Building your baby registry can be exciting and overwhelming all at once. It is fun planning all of the things you are going to do with your new baby but at the same time THERE IS SO MUCH!!
We are lucky that so many things have been invented since we were kids to make everything so much easier for us but that also means we can get caught up buying things that are all gimmick and no real benefit if we aren’t too careful.
Now that we have a 3-month old at home, I would love to share with you what we registered for and why, what we use a lot, a little, and wish we had returned!
Swaddles & Sleep Sacks
We registered for several swaddles and only one sleep sack. We have the Nuroo, Swaddle Me, Halo, Ollie, Nested Bean, Sleep to Dream, and Cocoon Sack swaddles. We over did it. What I didn’t know until after she was born is that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends you stop swaddling at the first sign of rolling. Our baby girl started rolling at 6 weeks. Some people will argue they mean rolling from back to stomach, not stomach to back, but I’m not here to argue semantics when it comes to baby safety. Had I realized that she would only be in a swaddle for such a short time, or that she loves sleeping with her hands by her head, I would have registered for 1-2 swaddles, 2-4 sacks, and waited to see what she preferred. So what ones am I happy we have and which do I wish we had left off of the list?
We used the Nuroo & Swaddle Me swaddles the most. They are easy to use, you slip the baby in the bag and then wrap the velcro around them to keep them snug. Living in the south, I liked the Nuroo for its incredibly soft, breathable material, and the fact that it had a small and larger pocket so we didn’t need multiple sizes. The Nuroo just felt so snug and cozy.
The Cocoon Sacks were great for naps when she was wearing onesies without pants because it was like slipping pants on her, plus her arms were out and free which she prefers. We didn’t use these much at nighttime though because I didn’t feel they were warm or sturdy enough.
We bought the Love to Dream one after she was born, when we saw how much she loved her hands by her head. It is the easiest one to get her into because it has a zipper which is amazing. It was definitely snug on her but it is another one that you would need to buy more than one size as your baby grows.
We did not use the Halo Swaddle, which ironically was the one I had heard about first. It just felt too bulky to me. Some people like it because if you cut off the wings it becomes a sleep sack, but that seemed a bit wasteful to me. While I liked the Ollie swaddle, we just never used it, I loved the color and material but her hip movement seemed a bit more restricted to me. The Nested Bean was more complicated than the others. I tried using it one sleep-deprived night and couldn’t figure it out so I quit and never tried again. It is supposed to help with keeping babies sleeping because of the weight but the idea of weight on a newborn chest also freaked me out.
We did register for one Halo Sleep Sack – which is like a sleeping bag they wear but non-restrictive and we used it when she was a newborn napping and will likely use it until she can walk. We have since ordered several different types of Sleep Sacks to include these ones with long sleeves and mittens (perfect for naps when she has on short sleeve outfits), as well as the weighted Nested Bean one we actually use most nights now. Sleep Sacks are a much better investment in my opinion because you can use them from birth until forever because they are always safe.
Crib & Changing Pad
We did not buy a special changing table, instead we chose to put a changing pad on top of a dresser. When it came to changing pad covers, we registered for these amazing ones that are wipeable, and these ones, that while very cute designs, are cloth and therefor absorb any spills and are not able to be wiped clean if anything gets on them…aka more laundry. If I could go back, I would register for 3-4 of the wipeable ones so we always have one on the pad, one in the laundry, and one as backup. We love our diaper pail that we keep next to the dresser. It doesn’t let any smell out and unlike some other pails, we can use our regular trash bags (vs having to buy a special brand)
We also registered for 3 crib protectors. This way, you can layer protector, sheet, protector, sheet for quick-turn crib messes, and still have one as backup. We haven’t had crib accidents yet, but I feel prepared with 3 & 3. We didn’t register for sheets because we had several custom made by a family friend.
