If you find yourself reading this post because you’re pregnant, I want to start off by saying congrats! This is SUCH a fun and exciting time. If you’re reading this just simply because you’re curious, that’s also awesome! I was always fascinated by these kinds of lists before I was even married.
Registering for anything can be overwhelming, and you might not know where to begin. Having gone through it myself, I can lend a little bit of guidance. If you read my post about what to put on your wedding registry, you know that my rule if to register for the big ticket items that you NEED first. The same applies to your baby shower registry.
I know that all of the cute stuffed animals and precious smocked dresses are so fun to look at and are practically begging you to put them on your registry. It is so tempting to add those things, but in my experience, people are going to get those things fo you regardless. They also can’t help themselves. So, keep your registry short and to the point (the point being only the things you need). I’ve put together a list of things that you really need below.
- Crib (and Mattress)
If you’re reading this while pregnant, you might already have a crib, because that’s kind of a must, right? Even if you plan on having baby in a bassinet in your room at first (we did that too, but it Hollings grew out of it in like 2 months), you will need a crib eventually. This is a good gift for the baby’s grandparents (or great-grandparents like in our case) to get. Make sure you follow all of the AAP guidelines. We got a convertible crib, so it will be her toddler bed as well. It’s also important to get a really good mattress, because it will make the world of difference in your baby’s sleep. Here are the links to our crib and mattress. https://www.buybuybaby.com/store/product/davinci-liam-4-in-1-convertible-crib-in-white/5050651?keyword=crib
2. Monitor
We don’t go anywhere without our monitor. Whenever we go on a trip, it comes with us. There are SO many monitors to choose from. You just have to decide what you want from it. There is everything from sound only monitors, to monitors as big as a tablet with a billion features where you can talk to your baby, zoom in and out, move the camera left to right, etc. We settled somewhere in the middle. Our monitor has a screen so we can see Hollings. We can zoom in and out. We can’t talk to her through the monitor, but we have never found that we needed that feature (at least not yet). At her age, hearing our voices when she is upset might upset her more. I do suggest that you get a monitor with a camera where you can see your baby. What Hollings is doing when she’s crying really impacts whether or not we go check on her. Also, when she wakes up, sometimes she’ll just sit up and wait for us to get her without crying or making any noise. This is the monitor we use and love. https://www.buybuybaby.com/store/product/motorola-mbp481-2-inch-video-baby-monitor/1060187260?keyword=motorola-monitor
3. Carseat
This is arguably the most important item that you will buy for your baby. Not to get deep and dark, but there are horror stories about infants suffocating in their carseats because their heads were not properly supported, and they didn’t have the strength to lift them themselves. I would say that if your splurge on one item for your baby, it’s this one. We had an amazing infant carseat that was passed down to us by my older cousin. It detached from the car and attached to our stroller, which made outings with Hollings when she was a newborn so much easier. She grew out of that carseat when she was about 10 months old, and we bought her a new one that will convert with her all the way through when she’s 10 years old and in a booster seat. I will link them both. https://www.buybuybaby.com/store/product/uppababy-reg-mesa-infant-car-seat/5172670?opbthead=true&ta=typeahead&keyword=uppababy
4. Stroller
This brings me to another important one: the stroller. Since we had the carseat for the Uppa Baby Cruz stroller already, it made it an easy choice to get it. You guys. I LOVE my stroller, but it was not cheap. Still, I would recommend it to everyone. Whenever anyone asks me if it’s worth the money, I say absolutely. It is so easy to maneuver. Even better, it is so easy to transport. It folds up in just one easy motion, and it is so lightweight and compact. Also, someone is going to be s thrilled to get you the stroller. It’s like a mommy rite of passage. Also it doesn’t have to be just one person’s gift. A group of 6 women all went in on my stroller, and I appreciated it so much more than if they each got me something smaller. Here is the link to my stroller. https://www.buybuybaby.com/store/product/uppababy-reg-cruz-stroller/5026939?keyword=uppababy-cruz
5. Rocking Chair
This is for all of you who plan of breastfeeding especially. You guys are going to spend SO much time in this chair. Like you actually won’t believe how much time you’ll spend in this chair until you’re there 12 times a day and you’re like, “Wow, this is my life now. I am nothing but a milk cow.” So trust me, go for COMFORT over ~aesthetic~ here. I actually went and tried out rocking chairs in person before deciding which one I was going to go with. This is the one that I have and love. https://www.buybuybaby.com/store/product/delta-children-reston-glider-swivel-rocker/5005975?keyword=rocking-chair
Honorable Mention: Sound Machine For Baby’s Room
This one doesn’t even have to be expensive. Just get one. Trust me, you’ll need it. https://www.buybuybaby.com/store/product/marpac-the-original-sound-conditioner-dohm-elite-white-noise-machine/3339175?opbthead=true&ta=typeahead&keyword=sound-machine
I hope that this list help you guys out! Again, there will be people who still get you cute little outfits and stuffed animals. So many that you will never want to look at a stuffed animal again. Also, these items are all super expensive, so remind friends and family that it would mean more to you for multiple people to go in on one item than for everyone to get you an individual item that you do not need. Now, go get ready for that baby!
