My Obligatory Baby Registry Post

Okay guys, I realize Rory is only three months old, so I can't exactly call myself an expert when it comes to baby products, but then again, I'm currently in the throws of infancy, so I definitely know what baby items were worth the money and which ones I wish I had kicked off the registry.



Aden and Anais Swaddle Blankets (Actually, Aden and Anais anything)

These blankets are probably on everyone's baby registry, and there's a reason they are. Babies like to be swaddled-it reminds them of being in the womb. We quickly discovered that Rory sleeps better and longer (which means we sleep better and longer) when she's double swaddled. So, we use two of these bad boys every night. The A&A blankets are by far the best blankets for swaddling. They're made of soft, breathable muslin fabric and come in lots of fun prints. They also wash really well. They can also be used as breastfeeding covers, stroller/carseat blankets, play mats, and even burp cloths on occasion. I buy these for all of my pregnant friends, even if they're not on their registries-I know they'll thank me later. We may or may not have 12 of them. Everything from this brand is high-quality and extra soft. I also registered for A&A crib sheets, changing pad covers, wash cloths, burp cloths, and bibs. They even make blankets for adults. Marcos says it's too late to register for one.


California Baby

Anything by this brand is worth the money in my opinion. Colorado is very dry, and Rory's skin gets irritated and flaky if we don't use this lotion daily. We also use the shampoo/body wash combo in the bath, and her head smells so good afterwards. (Is there anything better than that delicious baby smell?) What I like most about this company is that they use all natural and minimal ingredients. I never have to worry that I'm exposing Rory to dangerous chemicals or irritants.
The diaper rash cream and sunblock are also staples in my diaper bag.


The B.O.B Jogging Stroller

Okay, so I haven't actually used our jogging stroller for jogging yet, but I'm so glad we splurged on one. There are lots of options when it comes to joggers, and we went with the BOB, but I've heard great things about several other brands, including the City Jogger and Britax. Even Graco has their own version. Yes, they're a little bulky and not ideal for quick trips to the grocery store, but they're great for walks, hikes, and other outdoor adventures. We've also used ours to walk around the mall. As my husband has said on more than one occasion, "that thing has better shocks than my car." It's true. The stroller can go up/down large hills and over huge bumps and Rory won't even bat an eye. It's easy to steer and even easier to fold and store. I keep telling myself that I will eventually (when it gets warmer?) use it for it's intended purpose and actually take Rory jogging with me, but until then, I'm happy to use it for our strolls around the neighborhood.


Playmat

I added this to my registry at the last minute, and it's actually the item that I use most. We throw this thing down on the floor as soon as we wake up and don't put it away until Rory is asleep at night. I read somewhere that it's important for babies to spend ample amount of time on the floor. Think about it. Crawling, rolling over, tummy time....all of those milestones require babies to be on the floor. Even though we have carpet, I feel better using a playmat because it provides extra padding and can be easily sanitized. Ours is also easy to fold up and store, which is great for when we have company or don't feel like looking at obnoxious primary colors.



Ergo Baby Carrier with Infant Insert

I just recently began using this, but so far I really like it. It has great back support and is fairly easy to take on and off. Rory seems to like it too, and has even fallen asleep in it several times. It's great for doing laundry/dishes or going on walks. It's also perfect for running into places when you don't feel like breaking out the stroller or carrying the infant carseat around. (Am I just really weak, or do those things weigh a ton?!) I did a lot of research before choosing a carrier and decided on the Ergo after talking to several mom friends and reading reviews. I know lots of people love the Moby wrap, but it scares the crap out of me. It's just one huge piece of fabric that somehow magically turns into a baby carrier. I don't think I'm coordinated enough for that. (I just had a flashback to my one and only attempt at creating an origami swan. Yikes!) Apparently the way your baby's legs are positioned in a carrier has an impact on their hip development, and the Ergo is one of the better carriers when considering this aspect. Once Rory is older, she can face out or I can wear her like a backpack (see smiling woman below).  I got mine off Craigslist, so I recommend checking there before paying full price. You never know if your baby is going to like it or hate it.

(Pretty sure I won't be using the carrier when Rory is this old?!)