The crib is a “4-in-1” that can eventually expand out into a frame for a full size bed which we thought was cool. Obviously can’t speak to how well it actually works yet lol
While we are talking about changing the baby, we registered and received this diaper cream applicator which is a complete waste. You’re just going to use your finger, you don’t have time to put it on an applicator then use that to wipe their bum and then have one more thing to clean.
Sleep Aids
Speaking of the crib, we wanted some assistance in making sure Galia slept soundly. For white noise, we settled on the Hatch Baby Rest.We love that we can control the sound and light from our phone or even program it to turn on/off at different times. It is supposed to be helpful as kids grow older too to help them “stay in bed when the light is red.” Obviously we haven’t tested that out yet.
We also wanted a travel noise maker and registered for the Shusher after hearing so many reviews. While it did work when the power was out, I don’t like that it stops after 15 or 30 minutes. I much prefer something that stays on all night. Had I realized that, I would have registered for the Rohm travel machine instead. That being said, the Shusher does do the trick every time.
We don’t use pacifiers often but we have a couple laying around in urgent emergencies. Even if you are semi-anti-paci like I am, it is worth it to have a couple different types lying around the house, nursery, and diaper bag for those moments where you really need a soother.
Nursery Furniture & Decor
When people know your nursery theme they want to buy items that will fit in it so I would recommend putting things on your registry that you really want. We put pictures and wall decals on our registry that we knew we would want to use.
We also had closet size dividers which are amazing to keep her clothes organized.
Furniture wise we have a dresser that I thrifted and re-painted, a cubby shelf for books and toys, another bookshelf, a glider, and her crib. The glider is great because it doesn’t take up a lot of space and is really easy to rock in with minimal effort. I like that it has a footrest too so I can keep my feet up which sometimes helps when I am feeding her. There are some really nice gliders out there though if you are willing to test them out or have more space.
Bath Time
There are so many different kinds of baby baths out there but we settled on the Skip Hop Moby Bath that has a sling in it for when she is smaller and then can be removed when she can sit up on her own. In theory she can be in it inside the bathtub but so far we just use it on our bathroom counter. We registered for 1 towel but ended up buying a second one later after she immediately peed on her towel after the bath…We also ended up buying her own washcloths since they make soft baby ones. We use them every day to either wash her face or do a full bath so I think they would have warranted a spot on our registry.
We had several different baby bath washes on the registry but we ended up with a lot of samples and then our pediatrician recommended Aquafor, so we have enough baby bath wash to last her a couple years I think… You may want to hold off on this until after the baby is born.
We didn’t register for a bath water thermometer but ended up buying one after we realized we had no idea what a “safe” temperature felt like! This turtle thermometer tells us the temp and changes color from blue – green – red so we know what’s good to go!
Stroller Accessories
We went with the Uppa Baby Vista travel set for our stroller & car seat combination which we absolutely love. There are a few things we added to help make it even more convenient for us. This stroller organizer fits perfectly on the handle and holds my phone, water bottle, dog treats, & a few other items for our walks and trips.
Something especially useful in today’s world is a carseat cover for when you take your baby in anywhere and don’t want anyone getting too close. We actually keep one in each car so we don’t forget them.
We also registered for a few stroller toys but were told at the car seat safety course that they are dangerous to hang on the handles while driving. We haven’t had an opportunity to use them in other situations yet.
Something we did register for but returned were a couple of carseat liners. We didn’t realize until the safety course that anything IN the carseat that doesn’t come with it can void the warranty and make it less safe in an accident. Just risk the spit up in the seat.
Something we didn’t register for but are so glad we were gifted was a stroller fan. Not only is this great for walks in the souther heat, but one night when we lost power we were able to keep it on all night so that she was able to stay cool and still sleep in a sleep sack! It was a lifesaver.
