All those posts I read about people going nuts about their registries I just thought they were crazy but its all true!!! Especially if you are splitting between multiple stores. A friend of mine with a one year old helped me go through everything on one but then I got the brilliant idea to price compare which led me to splitting it.
Since I have never been married or previously had children, I have never registered for anything. More importantly I don’t know what tools I need to keep this baby safe, fed, clean, etc. All three stores I registered at have lists to follow on things you need to have. They were extremely helpful but I kept having to ask is this <insert random product> really necessary? I went back to the message boards and asked what could you have not lived without? I scoured websites and magazines for best products lists. I cornered people in the lunchroom at work and stalked them to their desks if I couldn’t catch them. I wanted to know what people actually need. But just like anything with pregnancy the longer you search the more likely you are to get the answer you are hoping for and the answer you aren’t. You would think choosing items that you are suggesting people could buy for you would be a snap and fun. It is not.
Top ten things I have been told I need (not including what you would expect like crib, diapers, onesies, wipes, bottles, etc.):
Travel System (car seat/stoller/car seat base)
Fisher Price Snug-a-bunny Sleeper
Graco Pack-n-Play
Motorola video baby monitor
Waterproof crib sheet
Double electric breast pump
Bouncy Seat
Boppy Pillow
Soft baby carrier
Bottle warmer
My mom has also been help in the way that reinforces I cannot follow her advice in public. While looking at shopping cart seat covers for the baby she was amazed and told me that she would just put us in the seat with a bottle of laundry soap on either side to keep us propped up. It is no wonder there are so many things for babies out there with all of these tips and tricks they used to do.
Anybody have something they couldn’t live without I should know about???
I’m registering tonight, at one of my stores, with my oldest sister. It makes me want to only do one store, as I might go crazy. Hopefully she won’t mind me stopping at everything and questioning every little item.. although, she went through it so I’m sure she’ll understand.
I hope I didn’t scare you!! Its so nice having someone with you, I went by myself the first time and totally freaked, when my gf went with me it was so much easier. And it was great when I took my fiance after I had done all the research because (for one i felt like a genius cause I knew about every product by then) he picked up everything, saw if it was easy fold, how heavy the stroller was, etc. And you can always make changes or return it if it isn’t right for you. Good luck tonight!!!
Thank you! Yeah, my fiance told me there was no way he was going to follow me around the store for hours while I got all emotional over each item. I may have a second store, but just for the bigger items that they have more choices for.. he’ll go with me to that one, as those honestly are the more important choices than silly bottles and toys that he couldn’t know the difference over. I’m already so overwhelmed.
You might not to waste the money on a video, we hardly used ours. But our other friends did, so I guess it depends on how often you get up to check on them. I liked the old regular monitor better. The one item I LOVE and had to argue to get, we still use. The bumbo work as soon as your child can sit up a little, & since the twins are twigs, were still using them 4 years later at the kitchen table. We didn’t use the tray that they sell separate. Also we got big highchairs, done of our friends got the highchairs that attach to the table. Those take up less room & then they get to “eat” with you at the table. Also diaper pails, they sell ones that use normal trash bags. We loved ours, no rush because you ran out of diaper trashbags. You can use any normal (cheaper) trashbag.
Yeah I was in two worlds about the video monitor, I am afraid I will be watching it constantly! Did you have a regular monitor too? Or just use the video one for the sound?
I have the bumbo down, no one said anything about it when I was asking but I was at a shower a few years ago and this mom was swearing by it. We were given a high chair so I didn’t register for one and a diaper genie so I didn’t research that. But now that you mention it, I know ours uses their own bags and being able to just use regular bags sounds a lot more convenient.