Registry & Products - Help me sort through the crap!

[silveraven]

Hi Glitter! I know there's been some old threads on registries, but I thought I'd bring the topic up again. I am registering at Walmart and Target but am trying to keep my wish lists to the basics. I feel overwhelmed and I also feel "guilty" registering for new items when there are so many used baby things that can be obtained for a fraction of the cost. Anyways, I need some advice about certain products and thought maybe I could get perspective on them and sort of a pros and cons list going. Here goes:

Car seats - infant vs. convertible
Convertible strikes me as the way to go since it can be used longer.
So many brands though, what on Earth do I do?
Travel Systems - a good bargain or just unwieldy? I've heard that a "Snap
n Go" and car seat are more maneuverable
Baby Carrier/sling/backpack - what does anyone recommend? So many
choices!
Pack and Play vs. crib - do I need both? I know some people just use a pack
n play.
Breast Pump - I want to try pumping so what is the best brand to choose?
(Medela Pump in Style?)
Bottles/Diapers/Wipes/Pacifiers - so many choices so should I just register
for a variety?
Clothing - should I even bother - it seems like people love to buy this stuff
no matter what
Diaper Genie - yay or nay?
Infant Tub - necessary?
Diaper Bag - yes or no? What makes one better than another?

And here's another hang-up: For example, I feel like if I register for one brand of bottle over another, then people will feel restricted to buying just that, when in fact I don't care because I have no idea what will work and what won't. Gah! So in general - there are so many choices and brands of things. Is there any one product brand that you felt was better than another? Does it really matter in the end?

[Chupacabra]

Car seats - infant vs. convertible

We got an infant seat as a gift and had to buy a convertible nearly right away since my kid is so tall. I sold the infant seat and for the new babe we're just getting a convertable. I can't really reccomend brands though. I dunno!

Travel Systems - a good bargain or just unwieldy? I've heard that a "Snap
n Go" and car seat are more maneuverable

We live in NYC and don't drive so the snap n' go wasn't really an option for us. A lot of people buy a stroller that can be fitted with an infant seat with an adaptor or whatever. I borrowed a snap n' go to travel to AZ and I have to say, the manueverability of that thing SUCKED. Also, if you go straight to a convertible car seat its a moot point.

Baby Carrier/sling/backpack - what does anyone recommend? So many
choices!

If you are into wearing your baby you'll want some different options probably.
I have a sleepy wrap, 2 ring slings, and 1 ergo. Love them all.


Pack and Play vs. crib - do I need both? I know some people just use a pack
n play.

You don't need both. I had a mini pack n' play for the first few months & then my kid went to her crib (because we had one!) Our next kid will likely spend more time in the pack n' play since I'm in no rush at all to buy another crib. You may wind up co-sleeping, swing sleeping, whatever... no one I know said they wouldn't have made it without a crib.

Breast Pump - I want to try pumping so what is the best brand to choose?
(Medela Pump in Style?)

I have a Medela Pump in Style. I liked it. The bag is useful for working mamas.

Bottles/Diapers/Wipes/Pacifiers - so many choices so should I just register
for a variety?

Bottles... we used Dr. Brown's because they were recommended by lots of moms we know. They were good and my babe never spit up or had colic or gas (but of course that varies from kid to kid!) I tried to use the gumdrop paci's in the beginning but she didn't love them. Switched to Avent brand & loved them because they go in the mouth either way (there's no right side up) Wipes... we use whatever's cheap & aim for the more natural brands. Kirkland brand (from costco) were our favorite, tbh.

Register for a bunch. You'll see what you like the best.


Clothing - should I even bother - it seems like people love to buy this stuff
no matter what

Register for basic onesies & simple pants, etc. People will buy those PLUS whatever they can't resist at the store.


Diaper Genie - yay or nay?

Nay.

Infant Tub - necessary?

Made life easier, not necessary.

Diaper Bag - yes or no? What makes one better than another?

Yes? I just like having lots of pockets to organize and most of them have that. We used the skip hop messenger bag.

