R is for Registry Recommendations

Even if people do not get something off your registry because they already have something special in mind, the registry is really helpful in checking everything off your list. I registered at Amazon, because everyone Primes right?, and Babies R Us for those who may want to go to an actual store to make a purchase. Amazon and Babies R Us both have "completion discounts" so you can purchase anything people didn't buy at a discount.

Lucie's List is the best place for a registry checklist, but I also got a little overwhelmed making sure I had EVERYTHING on my list, ready for the baby. Here are the basics that I loved, so you have something to start from.

Car Seat

Consumer Reports, I will follow you anywhere.

Sleeping Stuff

Bassinet

Mommy blogs said you only use a bassinet for a few months so it is a superfluous expense for all but the fanciest of moms, however those are a LONG few months. A crib or pack in play takes up a lot of room in our small bedroom, and although it is heavy and has a big footprint, the Halo Bassinest was awesome to have by our bed. The baby sleeps at level with the bed so it is easy to check on baby every few minutes to make sure they are still breathing, and it is high enough to lift baby out of constantly without back issues or ripping your cesarean scar line. The bar in the front bends down to make it even easier to get baby in and out for nighttime feedings. You can easily swish it back and forth to calm your baby. The lullaby and vibration seems gimmecky and unnecessary, but maybe other babies dig the vibrating more than mine did.

Crib

This is really about your own style. It is great that they convert to toddler beds, but a friend mentioned that by the time she would have converted the crib for her toddler, she had another baby to put in there and bought the toddler his own bed.

It helped to visit Babies R Us to see cribs in person because they are HUGE. Tiny bed, big footprint. For people outside of our SoCal city this may not be a problem, but our rooms are the size of most people's closets, so I would recommend considering this when choosing a crib.

Bedding

Cute and soft, but for now you only need two fitted sheets.

QuickZip Fast Change Crib Sheets

We haven't had any crazy blow outs in bed yet, but for the middle of the night changes these crib sheets that zip off sound awesome.

Mattress

I did a lot of research on safe (both baby and environment) and chose this crazy expensive, don't-tell-my-husband-how-much-our-baby-mattress-costs, but they put their little faces on it all night so I went with this intense purchase.

Eating Stuff

Sterilizer and Dryer

After I got over the initial panic of bringing baby home and sterilizing the pump parts and bottle after EVERY use, I realized this may have been unnecessary as now I am fine washing and air drying plastic parts instead. Either way, I liked that this steam sterilized but also dried too. I don't know why others don't do both?

Bottles

You may already have your favorite, but in case not, my friend swore by Dr Browns for her gassy, fussy baby and Baby Z loved them. I think the kit comes with Level 1 and Level 2 nipples too.

Pump Right into the Baby Bottle Kit

I never used this. Bought the whole kit, but somehow was too overwhelmed to use it, despite it being way easier than pumping into a plastic bottle, transferring the milk to a bag, freezing, then heating and transferring the milk back to a new bottle when it is feeding time. A friend uses and seems to love it!

High Chair

I really like ours because it folds, so is easy to move out of the way. The chair cloth cleans relatively easily, but it may be better to have one that is just plastic or wood, so there are no cloth seems for food to burrown into. The tray has a clear plastic cover that pops off, and that makes for super easy cleaning.

Sippy Cup

The instructor at my baby led weaning class (yes, I know! I went to a class. But I am desperate.) said babies can drink out a straw instead of a sippy if you want, so we tried skipping the sippy cup introduction and going straight for this. It is heavy and clangs a bit, but BPA free (and they do have lighter plastic versions.)

Breastfeeding Supplies

Breast is best, but it ain't cheap. If it is on Amazon and anything to do with breastfeeding, I have purchased it, tried it, and have strong opinions on it. A whole a blog post devoted to all that, but these bags are awesome if you don't use the Kiinde system. (You can also pump directly into these bags instead of the bottles and then transferring, but still have to pour them into a baby bottle when ready to feed the babe.)

Clothes

Outfits for monthly photos, but not much else.

Honestly. Babies wear blankets. You may have the very rare baby who doesn't like being swaddled, but I still think that's an urban legend.

Bodysuits

With a girl people will be buying you tons of clothes. People told me this about baby Z but we really only got a few bodysuits. (I did not know until becoming a mother that Onesie is a trademarked name, everything else is bodysuits.)

Gap has really soft and well sized bodysuits, with the little envelope head, and good sales. So does Carter's, which is on Ebates so you can get a few bucks in cash back for you order, but not necessary for a registry list.

