[bliss]

So we're putting our registry together, and both DH and I are big time researchers, and by now I feel like I've researched the entire internet two times over!

What I'm weary of, though, is adding useless items to our registry. So, for those of you who have been down this road already, can you recommend the items you really needed, and the ones which have been utterly useless?

[xanada101]

There is a list of informative links above the list of topics on the board. I don't know if this will help.. but here:

http://www.justmommies.com/forums/f4...egistries.html (Baby Registries)

[Sam914]

I wrote a blog about our favorite stuff

The Crowe's Nest: June 2010

[MommaLee]

I'm not sure there is a way to safeguard against useless items. I'd just register what you think you may use and then you can either regift or return.

What I found useless were:

1. swaddle sacks/woombie - I have a baby that screamed and cried when she was swaddled. I still have unopened ones that I will be regifting.

2. burp cloths - Julie rarely spits up so we just use a blanket to wipe her face. She gets a new blanket everyday so why not make use of it.

3. soothie pacificers - didn't work for us, she couldn't keep them in her mouth.

4. diaper changer cover - my baby loves to pee and poop right when we take the diaper off, it was and is still easier just to put a towel down or use a disposable changing pad. We use the burp cloths to clean up the changing table sometimes

5. diaper caddy - never had a place for it.

6. graco lullaby music player - i would really need about 5 of them for it to work...we never seem to be where it is, so it is rarely used.

7. bottle warmer & wipes warmer - my brother gave me theirs but it was easier just to warm up a washcloth and use a cup of water

8. sleep gowns - weren't my style, didn't like personally

9. bibs - I don't care if an outfit gets dirty as I feel that is what clothes are for. Also for feeding (cereal right now) we get the disposable bibs...much easier IMO.

10. sleep wedge (that prevents rollover) - didn't need it for our child

11. crib sheet saver - maybe we are just clean freaks but we wash her sheets, so what is the point.

12. diaper bag - I find it to be a pain. I have a child who likes to be held when we go places, so trying to hold her and carry a bag that is constantly falling down, ugh! I got a canvas bag that I can wear across me (for $5 at Target) and I put her stuff in it and it works perfectly.

I'm sure these items worked wonders for others, but not us. You just really never know what your preference is going to be or the personality of your baby.

[xanada101]

This helped too... http://www.justmommies.com/forums/f4...idnt-need.html (Things I thought I didn't need...)

[bliss]

Omg thanks, these are great!

[KDD]

Thanks for the help. It's hard to predict what the baby will like and I don't want to get caught without, but I don't want too much stuff either. It's a delicate balance.

[jensma]

Its hard b/c sometimes you register for stuff and then after the fact think...OMG i can never use all of this. I got a ton of blankets, and granted my baby is a fall/winter baby, i will still NEVER use all of them! There are certain things people LIKE to buy, like clothes and blankets and cute stuff, not necessarily stuff you need. I didn't register for clothes at all, but i still got quite a few. Sometimes i'm not sure people even look at the registry. I got NOTHING for BFing, i got nothing in terms of medicine/bath stuff either... I'd just try and save gift cards for stuff like that if you don't get it. I got THREE monitors...you just never know. I traded one of them in for a manual pump yesterday. I am planning to borrow a nice medela pump from my friend but at the suggestion of a stranger, decided to go ahead and get a manual just b/c you never know when something may stop working. I got the Medela Harmony, which was more expensive than some of the other manuals but it was highly recommended.

Other things that have been highly recommended:
a pack n play
space saver high chair
boppy pillow and cover
swaddler blankets (not just for swaddling, but they're big and stretchy and i really like them!)
crib sheets, have a few...
bumbo chair
bibs (lots of bibs)
cloth diapers (my mom still uses them to clean)
rear view car mirror
moby wrap (i didn't register for this but was given it by my friend who is a midwife who highly recommends them)


That's all i've got for now...but if i think of more i'll add.

[bliss]

Kate, what's a space saver high chair? We're actually looking for one for tight spaces, but can't find anything yet...

[jensma]

Its like the top half of the high chair, without the legs. It just straps to your regular kitchen chairs and can be stored elsewhere. My friend told me its the only way to go.

Fisher-Price Space Saver High Chair - Tan Swirl - Fisher-Price - Babies "R" Us

[MommaLee]

A spacesaver highchair is one that sits in a chair....

Fisher-Price Space Saver Highchair - Beautiful Garden : Target

We have one but the problem is that it sits really low. I propped it up with 2 dictionaries and a collegiate hardback phone book so it sits at the table level and she can see us. It is great because it leans back but I will be purchasing one of those that just hook to the table.

Also, I forgot our mobile is useless. I was given a fisher price precious planet projection mobile and Julie won't give it the time of day. Plus it is big and bulky and the umbrella shaped thing keeps falling off....I was a little nervous it was going to fall on her face. And it make is awkward for me to put her in her crib cause it is so big!

[bliss]

Ohh, that one! We actually wanted it from the get go, then for some reason (kill me, can't remember!!!!) changed our minds. I have no idea why we did that. I think I'll look into it again. Thanks!

[chrisam143]

Originally Posted by jensma

Its hard b/c sometimes you register for stuff and then after the fact think...OMG i can never use all of this. I got a ton of blankets, and granted my baby is a fall/winter baby, i will still NEVER use all of them! There are certain things people LIKE to buy, like clothes and blankets and cute stuff, not necessarily stuff you need. I didn't register for clothes at all, but i still got quite a few. Sometimes i'm not sure people even look at the registry. I got NOTHING for BFing, i got nothing in terms of medicine/bath stuff either... I'd just try and save gift cards for stuff like that if you don't get it. I got THREE monitors...you just never know. I traded one of them in for a manual pump yesterday. I am planning to borrow a nice medela pump from my friend but at the suggestion of a stranger, decided to go ahead and get a manual just b/c you never know when something may stop working. I got the Medela Harmony, which was more expensive than some of the other manuals but it was highly recommended.

Kate I just got the Harmony pump yesterday. A friend of mine is also letting me borrow her medela electoric pump to use at work, but she had suggested a manual pump as well. She said it would come in handy if out on the weekends and need to pump real quick, or going someplace you don't want to lug around the large pump.

We too got tons of clothes and blankets, none of which we put on our registery. I did return some stuff and then also had to exchange some of the clothes because we got too many newborn sizes. We just bought a lot of the other stuff left on our list (bath, bfing stuff, crib sheets, few toys, highchair, baby bjorn carrier, etc...). All those little things add up! Luckily I had gift cards and credits from the stuff we returned, which helped to cover much of the stuff we had to buy.

Good luck ladies registering soon!

[Hopingfor1soon]

Im just starting to register so I am no help at all!! But I am loving this thread!