And here's another hang-up: For example, I feel like if I register for one brand of bottle over another, then people will feel restricted to buying just that, when in fact I don't care because I have no idea what will work and what won't. Gah! So in general - there are so many choices and brands of things. Is there any one product brand that you felt was better than another? Does it really matter in the end?[/quote]

There is such a crazy amount of baby crap out there... it doesn't matter beyond it being BPA free/as eco conscious as you wish it to be. Lots of babies have nipple preferences so you may have to try a few different brand bottles/pacis's but I can't say there was anything throughout her first year that we were brand loyal to. Everything was re-selected time and time again due to price and accessability.
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Etsy!
Blog!

[cake]

So much of this is dependent on the individual (you, your partner and your baby) but I'll put in my two cents...

Car seats - infant vs. convertible
Convertible strikes me as the way to go since it can be used longer. We were given a used [unexpired, had never been in an accident] infant bucket from my best friend that we have used up until now- we just got convertibles at 9 months. If I was doing it over and buying a carseat I'd probably start with a convertible because I didn't carry him around in the bucket much after the second month or so, when he had decent head control.

Travel Systems - a good bargain or just unwieldy? I kind of hated the infant seat and Snap'n'Go- I would much rather wear him and have both hands free. I found it really unwieldy, personally. I would invest in a better stroller than the Snap'n'Go if you think you'll be using the stroller a lot.

Baby Carrier/sling/backpack - what does anyone recommend? So many
choices!- we have a Beco Gemini and we LOVE LOVE LOVE it. It's our most used piece of baby equipment hands down. It is super easy to use and super comfy.

Pack and Play vs. crib - do I need both? I know some people just use a pack
n play. Again, totally dependent but if I were going to do it over I would probably not buy a crib because it's been a fancy storage receptacle since day 1. :P When he was tiny we used the Pack n Play "newborn napper" attachment and we pretty much started co-sleeping when he outgrew that. The main Pack n Play "mattress" doesn't seem very comfortable, though, so I wouldn't want to use it as his primary sleeping spot [eta: but I'm sure it's fine!]. If I were doing it over I'd take the money we spent on the crib and put it toward a bigger mattress, haha. Although we are theoretically trying to transition to the crib soonish...

Bottles/Diapers/Wipes/Pacifiers - so many choices so should I just register
for a variety? I think trying a variety is a good call.

Clothing - should I even bother - it seems like people love to buy this stuff
no matter what Oh man, people love to buy clothes! You will get tons of them no matter what. But totally register for ones you like. ETA: And def. register for basics.

Diaper Genie - yay or nay? Unnecessary IMO-we just use a plastic pail with a lid and a trash bag liner. I am not especially grossed out by dirty diapers though.

Infant Tub - necessary? Meh- we stopped using this pretty quickly. It was helpful when he was teeny tiny, though.

Diaper Bag - yes or no? What makes one better than another? I bought one on Zulily for pretty cheap and literally the only accoutrement that is helpful or necessary is the changing pad. It's nice to have a big bag that contains just his stuff, but this doesn't have to be a dedicated diaper bag. I mainly keep it in the car with extra diapers, wipes, a change of clothes, emergency snacks, a toy. For shorter trips I stash a diaper in my purse and go. It gets easier when they're older and you start to get a feel for their "elimination schedule", as opposed to newborns who need what seems like constant diaper changes.

Chupacabra is right, you will be picking and choosing a lot in the first year and just going with what works- apart from the BPA/organic/eco-friendly aspect there are not huge differences. On things like bottles and pacifiers your baby's preference will probably be the deciding factor.
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What can't that centaur woman do?

[Crumb]

Car seats - infant vs. convertible: We bought a car seat for each stage: Infant, toddler, booster. And thank God we’re in the booster size now, because we bought three of each (our car, my mom’s car, her nanny’s car) and car seat are SPENDY and boosters are a LOT cheaper. I’m pretty sure all of ours were Graco.

Travel Systems: We got a travel system that worked with the infant car seat but we didn’t use it very long – basically once the Crumblette could sit up on her own, she didn’t care for being in the big stroller. We got much more use out of the $20 umbrella stroller.

