Shopping List: What to Register For and Buy
Trying to register for a first baby is challenging. Let us help. This is your basic “if I knew then what I know now” registry. We have lots of friends with buns in the oven and have asked ourselves what we would register for now, knowing what we didn’t know back then…
Also, once your shower is over and you’ve washed and folded all the mini clothes in fragrance-free detergent, there are more things to buy (that no one is going to want to buy you) and many things that are great to get used. We’ve made notes of those, too.
(For your convenience, we’ve linked everything to Amazon where possible.)
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- Car seat that can be used to carry baby around, such as Graco SnugRide (get new). Remember to have this properly installed before you go to the hospital to have that baby or they won’t let you take him or her home with you. Oops. Extra car seat bases
are handy (but not essential) if you have more than one car.
- Stroller that can push around car seat – we prefer the barebones snap-n-go models such as Kolcraft or Graco for the first 5 months. Advantage is that they are light and fit easily into the car (also great to borrow since it has such a short shelf life – thanks to Whit for lending me hers).
- Breast Pump – If you’re going to be a nursing mama, you’ll want a breast pump of some sort. If you’re not planning to ever return to work or be away from your bambino for more than a few hours, a small pump will serve you just fine (like a manual Lansinoh hand pump or Medela mini electric that’s teeny and zippy). Working moms, do yourselves a favor and get the big kahuna electric double pump (like the AVENT Double Comfort, Medela Pump In Style, or the lesser-known but equally effective Hygeia Enjoye. Check to see if your breast pump is covered by insurance.
NICE TO HAVE
- 3 big-enough receiving blankets [easy DIY instructions](1 meter by 1 meter) or a piece of flannel fabric finished at the ends is perfect. Aden+Anais sells great 4-packs. The really soft blankets from Gap or other boutiques are nice for the stroller, but not sufficiently large (and are too stretchy) for swaddling.
- Diaper Bin – We picked Diaper Champ and have no complaints for the baby phase of life (toddler diapers are another story and cannot be made nice!); it’s easy and doesn’t require special bags. Some folks actually use regular old trash cans and take out the trash every day. Up to you.
- Newborn sleep place – depending on your plan for sleeping, you might want a Moses basket, co-sleeper, or something else. If you want a Moses basket, don’t forget a sheet for it. We both just put the Pack and Play with the basinette insert right next to our beds for the first few weeks.
- Pack and Play sheets – differently sized than crib sheets.
- Swing, bouncy seat, both – great to borrow because padded parts are washable and some kids don’t really groove with some models. This bouncer/rocker combo really does last through toddlerdom.
- Bathtub – We recommend either the Eurobath or the First Years – both are good for newborns to toddlers (my tall 3-year old is still in it!!!) — We bathe Holden on the kitchen counter to avoid bending and kneeling.
- Diaper bag – You actually can use an oversized handbag or a backpack for diapers and associated changes of clothes. But if you can’t resist this rite of passage, pick out a style you like. Consider features like whether it’s too girly, if it clips to your stroller, how heavy/ bulky, and how happy you’ll be carrying it when your baby weighs 18 pounds. Whitney likes her Skip Hop and I use little Pack-it cubes chucked under the stroller. It’s a totally individual choice.
- Link-a-doos toy clips handy dandy loops that hold little toys onto the car seat, stroller, diaper bag or high chair. Sometimes, they’re also a favorite chew toy.
- My Brest Friend nursing pillow – Love love this thing, you can buy new or borrow one and wash the cover. A Boppy is also pretty good and has a second life helping your baby with sitting and tummy time.
- Baby monitor – The trend today is video and there are too many models for me to steer you one way or the other. Audio-only is also fine. Groovy ones have lights that show you a baby’s distress as well as broadcast it, but the best feature is small and battery-operated so you can take it with you.
- Crib – no problem to get used if it meets current safety standards or a great gift for your family with deep pockets
- Mattress sold separately – get a good one
- Crib Sheets – Whitney was fond of her sheets in t-shirt material. Get three sets so you don’t get caught with all your sheets in the laundry when its naptime. I also recommend a waterproof under-pad of some sort (3 also).
