Baby Registry

I was fortunate to have a detailed list from my sister-in-law and a friend who went with me when I registered for my first child, and it really helped me navigate the multitude of choices.  I also recently had the pleasure of helping another friend register for her first child.  Here is my list of recommended registry items for new moms. 

1) Swaddle sleep sacks, but not the fleece ones because they're too hot.  I recommend registering for just 1 newborn one and 1 small one to see if you like them.

2) Flannel receiving blankets- 1 pack should suffice.  I prefer the larger Aden and Anais blankets to these because they're bigger.  These smaller receiving blankets can be used for burp clothes.

3) Aden and Anais swaddle blankets- They come in packs of 4 with really cute prints and they are the perfect size for swaddling.  They are lightweight, so the baby doesn't get too hot.  They also make great blankets in the stroller in the spring and fall.

4) Fleece blankets- 2 or 3 (depending on where you live) so you can keep one in the car and a couple in the house.

5) Crib sheets- 3 has always been plenty for me.

6) Breathable mesh crib liner- as opposed to the traditional crib liner that is a suffocation risk.

7) Mattress pad covers- It's good to have two of these in case the baby pees through their diaper!  My mom prefers the ones that don't have the plastic layer in them because she thinks it could make the baby sweat.  Crib mattresses have a waterproof layer, so mattress pad covers without the plastic layer should suffice.

8) Crib mattress- We got this Lullaby Earth crib mattress because it was the most reasonably priced "green" mattress.

9) Crib- We opted for this crib from Ikea because it was reasonably priced and we liked the color.  It says it changes to a toddler bed, but we haven't tried that since we got our second crib from a friend and continue to use this one for our youngest child.  We didn't want to invest a lot of money in the convertible cribs that transition to a full-size bed since we weren't sure what kind of bed we would want for our children then.  The Ikea crib does seem to be shorter, so it is probably easier for toddlers to climb out of, but at that point, you may want to go ahead and transition to a toddler bed anyway.

10) White noise machine- I ordered this one recommended by Moms On Call, and it has worked well.  It's even helped my older son take longer naps! 

11) Changing pad

12) 2 Changing pad covers- I like the soft dot ones, but any kind will do.

13) Some kind of changing pad liners- These are much easier to change than the covers themselves.

14) Car seat- We have the Graco Snugride 30, but I'd recommend the 32 or 35 to accommodate a baby's length for a longer time.  We have been happy with this seat.  It was the one that the Baby Bargains book recommended back in 2011, but I'd check the most recent edition before I purchased another one.

15) Car seat head rest or neck cushion for when they're newborns

16) Stroller Cart- We did the stroller cart that the Graco Snugride fits in instead of the travel system because we knew we wanted a Bob Revolution because we like to walk and our older neighborhood has uneven sidewalks.  I really like the stroller cart and still use it with my 11 month old to run errands because I can leave him in his car seat, snap him in, and run in a store.  The stroller cart has a roomy storage area underneath, so it is really convenient.

17) Bob Revolution Stroller- We LOVE this stroller.  We got it on Amazon when it was on sale, and then we got a used duallie version on Craigslist once we had our second child.  If you like to walk, it is amazing and worth the splurge in my opinion!
 

18) Pack and Play- We use this primarily for travel, but we also used it in the beginning for naps.  You can use it for nighttime in your room in the beginning if you want the baby in the room with you.  If your house is two levels, it's nice to have one downstairs in the beginning if their crib is upstairs.
 

19) Pack and Play sheet- 1 has always been enough for us
 

20) High chair- I did a Fisher Price Space Saver similar to this one because it fits in a chair instead of getting a larger, stand alone one.
 

21) Boppy Pillow and 1 slipcover for helping them sit up and tummy time
 

22) My Brest Friend Pillow for nursing- I prefer it over the Boppy because it's more stable and secure.  It also has a little bag where you can store things like nail clippers and lotion to use while baby is eating.
 

23) Medela milk storage bags- I had a Lansinoh bag split once when I got it out of the freezer, so I prefer the Medela ones.

24) Lansinoh nursing pads and/or organic cotton washable nursing pads- I prefer the Lansinoh brand of disposable nursing pads because they're larger than some of the others ones and stay in place better.

25) Breast pump- I have used this Medela Pump In Style Double Electric Pump for both of my babies and it has worked well.  It came highly recommended by everyone I talked to.  I had a problem with the tubing when my first son was a newborn and the customer service was excellent.  They were very nice and they overnighted me new tubing.  Most insurance will cover the cost of a pump now, but check with your insurance because I had to get mine through a certain website. 

26) Nursing Bras- I'd wait until the baby is born and you've nursed for about a week before I'd get more than one or two of these so you can get the right fit.

* Now seems like an appropriate time to give a shout-out to all the lactation consultants at Forsyth Medical Center's Nursing Mother's Place.  They were very helpful to me while I was in the hospital and even more helpful when I left.  They lead a nursing mother's support group on the 1st and 3rd Thursday at 11:30 where you can ask questions, meet other moms, and get free weight checks for your baby.  You can also call them with questions every day of the week.  You can make an appointment to go see them, and most insurances cover these appointments now as well.  I can safely say I would not have been able to breast feed both of my sons without their help.  They have been lifesavers to me!
 

27) Diapers- I prefer Pampers Swaddlers for babies.  My older son uses LUVS now because he doesn't drink much and they are fine, but I prefer Swaddlers for babies.

28) Wipes- Pampers sensitive wipes (thin) or Huggies natural care wipes (thick) are my two favorites.
 

29) Diaper and wipes case with a changing pad that wraps up and is easy to carry when you're out and about- I would get two of these!
 

30) Aquaphor Healing Ointment is my favorite for diaper rash, although it is not specifically marketed as a diaper rash cream.

