baby gear, how much of them?

Question

I am trying to make our registry ans "shopping list" for baby normal and resonable. I dont need to go competely bare, I've got some money to get a few un-necessary things, you know... but what ones do i pick out of the gear? Bouncers, swings, the swing glider (more relaxing)??? Do people usually get all of them or just pick one of those things? Because how would you pick which one your baby would prefer, you just cant. Also... how about cribs, did you all get use out of buying a seperate co-sleeper (the arms reach one) or bassinet and then a portable crib like a pack n' play. (thats like 3 "soothers" and 3 sleeping pieces, too much!!!)

Answer 1

I didn't use a co-sleeper... most moms sleep so light after having a baby there is no chance of rolling over on them.

I did get the pack and play- good for grandma's home so she doesn't have to get out your DH's old crib (scary!)

I suggest you fill the registry with stuff. I don't think it looks greedy.. it gives people a lot of choices. I got a baby shower invite last month and there was literally 3-4 items left the DAY the invite came in the mail ... and those were big items!

Ask for clothing.. ask for 0-3, 6-9, 9-12, 12+ month items!! Register for toys, diapers, bath supplies, decorative stuff, etc.

That way the practical people can get what they want and the people who want to get the cute stuff can too.

For gear I suggest:
Belly pack or sling
swing (papasan swing kicks *ss)
vibrating chair (again.. we went with the papasan!)
highchair
gates (!!!!!)
diaper bag
glider rocker
boppy
BREAST PUMP and SUPPLIES! (I talked to the girl who's shower I mentioned above- she was too scared to register for breastfeeding items!)

Answer 2

Bouncy seats are great; you can take your baby anywhere in your house and let them sit and watch you cook dinner, take a bath, whatever. Swings are awesome; I have one child who would never have slept her first three months without one. I've seen swings that switch from front-back to side-side swinging; so whatever your baby ends up choosing, you're covered. A pack n play is good for trips, for picnics, for all sorts of things. If you have one with the bassinet feature, then you really don't need a separate bassinet, but you could get one and it wouldn't be really over the top, I don't think. But if you did get a bassinet, I don't see the purpose of a co-sleeper as well. You will eventually want to use a crib though, so you'll need one of those too. A bassinet is fine for a while, and a tiny baby appreciates the smaller, cozier space, but they will outgrow it by six months.

You might want to register for a play seat/walker type thing; I know those can be a life saver around 6 months- the more gadgets and toys on it, the better! Best wishes!

Answer 3

I recommend borrowing anything you can. That way when you are done with it, you can return it. When you buy something (especially if it is expensive), you feel obligated to keep it and it just clutters up your home. If you can't borrow it, check out some 2nd hand stores, then sell them back to them when you are done. The main thing that you should not skimp on is a car seat. Get a brand new one.
Things you will need:
Crib (they will use this until about 2 yrs old)
A pack N play that is also a bassinet (bassinet used for 3-4 months and then the pack N play can be used for about 2 yrs)
one of those small swings that are like a bouncy seat (a big swing is not really necessary because they will only use it for a few months anyway- fisher price makes a nice one called the soothing motions glider- check out ebay)
a convertable high chair
BTW, I have found that a changing table is not necessary. I always ended up changing my kiddos on the floor, couch, etc.
Best of luck and congrats!!

Answer 4

Our baby is now 4.5 months old, so I can tell you what we've used.

Swing--ours was a Graco, reclining seat, 3 speeds, no music.

Bouncer--Fisher Price, music, vibration, music and vibration settings

Tummy Time Mat--ours has sections that crinkle, a mirror, squeaky, rattle, teether

Crib--she's been in it in her own room (shares with big bro) since the day she came home from the hospital.

Mobile--get one that takes batteries and has a remote control

Monitor--we have one, but I only use it when the baby is inside sleeping and I'm playing in the back yard with my son--when we just had one kid we didn't have a monitor because I always heard every sound he made (special mommy hearing?)

Jumperoo--we have the Fisher Price rainforest Jumperoo. We got rid of the swing when we started using it just before she was 4 months old and it is by far the favorite toy

Fisher Price piano, it converts from a lie under to sit at to stand at toy. It was my son's and I haven't seen them in stores lately, but the baby loves to lie under and kick at it to make music.

As for co-sleepers and bassinets, I think a lot of that is personal preference. I think you should register for everything that you want, and for those things you don't receive, search yard sales for. They're often in like new condition for a fraction of the price.

