Okay, I admit it. I am lost.

I can balance a multi-million dollar budget, maneuver my way through the toughest of board rooms and busy airports (in killer heels, mind you), and make a 7 course meal that would knock your socks off.....but, this baby stuff is killing me.

My sister informed me today that she is hosting a shower for me when I go to visit Chicago in a little over a month and I need to put together a registry. I will be 6 months by then...and know the sex of the baby (finding out in 2 weeks). I'm not worried about decor and clothes...but, it is all the other little stuff that boggles my mind!

So, let's play a game.
(Notice I am trying to make this sound fun, but really I am begging for help...)

If you are a mom (or you've had someone close to you that is a recent mom) and you could go back and register for anything, knowing what you know now....what would you get? I guess Babies'R US and Target are the place to do this...but where do I even start....

Best car seat? Bathtub? Do I need one of those swingie things? How do you pick a high chair? Ugh...and why are there so many strollers to choose from????

So, tell me...link me....to the things that I must have. I am so lost....and too sleepy and sick to deal with this.

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I'm the kind of woman when my feet hit the floor in each morning, the devil says "Oh crap, she's up."

I would not register for anything "big" if you are having the shower in Chicago and you are in VA. I mean, someone those gifts will need to be shipped (or taken via car or plane) back to where you live. It's not cost effective to ship big stuff.

Little things you can register for at Target or Babies or Us: bottles (if you aren't going to breastfeed), thermometer (the one that goes in the ear), diaper bag, pacifers (we didn't use them but most people do I think), burp clothes,bibs,food spoons. Most people will probably do clothes since they pack easy and most like to buy the "cute" stuff.

For a car seat we chose one that went with the stroller we liked. We chose the stroller based on roominess for diaper bag underneath the seat and the narrowness (I wanted to be able to go through aisles of stores easily). I think it was a Graco. Most come with the infant seat. Some have drink holders or hand brakes...super fancy. Some of the push bars are weird to me so I had to "try" them out. You also want to see how easy it is to fold down (compact) to put into a car. You don't want a fight everytime you need to fold it up. We got ours 12 years ago at a Burlington Coat Factory store (I didn't even know they had baby stuff until someone told me).

After they grow out the infant seat, you'll want a 5 point harness seat. I didn't get the super high priced one. I went to a Toys R Us and they let us try them out in our car AND have our kids sit in them. The expensive one didn't fit properly in our car so that was an easy "no".

High chairs. We picked a cheapy at Target. You want something easy to clean and is safe. We didn't use a swing much. They take up a lot of room too. Both of my kids LOVED their bouncy seat. My son wore his out so I had to get a new one for #2. Pretty cheap considering how much they use it. You'll also want a Pack N Play which is a portable crib. Great for taking with you places when you visit as well as having in the living room or office for the baby to play in while you cook, etc. I use this instead of a bassinet. Bassinets are pointless IMO. You can use them for a few months (or less) and then the baby moves into a "real" crib.

Good luck and congrats

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Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

Things I couldn't live without with kids when they were little. A stroller that has the car seat that just snaps into it....there was nothing worse then having one of them fall asleep and having to wake them up to move them into a stroller. A swing, out of the 6 kids, all of mine love, love, loved it but 1. Highchairs, to me are more a personal preference. I looked for something that I could remove the tray one handed, since most of the time I had the baby in my arms. You'll want something easy to clean, not a lot of grooves, etc. You can also look at some of the chairs that connect to a regular kitchen chair. They make some really nice ones. A good car seat. You want one that is easy to use, and of course safe. My younger kids loved exersaucers. These were lifesavers when trying to make dinner, and take care of the other kids. I totally agree with the bouncy seat and Pack N play. Don't be afraid to go into a store and try things out.

a few things I hated or never used......diaper genie, it still smelled, and I found just throwing the diapers into our main trash can in the garage was the only true way of keeping anything for smelling. One good thing about using cloth diapers was there really wasn't any smell. You flushed anything stinky. Baby bathtubs, I attempted using these with my first because I thought I was supposed to......it was a royal pain! I found it much easier to wash in the kitchen sink. I doesn't involve bending over.

