What do I register for?

[set81616]

Help,
I'm going to be a first time mom and I don't know what I need. I'm registering at BRU and they say I need everything. I'm going to try and breastfeed but probably not exclusively Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Right now I have nothing.
Thanks,
Shannon

[new_mommy25]

I remember that feeling so well. When I got pregnant I knew nil about babies. Going into a store like BRU was very overwhelming.

Here are some things off the top of my head.

A carseat - register for both an infant and convertible. I really liked the Graco Snugride. My DS outgrew it at 8 months and he is now in a Britax.

A stroller. Figure out what you will be using your stroller for and then venture into the stroller forum here. The wonderful ladies will point you in the right direction if you post what your needs/wants are. I had the Peg Perego P3 and I highly recommend it. It was my one and only stroller up until my DS was 15 months and I bought an umbrella stroller. Even now, I still use my P3 more often than my umbrella stroller.

A place for baby to sleep. I bought a crib though we ended up co-sleeping. Register for what you think you might need/want. You will probably want a crib for sure. If you aren't comforable putting your newborn into a crib right away then you might also want to register for something like a bassinet or Pack n play, an Arms Reach Co-Sleeper, a Snuggle Nest, or an Amby Hammock. You might also want to register for some Halo sleep sacks. Also, if you register for a crib then you want to register for a mattress as well.

Diapers. You will need lots of diapers. If you decide to use cloth you should check out the Baby Butts forum. There are some awesome mamas there. If you do disposables, have some newborn and size 1 diapers on hand. But not too much, your baby may grow really fast or you may end up liking a different brand. And save your recipts in case you need to return.

A baby monitor. We had a tiny apartment when Noah was born so we didn't need one. Later we moved to a 2 story home and bought one.

Swing/bouncer. Both were lifesavers for me. We had both only because we got them as gifts. We probably could have gotten away with just the swing. It doesn't hurt to register for both though. On and the Oceans Wonder swing is amazing!!

A baby carrier. BRU really doesn't carry any decent slings. For a newborn I would suggest a Kangaroo Korner adjustable fleece pouch. It is really simple to use and babies will love being snuggled in it. Mine did. http://www.kangarookorner.com/k_shop_pouches_custom.shtml Check out the carrier forum here for some great advice.

A Diaper Bag. You will need to lug a lot of stuff with a newborn! Figure out what your style is. Also, decide if you want something girly for you, or something neutral that your SO won't mind carrying. The places to go diaper bag forum here is great for that.

Crib bedding. A mattress pad and 2-3 fitted sheets should be enough. You might also want to register for some recieving blankets, lap pads, bassinet sheets (if you get one) etc.

Clothes. You don't really need to register for these becuase you will probably have tons of people buying you stuff. People love to shop for baby clothes!! You might want to pick some newborn side snap tees, onesies, sleepers, hooded towels, baby washcloths and so forth. The Reality Layette forum here is a good place for baby clothes questions.

Breastfeeding accessories. Breast pads, Lasinoh, maybe a pump etc. I was a SAHM so I breastfed my son exclusively. I had the Avent Isis pump and it was great for occasional pumping to relieve engorgement. It came with 2 bottles. If you're going back to work or want to pump on a regular basis to have someone else give the baby a bottle you will want something more powerful. I have heard good things about the Medlela Pump in Style or the Ameda Purely Yours. Also, if you're going back to work then you probably want to register for some bottles and stuff. Check out the Feeding Baby forum here if you have questions.

Baby Bathtub. I have heard good things about the Euro Tub. If you are on limited space then get the Safety First duck tub. It is awesome. http://tinyurl.com/c5are

A play gym. This isn't a necesity but my DS loved the Baby Einstein gym. We also had the Tiny Love gym. He liked that one too but it wasn't machine washable which is a thumbs down IMO.

A digital camera!! You will want to take lots of pictures!

ALso some really helpful books:
The Happiest Baby on the Block http://tinyurl.com/bpzzs (get the dvd too if you can)
Your Baby from Birth to Age Three http://tinyurl.com/d3atd
Womanly Art of Breastfeeding http://tinyurl.com/dwgpe
The Nursing Mother's Companion http://tinyurl.com/ab4te

And finally, have you read Baby Bargains yet? That was the most helpful for me. I'm guessing you have since you are on here :) http://tinyurl.com/b3mdj

I hope that helps you out a little.

ETA: I really liked the Baby Center website. I found it a lot more helpful than the BRU website. They also have a registry there :)

[set81616]

Wow, thanks. This is a great help. Did your P3 work well with a carseat?
Shannon

[tarabenet]

The Baby Bargains Book, and Baby 411 while you're at it!

Seriously. If you found the website without reading the book, go get the book. You'll be very glad you did. And the 411 book, too, especially for a new mom, will make you feel much more at ease.

[new_mommy25]

Yes it really did. The Snugride fits well with the P3. There is a little adaptor bar that you use. Oh, and if you don't get it off your registry, then http://www.arunningstroller.com is a great place to order from. That's where I got mine. Tell her you're a member of these boards. She gives discounts on certain strollers but you have to call to ask.