Baby Carrier/sling/backpack: We got a Baby Bjorn as a gift and only used it, like, twice. She didn’t care for it. I used a ring sling and love love LOVED it. I used it until she was…maybe 2?

Pack and Play vs. crib: We never had a pack ‘n play. We had a bassinet that converted into a playpen, but didn’t use the bassinet for long (she started being able to lift herself up before she outgrew it) and hardly EVER used the playpen. We had a crib until she was 2 and then moved her into a toddler bed (at which point she decided she wanted to give co-sleeping a shot and I have been completely unable to evict her from my bed since then, but that’s a whole other thread!)

Breast Pump: Do not get an Avent Isis. It sucks and will have terrible effects on your supply. I used a Medela Pump in Style and loved it.

Bottles/Diapers/Wipes/Pacifiers: Bottles we used Gerber BPA-free; diapers…honestly, I don’t remember. I think we used the Babies R Us store brand. Wipes – until she was about 6 months old we used baby washcloths; then we started using the Babies R Us unscented brand. Pacifiers – she wasn’t too interested in pacifiers past about 3 months so I don’t remember which ones we used. I do remember we went through several brands so I would register for a variety. As chupacabra said, babies have nipple preferences so I always give several different brands when buying baby gifts.

Clothing: Register for practical things. People will not be able to resist the adorable things but onesies are a lot more valuable than ruffly dresses.

Diaper Genie: Nope.
Infant Tub: Nope. We had one, used it twice. Then I just started plopping her in the bath with me.

Diaper Bag: Yes, but that’s a personal preference. Mine was pretty big but I always carry a big purse.

[Figwit]

Car seats: we have an infant seat, but I can count on 1 hand the number of times we ever brought it anywhere (other than in the house when he was passed out). I have a super long baby but I bought one of the top of the line infant seats (Chicco keyfit 30), so he'll fit in it for some time.

I don't have a snap and go but I've pushed my friend's one and I hated it. I have a bugaboo bee stroller that gets used super infrequently (umm... maybe twice a month), but when it does I love how it handles.

Baby carriers - I have about 6 baby carriers at this point and they're all awesome for different purposes. We have a newer Ergo for me, an older Ergo for my husband (fits differently and he prefers it), a lightweight mei tai, a mei tai wrap conversion, a ring sling, and a pouch sling. The ones that get used most often are the ergos, followed by the mei tai wrap conversion (covers up a lot of his head so he'll sleep quickly in it), then the mei tai (super lightweight so good for hot days) and ring sling (not his fav, but good for in the car emergencies) and pouch sling (don't really use it at all). If you have any questions about baby carriers I love to talk about them :)

If you're considering registering for a carrier, please don't go for a baby bjorn or infantino - they're known as 'crotch danglers', so they put pressure on internal organs, contribute to joint issues, and they aren't ergonomic for the wearer, either. Front-facing carriers aren't recommended because your baby won't be able to turn away from stimulus, and when facing out the baby's spine is curved in an unnatural position which isn't great.

We don't have a pack and play or crib (we bed share). We bought a twin mattress instead of a crib and now we have an awesome giant megabed where I get lots of room to nurse all night long, and my husband can sleep in his own bed without disturbing us (or cuddle with me when the babe is in the smaller bed part).

We cloth diaper, so I don't know anything about disposables. We tried a few brands of pacifier and settled on Avent or the natural rubber ones. I made my own cloth wipes, and we don't use bottles.

I think the diaper genie is really wasteful (wrapping a disposable in an individual bag!?) and you have to keep buying inserts for them. We use 5 gallon open buckets because we cloth diaper and there's no real smell from those.

We don't have an infant tub - I just lay a thick towel down on the tub floor and use a washcloth.

My diaper bag is a Moop handbag and then a bag I sewed a few days before my son was born. We cloth diaper so I have more 'stuff' to bring around.


No one gave us clothes because we didn't reveal the gender (lots of people were 'angry' with us... whatever) but my kid essentially wears wool pants, a white long sleeved shirt with or without a wool vest, and a bib I sewed. We don't do gendered clothing really, and he doesn't have too many colored shirts or shirts with sayings, so it's really easy to dress him.
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good, clean, fair.

small is possible.

