Before Toby was born, I felt totally overwhelmed by all the choices of baby products. I had no idea what to buy or where to shop or what we'd really need. (I remember bursting into tears to Alex one night on our way to dinner!) My wish was just to know exactly what other parents were buying for their babies, but, despite tons of research, I couldn't find a full registry list anywhere online. I was bewildered.So, my darlings, now that Toby is here, I'd LOVE to share a complete list of the things we bought when he was a newborn. I wrote down every single thing (big and small), so you could literally get this list and be done with it. Or, of course, add/subtract as you see fit.
Congratulations to all new parents! Hope this guide is helpful. xoxo
OK, here goes...
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A random tip:
When I registered for my baby shower, I used MyRegistry.com, since it lets you register from all different stores (not just one). That way, you can bring together exactly what you'd like for your baby registry (even items from etsy), instead of being limited to one store's selection. Just a thought!
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We bought four great books to read before the baby arrived which made us feel more confident and prepared:
* The Happiest Baby on the Block (both the book and DVD) about how to calm a crying baby. Dr. Karp's tips work like MAGIC.
* Jo Frost's Confident Baby Care--by the SuperNanny! I loved her assured, encouraging tone, and she offered great advice about taking care of a new baby (baths, diapers, etc).
* The SleepEasy Solution about naps and nighttime sleep. Practical, gentle advice about how to teach your baby to get the sleep he needs. A friend recommended this to us, and I'm so glad she did. It saved us when Toby was four months old and suddenly decided he hated napping. :)
* The Nursing Mother's Companion, an amazing, lifesaving guide to breastfeeding, which made everything much easier. (I mentioned this book in my breastfeeding post, as well).
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And here's everything else we got:
Infant car seat -- Graco infant car seats are fantastic and very easy to use. Pretty much every parent I know has this one. (You can also get a frame to turn it into a stroller, which is great for everyday life, as well as traveling.)
Crib -- We loved Wal Mart's cribs, surprisingly! Our friend Abbey had one, and they're modern and chic; they look sort of like the gorgeous Oeuf cribs, but are 1/3 the price! We got the Olivia, but they're all nice. (You can see it in Toby's nursery here.)
Crib mattress -- We chose this natural soybean mattress. FYI, experts say it's best and safest to get a firm mattress for the crib.
Crib mattress pad -- We got this NaturePedic organic mattress pad.
At least three fitted crib sheets -- Experts recommend changing the crib sheets approximately once a week (since they get spit up, dust, etc. on them), so we've found that it's helpful to have three sets of sheets, so you're not always running to the washing machine. We splurged on the cute fitted sheets from DwellStudio, and also got a plain white one from Target.
Noise machine -- Babies love white noise since it makes them feel cozy, like they're in the womb. (Total silence can freak them out!) We got this white noise machine for naptime/nighttime, and it's awesome (I love that it has two different volume settings; and doesn't have wave/forest/rainstorm sounds, which I find distracting; it's just plain white noise similar to a fan).
Fan -- Experts recommend having a fan to move air around in the nursery and keep the air fresh. we just used a fan that we already had.
Baby monitor -- We are OBSESSED with our video monitor. You can see the baby on the little screen, so know if he's asleep or playing in his crib. It's also awesome when you're a brand new mom and (if you're like me) totally neurotic and want to constantly check to see if your baby is breathing:) Instead of getting up and tiptoeing into the baby's room, you can just zoom in on the monitor! It was totally worth the money for us, since we'll use it many times a day for years; on a million friends' recommendations, we bought it when Toby was a few months old and haven't looked back.
Alternate baby monitor -- If you don't care about having video on your monitor, we also had this Graco monitor for the first few months, and it worked really well. A great thing about this one is that you can put it on vibrate, so if you're watching TV or have friends over, you will be sure to hear it.
Stroller -- A stroller is a super personal choice, based on your city/lifestyle/budget/etc. We use two strollers for different reasons: First, the Graco stroller frame simply lets us just add wheels to the car seat, to turn it into a stroller). These are great when babies are super little, since babies sleep in them really well and you can take them on long walks/out to restaurants/etc. It's AMAZINGLY easy and awesome to use when traveling, as well, since you can pop them in and out of the car or taxi.
