bought this "button up" onesie. While it was cute, it was a PITA, and DS didn't seem comfortable, so he wore it for about 15 minutes. Also, newborn sized non-stretchy pants. His CDs were SO big then that his big butt didn't fit!

"I wish I had bought more ______"

sleepers. Seriously, those were awesome. I have a feeling that they will be essential with winter babies. 

Also, I wish I had a few more diaper covers. We had 4, but could have used 6. Newborn EBF poo is explosive!

 

"I didn't need as many ______ as I thought"

 Can't think of anything.

 

What items are unnecessary to have on the registry, bc people will buy them for you anyway?

Clothes, blankets. 

 

What will BRU try to tell you that you "need" but you really don't?

I'm not sure! I've never asked anyone for help with my registry. Seriously look into CDing. Diapers are super expensive (about $100 per month). Modern CDs are user friendly, cute, trim, and reliable. So I guess I'd say--disposable diapers! 

What are the must-have items for the first 2-3 weeks home with baby?

Colic calm (this is the gripe water I have experience with and recommend) for upset tummies, gas drops, the number of a recommended lactation consultant (if you plan on BFing). Honestly, babies don't *need* much.

Don't forget about mom!  What should a new mom have on hand for her personal comfort following delivery?

Don't laugh too hard--but depends. Honestly, I didn't want to ruin my undies, and they're easy to pop an ice pack/frozen diaper into for a sore bottom.

Ibuprofen.

a Few newborn diapers with witch hazel poured into them and frozen. They feel heavenly on those swollen nether regions.

Tucks pads--many women get hemmorhoids during delivery.

Colace--stool softener--that first poop is really scary, and constipation is even scarier!

A water bottle--you'll need to drink lots of water, esp with BFing.

Good help. Enlist help from friends and family ahead of time if possible! Sign people up to bring meals, do laundry, dishes, etc. 

 

If you could give one key piece of advice regarding "baby stuff," what would it be?

Don't be afraid to buy used or borrow from family/friends. So many things will be outgrown very quickly, and baby stuff is expensive! Babies really don't need lots of high tech, expensive stuff! 

 

Hi- I registered at BRU and Potterybarn kids. I registered at PB because I wanted some personalized items like blankets with the babies name on them.

I registered for all the items I wanted even though I knew I would not get alot of the big ticket items, but you get the discount towards whatever is not purchased so that is a good thing.

I did the infant carseat with the travel system. For me this made most sense because I wanted ease of moving baby from car to stroller without waking him. It was great for the mall. I didn't register for a running stroller for cost reasons but I got a BOB on craigslist for $100.00.(great place to look for strollers that are still in great condition but half the cost)

For the big furniture like cribs, rockers, dressers- we went to costco. If you catch it at the right time of year great prices and great furniture.

High chair- I went with a graco but any brand that you can wipe easily or throw the cover in the wash(babies are messy) Also if you want a space saver go with the one that ties onto your kitchen chair. My mom has one and loves it.

Swings are a must get one with lots of padding and that plays sounds or music.

Video monitor- Summer is a great brand.

Breast Pump- go with Medela it is a little more expensive but it lasted and I am going to use it for my next child.

My Breast Friend is the best for feeding pillow.

For Bra's just make sure you get the right fit. I had to go to Nordroms because Motherhood Maternity didn't have my size but I was glad I spent the extra money to get something comfortable.

 Bottles- We went with Avent but one thing my sister inlaw told me is with bottles just find one your baby will like. We did get a bottle warmer and it came in very handy.

Towels- 3-4 , wash clothes- 5-6, Sheet and liners- 2 of each. Burp rags- as many as you can get. My little one spit up all the time so we could go through 5-6 a day.

I could have not lived without the swing- he loved it and slept alot in it.

It wasn't a total waste but I did not use the pack n play as much as I thought I would.

Hope this helps

Hope no one minds me just linking to my blog.  I did a post last year that pretty much encompassed a lot of this.

I registered at BRU and used Amazon's registry system as well.  I registered around 20 weeks, after we found out we were having a girl.

Here is my big list of baby gear!

DC2London:

I'm on #2, so I hope this helps!  :)

Where did you register? Amazon.com

When did you register? Started my registry at about 15 weeks, included the registry info with my shower invites at 28/29 weeks.  Family had been asking for the information before that.

In response to the following items, please feel free to share the items you used and loved, as well as any that you used and didn't love, and any other pertinent information that you think might be helpful.

Big Ticket Baby Gear:

Car Seat (infant and/or convertible): I used only a convertible seat. Combi Cocorro.  I really love this seat, DS is still in it, RF. The only disadvantage was taking baby out of the seat when they were sleeping.  With this one, we'll use an infant seat (Maxi Cosi Mico) and then switch to a convertible.  Babies will stay RF for a very long time.

Stroller (of any variety): I have a fixed wheel jogging stroller (hate it).  I have the Combi Flash (DS is ok with it now, but wouldn't sit in it when he was younger). and an umbrella stroller I got from TJ Maxx for $10.  That's the one we use the most.  DS will sit in it with no problems.  We aren't in need of a stroller that often, we live in a rural area, so we only need it when we go out of town for shopping.

