Register for everything you need on Amazon. It’s the easiest, has the hugest selection, and all your people will probably want the Prime free delivery anyway. :)
I’ve been a mom for 7 years now–and have 4 boys to show for it. One thing I’ve learned? You don’t need all the things the magazines and stores tell you to register for. Babies are simple little beings who have simple little needs, and they don’t have to be expensive or complicated to begin with.
Now, this list is NOT to say you can’t go out and get the fun thing you’ve been dying for. It’s not to say you can’t register for something that’s a splurge or just for fun…in fact, I think you should DEFINITELY get some things just to celebrate. But, this is a less fussy kind of baby registry list. :)
Think of these things–and then get the appropriate things to solve the problem.
BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE: Create an Amazon Baby Registry
It is HANDS-DOWN the easiest way for people to purchase you gifts (and has the world’s largest selection).
1. You need somewhere for the baby to sleep. Babies sleep a lot. A lot, a lot. Maybe it’s a crib–or maybe your baby is going to be hanging out in a pack ‘n play right next to your crib for the first few months.
2. Do you have a safe place to put the baby when you’re not holding her? I especially liked a simple bouncy seat or for my last baby they finally invented the awesome piece of equipment that is the Rock ‘n Play. (Full disclosure: Eli, our 4th, slept in this thing every night until he was too big for it…it was MAGICAL.)
3. How will you diaper your baby? Disposable? Cloth? Personally, I liked Pampers Swaddlers through size 1 and then we switched to the Target brand. I also love Honest Company’s diapers.
4. How will you get around with this little love? You’ll definitely need a carseat–and I preferred just getting the travel system that included a stroller to snap the carseat into. We then switch to an inexpensive umbrella stroller when the baby can sit well. It just takes up MUCH less room in our trunk. You may also want a baby carrier like an Ergo or Happy Wrap.
5. What kind of bathing stuff will you use? Honest Company has amazing bath products for babies (you can even get a free trial of 5 of their bath and cleaning items! Those are great for popping in your diaper or overnight bag in case you have an emergency!) and I also love having a baby bathtub for the first days. We quickly switch to just showering with our babies though. We found it to be much easier.
6. How will your baby eat? Breastfeeding? Formula? You may not know–and that’s TOTALLY OK! I was insanely glad I purchased at least a little manual breastpump with my first, and eventually got a good electric pump. I also love simple Gerber bottles. Otherwise, you’ll probably need a simple bottle brush and maybe some Lanolin for nursing. I also loved having a Boppy but a pillow also works! Don’t go overboard being prepared here until you know how it all goes.
7. What’s the sweet baby going to wear? This is the fun part! But, I keep things really stinkin’ simple. I buy about 10 sleepers per size (I LOVE the zippered ones if I can find them). A package a long sleeve white onesies in each size and about 5 pairs of knit pants and we’re good to go. Admittedly with my first little guy, I dressed him like a tiny man–but every baby after that ended up in super comfy and cozy duds for at least the first 6 months. :) I also like to have enough outfits to last through the week (with multiple changes per day) so I don’t have to do laundry all the time.
8. The extras. Blankets, little toys, pacifiers, etc. These are generally inexpensive things that are lovely to receive as gifts or choose specially for yourself. This is where I chose “special” things–even if they weren’t overly practical. Each of my boys received their own blanket that only they use, and every time I’m pregnant I can’t help but grab a few sweet toys at Target or a baby boutique.
9. Now…the diaper bag debate. Here is my thought on it. Wait until the baby is here to get spendy with it. Wait until you know what kind of mom you are. Are you the mom who hauls around every thing a baby could need? Or do you shove a diaper in your purse and get the show on the road? Neither are bad, but they really effect the kind of diaper bag you’ll want. I went through about 9 diaper bags with my first guy until I realized I’m not actually a diaper bag kind of girl. But, I have found this AMAZING bag from Lily Jade that is more like a ridiculously well functioning mom purse. It is essentially a high end leather handbag–but with a twist. It has a removable and washable “baby bag” that snaps in (with sturdy magnets) into the middle of the purse. It’s genius and the days of having to choose a diaper bag or a purse full of crumbs and spilled milk are over.
10. My secret weapons. A foam crib mattress. They are so lightweight they make middle of the night sheet changes quiet and easy. PLUS, they are super firm, which is recommended for SIDS prevention. One other thing we got for each new baby was a large zipped LL Bean tote bag with their name on it. It was used on countless trips–from across the country to down the street. They are insanely durable and actually stack when full and zipped. We still use these to pack for our kids for roadtrips. These bags hold everything a kid needs for a weekend.
What NOT to waste your money on:
- too many toys and stuffed animals
- too too too many blankets
- we’ve never had a changing table (although I know some people LOVE them)
- wipes warmer/bottle warmer
- baby monitor (unless you are anxious or live in a large house)
- nasal aspirator–the one they give you at the hospital is 100x better than a civilian (??) one!
- too many pacifiers or bottles before you know what your baby likes
- TOO many “baby entertainment” things. You probably don’t need a swing, a bouncy seat, a rock ‘n play, one of those kangaroo movement dealies, exersaucer, jumperoo etc. I’d pick 2 for when they’re little and one for when they’re mobile and save the rest of the room.
Having a new baby? I wrote a sweet letter to my older boys the night before I had our 4th, how I introduced the baby to older siblings, and how I felt when we knew we were done having babies.
