As a new parent, it's hard to know what you will really need for your baby. With so many products from which to choose and so many companies pushing these products, how do you sort the "need pile" from the "want pile" from the "don't waste your money on it pile"?! So what should you put on your baby registry?
I have two young children and have bought items from all three of these piles fairly recently. So let me help you!
Graco Pack N Play
Need Pile: First and foremost, you need an infant car seat. The hospital won't let you take your baby home without one! I guess in reality, this could be considered the only piece of baby gear you absolutely need, since your baby could also sleep in it for the first few weeks, but that's just not realistic.
So next, I recommend some type of cozy place for your baby to sleep. Some infants do very well going straight home and into a full-sized crib, but I preferred to put my babes in a smaller bassinet beside my bed. A co-sleeper or a travel crib (Pack n Play or playard) will work just as well. Some co-sleepers and all playards can also be used later on as a safe, enclosed place for your baby or toddler to play while you prepare dinner or fold laundry!
At some point, you will want to add a stroller (either a frame stroller to snap your infant car seat into or a full-sized stroller that will last you through toddlerhood and possibly beyond). If you're looking for something very streamlined and portable, go for the frame stroller. However, a full-size, travel system stroller will accommodate both your infant car seat now and your older child later. Although they cost more money up front, the latter will wind up being the better bet for your money.
Want Pile: When my first child was born, I didn't realize how helpful a baby carrier would be. I didn't get my front pack until Nathan was three months old, but used it extensively after that. Had I had it earlier, I really think it would have helped me so much, as I would have had my hands free to do other necessary evils like cooking, cleaning, and eating! With the birth of my second child, I moved my baby carrier into the "need pile" since Ashley and Nathan are only a year and a half apart and I truly needed my hands free to help "wrangle" her older brother.
I would also recommend putting a high chair on your baby registry. Although you will not use it right away (some high chairs recline significantly, so you can safely put a young baby in it), a high chair is a good piece of baby gear to get ahead of time. Once babies are only a few months old, they start to gain interest in the dinner table even though they are not yet eating solids. I found it was nice to move my babies up from their bouncer on the floor and into the high chair where they can play with a few toys while the adults ate dinner.
That brings me to another piece of baby gear you may want - a bouncer. My children spent many hours both playing and sleeping in their bouncer when they were very young. Most bouncers these days are powered by batteries and include music, lights, and a vibrating seat, which can be very helpful for colicy babies.
Depending on the size of your house, you may also want to add a baby monitor to your registry. If you live in a small house or apartment, you will most likely be able to hear your little one cry from his or her nursery without the aid of a monitor. However, if your dwelling is a bit larger or if you just like the peace of mind of having a monitor, then I would recommend a baby monitor; baby monitors with video screens are my favorite. I found it helpful to not only hear, but see my babies to figure out why they were crying. Did his binky fall out of the crib or did he throw his teddy bear across the room? By seeing what was going on, my husband and I were able to go into the nursery, rectify the problem, and leave as quickly as possible so the baby could get back to sleep as quickly as possible!
Don't Waste Your Money On Pile: If this is your first child, you will most likely have a baby shower at some point. And people love to buy for babies! You will receive tons of newborn clothes that Junior will grow out of so quickly that you may not even get two uses out of some of them. So skip registering for the newborn and 0-3 baby clothes.
You will also receive multiple baby blankets, which are sweet and sentimental, but with concerns about SIDS, we are not allowed to put blankets on our infants these days! Most doctors recommend not having anything in your baby's crib (ie, blankets, stuffed animals, pillows) until your baby is at least a year old. In my experience however, even at a year of age, babies still move around in their cribs so much that a blanket will not stay on them. As an alternative, I recommend sleep sacks. Sleep sacks are like zipable blankets that your baby wears over his or her jammies.
One product I fell victim to when I was registering for our first child was a "tummy time" mat. Now I believe that anything that you have to pay for that helps prop your baby up for tummy time should be avoided. You can save your money and encourage tummy time just as easily with a rolled-up towel on the floor.
All in all, when registering for baby products, it is best to start with the basics and work your way up from there. I know how easily it is to get caught up in the cute and adorable baby items those stores tempt you with. But just remember that it's your baby that's going to be the cute and adorable center of attention; not their baby gear.
Black Friday Safety 1st Travel Ease Elite Play Yard, Orion 2011 Deals
Nov 13, 2011 16:00:40
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Black Friday Safety 1st Travel Ease Elite Play Yard, Orion Feature
- Toy bar with 3 soft toys
- Elevated changer and Full-size bassinet
- Assembled dimensions are 40.25 X 30.00 X 46.25
- Fits through a doorway plus 2 wheels for portability
- Folds quickly and compactly for storage and travel
Black Friday Safety 1st Travel Ease Elite Play Yard, Orion Overview
Keep a watchful eye on your children during playtime with the Safty 1st Play Yards, designed to blend in your taste and home decor! Features: Toy bar with 3 soft toys Spacious frame with elegant style Elevated changer Full sized bassinet Folds quickly and compactly for storage and travel Fits through a doorway 2 wheels for portability Carry bag included Deep storage keeps baby's necessities conveniently closeSAVE NOW on Black Friday offers below!
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