My Breast Friend and The Boppy 

I registered for the My Breast Friend nursing pillow and also bought a Boppy pillow at a consignment sale. I was worried that one would sit in a closet unused, but I still use both of them often.  I like My Breast Friend because it's a little firmer so baby doesn't fall through the crack between your stomach and the pillow. It also has an attached drink holder for water (or wine?) and two slightly raised bumps for baby's head to rest on. It also buckles in the back for lumbar support and also prevents the pillow from moving. The Boppy is great for middle of the night feeds. It's easy to slip on and its super firm. Plus, the pillow and the covers are easy to wash. I would buy at least three covers because they get dirty fast, especially in the early months. (Think leaking/spraying boobs and lots of spit up or spilled wine.)



Angel Care Monitor

I never thought I would be that mom that checks in on her baby in the middle of the night to make sure she's breathing. Just add it to the list of things I was wrong about. The first time Rory slept through the night I would have thought she was dead if we didn't have the Angel Care monitor. The whole nine months I was pregnant, all I did was worry about the things that could go wrong. (Preeclampsia, placenta previa, premature delivery, will she have her father's taste in music, the list goes on and on.)  As soon as Rory exited the womb, I started obsessing worrying about SIDS. The Angel Care monitor comes with a motion-detecting mat that is placed under the crib/bassinet mattress. It checks for movement (baby breathing) every fifteen seconds and will sound an alarm if no movement is detected. I often wake up in the middle of the night and look at the monitor to make sure the green light is blinking, which is much easier than touching Rory's chest or putting my finger under her nose. I can be psychotic from the comfort of my own bed. Of course, there is a learning curve. You have to remember to turn the monitor off when you lift your baby from the crib in the middle of the night to feed her or you might scare the shit out of your husband at 2 in the morning.



Swing and Vibrating Bouncer

My friend gave us a simple vibrating bouncer seat that I forgot about until about six weeks after Rory was born. Now, I'm not sure I could live without it. It's perfect for setting on the counter while I cook dinner or empty the dishwasher. It's very light weight and easy to tote around the house. Also, I'm pretty sure it wasn't made for this purpose, but every morning  without fail, as soon as I put Rory in the seat so I can make my breakfast, she poops. My husband has started calling it the poop seat. It must be something about the upright position that really gets her bowels moving. We also have a Graco swing that Rory used a lot when she was first born, but she doesn't use it as much now.  I definitely recommend buying both of these second-hand if you can.





Dr. Brown's Bottles

Rory doesn't use bottles very often now, but during my whole breastfeeding fiasco that you can read about here, she would feed from one several times a day. I did a lot of research as to which bottles were best, and finally decided on Dr. Brown's. They come with a special insert that prevents baby from swallowing too much air and Rory has never had a problem with gas/colic. The milk seems to come out at a speed that's manageable for newborns and the bottle fits right onto my Medela pump. The downside to these bottles is that there are additional parts that you have to clean/sterilize, but I just put everything in my dishwasher basket after giving it a quick rinse. I chose the classic glass bottles (I try to avoid plastic when possible), but they also come in BPA-Free plastic as well.



Burp Cloths

Register for about 1,000 of these. We go through at least 2 everyday. I have several different brands, but my favorite ones are by, you guessed it, Aden and Anais. The burpy bibs are great because they can also be used as bibs for when your baby starts eating solids or begins drooling uncontrollably. They are soft, super-absorbent, easy to wash, and the perfect size for throwing over your shoulder or in your diaper bag. My friend Carol also made me a set of burp cloths for my baby shower, and they are amazing. They are soft flannel on one side and terry cloth on the other. I found myself reaching for these so often, that I asked her to make me another set. I'm trying to convince her to open up an Etsy shop, so I'll let you know as soon as she does.

Sophie the Giraffe

Is this thing coated in crack? Seriously, why do all babies love this thing?  I received two Sophies at my baby shower, and I'm glad I did. Rory is already obsessed. If your baby is part of the 1% that doesn't like her, you can always give it to your dog.



