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Friday, August 30, 2019

Baby Registry: My Must-Have Checklist

Baby Registry Checklist:

After having three kids, there a few things I would have definitely added to my first baby registry and a few things I could have done without. Here is my updated list of all the essentials with links to some favorites.


Sleep


  • Pacifiers // Bibs + Mam + Soothie // I recommend waiting to buy multiples until you know your baby loves one style of pacifier. The hospitals gave us Soothies for our babies, and they loved those, too. 
  • Pacifier Clip // Rubber + Fabric
  • Sleep Sacks // Swaddle Me // We used these with our first two kids and loved them! Wash them in a laundry bag to avoid ruining other laundry with the velcro.
  • Sound Maker // Hatch + Soundspa // I highly recommend the Hatch. It works so well for newborns up through younger kids because it work like an "Okay to Wake" Clock but you can control the color and sounds on your phone and can even set schedules so that your child regularly wakes up at a specific time. For Everly, we have it set to pink when she has to stay in bed and green when she can get up.
  • Crib // IKEA + Target
  • Mattress // Graco
  • Mattress Pad // Amazon
  • Sheets // Girl + Boy + Neutral // I really like them all. These are high quality and won't rip at the seams.
  • Bassinet // Inexpensive + Investment // Look on Facebook Marketplace and be sure to buy the correct size + shape for the specific bassinet.
  • Bassinet Sheets // Target
  • Pack 'n Play // With Bassinet + Without Bassinet // Decide where and how this will be used to determine if you would like the bassinet included.
  • Pack 'n Play Sheets // Target // I highly recommend buying patterned or uniquely colored bassinet and Pack 'n Play sheets to make it easier to identify when sorting laundry or trying to keep regular sheets, crib sheets and these separated.

Room

  • Dresser // Target // Check Facebook Marketplace for this! 
  • Changing Table // Table and Dresser + Changing Table // We didn't use a changing table for our older two kids because we just used the changing pad on the floor or bed. Assess the bedroom space you have to work with and how much storage you have or will need. Buying furniture that can work when kids grow older is a huge plus! 
  • Changing Pad // Amazon
  • Changing Pad Cover // Amazon
  • Changing Mat // Gathre // I can't say enough good things about these. We have several and have them in all the kids' rooms and diaper bags. In their rooms, we put it on top of the changing pad cover because it cleans up so well. 
  • Baby Monitor // Highly Rated + Motorola // We use the Motorola and like the two-way talk function, the ability to login on our phones to see the monitor anywhere, temperature, etc. I would think through whether you'd like to have the option for an added camera at some point. We bought a new monitor when we had Audrey because we wanted a monitor in each of the kids' rooms and avoid having 3 parent units! The new one we have allows us to switch between two of the rooms and will alternate after a few seconds. There are also split-screen video monitors that seem like a nice option. We preferred video for peace of mind and it's nice to check in on the house when we are away.
  • Cool Mist Humidifier // Crane // There are a couple different sizes of this one. We love it!
  • Essential Oils Diffuser // Amazon // Lavender is great for sleeping babies! I don't diffuse essential oils when the kids are alone in their rooms sleeping but in the evening before bedtime works for us.
  • Basket // Amazon // Something that will organize the diapers, wipes and diaper creams + lotions. There are so many to choose from!
  • Diaper Genie // Diaper Genie or Diaper Genie Expressions // There are positives and negatives for each. The original diaper genie is nice because you don't have to push the diaper through. It broke for us, but may have been defective. The expressions is less expensive but you have to push the diaper through. It's very sturdy, though.
  • Diaper Genie Liners // Brand name + Off brand // The off brand ones work just as well! These are what we use for the expressions pail.
  • Outlet Plug Protectors // Target

Eat


  • Bottles // Comotomo + Avent Glass 
  • Bottle Cleaning Brush // Dr. Brown // There are several that would work well.
  • Bottle Drying Rack // Upright + Grass // Consider counter space and pumping parts are things to consider.
  • Breastmilk Storage Bags // Lansinoh 
  • Breast Pump // Spectra // S1 is battery operated and S2 is plug-in only.
  • Breast Pump Cleansing Soap // Target
  • Car Outlet // Amazon // This is helpful if you think you may need to pump in the car. 
  • Bibs // Girl + Boy + Toddler
  • Burp Cloths // Girl + Boy 
  • High Chair // Stand Alone + Chair Topper // Take space into account for this. If you need more adult seating, having a stand alone chair may work better. If you don't have much room for an extra seat, a chair topper works great! There are some really cute Ikea high chair inserts on Etsy, too.