[Aryn]

Car seats - Next time I'd go with a convertible, but check to make sure it fits in your car rear-facing, the one I have for K is so tall it doesn't fit in most cars backwards (I chose it for other reasons), and they are recommending rear-facing to 2 years now. K is huge and he outgrew his infant seat by 6 months, but I realize that is not the case for most babies. If you are in your car a lot the snap n go system works well, we don't have a car so I didn't bother with one. I carried him in the bucket seat exactly once, but again, no car. One other tip: pick up the carseat at the store! We didn't and ours is HEAVY (Sunshine Kids)! if I'd known how heavy it was, I might have picked a different one. I was using my sister's this week and I could carry it with two fingers. (Cosco)

Baby Carrier/sling/backpack - I have a BabyHawk (Mei Tai) which I liked pretty well - I liked that you can use it from birth. It had ties instead of buckles, which I thought would be good for switching between my husband and I, but in reality he hardly used it. I only tried one sling but it didn't work for me. I would recommend an Ergo - they can be used to 40 pounds (in theory - I couldn't carry K anymore once he hit 25lbs, which was 1 year for us, but most two year olds I know are still around 25 lbs) - I think next time I will get a Beco, which is like an Ergo but prettier :) I used my carrier almost everyday for the first year. But on the other hand, if you don't do a lot of walking or live in a hot climate you may never use your carrier at all. My friend swears by her Mobywrap for her fussy baby (just about the only place he'll sleep!), but I never had one of those.

Pack and Play vs. crib - I had a (hand-me-down) bassinet, a pack and play with a bassinet (upper-level) attachment and a crib. He outgrew the bassinet pretty quickly (again, weight limits... darn heavy baby!), then we went to the pack and play in our room, and he started sleeping in his crib at about 4 months. Cribs are bigger than pack n plays. He still sleeps in the pack n play when we're traveling. I think the crib is better long term (if you have the space) because you can raise/lower the mattress as they grow - with the pack n play you only have the 2 levels. I guess if you think you're going to have more than one, I'd invest in a crib. You can also buy thicker mattresses for the pack n plays if you're going that route. K slept on one of these this week at my sister's house and it was quite nice.

Breast Pump - I had a Medela Pump in Style and I had no complaints. I didn't use it that much though, except for the first few days when he had to stay at the hospital, and I had to pump for him. I was glad I had it. Register for some Lansinoh nipple ointment, and pack it in your hospital bag. You will need it.

Bottles/Diapers/Wipes/Pacifiers - The best advice my sister gave me about my registry was not to register for too many bottles. I had 4 small and 4 large. I barely used them since I was home and breastfeeding. Obviously this may not be your situation. Diapers - I love the 7th Generation ones, I got enough to last us for about 3 months... it was great. I wouldn't bother registering for wipes or pacis, they're cheap and you're going to want to try different brands until you find one you like. I had good luck with MAM pacifiers.


Clothing - The only clothes I registered for was expensive stuff from etsy - you can put some items on there to give people an idea of what you like, but yeah, they're just going to buy things they like, so it doesn't really matter.

Diaper Genie - nay

Infant Tub - we washed K in the kitchen sink until he could sit up and then he went in the bath tub, in one of those suction cup booster seats.

Diaper Bag - I like my skip hop. it has lots of pockets.

I would also register for an ear thermometer like this - unless you like the idea of taking your baby's temp rectally. We had one of the pacifier thermometers and it didn't work at all, he wouldn't keep it in his mouth.

I could write a novel about strollers too, if you're interested...
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Are you familiar with the old robot phrase "DOES NOT COMPUTE"?

[Chupacabra]

[Figwit]

[Crumb]

[Aryn]

[Crumb]

Oh, no, totally...the reason I like the rectal temp better is that's what OUR pedi used. :)

[ruggedchick]

Here is what worked for me.