31) Diaper bag- Get one that you love because you'll be using it a lot!
 

32) Hooded towels for bath time- I prefer the bigger ones that are normally sold individually as opposed to the smaller ones in multi-packs because you can use them as the baby gets older.
 

33) Lots of washcloths- we probably have 30 and are constantly using them still- to wash faces and hands after meals, in the bath tub, and to cover during diaper changes.
 

34) Tub- I like the ones with the sling.
 

35) Nail clippers, Thermometer, and Baby Hairbrush are the only things I use out of the Baby Toiletry Kit, so I'd just get them instead of the whole kit.
 

36) Soap and Lotion- I like Aveeno Unscented or Burt's Bees.  I also use Eucerin Original Healing Soothing Repair Cream for my baby's eczema.  It is the richest one they have, and it is the only cream that helps.  I tried Johnson's Naturals, and I did not like it.
 

37) Grocery cart cover- I used this with my first baby, but not with the second.  It depends on how germophobic you are!
 

38) Play mat with lots of toys above- My boys loved this Fisher-Price Rainforest one with hanging toys.  I didn't even use the sound and lights, but they loved the colorful toys!
 

39) I did not buy a swing, but we borrowed one with our first child and our second child really likes the one at my small group- they're expensive so that's up to you!
 

40) Bottles- My older son used Avent, and my younger son used Medela- I'd just get 1 of a couple kinds to see what they like, then buy a pack because they're expensive.  I wouldn't go crazy with different sizes, etc. till you know what your baby likes.  One benefit of using the Medela bottles is that you can pump right into them!

41) Baby spoons
 

42) Baby bowls that suction to the table with lids
 

43) Sippy cups
 

44) Feeding bibs- I don't like the ones that are 2 layers (cloth covered with plastic). I like the ones that are just one wipeable material with the food catcher part at the bottom.  I prefer the soft, pliable ones.

45) Aden and Anais makes super-cute bibs to wear all the time if your baby drools a lot.

46) Burp clothes- Have a few of these on hand for feeding and the diaper bag.

47) We have a diaper genie that's OK, not wonderful.  It doesn't keep all the smells in, but I don't know if anything would.  We used a trash can for the first few months until the smells got worse :)

48) Neither of my children really liked the Bumbo seat, so I wouldn't recommend it.  It's also something you can easily clean if you find it secondhand.

49) Exersaucer- Both of my children liked this, but we got a second-hand one from a friend because it is also pretty easy to clean.

I hope this list will be helpful to you or someone you know! 

 

Best Books for New Moms

I remember when my first child was born that I was afraid to be alone with him for more than a few hours for the first 6 weeks of his life.  It was hard, I was in pain, and it was not the blissful existence I had envisioned.  I was fortunate in that both of our parents were able to stay with us at different times, and they helped me so much.  When I look back on that time, it is amazing to me how low my confidence level was in my ability to parent!  I remember thinking that my mom was so much better at calming my baby down, and it was a long time before I felt like I could care for him as well as she could.   I don't remember exactly when it was, but at some point, I remember thinking (finally!), "I've got this!  I can do it!"  I have also been fortunate to have friends who have helped me and imparted wisdom along the way, and I derive so much joy from sharing what I've learned with other new moms!  In my opinion, these are the best books for moms-to-be or new moms.  I hope they will be helpful to you or someone you know!

The first book, Bringing Up Bebe, was written by an American journalist who was living in Paris when she had her children.  She noticed some positive differences in how Parisian children lived, slept, and ate, and she decided to share what she learned.  This is a very interesting, memoir-type read, and I highly recommend it!  Some favorite topics she discusses are sleeping through the night by 3 months, getting kids to eat real, adult food, and getting kids to live and play more independently instead of relying on parents to entertain them all the time!  She also highlights some really neat differences in French preschools.  I read this after my first child was born, and I really wished I had known about it before!  Shout-out to Nissa Vogel and Becky May for introducing me to this book in book club!

The next book is Moms On Call (0-6 months), and it really helped me to get my second child to sleep through the night by 3 months, which was awesome!  The ladies who wrote it are super positive, and they help instill confidence and joy in parenting.  They also have versions for older kids (6-15 months) and (15 months-4 years), but I have not explored these as much.  They are written by two pediatric nurse moms, so they include a lot of good health information as well, such as common illness symptoms and when to see a doctor, etc.  I also found out about this book after my first child and wished I'd known about it sooner!  Shout-out to Courtney Beaudry for recommending Moms On Call to me!

The next book helps with scheduling, but I must warn you that it is not the most interesting thing you'll ever read, and it doesn't really help with practical tips on how to get a baby to sleep through the night.  That being said, the schedule is AMAZING and has worked well with both of my boys so it's definitely worth the read.  I like Babywise's schedule better than Moms on Call's schedule, but Moms on Call gives advice on how to actually get the baby to sleep, so they are both very helpful and they complement each other well.  This was one of two books that I used with my first child.  Shout-out to Jennifer Craven and Leslie Hege, who not only recommended Babywise to me, but were also lifesavers in helping me implement it! 
 

Last but not least, Baby Bargains is an awesome book that helps you navigate the best products for your new bundle of joy!  It is absolutely priceless when it comes to creating your registry.  It is kind of like a consumer reports for all things baby.  It gives you information and ratings on different brands of EVERYTHING, and they update it every year or so.  They also help you realize you don't actually need every baby product on the market.  It really put my mind at ease when trying to choose the safest car seat and other items like that.  They are very reasonable and give you ratings in different price categories so whatever your budget is, you can know that you are making a safe choice for your baby.  Shout-out to Kristen Beavers for recommending this book to me!

* All images courtesy of Amazon.