Procreation Status
By: Lauren Kelly
Tags: Baby Registry, Parenting, Baby

Registry

Since I haven’t ever really been around babies and there aren’t any young children in my immediate family, I didn’t have any reference for what I should register for. My friends were nice enough to get a great list together for me; the below list includes my favorites and what I would recommend.

You can view our registry to see a lot of the other great things (books, cute clothes, etc.), but the following items are things we have used almost every day in the last two months.

Stroller System

UPPAbaby: This is pricey but it has everything you need, including the travel bassinet, car seat and base, and stroller seat. It all clicks together and is super easy to use. Get a second car base so you don’t have to move it between vehicles.

Pro-tip: AAA will do a complimentary car seat installation check for you to ensure it’s safe.

Breast Pump

Spectra S2: You can get one through your insurance but if you want to buy one, this one is great. It can do single or double pumps, and has different vacuum levels. This one requires A/C power; we realized later that there is a battery powered one, which might be better for flexibility especially if you travel often.

Pumping Accessories

The measurements on the side of the Spectra bottles are very faint so we ordered these ones. You may also want additional bottle nipples — just be sure they are compatible with your pump.

You’ll realize pretty quickly that holding the bottles while pumping is really annoying, so you may want to get a hands-free pumping bra. It looks ridiculous so maybe avoid the registry and just buy for yourself?

Store all that pumped milk in these storage bags. When you’re not pumping you’ll be leaking everywhere, so get disposable breast pads to put into your bra. And if your nips are sore you can get some soothing gel pads.

Carrying Baby

We registered for an Ergobaby and infant insert since they are highly recommended, but S hates it — she loses it any time K tries to put her in. It is definitely a more rugged solution, so hopefully she’ll grow into it? And a side note: S came out huge (10 pounds) and was already too big for the infant carrier. If babies in your family run large you may want to wait on this.

Boppy Pillow: Great for carrying baby while you’re feeding. You can prop them up in different configurations based on their age, so these can be used for a long time. Recommend registering for at least two, or one for each room where you’ll be nursing (e.g. living room and bedroom).

Boba Baby Wrap: I am obsessed with these! You can wear them while they’re sleeping and be hands free. They’re flexible so you can kind of sway/jump up and down to soothe them, too. Recommend registering for at least two or three since you’ll want to wash them.

TushBaby Hip Carrier: This thing is really cool, too. As an infant you can have them swaddled and have one hand free; as the kid grows it looks like it will be good for front and side carrying. Plus it has a fanny pack attached so that’s pretty great.

Diaper Bag: You’ll also need to carry all of baby’s stuff. This was recommended by a friend and has been great so far. Wear it as a backpack to stay hands free.

Sleep

Our little hulk was able to break out of her swaddles the day we came home, so all of the gorgeous aden + anais ones we received have been used as blankets. The only thing that has been able to contain her are these Miracle Swaddles, and omg they are miracles. They are kind of pricey but to keep her asleep they are 1000% worth it. Recommend registering for at least three or four since you’ll need to wash them often.

A lot of the books we read recommend white noise to emulate the noise the kid heard in the womb, we like this battery-powered one since we can carry it between rooms.

Poop

No one warns you how often babies poop. Maybe they did and I blocked it out? Registering for diapers can be risky because of guessing for size, but if I could go back I would register for more since S pooped like 15 times a day (for you math nerds that’s 900 diapers in the first two months).

We use Pampers Swaddlers, I think because they were recommended on Amazon and it was first on the list. They’re fine, I mean — they’re diapers. Whatever. But I’d recommend getting a few of different sizes (newborn, size 1). You can always donate the newborn ones if you have extra.

An easier thing to register for are baby wipes since they aren’t size-dependent. We use Pampers Aqua Pure wipes since again, I’m a sucker for marketing and they look more natural, I guess…?

Anything that keeps poop smell away is at the top of my list. Diaper Genie is amazing, you definitely need one. You’ll also want to register for the refills, at least two or three of these.

Lastly — did you know that when you come home from the hospital YOU may not be regular? The first post-birth movement is terrifying to say the least. You know what made everything better? This Toto Bidet that converts your existing toilet into an amazing retreat.

Is it ridiculous? Yes. Is it awesome? Also yes.

What About…

Clothes: If you take a peek at our registry you’ll see a lot of cute clothes — S doesn’t wear any of it. As noted above she came out 10lbs, so she was already too big for the newborn (0–3 month) clothes. She still fits in 3–6 month, but overheats easily so she’s typically just in a diaper.

Now that she’s had her two-month vaccines and can go outside I’m sure we’ll use them more, but I would not register for any clothing. Everyone’s going to buy you cute outfits anyway.

Wipe Warmer: Apparently they can grow mold? We bought one but it’s stayed in the box.

Shampoo/Baby Wash: S has super sensitive skin so the popular Dreft detergent irritated her. We have been using fragrance-free everything now so just find something you like.