I'm sure there are other things, but I just can't think of them.

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Nicole

Baby monitor. You need to decide if you actually want to see your baby on a monitor, or hearing her/him is enough. We just had the listening one and it was great. Britax is a popular type of carseat. They consistently do very well in the safety ratings. We have two of them. Blankets are always good. A baby thermometer is practical. We did have a swing. One of mine really enjoyed it and one did not. We did not buy a tub for either of our children. We had a little foam insert we used when they were very first home from the hospital and then we just used our bathroom sink. If you get the pack and play remember to register for a mattress cover that fits it. My kids also enjoyed the exersaucers. They also loved the playmat where you can put them on their stomach and they have different toys hanging above. If you are planning on breast feeding you might want to register for a boppy pillow. I loved the Dr. Brown bottles. Diaper genie was practical for about a month and then we did not use it either. A nice diaper bag is always good. I used the LLBean backpack so my hands were always free and my husband did not mind carrying it around either. I read a lot to my kids even when they were tiny so I asked for favorite children's books. You can never have enough diapers.
Hope that helps!

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Check out my homepage http://julie.mycoupons.com/

My one suggesttion would be a boppie pillow. I LOVED mine! It was so much easier to feed my son with one! I never used a highchair. I just had one of those converters that you put on a chair and the convert from a baby booster highchair to a big kids booster chair when they are old enough to feed themselves. It saved so much room. I also never used a walker and hardly used my swing so I can't give advice on those. I had a carrier/stroller combo, so much easier. As far as carseat, I went with a converter when my son was 1. It is one that he used when he was little then when he got bigger, the straps came out for him to use it as a booster. I didn't use those small burp cloths, but rather, I used receiving blankets. They give you much more room when the baby spits up then some little dinky burp cloth.

Do you have a friend with a baby? I took a friend with me and used her baby to test out various products at the store. It was interesting to see how the weight of a baby changed the way a stroller handled etc.

I found my baby swing invaluable. My DD had reflux and had trouble lying down so she ended up in hers all the time. I had a voice activated one that was a godsend. She would cry and the swing would start up and sooth her.


Have you considered a bay bjorn or a maya wrap to carry baby in ?

Also might want to register for a breast pump. btw You can get them used. All the parts that touch anything are disposable so you buy new plastic bits but a used motor.

You might want a few cloth diapers even if you don't plan to use them. They make the best burp pads and soft clean up wipes.

I also gave up on the changing table. You can get waterproof roll up changing pads so you can change them anywhere ... bed, sofa etc...... Changing tables are too small (baby tries roll off) and too hard to get around and never where you need them.


You might also want to register for one of the kits that has baby soap( I hated Johnson's products too hard to rinse), nail clippers and baby medicines. You will be amazed how much baby advil you will use. simethicone for gas .... saline for stuffy noses etc


and when it comes down to it you probably won't use half the stuff you get.

Also just remembered you might want one of those mirrors you can mount in your car so you can see your baby with while they are in their carseat.


shades for the backseat to keep the sun off baby's face while driving.



lots of photo albums/picture frames

Some baby items that were very useful when my kids were little was: Bouncy Seat that had vibrations (a lifesaver when you have a colicky baby), lullaby cds for the car and the baby's room, a small cd player for the baby's room to play the cds, bath seat, a baby monitor (make sure you get one that has multiple channels so you don't pick up other monitors in the area), Birdseye diapers to use as extra burb cloths, lots of extra sheets (babies spit up alot and sometimes leak through diapers)...I liked the jersey type/knit crib sheets (I found them easier to put on the crib), head cushion things for a newborn that keep their heads upright(used in a car seat or a swing), pacifiers and pacifier holders, mobile, crib set w/ bumpers. If you plan on using bottles, having a drying rack for the bottles to air dry, soft baby spoons, ear thermometer, baby tylenol, a baby medicine syringe, and keep your blue bulb nose thingy (you will probably get at the hospital when you deliver) to suction out junk from the nose.

