Hellobee

A few years ago, I created an Ultimate Baby Registry that I could direct my friends to because I had some registry regret after I had my first child.  Being the first of my friends giving birth, and not really knowing anyone who had young infants, I was at a loss at what to register for.  Once my friends were pregnant, many of them came to me for recommendations.  It was easier to give them an entire list of tried-and-true, proven products with detailed explanations rather than repeat myself again and again.

A lot has changed in the last 4 years, so once again, I’ve created an Ultimate Baby Registry based on the latest and greatest products on the market, from the perspective of a first time mom. These are things I would definitely put on my registry if I were registering today.

1.  ERGOBaby 4 position 360 Carrier – I loved the original Ergo, and lived and breathed in that thing when Noelle was an infant all the way til she was 16 months. The Ergo is really comfortable for baby, easy to put on and take off, and doesn’t put too much strain on your back. When Jaren came along, he only wanted to be looking out so we didn’t get as much use out of the original Ergo. Having the option to eventually face your baby out in a carrier is such a huge plus in my book. I would register for the 360 in a heartbeat if I were having another child in the near future.

2.  ERGOBaby Organic Teething Pads – My kids loved to chew on the straps of my Ergo. This is not a must-have, but when you’re in dreamland and fantasizing about registries, might as well register for anything and everything as long as you get some use out of it, right?!

3.  Baby Deedee Sleep Nest – This sleepsack looks so warm and cozy! It looks similar to the Merino Kids and Woolino sleep sacks, but at a more reasonable price point. I’d feel comfortable putting this on my registry.

4.  Lotus Travel Crib and Portable Baby Playard – I had the BabyBjorn Travel Crib Light, but I would definitely register for this one instead if it had been around then! It is very similar to the BabyBjorn, but it can also be taken as a carry-on, and it turns into a backpack!! It also has a little zippered opening through the side, so you can easily sneak your baby sideways into this crib, or take him out, if you don’t want to bend over.

5.  Snugapuppy Swing – This is one of those baby products that some babies love, and others not-so-much. You can try to get it second-hand, but it sure doesn’t hurt to put it on your registry. In my opinion, it is the best swing on the market!

6.  Summer Infant Touchscreen Digital Baby Monitor – I could not live without my video monitor with my two kids – if anything, it was worth it for peace of mind  I liked being able to see and observe them without disturbing them while they slept. Everywhere I look, this seems to be the top-rated and most revered monitor on the market at the moment  It also gives you the option of adding up to 3 additional monitors if you have multiple children.

7.  Aden & Anais Bamboo Dream Blanket – I’ve never had the pleasure of owning one of these, but I’ve seen and touched my sister’s and it is large and luxurious! So soft, and a great size for baby to grow into.

8.  Rock ‘n Play – I wrote an extensive review of the Rock ‘n Play here. I only wish I had known about it years ago! I love that it’s so cozy and portable, and at a slight incline. Definitely one of my “cannot live without” baby items. This is what I choose to buy off every single friend’s registry whenever possible!

9.  myBaby Soundspa Lullaby Sound Machine and Projector – We loved this so much that once our first one died on us, we got another. It has multiple sounds, and it also projects images onto the ceiling. It comes with three small discs with different images in them, so you can change up what the soundspa projects each night if you want.

10.  Marpac Dohm White Noise Machine – Definitely worth getting a white noise machine that doesn’t turn off automatically! This is purely a white noise machine, and makes a whooshing sound that is super effective in blocking out excess noise.

11.  Carseat Canopy – Sure, you can just throw an Aden & Anais blanket over your carseat and call it a day, but then you’ll have to keep readjusting it and making sure it doesn’t fly open. Love that this one has straps that attach to the handle of the carseat, and you can easily lift it too to make sure your baby is okay.

12.  Crane Humidifier – Humidifiers really come in handy for those dry nights, or if your baby is sick and congested, or has problems with a bloody nose. Just get any cute design you like at the moment because you’ll probably need to replace that humidifier within a year or two anyway! We’re on our third one now… (yes, I’ve tried the non-cute ones too).

13.  Aden & Anais Muslin Swaddle Blankets – After all these years, still the best swaddle blankets on the market.

14.  Cloud B Tranquil Turtle – This nightlight projects ocean waves onto the ceiling when turned on, and features two calming sounds (a gentle melody or whispering waves).

15.  Summer Infant Changing Pad and Changing Pad Cover – There are other changing pads on the market now, like this one with contoured sides, but I don’t think that one is as practical for when the baby grows in length and his legs start sticking out. I used the changing pad until my daughter was out of diapers at 2.5 years old, and I’m still going strong with my son at 20 months, so I definitely want a changing pad that will last the test of time and not just for when they’re a baby. I like the open ends of this one.

16.  HALO Sleepsacks – Can’t go wrong with the HALO sleepsacks. Always nice to have multiple blanket options, in case your child explodes in one. This comes in microfleece or cotton. Since babies usually don’t start wearing sleepsacks until they’re ready to be swaddle-weaned around 4-5 months, I’d make my choice based on what season your baby will be when they’re going to be around that age.

17.  LOVE To Dream Swaddle Up – I am not a huge fan of swaddles that confine baby’s arms and legs to one position without allowing for movement, so this looks like a great ergonomic option! I would also register for the Woombie again without a second thought. Both of these swaddles mimic a womb-like environment, but also allows baby movement within the confines of a swaddle, making it better for their joints and hips, and also giving them an opportunity to self-soothe if they want.

