November 7, 2018
I am so excited about my baby shower next weekend! I have gotten so many requests to share what I have registered for, and so today I’m so excited to share what’s on my baby registry with you! After reading tons of blogs, reviews, and searching on different websites for hours on end, these are the things I decided on. Being a first time mom, I am sure there is tons that I will learn after I have him and things I didn’t register for that I will need as well as things I got that I never use 😉. Below I’ve broken down all my findings in different categories to be a resource if you’re expecting and putting together your own baby registry!
One of the biggest decisions to make when registering for a baby is what stroller to get. Know what elements are important to you, and then look for those things in each stroller. I did tons of research, but for me one of the most important elements was finding a stroller that could adapt to multiple kids. I also knew that I didn’t want a “double wide” stroller when we had two kids, so I wanted to find one that put the two seats in a line. Some other items that I needed my stroller to have were: a large basket, smooth ride, adjustable handlebar height (Daniel is a lot taller than me!), a cupholder, and the ability to be opened/collapsed super easily.
After going to the store and pushing tons of strollers (definitely do this if you are in the market!), we decided on the UppaBaby VISTA because it met every single one of the needs I listed above. I loved how it came with a bassinet for a newborn and could very easily adapt to any car seat we chose (using these adapters). It also can grow with your family and I love the versatility in the different kinds of seats you can use. Whether it’s bassinets, infant car seats, or toddler seats you can do any combination of the two! You can also face them any way you want to. This also makes it the perfect stroller for twins! One day, I think it will be so fun to add this little board to the back for a third kid to ride on!
Since we are travelling quite a bit right now, we also looked for a stroller that would be light and easy to take with us. We decided on the UppaBaby MINU which is super convenient because of how portable and lightweight it is. We plan to use this on all of our trips. The best part is how easily it folds and unfolds! You can do it with one hand! For a travel stroller, it has a great sized basket. It comes with a toddler seat, but you can get these adapters to attach an infant car seat.
As far as an infant car seat, I went back and forth between quite a few but ultimately decided on the nuna PIPA. The weight of the seat itself was a huge factor in my decision because I know that I will be carrying it around a lot. I was honestly surprised at how heavy some of them are, and that’s without a baby inside! The nuna PIPA is one of the safest seats on the market and also one of the very lightest. Nuna actually makes the lightest car seat in the market (the PIPA Lite) which I was really interested in as well. Ultimately, we decided to go with the PIPA because it is still lightweight (relative to overs on the market) but can be used with or without the base. We travel a lot and having the flexibility to buckle the car seat in with a normal seat belt, and without having to transport the base was a must-have. That’s the biggest difference between the PIPA and the PIPA Lite.
The other thing I just love about the nuna PIPA is the attached sun shade! It is made of the softest, stretchy material and pulls down and sticks to magnets built in to the side of the car seat. This way you don’t have to purchase a separate car seat cover to shield your baby. The material is so breathable that you can use it all year round, and when you don’t want to use it, it zips back up into the top of the seat.
Our goal is to breastfeed, but I know that introducing a bottle at some point is going to be a priority for me for multiple reasons. First, being a working mom, I know that I am going to want the flexibility to allow my mom to help me out during the day. Second, I think it will be so fun for Daniel to get to bond with him and feed him! We have heard nothing but great things about Dr. Brown’s bottles from all of our friends and family. And they are supposed to be great for all babies to minimize upset tummies.
We ultimately settled on the Dr. Brown’s plastic wide neck bottles. Originally, I was going to go with the glass version, but when I found out that the plastic was BPA-free (and I could feel safe microwaving it), I felt they would be a lot easier and lighter.
To clean the bottles, we registered for this lawn drying mat with this little twig rack to hang little things on. I think this will be the “cutest” option for drying bottles on our counter! And for a high chair, I heard so many great things about the 4moms high chair, and this is the one we went with! Supposedly it’s super easy to clean and the tray comes on/off without a hassle.
One of the things I am most excited for is making his baby food! I may not be the most regular cook for Daniel and myself, but I am so excited to make him all sorts of fun baby foods. My sister recommended this Infantino Squeeze Station where you can put your homemade baby food into the convenient squeeze pouches!
As far as breastfeeding essentials go, I registered for these milk storage bags which I really like because they have a twist top and I don’t have to worry about them opening in the freezer. I also registered for this manual breast pump that’s under $30 and supposed to be great for catching any let down.
Baby boy’s nursery is still very much a work in progress, but the question I get asked the most is what the “theme” is. My personality is very much one to stay far away from themes, so we went with an all neutral color palette! I didn’t want to do the traditional baby blue and loved how cozy and soft neutrals made his room feel. We went with a crib, dresser, and bookcase from Restoration Hardware in the prettiest soft gray color that will be neutral enough for either gender in the future!
The thing I heard is an absolute “must-have” is a glider! My parents purchased us this glider for his room and it is absolutely beautiful and so comfortable. I know the baby, Ryleigh, and I will spend many, many hours in that glider! It came with an ottoman, but I can’t decide if I want to replace it with one of these knit poufs instead.
As far as a bassinet goes, we ultimately decided on the Happiest Baby snoo. While it’s super pricey, I read like 500 reviews that all said the same thing: definitely worth every penny. With Daniel’s work schedule, we felt that all the sleep we could get was priceless, so we decided to bite the bullet and try it out. It has a 30-day money back guarantee which we liked, so we will let you know our thoughts!