- Mobile for crib – One that moves and is interesting from the bottom (baby’s view); used for about 5 months but it could be the difference between showering and not.
TOTAL LUXURIES
- Mobile for above the changing table – Give the kid something to look at and grab for aside from his privates.
- Extra changing pad - Again, a luxury. Some smart moms use this for a second changing station in the house; Julian got extra use out of his as a traveling bed for overnight trips during the first 3 months.
- Changing pad covers – Remember to check the size and shape. I lay a burp cloth down to minimize changing the cover, but it is nice to have 2 for diaper ‘splosions.
- Fluffy bath towel – I love the one my friend Ella got for Holden by Swankie Blankie. Get something super soft with a hood that you would want to curl up in if you were teeny. Pottery Barn also makes some decadent ones. Get 2.
- Sun shades for car windows – the ones by Britax are highly-rated and reposition easily. We both ended up tinting our windows, but you might try these before calling the auto pimping squad.
- Bottle drying rack – super useful, cheap-o thing to clutter your counter and keep all the bottle bits straight.
- Cage for bottle bits and pacifiers – I have one of these nifty things for putting all the bits in the dishwasher which I do not yet own.
- Glider/Rocker – I love my hand-me-down glider and Whitney had a really nice new one that she barely used. I think she would have rather gone on a weekend ski trip with the money it cost. I know some other styley people that have gotten other kinds of chairs in an attempt to have real-looking furniture.
- Coordinating furniture or any other delightful pieces of baby room frivolity (lamp, valance, bumper, anyone?)
WHAT EVERYONE WANTS TO BUY YOU
- Clothing – mostly you will be covered by gifts of clothing. Make sure to let friends know you are open to hand-me-downs. Babies grow out of newborn clothes so quickly, there’s no sense in owning tons of them. Register for things in all sizes up to 12 months.We won’t get too specific on clothes as it’s the easiest and most fun part. A few extra notes in case you’re a real rookie:
- Stuff that doesn’t need to go over the baby’s head is really nice for the first few weeks
- Multi-pack of onesies, long sleeved onesies are harder to find and you’ll blow through them (literally!) faster than you think.
- Mini sweatpants that aren’t attached to anything and shirts that are not onesies in newborn size for the week that the umbilical cord still lives with your baby
- Don’t forget socks and caps
- Toys – little tiny stuffed animals, noise-making hoo-hahs, miniature playthings. Yep, the being inside of you will one day love toys. And your loved ones will have a blast with these too.
OTHER ESSENTIALS
Or stuff to have on hand so you’re not running out to the store for the first couple weeks when you should be resting and bonding.
Health and Hygiene
- Nail clippers – The tiny nails of a newborn have to be trimmed more than once a week and it’s hard to guide those clippers. I recommend buying sharp nail scissors as well. Holden wore teeny mittens for the first 3 weeks of his life because we gave up on trimming the nails.
- Digital thermometer – you will likely be obsessed with how warm or cold your newborn is. If you tend to be a keep-track-of-everything type mom, you may write it all down or even graph it.
- Washcloths – I don’t think there’s anything special about baby washcloths.
- Burp cloths – A pack of cloth diapers will do, but better are the ones that are found in the car washing section of a store like Target. You’ll want a stack in every room for the first 6 months.
- Baby Tylenol, Baby Orajel, Baby Mylicon, Gripe Water
- Baby shampoo and bodywash
- Diaper Rash Ointment, something zinc-based; my fave is Desitin, I subscribe to it.
- Homeopathic teething tablets
- Purell – I have little containers all over: diaper bag, near changing table, the car… hint hint hint.
- Pacifiers – Just go ahead and get them and you can decide later if you want to use them. Get some clips/leashes to go with them.
Mama Wellness and Happiness
- Huge maxi pads for the 5 week long period you’ll be having after the baby is born.