Crib: I was given a crib that can convert to a toddler bed, then a full size bed.  It was about $600.00 and we love it.  DS didn't start sleeping in it until about 9 months, we bed-shared until then.

Glider: Almost dropped $400 on one and I'm glad I didn't.  Got a used plain jane rocking chair, and that's been great for us.

Baby Monitor/Video monitor: Nope.  I'm never far enough away that I can't hear the baby. If we're having a party, and it's loud in the house, I have downloaded an app for my phone that will call/text another phone (doesn't have to be a cell) when it detects a certain volume.  This has been great for us when we actually need to have a monitor.

High Chair: Stokke Tripp Trapp.  Bought used off of craigslist.  We love ours.

Swing/Bouncy Seat/Vibrating Seat: Borrowed the Boppy one from a friend, that was great when I was taking a shower.  I suggest checking a second hand store.  Those really don't get used for very long.

Co-sleeper, Pack n Play, Bassinett or other Sleeping Place:  We spent a bunch of money on the Joovy square one.  Don't.  That damned thing is so heavy I can barely manage it.  I also can't fit it anywhere because it's huge.  Baby never "played" in one.  So for us, a cheap Target P&P was the way to go for travel.

Baby Carrier: Moby for little, little babies and then the ERGO!!! I absolutely love our Ergo carrier.  We take it everywhere (even now).  I was able to comfortably breastfeed in it, and we literally wore our son for a week in Costa Rica (he was 12 mo).  Very comfortable, customer service is outstanding.  Just make sure you buy from a reputable source. There are lots of fakes out there.  Best money spent on a baby item for us!!

Feeding Baby

Breast Pump (if used): Tried to use a medela pump in style, but is sucked.  Baby never took a bottle, so I stopped trying.

Breast Feeding Pillows/Supplies (if used):  Used the boppy for like 2 weeks.  If I were doing it again, I'd get it used.

Breast Feeding Comfort Items (breast pads, creams, etc): BAMBOOBIES!!! Best nursing pads EVER!  I swear the disposable pads were what gave me thrush. Bamboobies are the softest, best things ever. I swear.

Nursing bras, tanks, clothing sources: I bought cheap ones at Motherhood (bras that is).  I didn't buy any special clothes, just thought about how they would go up or down for feedings . . . there are lots of options.

Bottles (if used):  I tried almost every kind of bottle, from Tommee Tippee to Medela to Born Free.  DS wasn't having any of it.  I've heard that the old-style drop ins work well for some breastfed babies, but I never got to trying those, we just made it work from the tap for 15 months.

Bottle Warmer (if used):

Health and Safety

Soap, Babywash Shampoo: I like Burt's Bees.

Baby Lotion/Moisturizer: 

Infant Bathtub: I registered for this (and got it) and I loved it!! Simple, and it worked very well for us.  We used it in both the sink and the bath tub.  I tought it was silly to spend a bunch of money on a tub.  http://www.amazon.com/PRI-Infant-Bath-Seat-White/dp/B000BXJZDY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1344058921&sr=8-2&keywords=primo+baby+bathtub

Linens (Towels, washcloths, crib sheets: how many did you need?): I used a pair of A&A washcloths, 3 towels, 2 crib sheets.  I got white flannel sheets, and I'm still using them.  We still only have 2.

"I could not have lived without _____":  Our Ergo Carrier.  Best. Thing. Ever.

"I wish I hadn't wasted money on _______" A jogging stroller.  A bumbo (even though it was a gift). A wipes warmer.

"I wish I had bought more ______" Socks . . . Even though I wash them in a garment bag, I lose them.

"I didn't need as many ______ as I thought" Binkies.  DS never liked them.

What items are unnecessary to have on the registry, bc people will buy them for you anyway? Teeny tiny newborn clothes.  They wear them for like a day.  DS literally had an outfit he wore ONCE.  I felt like I was changing him all the time so we could at least wear what I had washed.

What will BRU try to tell you that you "need" but you really don't? A changing table.  Put the damn thing on top of a regular dresser.  That's what we did, and still do.

What are the must-have items for the first 2-3 weeks home with baby? Diapers.  That's about it.

Don't forget about mom!  What should a new mom have on hand for her personal comfort following delivery? I have given moms that are delivering in a hospital Pretty Pushers.  They're disposable gowns that are pretty.  They also have underwear (all made in the USA too). Seriously, Depends.  Totally better than the giant pads . . . I was actually more comfortable in them the first few days.

If you could give one key piece of advice regarding "baby stuff," what would it be? Buy used when you can.  It's totally not worth it to pay hundreds of dollars for something that will only be used a few months.  If you get a bunch of little clothes, exchange them for 6 months or bigger.  Preferably 9 or 12 months plus.  That's when you'll need clothes, and no one ever gives clothes that big.