Crib/Pack and Play - we had both and I'm really glad we did. He slept in his pack and play in our room for 2 and a half weeks, then we moved him to his crib in his room. We traveled a bunch, so the P&P came in handy. I suppose you could do without a crib for the first year? Longer if your kid isn't super tall...ours is 95th percentile in height and was pretty uncomfortable in his pack and play at about a year...but wasn't ready to be out of a crib yet. We did get our crib free from a friend so that helped. We registered for the pack and play.

Carseat - we used the infant carseat for about 9 months...our kid was already 22 pounds by then, so we switched to a toddler one...or a convertible one I guess. He's 2 years and 4 months now and is still in it...and it cost about $100. The first infant seat we got used from my brother.

Sling/baby carrier - I had one that I bought from Amazon and I tried it like 5 times and my son hated it. Gave it up.

Breast pump - I used the Medela In Style, loved it. As much as one can love a breast pump.

Travel System - I am vehemently against large strollers. I had an umbrella stroller with a basket underneath and one cupholder, and it has served me just fine, even while world travelling. (and by that I mean the Atlanta airport.)

Diaper Genie - I got one. And I still use it. Our garage (where the trash goes) is not attached to our house, and my son was born in the winter, and it was 18 below. It really does control the smell. I also registered for a wipe warmer and still use it to this day. Totally not necessary, but I live in Minnesota and gravitate towards anything that say "warm"!

Bottles - another Dr. Brown fan here. And I went through what I feel like was every other brand before I found Dr. Brown.

Pacifiers - didn't give him one until he was 4 weeks old. Wish I hadn't, it was a week-long, tear-filled process to break him of the habit at 2 years old. For what it's worth, I used Nuk.
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beefy and confused.

[jettesette]

we borrowed a rolling basinette when ell was tiny- which i LOVED because we could just move it from room to room. After that it was straight to the crib. We had a pack n play but we used it only when we travelled and finally ended up just leaving it at my parents house.

You will find that different types of diapers work better for boys vs girls. I found the newborn pampers swaddlers to be great cause they were so tiny and it helped since ell was so small when he was born. After he outgrew the swaddlers though we couldn't use pampers cause he would pee right out of the top of them- for us huggies were the only thing that didnt leak- i often hear that little girls do better with pampers as they get older.

we used the aveeno bottles and they leak. really easily if you dont put the lid on exactly right they leak EVERYWHERE which is especially upsetting if you pumped for a jillion hours to get that milk.

we rented a hospital grade pump instead of buying one- which i think was perfect for us because i only ended up pumping for 6 weeks.
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I am so strong I am going to break all your rules with my bare hands! -Elliott

http://mamahuck.blogspot.com/

[Athos]

So much of this depends on your lifestyle. Will you be going for walks? What kind of pavement? What kind of weather? Where will you go when the baby is an infant? How much space do you have? Any parenting philosophies that might come into play? It is a lot to think about, but I suggest just doing your best and being open to change. Like you may plan on cosleeping, but find it just doesn't work for your baby or your family. A baby carrier may work great for a while and then not at all.

Car seats - infant vs. convertible

We got an infant seat from a coworker (obviously unexpired, never been in an accident, etc.). We loved it. We used it until very recently - she just turned one. My understanding is that the length requirements aren't as set in stone as you might think - for example, the baby could sit cross legged in the carseat and be just fine. The weight restriction is much more important because that is the emphasis on the accident testing.

We went often to my parents and family/friend houses. She would fall asleep in the carseat, and we'd use a snap and go to get her inside or just carry her in the seat and she'd continue napping undisturbed and safe.

Graco Snugride is pretty popular for an infant seat and most of the snap and gos are interchangable with any infant seat. Check before you buy, but this is a great item to get for $5 from a yard sale, which is where ours came from.

Our bigger stroller is a Citi Mini. Love it! One handed fold, but it's not an umbrella stroller so it's not the best for traveling. Great for walking around neighborhoods with slightly rocky pavement. We also have a lightweight umbrella stroller as well. If you will be taking public transit a lot or traveling, you may want an umbrella stroller.

Baby Carrier/sling/backpack

We also had a Beco - it was great. It comes with an infant insert. We used it until about 6 months old - then I switched to a ring sling - she likes being able to look out. It also keeps her more snuggly for cold weather. But she hated the ring sling when she was a newborn. I'm a BIG fan of not forcing a baby to do something. If she cries and is obviously uncomfortable, I stop.