- Disposable breast pads
- Nipple cream – Hope I’m not the first to tell you, my friend, there’s going to be some pain involved. I don’t think it helped, but I used it anyway: Lansinoh brand is the best known. I liked Motherlove better; you can find it at Whole Foods. If you’re bleeding or raw, see a lactation consultant STAT, they can help!
- Beer – Guinness for me – celebrate and make more milk!
- Bendy straws and gatorade
Don’t forget the Diapers!
- Newborn diapers – just one pack in case your baby is huge and outgrows ‘em right away!
- Size one diapers – a big jumbo case cuz you’ll need ‘em eventually (I’m a Huggies fan if anyone cares)
- Diapering service or Fuzzi Bunz – I use disposable, but if you’re going the other way, a few months of a diapering service is a great gift. I hear Tiny Tots is the best around here. Or pick an assortment of Fuzzi Bunz for the future. They’re a favorite among my mom’s group babies. I’ve also heard really good things about gDiapers, hybrid non-disposables with a flushable liner.
- Diaper wipes – uber gentle for newborn skin… for the first month, I actually rinsed them of all chemicals before using. Whitney had on her list a Thermos for keeping water next to the changing table because she planned to use paper towels and water as instructed by the crunchy Berkeley hospital, but ended up being too lazy.
- Diaper bag sized container of wipes – to refill with wipes
Oh yeah, Feeding the baby
- Formula – even if you plan to nurse, have some of this on hand in case of earthquake, fire, or other emergency. We like Earth’s Best formula if you care.
- Formula dispenser – this handy item is for feeding on the go; this BPA-free one by Avent doubles as a snack dispenser for big babies.
- Bottle brush
- BornFree bottles – 2 sizes (4 oz and 8 oz) with nipples in sizes 1, 2, 3 and some soft sippy cup lids.
AMAZING SERVICES
Non-stuff Stuff that you would love to get but won’t want to ask for
- Cooking - food of any kind. Home-delivered gourmet, something pre-made and frozen, or an account at your favorite takeout joint.
- Cleaning - a cleaning service for a few weeks or months
- Home Doula – mother’s helper, babysitter, night nurse are variations on the theme of someone to help you get the baby cared for
- Massage – it may be a while before you feel comfortable going for one, but it’s so nice to have that gift certificate on the fridge as a reminder
- Classes - Mommy and me, Gymboree, Mom’s Group… you may not have considered these kind of groups ever before in your life, but you soon will! Membership has its privileges.
Very cool: a service like BabyList Baby Registry allows you to register for services (maid, massage, whatever!) as well as stuff (cute etsy hat and 10 jillion diapers) all in one place.
FOR 6 MONTHS AND BEYOND
Your baby will eventually get older and drink from bottles, eat real food, crawl around, stand up, walk away, and speak in sentences. As long as your kind-hearted family and friends have their wallets out, you might want to ask for some future-oriented stuff too:
- High chair or booster/ feeding chair
- “Big boy” car seat – I like the Britax Marathon and wish they made one in my size (yes, it’s pricey but your baby will use it for years)
- Stroller that works for the sitter-upper (and hopefully collapses easily and fits in your trunk)
- Sign language books and dvd
- Feeding bowls, spoons, bibs (that are easy to clean!)
- Jumperoo or Exersaucer entertainment pod
NEW VS. USED
Really, anything that doesn’t skeeve you out and passes current safety standards is ok to get as a hand-me-down. Whitney has hooked me up with lots of great toys and clothes and a snap-n-go stroller.
I got other nice things from the Berkeley Parents Network and Craig’s List. Once you know some of the bigger ticket items that you want, you can watch the lists for a couple weeks to see what comes up. Also, don’t be afraid to tap into your own new mom community. Ask around if folks are done with their carriers and swings. Odds are that they’ll want the gear to serve another family rather than sit idle in an attic.
I’m cool with yard sales for most things, but not these:
- Car seat – new safety regulations have me spooked into getting new models for every little baby. I am devoted to the Graco Snugride bucket seat and the Britax Marathon big kid seat.
- Crib mattress – possible links to SIDS might shame you into buying new. Then again, I got a used one for Holden (before knowing any better), a cheap one for Milo that smelled really weird, and another used one for Sawyer.