For everyday use, we use the Maclaren Triumph, which is for babies 3 months and older. It's comfy, light and easy to fold (to stick in the trunk of the car). Many of our friends highly recommended it, and we love it, too. P.S. How cute is this Frenchy striped stroller?! :)
Stroller blanket -- Good for chilly fall and spring days. We love the DwellStudio blankets--adorable!
Stroller bundle bag for winter -- Bundle bags are AMAZING. If winter gets cold where you live, you can just pop your baby into one of these instead of having to dress him in a bulky snowsuit or giant jacket/pants/etc. Our friends swear by them, too. Since we walk everywhere in New York, we splurged on this one from 7 A.M. Enfant, which a friend had highly recommended. It's the warmest (but most expensive) option. Alternately, a less expensive--but still great--choice is the BundleMe stroller bag. I've seen tons of moms around the West Village with it, and it looks super cozy.
Baby carriers -- I love wearing Toby on walks around the city. It's lovely to cuddle up, and he adores it. Using a carrier also lets me have both hands free and I can easily walk around crowded streets, grocery stores, etc. There are lots of great carriers (and slings!), but my all-time favorite is the Ergo. The Ergo is beloved by pretty much every mom I know, since padded straps go over both shoulders and it sits on the hips, so the weight is distributed really well. It's super comfy, even with older babies; honestly, sometimes I'll forget for a second that I'm wearing Toby. :) I love the Ergo.
High chair -- Lots of moms seem to love Stokke, but since our apartment is tiny, we got the Phil & Teds Lobster Highchair, which clips onto a table and is super small to store. It's great. FYI, the older version of this chair--the MeToo--was recalled because some clamps were faulty, but this version is A-OK. (Here's Toby sitting in it, if you want to see it in action!)
Daytime diapers -- We use Seventh Generation diapers for the daytime, since they're pure and chlorine-free. To be honest, I initially thought they felt like garbage bags, but we quickly grew to love them. Babies wear diapers 24/7 for years, so it was important to me that they be very pure and natural on his sensitive skin.
Nighttime diapers -- When Toby was about six months and started sleeping through the night (p.s. more on sleep later!), we got him Huggies Overnight Diapers; they're so absorbent that he doesn't wake up when he has a wet diaper (which is great for both him and us:).
Diaper wipes -- We like Seventh Generation wipes, since they're natural and chlorine free.
Diaper Dekor (or Genie) -- We got a Diaper Dekor to use as a trash can for diapers in the nursery; it works well, is cheaper than the diaper genie, and keeps the room smelling nice! It's easy to use and, for us, was well worth the price (we would have had to buy a trash can for the room anyway), and I like that you can open it with your foot (versus your hand). Whether you need one of these might depend on what type of trash disposal you have (we can only take out our trash twice a week), and if you already have a good foot-pedal trash can. FYI, the Diaper Dekor is cheaper than the Diaper Genie, and seems just as good as far as I can tell.
Diaper Dekor bag refills -- Just extra trash bags for the dekor.
Diaper rash cream -- For diaper rash (which pops up now and again) or random irritation down there, we use the very gentle, all natural Mayron's Goods diaper cream.
Maxi pads -- Most moms bleed lightly for the first month or so (no big deal), as your uterus goes back to its normal size (yay), so you'll want some maxi pads on hand.
Changing pad -- We didn't get a changing table, but instead just put this contoured changing pad on the top of a dresser. (We hooked it on with a strap and sticky pads for safety.) It works really well and also saved money. Whatever works best for you!
Changing pad cover -- Lots of cute styles out there!
A few packs of cloth diapers -- When Toby was little, we used these for EVERYTHING and had one hanging over the arm of pretty much every chair in the house! Great for cleaning random spit up, using as a burp cloth, shielding baby's head from the sun when you're walking around outside with him (they're very light, thin and breathable). FYI, you can wash and reuse them.