Nursing & Feeding Items
Throughout all of our registries and buying items we accumulated over a dozen bottle “samples” but also registered for Avent anti-colic bottles. Turns out when you are breastfeeding you want the slowest flowing nipples possible for bottles so that you don’t create a lazy feeder. It is called “paced-bottle feeding.” The Avent bottles were a bit too fast for our thirsty baby so we bought the Tommy Tippee ones for now. We plan to use the Avent ones later.
We use the bottle drying rack and brush daily, the container for the dishwasher almost never, and the sanitizer even less often. Turns out I don’t really like the sanitizer and don’t feel it is necessary.
For nursing, these shells have been amazing. They don’t have suction like the Haakaa (which is also great for some) but it still collects any leaky milk from the side I’m not nursing on so I can save it. I also use this nipple cream because I had the worst cracking/bleeding the first couple months.
Baby Carriers
We went to Buy Buy Baby and Shai tried on all of the different baby carriers to make a decision. He ultimately decided the Baby Bjorn was the most comfortable and we went with the lighter one that had mesh to help with the Louisiana heat. He has worn her on walks and also around the house when trying to get things done. I have a Boba Wrap (which is like a Moby or any of the other brands) that I like as well as a sling that we didn’t register for but were given by a fellow mom friend. I didn’t even know sling carriers existed until she gave me one! Galia seems happy in all of the carriers but the sling one does seem easier to me to set up and get her in. At the same time, the Boba feels more secure, like I can have my hands doing anything. I know 3 baby carriers sounds like a lot but I do think that since they are all so different there is nothing wrong with having them all, and we have used them all.
Baby Loungers
We have the Dock a Tot, Boppy Lounger, and a swing. We used the Dock a Tot almost every day for the first 2 months which made it worth it to me (I waited until they were on sale to buy one). We used to put her in it when we were sitting on the couch next to her so we could eat or do whatever else we needed but when she didn’t like to nap in her crib. Dock a Tots are not “safe sleep” items when not supervised so we never put it in her crib or left her in it unattended. The Boppy Lounger doesn’t have the “walls” around it like the Dock so I always felt like she would roll off. It was too big to use for a breastfeeding pillow too. Honestly I wish we didn’t have it, or had tried one of the other Boppy breastfeeding pillows instead.
The swing we have moves in sooo many directions and speeds, which probably isn’t necessary but she doesn’t seem to mind. We didn’t use it for the first 2 months because it is not safe for babies to sleep in swings and when she was that young all she did was sleep. I was a little worried it was a huge waste of money until she started staying awake longer and we were able to put her in it in order to get things done around the house or eat dinner and she just sits there and stares at the toys or at us. We probably use it every day now, even if it is just for a few minutes. I know some babies hate swings but she likes it most of the time.
Tummy Time
We registered for two tummy time items and ended up buying another two on top of those as she got older. First was the “activity gym” that has lots of things to look at as well as a mirror and toys for her to hit that make different sounds. We also had a little giraffe pillow that has musical toys attached to it that we can prop her up on when she gets a little tired of the mat. We then bought a “water mat” that is different both visually and physically from other mats since it forces her to balance herself differently. She rolls the most on this one and as she has gotten older seems to interact with the little foam critters in the water. The piano mat we bought around 2 months also draws her attention because the keys light up and play different songs and noises. She really holds herself up on this one to see all the lights.
When we turn her (or she rolls) onto her back, there are several hanging toys that entertain her and she can kick the keys with her feet. The different mats are partially for her but also for us so that we can change things up when we want to. Sometimes she ends up on all the mats during tummy time because when she starts to fuss we just switch her and then she goes even longer.
Phew! I know this may seem overwhelming and EVERYONE has their own opinions and experiences but these are the products that are most prevalent in our lives right now. As she gets older I hope to do another post on the products we use the most. If there is something you would recommend, please comment on this post to help other readers as well!
Again, even if you don’t want to share your registry with anyone, I really recommend building them for yourselves so you can get the completion discounts, freebies, and just to keep track of all the items you are buying!
Xx
Kali