- Mechanical breastpump – the hand pumps are thoroughly washable and dishwasherable… but not the electric. Ok, don’t tell anyone, but my breastpump was a hand-me-down and the lactation expert lady at the hospital told me to replace the tubing (which you should never try to clean btw) and I’d be fine. I also loved my Hygeia Enjoye and then passed it on (which is officially pass-downable).
So, maybe I just feel strongly about new car seats… that’s not so bad!
Related: How to get them to stick to your registry and not go rogue.
Updated by Heather on 1-Mar-2013
[...] Registry Tips [...]
I dunno…the list seems kind of long. It’s a baby…it really doesn’t *need* that much does it??
If you have a baby carrier (fat chick warning…I’m plus sized, and have a huge rack, husband and I could not use the same baby carrier until we started using Moby wrap, we either had to have 2 totally different sizes, or like with the Bjorn, spent 15 minutes readjusting it before putting it on) why do you need a stroller that fits your car seat? Just put the baby in the wrap/carrier. Once the baby is big enough to hold it’s head up, then you can use the stroller…or go on using the wrap/carrier.
I was a part time nanny for years before I had my own kids, so I had experience with tons of different brands and baby/kid items…And when I had my own baby, my registry was 8 items long.
Diapers
Wipes
Onesies
Baby bath tub
Car seat
High Chair
Diaper bag
Socks
To be fair, I had a bassinet already, given to me by a former client.
One suggestion I would make: DO NOT REVEAL THE BABY’S GENDER until after the baby shower. I did not find out my babys’ genders before they were born (I have 2 girls now). Friends who knew the baby’s gender for the shower & sent out gender specific invites, or had gender specific items/colors listed in their registries got clothes. TONS AND TONS of clothes. But mostly just clothes. One friend did not *need* any clothes b/c a relative was passing down ALL of her child’s first year of clothing. She also didn’t intend to reveal her baby’s gender on the shower invite, but a helpful family member put “It’s a girl!” on the bottom of the invite & she ended up returning over $200 in clothes so she could buy the items she actually needed.
B/c people found out I had a girl after she was born…lots of people gave bags of pink clothing to my mother to pass on to me. It was sort of like having 2 showers.
I really suggest to new moms (parents) to go as basic as possible at first…and then slowly figure out what you need from there.
[...] for the product buying tips, they are organized nicely under the gift guide or registry tips and show Heather and Whitney’s personal Top Five, plus a ton of extra helpful ideas. [...]
Beautiful post. I’m 4.5mo preggie and I am making a list of what I would Like for the baby shower. This is very helpful. Thanks
Thanks for the helpful baby registry suggestions. So many new moms end up buying things they won’t need very often.
I would like to suggest Boba baby carriers, they carry organic and non organic cotton versions. Natursutten pacifiers also work well, but be prepared to change them out more frequently as they are made from natural rubber.
[...] Registry Tips [...]
[...] Registry Tips [...]
Thank you ladies very much for this list!!!! Very helpful!!! I used it when I was making our registry.
Loved the article except “Formula – even if you plan to nurse, have some of this on hand in case of emergency. We like Earth’s Best formula if you care” That is just telling a nursing mother that she better plan on not being able to nurse. I think that’s terrible advice.
[...] Registry Tips [...]
This list is by FAR the best one I’ve found yet. I research absolutely everything and sometimes have trouble knowing the importance of each item- but yours is super clear.
As for breast-feeding… I have every intension of breastfeeding all my children. However, my Dr (very Pro-brast feeding) recommended having some formula because “sometimes the baby is hungrier than your body can deal with” and sometimes “moms are just too tired, and that’s okay”. He said it’s like never feeding a 5 year old McDonalds because it’s unhealthy. Formula isn’t unhealthy and it’s FINE. I won’t use it mstlikely, but I’ll definitely have it around.
Yes, I agree, this is a great list for any new mom to be.
I also agree with some of the comments above about the guests not knowing the sex of the baby during the baby shower. I found it interesting that 30% of couples choose to wait until the baby is born to find out the sex of the baby. This can be beneficial because the more important items are bought first, rather than a TON of clothing.