Pack and Play vs. crib
She slept in the bassinet attachment to the pack and play for the first few months, until she hit the weight limit. Then we moved her to her crib. She sleeps so much better in the crib than she ever did with us or in the bassinet. The mattress is thick and sturdy, unlike pack and play mattresses, and I feel very confident that she is safe. If you plan for one child, you can get a crib that converts to a toddler bed and desk or other pieces of furniture to extend the use.

Breast Pump
I used an Ameda Purely Yours Ultra. Loved it. It is a closed system so it was very easy to keep clean.

Bottles/Diapers/Wipes/Pacifiers
Baby didn't want a pacifier at all. She tried it for a week or two and that was it. She's a thumb sucker. We used Avent bottles and like them. We cloth diaper, but for disposables we liked the 7th generation diapers and the 365 baby wipes (much better than the 7th generation wipes)

Clothing
People do give lots of clothes but definitely register for your favorites to give people an idea of your taste and to make sure you have a few things you love.

Diaper Genie
nay

Infant Tub
We still bathe her in our kitchen sink. Our sink is really deep and our tub is a clawfoot monstrosity that would be really difficult to use with her. We have two baby bather seats that we have never used.

Diaper Bag
We use our Skip Hop Pronto Clutch a lot, but the big fancy diaper bag? Not so much. The cloth diapering does require more stuff, so we just use a tote bag we already had and liked.

One of my favorite, must register for items is the Aden + Anais swaddle blankets. They are muslin so they are actually breathable, and they are the only things I swaddled her with because I didn't have to worry about her pulling them up over her face.

I made lots of baby washcloths - we've never used them. We just use the flannel wipes I made. So much of what someone else says is a must have, someone else says is not needed. Just go with what you really think might be useful, and if not, don't feel bad about donating it or sending it on its way.

[knittykat]

Car seats - infant vs. convertible

We had a "bucket" style that she only fit in for a few months, then we bought "convertibles" and then she outgrew THAT and we bought the "Graco Nautilus" and she still fits in it but then we got "boosters" because they are so much easier and more convenient. The infant one is really nice if they sleep in them. The convertible ones can be really tough to fit in the car rear facing even if you have a large car. You can actually go to some Babies R Us stores and try the seats in your car in the parking lot.


Travel Systems - I found it unwieldly, although it was nice for the very first few months.

Baby Carrier/sling/backpack - I had a "crotch dangler" and she liked it very, very briefly. Basically she was NOT a "cocoon" baby she liked her FREEDOM. Since we go most places by car, it was a hassle; my city buddies used their carriers much more.

Pack and Play vs. crib - I have a house with three levels, so we had a Pack n Play in the lower and middle levels for diaper changing, and then a crib upstairs. We tried the Pack n Play in our bedroom thing and it didn't work out. She was in her own crib by 5 weeks and sleeping SO much better so YMMV. I would have passed on the Pack n Plays rather than the crib.


Breast Pump - I didn't nurse, so no answers.

Bottles/Diapers/Wipes/Pacifiers - I got a variety of diapers and that was excellent. I got to try them all out and decide what I liked best. At certain levels of development certain brands worked better than others; so we changed around a lot. We had to go out and buy bigger bottles because she ate so much that she "outgrew" the 8 oz bottles.

Clothing - yeah, don't bother.

Diaper Genie - didn't use

Infant Tub - used for exactly 2 weeks. The first time I left her alone with Mr. Knitty and his friends for the evening she got STUCK in the tub (it was a folding one that had a plastic ring at the top and a flexible "bag" underneath. She got lodged under the ring and wasn't in danger but was VERY mad. After that I bathed her with me in the bathtub. We still bathe together. :-)

Diaper Bag - I used different ones at different stages. Around 9 months I started looking for giant purses so I could carry a couple of diapers and a bottle without a separate bag. My favorite was a Skip Hop Dash because it was cute and didn't look babylike.
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"Fun is where you find it" - jackierocket