Wear


  • Diapers // Size 1 // I recommend trying a smaller quantity first to make sure your baby does not have any sensitivity to the diapers. We tried Huggies, Pampers, Honest Co. + Luvs and ended up liking Parent's Choice best for the price and durability/value. You need so few newborn diapers (the hospital will send you home with some) that I recommend registering for size 1.
  •  Baby Wipes // Walmart // We like these because they have texture to them. They do not dry out, either! 
  • Onesie pajamas // Girl + Girl + Boy + Boy // My favorite brands are Tea, Hanna Andersson, Baby Gap, Zara + Old Navy
  • Onesies // With hand coverings // These help to avoid buying the little mittens. I couldn't keep track of those little things!
  • Special Occasion Outfits // Girl + Boy // Christmas + Easter, etc. 
  • Bows + Bowties // Because they are cute.
  • Coming home outfit // This was not a huge deal to me, but if it is for you, look for something you love! 
  • Hats // Etsy // One or two is probably all that is needed.
  • Socks // Girl + Boy 

Play


  • Seat or Swing // Mamaroo Swing + Seat 
  • Play Mat // Fisher Price + Wooden 
  • Exersaucer // Amazon
  • Sorting Cups // Amazon
  • Musical Toy // Amazon
  • Rattle // Plastic + Wood 
  • Ball rattle // Amazon // There is a Car and Football that are really cute!
  • Doorway Jumper // Amazon // Be aware of how to use this properly as it can be bad for the hips!
  • Books // I will be writing a blog post on some favorite books to choose from. 

*Having books given in lieu of cards at a baby shower is a fun way to build your baby’s library!

Care



Bathe


  • Bathtub // First Years or Blooming Bath // We use the first years and I love that it works for newborns (with the sling) and grows with them. I also like that I can use it in the adult bath or on it's own. The drain works really well, too.
  • Soft hand towels // Amazon 
  • Hooded Towels // Target // I recommend 2-3 of these.
  • Shampoo // Newborn + Sensitive + Curly Hair
  • Lotion // Target // Try a small amount first to in case of a reaction.
  • Diaper Cream // Target

Go


  • Baby Carrier // Ergo // Safe for the hips! We love this one. There is an insert that can be purchased for newborn babies. 
  • Strollers // Works with Graco Click Connect + Umbrella Stroller + Double Stroller::City Select + Double Stroller Graco // Having an umbrella stroller is so nice for air travel! We had these two at first and then bought a double stroller when we had our second baby. My sister has this Graco one and it has a place for a toddler to stand and the top seat is a bit higher up.
  • Diaper Bag // Fawn Design + Freshly Picked // I love the Fawn Design and have it in both sizes. I love the amount of space inside and actually carry the smaller one as a purse even without the kids.
  • Poop Bags // Diaper Bag + Home // We keep a roll of the Sassy ones on our main level where we don't have a diaper genie.  
  • Car Seat // Graco // This is a nice middle-of-the-line car seat. There are some higher end ones and lower end ones, but I liked that this fit with reasonably priced strollers.
  • Car Seat Cover // Covered Goods // I love this. It keeps the wind, sun + snow off the baby and also keeps hands off if needed.
  • Light Swaddle Blankets // Girl + Boy // Think of what you'd like in all those baby photos!
  • Nursing Cover // Udder Cover // Try to look past the name...I love this one. 

Miscellaneous 


  • Monthly Milestone // Amazon // I found ours on Pick Your Plum but haven't seen them there since.   
  • Baby Memory Book // Girl + Boy // I really like these because they have a place for monthly pictures and don't involve a ton of writing (I can keep up with them!). If you are looking for a place for lengthy entries, I also really like the C.R. Gibson ones.
  • Baby Wise Book // Amazon // Some love this and some don't, but I wish I had known about it for our first! Charlie and Audrey sleep so well and we got a full night of sleep much earlier than we would have if we hadn't had some direction from this book. It is very helpful with schedules and rough ideas of how much and when your baby should be sleeping. It follows a sleep, eat, wake cycle.
  • Baby Led Weaning // Book + Cookbook // We love this method because it skips all the pureed foods and allows the baby to eat what you are eating. I suggest buying the cookbook and borrowing the book from the library.
  • Laundry Detergent // All Free & Clear // Hands down our favorite. 
  • Laundry Bags // Amazon // For bibs and baby socks!
  • Dishwasher Basket // Amazon
I hope this has saved you lots of time searching all over. These have worked so well for our family and I trust they would work well for yours, too.

Most of all, look forward to being able to hug and kiss that little baby! These are just things and that baby is what it's all about.













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