When it comes to buying strollers, car seats, or other items, I would be weiry about buying used items. Especially when it comes to a brand new baby. When they’re that little, they are more prone to catching viruses and germs, so that could only worsen the case if something is used.
As far as breast feeding, I think it is totally the Mothers choice. Breast feeding is what women did back in the old days, and it is only natural to continue that tradition. But formula is approved by the FDA so I would imagine that means it’s SAFE enough for an infant to drink.
For the newborn sleep place, will the standard Graco Pack ‘N Play with bassinet option be sufficient or should we pick the one with the newborn napper option?
This list has been so helpful! Thank you!
Thank you for this list! I am due in August with my first and this is all so overwhelming. I am also in nursing school, (OB and Peds at this time) so learning absolutely EVERYTHING there is to know! I do have a question. We have local consignment sales, huge ones (Rhea Lana) and was wondering what you guys think would be good to buy at these?? Clothes? Or would I buy swimming in clothes by then?? Thanks again ladies!
[...] Rookie Moms’ Shopping List: What to Register for and Buy [...]
“Breast feeding is what women did back in the old days, and it is only natural to continue that tradition. But formula is approved by the FDA so I would imagine that means it’s SAFE enough for an infant to drink.”
To characterize breastfeeding as something women did “in the old days” tells me how much we’ve put our mothering instincts in the hands of “experts.” Nature makes your breasts produce milk to feed your baby….not as a suggestion. Formula might be safe, but is something concocted by experts in a lab the same as what your body makes uniquely for your baby? Breast milk even changes according to what baby needs (it’s a preemie, etc.) There are numerous reasons why breast milk is far superior, including the benefits to the baby’s immune system, etc. The FDA can be relied on to tell you what’s “passable,” not what’s best.
As far as relying on formula, I wonder what women in parts of the world that don’t have formula do. Do their children “starve”? I hate it when corporations use scare tactics. My grandmother had all C-sections and used formula. To this day she thinks because her breasts were small she couldn’t produce enough milk. This was when the largely male medical establishment was at the height of its arrogance about childbirth. They are just now starting to re-incorporate the wisdom of the ages…the baby they threw out with the bathwater (no pun intended).
Awesome list! I’m not pregnant yet, but hubby and I would like to be soon, and I kind printed the list so I can get an estimate of the cost of all the things we’ll need for the first few months! Walking into a baby store makes you think you NEED every single thing there. Thanks guys!
Tara- I used the Graco Pack N Play with mine. We had the newborn napper but never used it. Never even installed it. I was concerned about the fuzziness of it being a suffocation hazard if she got turned wrong. The bassinet worked perfect but it does have a weight limit of 15lbs. My big girl outgrew it before I was quite ready, but she was mostly sleeping in her crib by then anyway. I’m now expecting my second and I’m hoping my hubby didn’t lose any of the parts to the bassinet when he put everything in storage earlier this year!
I’m 36 weeks pregnant with my second, and already have most of the things I need (and many of the things on this excellent list!) – but thanks for the reminder of an extra laundry basket! I also need to check the status of my breast pump…where are the parts? I think I burned out the motor last time…oops. Might be time for a new one! Thanks ladies! xx
To the lady who said “when was the last time you were in an earthquake”
I live in CHCH and I can tell you being seperated from your baby for 3 days and having no idea where they or any of your family for that matter is indeed a horrible experience.
If we had no formula in the house my child would of most likely died, plain and simple. There was no emergency services available to us for the first day as all the roads where completley blocked and buildings were falling down everywhere. I breastfeed but come on, your comments ladies who are soo militant are not only harmful to a womens self esteem but potentially life threatening to a child.
Grow up, and try sruvive an emergency like we did where baby is away from mother for 3+ days.
sorry if that came off as aggressive but I was very personally hurt by some of those comments, about me being a bad mum for having formula – no I am not, I am in fact a fantastic mother.
We swtiched back to breastmilk fine as well in case anyone was wondering.