What an exciting time for you!! Hope all is quiet for the next months and your delivery is quick and easy.

I always had plenty of receiving blankets as all my babies loved to be swaddled. I also liked the large bath sponges, which are perfect to put in the sink when the baby is still little and you don't want to use the baby tub. The type of baby monitor depends upon your preference. I always thought the video monitors would keep me watching the baby all night, so I never had one.
(I do remember one night with one of my guys when d/h and I were just punch-drunk exhausted. We were listening to the baby on the monitor, and I told him I wanted to just lean over and say "Hey baby, this is God. I am watching you, and it is time to get to sleep so your mama doesn't lose her mind.")
Hooded towels, washcloths, lots of onesies, socks for the tiny chilly feet, lullaby CDs, a bassinet or cradle, port-a-crib (great for in the house or if you are going visiting), bottles & nipples (even if you are nursing). Since you are having a winter baby, you might want a warm cover for the carseat. Don't know what it is called, but it is a blanket material and slides over to protect the baby from wind, etc.

Even though your shower is out of town, go ahead and register for everything! I've done showers for out-of-state friends and we have purchased things online at Babies R Us and had them shipped directly to the mom-to-be. At the shower we either wrapped a photo of the item we ordered, or wrote a poem so she could guess what was waiting for her when she got home.

My sister is going to be driving out here shortly after the shower and bringing everything with her....so, we really don't have to worry about transporting/shipping stuff.....and most of the "big" stuff, I am just going to buy myself.

I'm just kinda lost on what specific brands should I be looking at.....like there are a million car seats to choose from.

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I'm the kind of woman when my feet hit the floor in each morning, the devil says "Oh crap, she's up."

The graco is usually a good brand. I wouldn't spend a TON of money on the best, because the baby will only use the infant car seat for around 6 months, then you'll need to get a different one that turnes rear facing. They usually say good up to 20 lbs, that usually is only til around 6 months, because they get too long or they are 20 lbs at 6 months... I had a moby wrap and LOVED it, I had a very colicky baby and it was a lifesaver, he lived in it for the entire day usually and only came out to eat, then went right back in. I would invest in one of those hands down!

If you need brand/style recommendations, you might want to look at Consumer Reports for carseats, cribs, etc.

You can also try one of the expecting moms forums online if you don't have someone locally who has a little one and would go with you to the store to guide you.

Dr Brown's bottles are great, and I liked the Playtex Embrace pump best, after trying Medela and Lansinoh, also.

I have a handmade buckle tai carrier (Etsy :: MUST SEE Discount Buckle-style Mei Tai by Abuela's Baby Creations <- this one) and love it. It's so much easier than trying to push a stroller through a store. You might want to mention that you'd be open to items that are handmade, or second hand. A lot of my favorite baby items had already seen some use. Oh, and when I use a stroller, I just use a little umbrella one.

Babylegs and sleep sacks (cotton and fleece) were great, too. The former is legwarmers, for adding some warmth without adding another layer over a diaper, and the latter makes middle of the night changes really easy.

We had a swing from our neighbors, and it was great during nights when my son wouldn't sleep. A bouncy chair in the bathroom might let you shower. Ikea's high chair is really easy to clean.

BOPPY BOPPY BOPPY!!! Also, the swing and bouncy seat are a lifesaver here. I went with the fisher price Peaceful Planet swing, and the fisher price rainforest bouncy seat. Both are great! You need a stroller. I wish we had gotten one, but we still don't have it. We'll probably wind up breaking down and buying a stroller/carseat combo since we really hate the carseat we got from the baby shower. It was cute, but sits at a weird angle so when the baby's in the car his little head flops forward. I hate it, but it's what we have right now. I wouldn't register for one kind of bottle.. I'd register for several because you never know which bottle is going to work for your baby. If you register for diapers.. go with the pampers swaddlers. They are so soft and and work really well. Also, unless you KNOW you're baby is on the smaller side. I'd register for 1 pack of newborn diapers only. The rest should be size one's or above. Don't forget the burp rags too. I love the Gerber cloth diaper/burp rags that come in a 12 pack and are just plain white. They absorb SO well, and when the baby spits up.. you can bleach them with no worries.