 

I also continue to search clearance racks when I'm somewhere and buy large clothes for my son.  He'll eventually grow into it, and I save a ton of money.  I only buy his stuff used or clearance (I'm talking target, $1.67 shirts people!)

I hope that helps!!  :)

DC2London:

I don't live in the US so my experience was quite different, but may be helpful nonetheless. 

 

Where I live baby showers are not a custom and are considered rude. So I did not register at all. My American family gave money towards items and we bought them here.

 

At first I was disappointed, but in the end I think it was really positive, we ended up not buying a lot of stuff ahead of time and could buy things as we needed them. We ended up not making too many unnecessary purchases and being happy with most things.

 

My advice? Keep it simple and go for necessary items, a lot of stuff just takes up space. 

Where did you register? None

When did you register? None

In response to the following items, please feel free to share the items you used and loved, as well as any that you used and didn't love, and any other pertinent information that you think might be helpful.

Big Ticket Baby Gear:

Car Seat (infant and/or convertible): Had a Greico infant carrier and then a giant car seat that works with rear facing until 4. The seat is amazing but not approved for US use.

Stroller (of any variety): Again - local variety - we walk a LOT and don't use our stroller in the car, and have a lot of bad weather and trails. We got a giant stroller that doesn't fit in a normal car, but we have used it for 3 years and and in snow, mud, everything. We have a little one for car trips - just a cheap umbrella stroller from BRU.

Crib: Ikea crib - converts to toddler bed - cheap and highly rated

Glider: None

Baby Monitor/Video monitor: Bought a cheap IKEA one, but we didn't need it,always heard baby when crying - when visiting we used an iPhone app.

High Chair: Ikea antelope

Swing/Bouncy Seat/Vibrating Seat: Very basic bouncy seat with no bells or whistles - I think it was a Greico

Co-sleeper, Pack n Play, Bassinett or other Sleeping Place:  Pack N Play Cheapest we could find to use on weekend get aways - We did cosleeping, but didn't have anything - recommended by our ped, so we went for it.

Baby Carrier: Moby wrap for first few months and then a Beco Butterfly II

Feeding Baby

Breast Pump (if used): Medela hand pump - used it only occasionally, ended up LO didn't like bottle feeding so did mostly EBF as I had long maternity leave.

Breast Feeding Pillows/Supplies (if used): Bought a Boppy, HATED it (see lots of people love it and it was highly recommended) Ended up using nothing, but borrowed My Breast Friend when LO was 7 months old and loved it. Might pick one up this time around.

 

Breast Feeding Comfort Items (breast pads, creams, etc): Tried with washable pads, but could not get them to look normal in a shirt so used throw aways. 

Nursing bras, tanks, clothing sources: Bought H&M nursing bras which lasted ages and worked fine. Got a few Boob shirts, love them, but for the price I didn't get more. 

Bottles (if used): Used Doc Watsons, and tried everything, LO just wasn't having it.

Bottle Warmer (if used):

Health and Safety

Soap, Babywash Shampoo:

Baby Lotion/Moisturizer: Local brand, all natural

Infant Bathtub: Plastic Ikea one

 

ALSO LOOK FOR THE NOSE FRIDA - It is a LIFESAVER for when little ones get a stuffy nose. It sounds gross as you basically suck their snot out through a straw, but there is a filter, so no snot actually reaches your mouth. You buy new straws and filters to replace them. We loved it!!  

Linens (Towels, washcloths, crib sheets: how many did you need?): Used a lot of old-fashioned cloth diapers for EVERYTHING - got a few packs of 10. Used them on the changing table, as spit up cloths, they were great and cheap. Crib sheets had 2 and changed them. Towels 2-3, more than enough. Bigger is better, the little ones don't last long.

"I could not have lived without _____": Bouncy seat

"I wish I hadn't wasted money on _______" Boppy

"I wish I had bought more ______" Nothing

"I didn't need as many ______ as I thought"

What items are unnecessary to have on the registry, bc people will buy them for you anyway?

What will BRU try to tell you that you "need" but you really don't? You don't NEED much of anything. It is a baby. We didn't get a diaper genie, just empty the trash daily and it works fine!

What are the must-have items for the first 2-3 weeks home with baby? A comfy place to sit, maybe some DVDs - I nursed around the clock those first weeks, an extra pair of hands? (DH had 2 weeks paternity leave for which I was very grateful)

Don't forget about mom!  What should a new mom have on hand for her personal comfort following delivery?

Comfy clothing, DVDs, precooked meals, help around the house, maybe some laxatives? 

If you could give one key piece of advice regarding "baby stuff," what would it be?

 

Keep it simple. Most of this stuff, max, will be used 3-6 months, ask yourself if it is worth it. I mean if you like stuff, great. But I did not want a lot of weird tinny Mozart music, flashing lights, and all kinds of things in my house. And my kid is a really easy going easy to entertain 2.5 year old today. 

Cloth diapering info will be in a separate post.  That's a whooooooole lot of information and may not apply to everyone, so I think it deserves its own post :)