Diaper bag -- It's great to have a dedicated diaper bag (when Toby was a newborn, for example, I carried diapers, wipes, a cloth diaper for burping him, and a water bottle). The diaper bags in baby stores are fine but aren't always that cute. I use Moop's market bag, and I love using it everyday.
Storage bins -- We got some basic bins and drawers from the Container Store to put under the crib. We also got an amazing Dwell storage bin for storing all his toys and blankets (and it looks good on the floor!).
Saline drops -- Saline drops are just plain salt water. Pretty much all new babies have stuffy noses, and you can drop this salt water into his or her nose and then it will loosen up the mucus and he'll either sneeze it out or swallow it. We use it all the time :) Great for when he has a cold, too. You can also use the aspirator, below.
Aspirator -- Also called a bulb syringe. This is for sucking snot out of a baby's nose. :)
Baby nail clippers.
Digital rectal thermometer -- Good to have on hand, for when you think your baby might have a fever. (I heard a great tip: if you think your baby might have a fever, kiss his forehead to see if it feels warm; it's an easier way to tell than using your hands.) you put vaseline on the tip.
Baby acedominophen -- This can be good to have in the house in case your baby gets a fever or is in pain for some reason. (FYI, our doctor said not to give a baby any medicine before he's two months old, so you might check with yours.)
3 thin, soft blankets -- People like giving blankets as gifts, so you might wait to buy these until right before your baby is born, since you'll probably get them as a present. We used ours for tummy/floor time during the day with Toby, and also we put one in the diaper bag, so he can lie on it if we go to the park. We also use it to drape over the stroller on sunny days or when he's napping in the stroller. (We don't use blankets in his crib, though, since experts advise against it.) If you do buy some, I'd recommend Aden & Anais muslin blankets, which are light and lovely.
3 swaddles -- We LOVED swaddling!!! Toby slept much, much better (and longer) when he was swaddled, since his wriggly arms didn't startle him as a newborn. We swaddled him for naps and nighttime until he was 5 months old. Many experts and doctors recommend swaddling newborns; it's wonderful and super cozy, like being in the womb. We tried a bunch of different kinds -- velcro swaddles, the hospital blankets, Aden & Anais swaddling blankets...our FAVORITE by far was the Miracle Blanket, which helped Toby's arms stay put (meaning: he didn't bust out of it in the middle of the night). I would highly, highly recommend it; we loved it.
6-8 T-shirts and 6-8 onesies -- Toby was born in the early summer, so he didn't wear very many clothes as a newborn -- usually just a diaper or cotton onesie. The tees and onesies from babyGap, Gerber and Carters all fit well and are easy to snap. (FYI, everyone loves to give baby clothes as gifts, so you might be surprised at how many cute clothes you'll get from friends and family:)
2 pairs of pajamas. When Toby was teeny, he slept in just a diaper and his swaddle. But once he hit five months and wasn't swaddled anymore, we dressed him in these adorable pajamas by Dwell. He's since outgrown them, but Alex jokes that we should frame them, since they remind us of how heartbreakingly sweet he looked sleeping as a little baby (with his butt in the air:)
Gentle laundry detergent -- We like Mrs. Meyer's Baby Blossom detergent, which is gentle for sensitive skin.
Puj tub -- We LOVED this tub. You can easily put it in the sink with one hand, and it's very soft and comfy for a newborn baby to lie in (versus hard plastic tubs). The absolute best part is that it stores FLAT, so that you can stick it in a closet when you're not using it.
A duck hooded towel. So cute, it hurts. (Here's Toby wearing his.)
Baby washcloths -- We just got cheap ones from Carters, and they work well. (And the designs are sweet!)
Baby shampoo & body wash -- We like Nature's Baby Organics and Mayron's Goods.
Teethers -- Every baby I've ever met loves Sophie the Giraffe (made in France!), and Toby also spent some happy time chomping on this Lifefactory teether. (P.S. Here's Toby hanging with Sophie in California:)
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If you decide to breastfeed:
My Brest Friend Pillow -- I LOVED LOVED LOVED LOVED LOVED this pillow, which made breastfeeding soooooo much more comfortable. The pillow supports your lower back and helps position the baby at chest-level, so your back and arms don't ache. Just makes your life easier and more comfortable. (I used it many times a day until Toby was big enough to sit on my knee during feeds, probably around 4 months.) I LOVED it!