Answer 5

I have a swing and 2 pack and plays and a crib. The pack and plays are nice but i wanted my baby in his own room so I have one I bought and one that was given to me and they dont get used. My baby hated the swing at first but he is sleeping in it right now, so he likes it.
Babies don't care

Answer 6

You are going to have to go play with some cribs, go into babies r us and lift the sides/lower the sides. See if you can operate the raising and lowering mechanism with ease, if not try the next crib. I bought the middle of the road cost wise for a crib mattress. My kids never ever co-slept with us. They all went to their own rooms and into their own cribs when they came home from the hospital. They're all expert sleepers as a result. We only ever used a crib.

I owned a pack n play and took it with us on vacations, and put my baby in it every single day when I took a bath. I wheeled it into to the master bath and was able to take a shower without worrying about the baby. I loved that!

Our son loved the jumper starting at about 6 months he jumped like a madman in that thing. The girls weren't into like he was at all. It's good to wear them out in after lunch so they nap. That thing works very well at wearing them out, plus they're only like $25.

None of my kids liked the swing and it was a big fat top of the line swing that went back & forth, side to side, etc. They hated it. A giant expensive mistake that took up lots of space, but I sold it at a garage sale.

I also have to recommend a Baby Bjorn, you can keep baby close to your heart and keep your hands free. I carried my son in it from 4 weeks to 12 months, girl. It was awesome and it was a good way to get my body back, but you have to use it regularly to keep yourself strong. So I vote for a Baby Bjorn, the breezy one is best at keeping you and baby cool otherwise it gets hot.

Best of luck to you and have fun! I registered for expensive and cheap things and was totally shocked at who bought what. That was a trip!

Answer 7

when all was said and done, i had a bassinet, a full size crib, a high chair, a jumperoo, a swing, a walker and an excersaucer. it wasn't stuff that i asked for, but stuff that was given to me anyway. i really used the crib, bassinet, swing, and high chair. the rest of it i've just kinda passed on because my daughter didn't care for it.

Answer 8

Here is a list I got off of consumer reports: It was helpful when I was setting up my baby registry. I still have some things that are not on the list on my registry but it was a nice little guide/checklist.
Here's a checklist of what you should have on hand before your baby arrives.

Tooling around
_____Car seat.
_____Stroller.

Beds and linens
_____Crib.
_____Crib mattress.
_____Bassinet/cradle (if you don't want to put your baby in a crib right away).
_____Two to three fitted crib sheets.
_____Four or more waffle-weave cotton receiving blankets for swaddling baby
_____Two mattress pads.
_____One to two waterproof liners (for crib or bassinet).

Diaper duty
_____Diapers. Disposable or cloth.
_____Diaper pail. (Optional with disposables.)
_____Diaper bag.

Dressing baby
_____Four sleeping outfits or onesies (one-piece sleepers), preferably with attached feet
_____Six side-snap T-shirts.
_____Four to six one-piece undershirts that snap around the crotch.
_____A small baby cap (although the hospital will probably give you one).
_____Six pairs socks/booties.
_____Two to three soft, comfortable daytime outfits. Get only a few items in newborn size. Then, go for clothing in the 6-month size--your baby will grow into it quickly. But don't buy baby sleepwear that's too big; it's a fire hazard
_____Cotton sweater or light jacket.

Summer babies
_____Brimmed hat.

Winter babies
_____Snowsuit or heavy bunting.
_____Heavy stroller blanket.
_____Warm knit hat.

Feeding time
If you're planning to breast-feed:
_____Two or three nursing bras.
_____A box of washable or disposable breast pads.
_____Breast pump if you expect to use one.
_____Four small baby bottles with newborn nipples for expressed breast milk
_____Bottle drying tree.
_____Bottle brush.
_____Insulated bottle holder for diaper bag (the hospital may give you one).
_____Three packs of cloth diapers or burp cloths.

If you're planning to bottle-feed
_____Six 4- to 5-ounce bottles, plus nipples, rings, and a dishwasher basket if you use a dishwasher.

Bathing/grooming
_____Three soft hooded towels.
_____Two packs of baby washcloths.
_____ Baby body wash that doubles as shampoo.
_____Pair of blunt-tip scissors or baby-sized nail clippers.
_____Zinc-oxide-based diaper rash ointment.
_____Infant bathtub.
_____Soft brush and comb.
_____Mild laundry detergent.

Medicine chest essentials
_____A pain-and-fever reducer recommended by your baby's doctor, such as Infant's Tylenol.
_____Cotton pads/swabs.
_____Nasal aspirator.
_____Digital thermometer.
_____Rubbing alcohol.
_____Petroleum jelly.

Keeping baby happy
_____Pacifiers.

Extras: Nice but optional
_____Monitor.
_____Changing table.
_____A rocker or glider.
_____Soft carrier.
_____Swing.

Answer 9

well in the UK
some NOT all use

a baby bouncer, one to sit baby in(some with motion)
swings are for a little older

Moses basket(bassinet) for first few months
then bigger cot to last till 2

yes you can always get a portable one too for when you go away

congrats