Graco Travel Lite Crib

This crib is awesome. It's super light and perfect for the first few months if you plan for baby to sleep in your room. It's a bit smaller than a regular Pack and Play, which makes it perfect for traveling. (Not that I would know.) It has a bassinet on top, which is where Rory has been sleeping for the past two months. It also has wheels on one side that make it easy to maneuver around the room. I know some people use Cosleepers that attach to the side of your bed, but honestly, those make me a bit nervous. I'm sure they're perfectly safe, but I have visions of Rory slipping through the crack between the cosleeper and our mattress or me somehow rolling over and squishing her. I think a travel crib is perfect for parents who want their baby to sleep in the same room, but not too close. Plus, I think it's a great way to transition them to their crib.


StorkSak Diaper Bag

Ahhh, the diaper bag. I spent days  way too long researching diaper bags, and I still ended up with one that I hated. My sister bough me a super nice one from pottery barn kids and had it monogrammed with Rory's initials. The problem is that it doesn't have any pockets! I've discovered that there are two camps when it comes to diaper bags: those who like having pockets and storage compartments, and those who like a bag sans pockets that they can just toss things into. I definitely fall into the pocket-loving category. I found that I was constantly digging for things like my keys, hand sanitizer, or my wallet. By the time I found said item, I had removed the entire contents of my bag. I also realized that since Rory was born, I haven't carried a purse of my own. I just put my wallet in her diaper bag. That being said, I didn't really want my diaper bag to look like a diaper bag, and the one I had received from my sister was a bright pink that literally screamed diaper bag. So I scoured Craigslist for a simple, neutral diaper bag and found a brown Storksak that someone was selling for only $10. Score! Storksak is a London company and their bags usually retail for over $100. I'm really happy with it so far. And guess what my new bag has? Pockets!



Sound Machine

There are lots of good options out there, and quite honestly, I don't think they differ much from one to another, but do yourself a favor and buy one. Ours is compact and has several different noise options. We can even attach it to an MP3 player if we want to play our own music. We put on white noise every night, and I believe it helps Rory sleep through other noises. Thanks to the sound machine, she isn't a light sleeper, and Marcos and I don't have to tip toe around the house when she naps or goes down for the night. The only problem is that once Rory moves to her nursery, we will probably have to buy one for our room because we've gotten so used to the noise, I'm not sure we'd be able to sleep without it.



Carseat Canopy

I am was so paranoid about taking Rory out of the house for the first few weeks after she was born. Newborns' immune systems are so fragile, and she was born during the height of flu season. When we did take her out, I was so glad that we had our Carseat Canopy so that no one would get all up in her grill. It also protects her from the cold and keeps her from being overstimulated if she's tired. I only had to pay 12 bucks for shipping and handling because carseatcanopy.com was having a special when I bought mine. There are several pattern options and I was very impressed by the quality of the material.



Things I Wish I Hadn't Registered For:

A Changing Pad
I haven't used this once. We have a travel one that we put on the floor to change Rory's diaper. I also have a diaper bucket that we stash with her changing pad, diapers, wipes, and rash cream. This makes it easy to change her in any room in the house.

A Nursing Cover
Ugh! Words cannot fully express my hate for nursing covers. They are clumsy and obvious and so hard to position while also trying to get your baby to latch on correctly. I am all for a woman's right to breastfeed in public. It's perfectly natural and I see nothing wrong with it; however, I'm not comfortable whipping my boob out for all the world to see. When we are out and about and Rory needs to nurse, I usually nurse her in the car. But, if I'm somewhere where that's not possible, I either go into a separate room or use a swaddling blanket to cover her once she's latched on. One of my friends swears by the nursing scarfs you can buy on Etsy, but honestly, I don't need one more thing to stuff into my diaper bag. (On a side note, what will she use in the summer??) I already carry a swaddling blanket everywhere I go, so it just makes sense to use it as a cover.

A Moses Basket
Seriously, people, what was I thinking? This isn't 900 BC. Why in the world did I think this was a good idea? This is still in my closet untouched. I have a feeling Rory will love carrying her dolls around in this one day. At least someone will get use out of it.

Car Seat
Does anyone really use these things? Just kidding, guys, just kidding.