Kelli, just give me a call and will help you out. Best Carseat for infants is currently the Combi one, a bumbo rocks, I love the peg pergo strollers, but for a jogging stroller,I have the cadallic of those but have to look at what name it is. I would register for both a baby bjorn and a maya wrap; do not go for imitations as they do suck. You'll learn that certain things are worth paying more and certain things it just doesn't matter.

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I dream to escape!

some good name brands

bugaboo -great strollers
Britax,graco depends on your car for carseats
avent bottle or handheld breast pump
try all types of diapers, because for us, one brand fit one kid better and another fit the other one ..... different body types ...... also store brands are really pretty good usually.,

My favorite high chair was an old one from the 50's that we found at a garage sale. It was short and had a metal tray. What I appreciated about it was that when the tray was off, it could just be pushed right up to the table, like a barstool at the kitchen island would do. There weren't any super-tall sides to it that prevented it from being pushed in all the way, just like adult chairs. There were sides... but since the chair was so short they didn't impede it from sliding in.

It was just like this one: Red Metal Vintage 1950s Child's Retro High Chair - eBay (item 180401035240 end time Sep-02-09 19:25:54 PDT)

If they make new ones that are that height, I would highly recommend one!

Just a note on the vintage style highchairs. I used 2 just like that particular one for my now 23yo twins. The size was great as you said. The downsides are the vinyl doesn't last and there is nothing to keep the child from falling out if they want to shimmy their way under the tray. I used both of mine for my daycare kids for years after my 2 were done with them. I replaced them with Cosco highchairs that I got at WalMart. They are still on the small size compared to some highchairs that are HUGE and they have the part of the seat that prevents the baby from sliding down. The tray fits close enough that the kids can't stand up until you want them to get out. You've got to consider also if you need wheels on the legs to move it around the kitchen.

The only other thing that I would strongly recommend is a bouncy seat as other posters have suggested. Mine is very basic. It used to vibrate but hasn't in years and none of the babies have ever missed it. LOL It's great for placing the baby in to sit amongst the other kids I have here. They feel like they're part of the action.

Wouldn't waste money on a Diaper Genie. Love my wipe warmer and their little bottoms do too.

And the bottles I love best are Dr. Brown's Natural Flow. They have a valve that runs through the bottle that prevents the baby from swallowing air and keeps the nipple from collapsing while the baby is sucking. They are a little more expensive than other bottles but in my opinion from using all shapes and sizes of bottles over the last 22 year of watching other people's children they are well worth the money. And personally I don't believe in switching the babies bottles around until you find one they like. The child will get used to whatever you stick with. You just confuse them if you keep changing the type of nipple.

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Thank you all so much!

I am going to start working on my list later today!!!

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I'm the kind of woman when my feet hit the floor in each morning, the devil says "Oh crap, she's up."

....... so.......you will soon be kelliiiiii ?


dl

another vote for the bouncy seat.
You can never have too many bigger sized diapers (my last one, at 11 lbs, didn't even fit in "newborn" size)

I have to say that the sleep sacks were my favorite things---so much easier than regular sleeper outfits.

Something else to think about: cool mist humidifier--extremely useful for little ones' stuffy nose. And there are some cute ones these days, ones shaped like animals or characters.

One of the nice digital thermometers that goes in the ear. So much better than taking a rectal temp!!

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

My son's best friend's mom had a baby back in November. We are not super close, but our kids are friends, so I got her a gift :

A pack of diapers and a pack of baby wipes.

When my son was a baby, those are two of the things I used the most, LOL. And I knew that they would be much appreciated!

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"Yesterday my life was duller, now everything's technicolor!"

I agree with asking a friend who has had a baby within the last year or so to go with you to the store.

Congratulations on your pregancy, kelliiii and hubby......if the baby shopping is killing you...weellll, just wait until the baby gets here! A new kind of tough job awaits....but you'll love it.

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips