[LovelyMama]

I am still working on my registry and can't believe all the stuff they recommend for a baby. For the mothers out there, do you really need this stuff?

bottle drying rack (I'm BFing)
Dishwasher caddy
Humidifier
Car seat cushioning (using the Chicco Keyfit)
6-8 pacifier holders (i can see 1-2 but 6?)

Any thoughts would be helpful!!

[MammaWannaBe]

I heard good things about the bottle drying rack. We are getting some bottles just in case I need to pump or something. Other than that I have none of those other items on my list lol. God they'll get us to buy anything!

[armywife1988]

I never used any of thoughs things. Also a whipe warmer is usless

[colette20]

Originally Posted by LovelyMama

I am still working on my registry and can't believe all the stuff they recommend for a baby. For the mothers out there, do you really need this stuff?

bottle drying rack (I'm BFing)
Dishwasher caddy
Humidifier
Car seat cushioning (using the Chicco Keyfit)
6-8 pacifier holders (i can see 1-2 but 6?)

Any thoughts would be helpful!!

Im a FTM and had the same questions about these products and more, and recently questioned my sisters on what they got but didnt need, and what they needed more of.

My sister breast fed, but said she loved the drying rack for holding the little pieces of her breast pump when she cleaned it.

Humidifier is great to have, especially when you have a sick baby/toddler

She swears she lost paci's and their holders like crazy, so maybe thats why?

The other things we didnt talk about...

[marybeth76]

I've never had any of those things, lol. I only tend to buy things when they are absolutely necessary.

Let me tell you one thing about having kids. Your house is about to be overrun with kiddy things. It's going to start the day you bring them home, and as far as I can tell it won't end until they're in college, lol. And maybe not then if they still come home a lot.

It makes it HARD to keep your house in order, and the more tiny things you have, the more tiny things you have to lose in all the nooks and crannies of your home. It's a pita. That is why I say, for sanity's sake and to save yourself some stress, try not to buy lots of little extras. Before my daughter was born, we bought almost nothing. I figured I had my boobs and our bed for her to sleep in, and I didn't need a whole lot more than that.

[Angel.Eyes4351]

Drying rack, I used for pump pieces.

Humidifier yes I recommend. If they get a runny nose or congested thats about all the doc will say, other than nose sucker.

What's a car seat cushion? The thing to prop up floppy newborn heads in cars eat? Yes I recommend.

[swaddlestar]

I'll base these on my experience five years ago...

bottle drying rack: I used mine but I bottle-fed, so it makes sense
Dishwasher caddy: I have an irrational fear of losing small parts in the dishwasher and breaking the dishwasher somehow, so yes, I used one
Humidifier: used mine, but mostly for white noise
Car seat cushioning: never bought any
6-8 pacifier holders: Guilty of this but only because I had 6-8 different colored ones- I wanted them to coordinate with her outfits

[SaraSmiles]

Im only getting the essentials, then if I need anything else Ill just pick it up along the way. Plus, it will be a fun trip for me a baby

[Sephia]

As a BFer I still ended up pumping and could use a rack or a dishwasher thingy. But I also used the steamer bags too.

As for the pacifiers, if it's your first, you'll never know what KIND of pacifier your baby or even you'll like to use. There are so many out there, styles, shapes, materials used.

I have a preferred kind, but my babies didn't always agree, and some of my BF babies refused them all together. So maybe not 6-8, but at least 6-8 different KINDS/BRANDS.

[LadieBug]

I used the drying rack all the time, for pump/bottle parts, and later in it works great for sippy cups.
I never used the dishwasher insert. For some reason I never felt right putting the bottles in the dishwasher. I always washed by hand and sanitized in boiling water as needed.
A humidifier is a good idea.
Carseat cushioning? NO! Haha I got one but never took it out of the package. You mean like carseat seat protector right?
Pacifier holders? What is that, the container it comes in?

A thing to keep in mind about a registry list given to you by the store is that their main goal is not getting you prepared- it's getting people to spend as much money on you in their store as possible

[rjae84]

Originally Posted by LovelyMama

I am still working on my registry and can't believe all the stuff they recommend for a baby. For the mothers out there, do you really need this stuff?

bottle drying rack (I'm BFing)
Dishwasher caddy
Humidifier
Car seat cushioning (using the Chicco Keyfit)
6-8 pacifier holders (i can see 1-2 but 6?)

Any thoughts would be helpful!!

i didnt have any of that!!! lol. i bfd too and did from a bottle osmetimes, but i still didnt need that rack. uhm.. wait! try to get the dishwasher caddy bc if you do use bottles at times the pieces get lost in that machine - or hand wash them! and my baby never took a paci and none of that other stuff is "necessary" =)

[Sawyers_Mommy]

I never had any of it either lol

[WENDYLL22]

I think these are just "wants" not really "needs". Just me though. I got nearly all these items with my first child and rarely used anything except the Humidifier. I would say depending on where you live it might come in handy. Paci holders, eh...personal preference.

[aect-mama]

I was an assistant manager at a baby store for a couple years so I can tell you from experience that the "suggested registry items" lists really are sales gimmicks. You don't need to follow them at all. Just register for the things you think you'll really want to use.
Yes a lot of the stuff on these lists will come in handy for a lot of parents but its also true that most people can easily get by without any of them.

My personal opinion about the things you mentioned:

Bottle drying rack - never had one. I just lay out a towel on the counter for the bottles and pump pieces to dry on.

Dishwasher caddy - I do use one because I'm so afraid of some little piece falling somewhere inside the dishwasher and breaking it.

Humidifier - Have one but rarely use it at home. Comes in handy in hotel rooms because the a/c makes the air so dry.

Car seat cushioning - Just say NO! All but one car seat manufacturer specifically says in their instructions NOT to use accessories from other manufacturers. Only use the things that came with the seat when it was purchased new or things that the manufacturer has specifically approved for your seat. This isn't a sales gimmick. It's a safety issue. The accessories haven't been crash tested with your seat and they can interfere with it's functioning in a crash. This is especially true with body cushions/positioners and strap covers.

Pacifier holders - I'm assuming this is referring to those straps that attach to the pacifier and then clip to baby's clothes. Some people find them useful. I never did. They rarely stayed attached when I really needed them to so I still ended up loosing a bunch of pacifiers.

[mamaginger]

I'd say yes on the dishwasher caddy and definitely on the humidifier. U arent suppose to give cold medicines at all for like 4 years so it's really all you can do for them!! I liked using vapor rub on the chest only...don't do under the nose because I've heard of it blocking nasal passages.

[nursingmama]

i never used any of that stuff. idk what a paci holder is but i did go through a lot of binkies. my son loved (still does love) them so we had a ton of those but i wouldnt buy any until baby arrives because they usually have a preference as to which kind they will use.

[d_tops]

Originally Posted by LovelyMama

I am still working on my registry and can't believe all the stuff they recommend for a baby. For the mothers out there, do you really need this stuff?

bottle drying rack (I'm BFing)
Dishwasher caddy
Humidifier
Car seat cushioning (using the Chicco Keyfit)
6-8 pacifier holders (i can see 1-2 but 6?)

Any thoughts would be helpful!!

Oy, where did you get the list? I picked up a copy of Baby Bargains before getting into the registry, and it's really helpful in sorting out what's useful and what's not. For example, the drying rack is a no, you can get the dishwasher caddy or you can put all the bottle bits in a lingerie bag that you would use in the washing machine. And you'll only need that if you're also supplementing or pumping for part of BFing.

It felt weird to spend money on a book to save money on other stuff, but I've already nixed a ton of what's on the LIST OF THINGS YOUR BABY WILL DIE WITHOUT. Like, with the humidifier, our furnace has a built-in humidifier, so we're probably fine. But there are two different kinds of humidifiers, and one is better than another in a baby's room. And the fancy ones with lights/sounds are a waste of money, so it's probably better to get a regular one from Target than to get a "baby" one from BRU.

[joellejello]

bottle drying rack (I'm BFing) - I just laid bottles, nipples, and pump parts out to dry on a clean towel on the counter, but I can see it being useful also.

Dishwasher caddy - no, but I handwash bottles and pump parts, putting them in the dishwasher skeeves me out for some reason. We do put sippys in there now, and I hate the way the nipples get all cloudy.

Humidifier - we use ours a lot in the winter because the air here gets really really dry. We actually have one in our room also. If you get one that takes the vapor stuff, it comes in handy when they/you are sick also since you can't give them any cold/cough meds.

Car seat cushioning (using the Chicco Keyfit) - no, total gimmick

6-8 pacifier holders (i can see 1-2 but 6?) - like the clips that attach them to the clothes? we never used those and only lost a few paci's along the way. WE did however get a neat little pouch that attaches to the diaper bag handle that you can put a paci or two in, and we've used that quite a lot.

[Leigha24]

I love my dishwasher caddy. I still used it with my daughter's sippy cup parts once she was a bit older. It's great for those small pieces

I had a drying rack and it was nice, but not a necessity.

Never heard of the car seat thing lol