So extremely helpful! I was completely at a loss. This list has truly been a lifesaver. Thank you from a truly clueless rookie mom-to-be!
” I wonder what women in parts of the world that don’t have formula do. Do their children “starve”?
My parents were missionaries and what I have seen is that when for whatever reason a mother couldn’t breastfeed their babies they would find a wet-nurse for the baby, If that was not possible they would just give cow or goat milk. I saw once a baby that after the mother died in labor had survived on water and sugar for a couple of days (while being carried by his father to be dropped off with a female relative that had another baby and could nurse him.
Yes, I believe breast milk from the mother is the best, but when that is not available I think formula is better than the alternative. And having some for an emergency is IMO wise.
Thanks Jane, although my question was a bit rhetorical, your response actually proved my point. In countries where there would truly be a risk of “starving”, a wetnurse is used; this is considered “gross” by our cultural standards. The introduction of formula into third world countries has been a complete disaster; mothers who made perfectly good milk start using formula; then they dry up and become dependent on costly formulas imported from the West. Not to mention, that third world babies are even more in need of the immunities from mother’s milk. In light of this, it sounds a bit exaggerated for well-off people in our part of the world to speak of “starving” as if this is the alternative to having difficulty breastfeeding. Maybe we need to bring back the concept of wet nursing? I already hear about milk banks. I don’t see why anyone would feed their baby fortified powder if there is a woman willing to give her natural breastmilk. Unless they put their own territorial feelings about who gets to nourish their baby over the necessity of the baby to receive the best nourishment.
Holy crap, thanks! I am going to print this off now, because I was so lost before and now you have put me on the right path. Thank you so much!
Thank you thank you thank you! As a first time mother-to-be I’m excited & scared of motherhood and afraid that I won’t have all the necessities needed for the first few days. I appreciate the time and effort you put into this list. I will definitely use it!
I agree with Jill , it is really helpful
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Heather and Whitney, thank you so much for posting this! I am expecting my first baby in a few months and I had NO IDEA what to register for or what I would need. This is a great list. Even though I didn’t put everything on my registry, it was very helpful. Thank you!
Thank you for your post, I printed it out and took it with me registering!
I am trying to pick out a crib mattress and have a hard time distinguishing between what is $45 and what is $200, do you have any advice/experience in what difference it makes for the baby?
[...] a new car seat, it's about 4 yrs old now.Caffeinated Content – Members-Only Content for WordPress asked: well since we are trying to have another baby I have been thinking we have almost everything…have clothes but they are only girls. so should we invest in a new car seat, it's about 4 yrs old [...]
Oh my gosh! This is the most comprehensive list I’ve seen. It’s wonderful! It is also the most realistic one I’ve seen. I love that you put some things other people thinks are necessities in other categories. And you are just so practical. Seriously, baby clothes: they definitely don’t have to be brand new. For my next little one, I am definitely mailing this out with the shower invites!
I know this is an old post, but after having my first baby 2 months ago I have changed my mind on having formula in the house for “just in case”.
After a particular difficult night trying to BF with pain and a crying baby I saw a BF consultant the next day and donated all the formula I had around (a whole bag).
[...] blogs, businesses, birthing class lists, etc. My favorite so far was found at Rookie Moms: http://www.rookiemoms.com/shopping-registry/ This is what I am using to help me complete my registry and to create my checklist. I love [...]
This is EXACTLY what I was looking for – thank you, thank you, thank you!
Coming out of hiding to say: I knew I could count on you two for this information! My sister is having her first and I zipped over her looking for exactly this kind of list to share with her. Thanks!
I was lookn for this kind of list so me and my fiance could get ready for our first little boy it helped allot thank you for taking the time to type this up
I love the way this list is laid out, although I would say the breast feeding pillow is a must have, especially the first few hours after baby is born. That first week of breastfeeding is challenging enough as you learn how to do it, its important to have a comfortable pillow to ease the learning process. I also think the baby seat/activity jumper is crucial by the third month so that you can have your baby watch you cook, clean, or read a book. It also helps with reducing the flatness of his little head from laying on it so many hours a day! Here’s my own list of baby registry must haves.