Sizes

My not so little babe never wore newborn clothes, and he outgrew 0-3 month clothes in the first weeks. The first six months these babes just pack on the pounds and barely stay in clothes long enough for you to take them outside once befroe they outgrow it. Then around six months they start to stabilize and you can start buying clothes they will where more than a few times. This also means you can slow your inevitable roll of buying clothes. You can open the baby drawer and have clothes for him or her to actually wear instead of a pile of onesies you swear they would wear before they got big.

Swaddle blankets

My friend got adorable, bright, girly swaddle blankets at: (ummm I will find out again)

Years ago when buying baby items from a friend's registry, Todd told me to buy swaddle blankets because babies only wear blankets for the first few months. Our baby still doesn't wear much clothes, but definitely only wore blankets for the first three months.

Footie pajamas

When we took Baby Z out of his swaddle, he went right into footie pjs. I have Laura to thank for that recommendation and present. I'd recommend three of them, one perpetually in the laundry and the other in the physical washer waiting to be transferred.

Diapers

Parasol Diapers

I originally planned on cloth diapers. There are great delivery service companies that drop off new diaper liners and pick up dirty ones. I thought after the first few crazy weeks, I would subscribe to this, but instead I tried every single environmentally friendly, sensitive skin baby diaper on the market. These are the best by far, mostly because they are so soft.

Good Ole Pampers

Wipes

I don't have a preference on wipes. Honest ones are big, but kind of dry. Wet Wipes are wet, but more expensive than others. I have heard great things about Kirkland brand wipes but we haven't been to Costco in years and it seems a bit much for just the wipes when Amazon delivers in bulk to my door?

Carriers

Here in San Diego there is a little baby boutique where you can try every single sling and carrier I have heard of. That would have been a wonderful idea, but here are the two we have.

This one fits both Todd and me, forward and chest facing, and doesn't get too sweaty. The waistband is a similar construct to our hiking backpacks and the arm straps are squishy and supportive. I feel very comfortable with Zane in here and he seems like it!

Soft Carrier/Sling

Baby Z would fall asleep on my chest in this one, so I have fond memories of it from his little newborn days. However, he felt heavy in it from the start. I know he was a big babe, but we couldn't help having it droop down a bit. Also would have loved getting it in some pretty bright color rather than gray or black.

Baby Swing

Tummy Time Mat

I really, really prefer this mat over the others for a few reasons: 1) you can easily slide the gym bars apart to get your baby, while other mats you kinda have to drag the babe out and then lift. 2) You can easily attach any toy to the loops that hang down, 3) the octopus legs have a crunchy and jingly noises, and my favorite thing 4) the head is padded so your babe sits up a little bit, or when put on her tummy it will prop her up a bit so she can work on that head lift.

Rattle / Toy

They also have an octopus, or bee, but these rattles in general are Z's favorite with mirrors, and crunchy feet and scarves to pull on and rings to chew on.

Bath Time

Baby Shampoo

Bath

I used a good ole blue plastic tub in the sink, but Zane never really fit well in that and when Z completely outgrew the tub in the sink stage, I started using this squishy flower in the tub. I know nothing about how people are actually supposed to bathe babies and the whole process will forever terrify me, but he sits on this foam and splashes and plays and I don't freak out about him slipping and cracking his head.

Stroller

I cannot say enough good about this stroller. My mom thoroughly researched loads of strollers because she really wanted the bassinet feature and not many had super reviews except this Italian beauty. I got an $89 stroller that the car seat clicks onto, and while easy, it moves like a $5 baby doll stroller while this Peg-Perego is a BMW. The bassinet is magic, it really is a traveling crib around your house (or I suppose if you actually left your house.) Little Z would nap in there while at home, and I could pull it up right up to the couch or bed and nap next to him. The seat comes off to face you or away from you. It is super easy to fold closed and stands when you do so. After playing with strollers at Babies R Us I am so confused how anyone folds a stroller that doesn't stand on its own. I know it is the price of a cheap car, but you get what you pay for with these.

Decor

Decals from Etsy

Be ready to spend a good 60 hours selecting a decal after you spend a week narrowing down choices, but they are inexpensive, adorable, and available in every theme.

Ikea

I know, we are adults now and don't want to act like we are back in college, but their cube bookcases have doors and drawers, and open cube spaces for displaying things. They also have wonderful little organizing bins to store absolutely everything (and Zane loves to play with them.)