A pack and play was another item we really wanted to have, and I have heard nothing but rave reviews about this one by 4moms. The newborn insert is what really sold me because you don’t have to reach all the way in to grab them when they’re that little.
Some other things on our registry for our nursery that I’ve found have amazing reviews are this diaper pail, this sound machine/night light combo that can be controlled from your phone, and this changing pad that also doubles as a scale. The thing I really liked about the diaper pail is that it is stainless steel inside, versus plastic, which won’t allow it to absorb any scents. These are the bags that go inside!
A highly-rated monitor was really tough for me to find! In the end, we registered for this video/audio monitor that has two cameras. The things I really liked about it were the 5-inch color display and the fact that it has two-way communication.
An Owlet smart sock was something that I knew I wanted as a first-time mom for peace of mind! Essentially it is a little smart sock they wear on their foot while they sleep that measures their heart rate and oxygen levels. It connects to an app on your phone where you can receive notifications if something is wrong. It also alerts you with sounds and lights in the night if something is wrong.
Another brand I have heard nothing but rave reviews about is FridaBaby. They make some of the funniest products on the market, but supposedly they all work better than the original products they are made to replace them and keep your baby from fussing. This kit is the one I registered for, and inside the two products I am most excited to try are the NoseFrida Snot Sucker and the Windi Gas Passer. You can read more on what they all do here, but it’s pretty funny!
Just like the nursery, we went really simplistic with baby boy’s wardrobe. I wanted him to wear things like an adult would wear, so solids and stripes are pretty much dominant over prints. I’ve heard incredible things from friends about these Kyte Baby footies (they are SO soft!) and these L’ovedbaby kimono onesies. I registered for both in many colors, so don’t be surprised when it’s all you see him wearing in a couple of months 😉.
I also was told that you can never have too many white onesies, so I registered for this multi-pack of short-sleeves and this one of long-sleeves.
Sleep sacks also seem to be super popular for them to wear instead of a swaddle, and I registered for a few to see which ones he loves. This Love to Dream one is awesome because it has a zipper and they can put their hands up if that’s more comfortable for them (without them being able to touch their face). My best friends swears by the Baby Merlin’s Magic sleepsuit, and the Halo SleepSack has also been recommended to me many, many times!
A swing/bouncer is a must-have item on any baby registry, and after reading tons of reviews I decided on this 4moms mamaRoo. It has amazing reviews and five different motions and speeds to comfort the baby. It also can play different soothing sounds as well! I was told to make sure I get these newborn inserts for when he is tiny because it helps hold them in there so much better.
As far as swaddles go, I registered for these silky soft Aden + Anais blankets that I have heard so many wonderful things about. I loved how lightweight and breathable they are.
And a play center is something I can’t wait to see him in! The highest-rated one I could find was this Fisher-Price Rainforest Jumperoo, and the reviews said they love the bright colors (even if I don’t…haha!). As a compromise, I also registered for this softer activity gym for him to do tummy time in when he’s younger. Definitely more my neutral-loving style, but still has the brighter colors that he will love!
For when he’s a little bit older, we registered for this Joovy Spoon Walker that my niece is obsessed with. I love that it has a try for them to put food and toys on and that they can walk around on their own before they can actually walk.
I kid you not, searching for a diaper bag has been no easy feat. Everyone seems to have a preference on what works for them, and I am sure that I’ll be the exact same! Until he’s here and I really know, I decided to go with the one that has been recommended to me the most and that I see fitting into my lifestyle best: the Freshly Picked Convertible Diaper Backpack.
Not only is it super cute, but the leather makes it so easy to keep clean and I loved the butterscotch color. It has tons of external pockets for bottles and a zip compartment for keys and other small things. But I also love that it can be carried as a backpack, crossbody, or shoulder bag! The other thing I loved was that it has a magnetic snap closure for the flap on the top so that I don’t have to worry about zipping it closed every time. It also comes with a matching changing pad inside.
We figured it would be nice for Daniel to have something to carry diapers and wipes and other essentials for the baby in his car, so we also registered for this Herschel Sprout Changing Mat and Skip Hop Diaper Caddy. Both will fit under the seat in his truck and let us keep just the essentials in there in case I don’t have a diaper bag with me!
Because I am breastfeeding, there are lots of other necessities I need to get. These Bamboobies nursing bra pads were highly recommended because they are so soft and are machine washable! I also registered for this nipple balm and this nipple butter, so we will see which works best.
Whew! Who knew you needed so many things for such a tiny baby?! Seriously my mind was blown! What are/were your must haves for baby?! I would love all the suggestions I can get!
The clean hands changing pad (it keeps baby’s hands from getting into their pee and poop). https://www.amazon.com/SnoofyBee-Portable-Changing-Diaper-Time-Redirection/dp/B01M9E8FVW/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1541633390&sr=1-4&keywords=clean+hands+changing+pad
I highly recommend getting a baby carrier (love LilleBaby) and a baby wrap! These saved me the first few weeks of what is known as the “4th trimester” when baby is super clingy and you need to get things done. Plus its great for germ control around people 😉 Also the baby bjorn bouncer is amazing! It was the only way I could take a shower and get ready while still being able to see the baby. Congrats!