An extra slipcover for the My Brest Friend Pillow -- The pillow comes with a slipcover, but I found it helpful to have an extra one when washing the original one.
A breast pump -- We had the Ameda double pump, and I really liked it. It's great to have pumped breast milk in the fridge, so that your husband can feed the baby a bottle at night while you get extra sleep; or if you go out to dinner or to a movie, your husband/mom/babysitter can feed the baby a bottle. (P.S. breast pumps look intimidating, but I was relieved to find that it didn't hurt at all.)
Lansinoh milk storage bags or bottles -- You can store your pumped breast milk in these and pop them into the fridge or freezer. Super easy to use!
Bottles -- Babies seem to prefer certain bottles over others, so you might have to experiment to see what your baby likes. We love this glass bottle from Lifefactory (I liked the idea of using glass better than plastic).
Lansinoh breast pads -- Your breasts might leak for the first few weeks/months (mine leaked like crazy!) so you can just pop these pads into your bra and they absorb the milk. Comfy and great. (FYI, I pretty much wore a nursing bra all the time--even to bed--along with these pads to absorb leaks.)
Lansinoh nipple cream -- To help soothe nipples when you're first breastfeeding (note: your baby can drink from your breast even if you have lanolin cream on your nipples; it's 100% safe and natural for babies and they don't even notice it).
Nursing bras -- In NYC, there's an awesome store on the Upper West Side called The Upper Breast Side that will do bra fittings and has a great selection. The nursing bras I liked best were the pretty lace ones by Elle MacPherson.
Nursing shirts -- If you're nursing at home, you can just pull a regular shirt up or down, or take your shirt off, of course, but when you're in public, it can be nice to wear either a V-neck shirt or a nursing shirt for modesty. You can buy them at lots of places (Gap, Target, etc.), and I LOVED the ones by the brand Boob; they're super cute. My friend's sister also makes these pretty Dria covers, if you'd like extra coverage.
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Some extras:
Books -- We love board books, like The Runaway Bunny and Good Night, Gorilla.
A play gym -- My mom sent us one, and at first I thought it was the most hideous thing...but my mom was right: Toby loved it. :)
Nightlight -- If the nursery is dark at night, you might like a nightlight. (For us, the street light outside the nursery window let in enough light for us to see our way around. We do have this amazing egg nightlight, though, because we love it.)
Formula -- Again, how and what you feed your baby is a very personal decision, but here's what we did: Even though I was breastfeeding, we found it helpful to have some formula on hand, in case you're away from the baby and he suddenly gets hungry, or if you find yourself super tired and would like your husband to feed the baby while you nap, etc. We chose Similac Advance Early Shield.
Travel crib -- If you travel a lot, you might want to register for a travel crib. we did a bunch of research and, while there are cheaper options (Pack n' Play, Phil & Ted), the crowd favorite BY FAR was the Baby Bjorn Travel Crib Light, so we decided on that and love it. It packs up into a super light little suitcase for carrying through airports, etc., and it's comfy, safe and amazingly easy to use.
Car window sun shade -- Newborn babies' eyes are really sensitive, so it's great to get a sunshade for the car window/s. We don't have one because we don't have a car, but other moms seem to love it. (Note: the car seat will face backward for the first year or two, so a shade for the rear window is great.)
Rearview mirror for the car -- We don't have a car, so we didn't get one of these, but other moms seem to love them, so you can see the baby's face while you're driving.
Pacifiers -- Many of my friends swear by pacifiers for their newborns, since it helps them soothe themselves and stay calm during naps and while on outings, etc. Toby didn't like pacifiers (he just spat them out time and time again:), but you might try them out, if you'd like.
Moms and dads, do you agree with these? What would you recommend? I would love to hear! And, most of all, congratulations to the new parents out there!! xoxo
(Photo by June Hong)Source URL: http://gbejadacosta.blogspot.com/2011/08/motherhood-mondays-what-to-register-for.html
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