I also am one of the females who is not yet pregnant, but hubby and I are seeing my doctor for preconception planning after SEVERE PCOS and menorragia (think I spelled that right) for the past few years. Here’s hoping that I get to stay off birth control now for the first time in 4 years!!! I first have to say, that while I’m not a parent yet, I have helped raise quite a few babies in my years. I also am a former Southern California resident, born and raised (23 years)… To the people that think earthquakes, wildfires, and landslides/mudslides DO NOT happen, they must be very uninformed people that do not watch the news. If my husband was home alone with my child during an emergency (because we can not all be full-time stay at home moms when we are the PRIMARY breadwinners), while I plan on breastfeeding and pumping, you can bet your sweet ass that if I could not get home to my baby, or my husband had to evacuate with baby (because I do live quite a way from work), that I would want him to have some formula on hand in case I did not have a stock of milk in the refrigerator. You guys know that earthquakes happen on a quite regular basis in California, right? Which, well, is where Berkeley is located. And now that I live in Texas, I’ve got tornadoes and SEVERE flash floods to worry about too. So I am sorry if not everyone lives in a perfect world where natural disasters do not occur… but get real, some people do, and some families get separated. Get a life and stop beating down others just because you disagree and think that you live in a perfect world. Other than that rant, this list has really helped me set a sort of “example budget” for the hubs about what we don’t necessarily need and what we would DEFINITELY need. I want to cloth diaper as a way of saving money as well so thanks for throwing that little section in as well.
[...] Registry Tips [...]
Is there a store that you recommend registering at above the others?
I am sure this post is old but I wanted to add about the natural disaster/emergency. The last time a natural disaster happened in my area, hmmm, let me think, 8 months ago and that was pretty bad. Not devastating damage but we had no power, let me repeat that, NO POWER FOR 9 FULL DAYS. This required us to spend alot of time outdoors in the heat, at least until it got dark. Also to shower at places were there was power (we live in a rural area so this was not very convienent) and the use of a very expensive, extremely noisy generator which we were lucky enough to borrow (and had to babysit all the time for fear of it being stolen due to the dire situation). No frozen breastmilk would have survived this situation, trust me. So, yes, um have some powdered formula on hand in case of emergency.
Love the idea of registering for services that can help you during this transitional time. You picked some great ones. Would like to add pet sitting to the list. Also, would like to recommend BabyLi.st as a registry because it allows you add these types of things. Thanks for the great advice.
Thanks for listing down here those products that are just perfect for new babies. I love them all but I don’t over shop because I only buy items that are so important. Sometimes, you need to make sure that you only shop for needs and not wants.
[...] Registry Tips [...]
[...] list too, and hers might be more relevant to people with cars and houses. There are also lists all over the internets and there is common sense, so don’t feel limited by [...]
Just an FYI, since I saw the white noise machine in the top 5. Some studies suggest that white noise can impair hearing development in babies:
http://www.webmd.com/baby/news/20030417/white-noise-may-delay-infant-development
Great list and good advice. I think that a baby carrier should be listed in your must haves instead of a stroller, especially if you live in a busy urban environment. We haven’t touched our stroller in months, but we use our carrier every day!
[...] of course, the ladies at Rookie Moms have some recommendations for bigger babies too. They are pretty much the same as ours content-wise, but they also discuss [...]
My 4 year old was exclusively breastfed – never had a drop of formula, but I always had a canister around that Similac kept sending me for free, and I kept one “just in case.”
I never ever thought about the need to have it on hand in the event of an earthquake — I’m a stay-at-home mom and just always thought “Well at least she’ll have food if an earthquake happens, because I’ll just nurse her.”
But even as a stay-at-home mom, there are times when you go places without your baby and this time around I am going to be sure to have formula stored here at home and in my husband’s office for the days he takes the baby along with him for a couple of hours.
So thanks, Rookie Moms! I had not thought of this before!
Thanks @Cara for sharing (and, of course, for your appreciation!).