The feeding stuff can get a little complicated because you might be breastfeeding, you might not. You might choose to make your own purees, use store-bought ones, or jump right into Baby-Led Weaning. There’s really no way to tell, so I’ve tried to be as all-inclusive as possible to let you pick and choose which of these items best fit your personal needs.

1.  Fisher-Price Booster Seat – Another one of my can’t-live-without baby items. You can even use this in lieu of a stand-alone high chair, and just strap this onto one of your dining room chairs to save space. Great, portable, affordable highchair option!

2.  Innobaby Stainless Bus Divided Platter – We also love these divided plates, and we’ll use these when I have more time on my hands and can provide my kids a bit more variety during mealtimes.

3.  Re-Play Divided Plates – BPA free, phthalate free, PVC free, and made from recycled milk jugs. They’re really well made and durable, and they’re the perfect size for little kid portions once they start feeding themselves. Our kids use these the most out of all the divided trays we own.

4.  Boon Lawn Drying Rack – I like that this is just one flat lawn that you can lay out all your bottles, nipples, and other baby feeding necessities. Simple and looks nice on the countertop. After the bottle using days are over, you can use it to dry sippy cups and such.

5.  Thermos FOOGO Plastic Straw Bottle – So many straw bottles leak, but this one has great reviews! This is the plastic version of the stainless steel one. Great for at home or daycare use.

6.  Thermos FOOGO Stainless Steel Straw Bottle – LOVE this straw bottle for carrying milk when out and about  It really keeps drinks cold for a long time!

7.  Mumi & Bubi baby food freezer storage trays – I stored my homemade baby purees in ice cube trays with lids, but they were so hard to twist out at times. This one makes it easy. Each cube is also portioned out to exactly one ounce, making it easy to track how much you’re feeding your baby.

8.  OXO Tot Silicone Feeding Spoons – I love that these are made out of silicone, with a sleek modern design. Plenty of excellent reviews too!

9.  Waterproof Baby Bibs with Snaps – My son is a drooling machine, so he still wears terry bibs at 20 months and going strong! These bibs with a waterproof backing are great, and I like that it has snaps instead of velcro in the back so it doesn’t irritate the skin.

10.  Bumkins Waterproof Feeding Bibs – Love these bibs for mealtimes. The velcro in the back is really sturdy, it folds up small for when you’re on the go, and it is waterproof so food doesn’t leak onto your child’s clothes.

11.  Bebe Au Lait Muslin Nursing Cover – Now they make a muslin version of these wonderful nursing covers!  It makes it less hot and more breathable for both mom and baby. This one still has the structured neckline so you can look down at your baby too. Just looking at the gorgeous designs makes me want to get one!

12.  Simple Wishes Hands-Free Nursing Bra – This kept my flanges secure whenever I needed to pump.  4.5 stars on Amazon with over 3,000 reviews speaks for itself!

13.  My Brest Friend and/or Boppy Nursing Pillow – I used both of these. I looked to see what else was out there now, and I still keep coming back to these two. I did a review comparing the two awhile back, and they are pretty equal and beneficial in different ways. Loved the My Brest Friend for the first 3 months, and used the Boppy exclusively from 3 months on.

14.  Bottles – Bottles are one of those items that have to go through some trial and error. Every kid is different. We used Ventaire and Dr. Brown bottles through both kids, and neither one was too picky about bottles and both worked fine for them. I preferred Ventaire bottles because there were less parts to clean (only two – the nipple, and the bottle itself). I hear great things about the Tommee Tippee bottles too, and probably would’ve registered for those if I had to register again.

15.  Medela Pump In Style Advanced pump – I had to purchase my own pump with kid #1, but now that we have ACA, most insurance companies should cover some sort of pump (how things have changed in the last 4 years!). I would find out what kind of coverage you have before registering for a pump, but I thought this was important to include to the list. With my 2nd child, I did not have the option to get a Medela pump through insurance, but did get an Ameda Purely Yours. Comparing the two, I’d say the Medela is hands down the stronger, more efficient pump. I ended up using my Medela through two kids, and gave it to a friend, and she has had nothing but rave reviews about it (she prefers it over her Ameda too and calls it her “lifesaver”). It is amazing that my Medela is still going strong through three breastfeeding journeys!

1.  Skip Hop Bath Spout Cover – Excellent (not to mention cute!) for protecting baby’s head from the sharp nose of the faucet.

2.  Skip Hop Moby Waterfall Bath Rinser – It’s so nice to have a dedicated bath rinser that conforms with your child’s head to make rinsing off shampoo and soap suds a lot easier, especially if you don’t have a detachable shower head. This can even double as a bath toy.

3.  Skip Hop Moby Bath Kneeler – Not only would this match the other whale decor if you choose to get the other Skip Hop stuff I’ve listed, but it’s really gentle on your knees. I have to kneel a lot when bathing kids, and I hate how the bath mat constantly gets wet from all their play. If I had this I would put my rug bath mat aside, and use this while bathing the kids.

4.  Boon Fleet Stacking Boats Bathing Toy – This really helps build motor skills, and makes a fun bath toy!

5.  Green Sprouts Stacking Cups – These have really withstood the test of time, and my kids play with these all the time. Once they surpassed the stacking phase of their development, they used these for imaginative play. They’d pretend to have tea parties in the bathtub, or use the cups as the bottom part of an ice cream cone. I love multi-use items.

6.  Baby Aspen Terry Robe – These robes double as a towel and are the perfect size for baby’s and toddlers. Comes in so many varieties of cute animal characters! We have hooded towels similar to these, and we exclusively use them for both our children.

7.  Boon Frog Pod Bath Toy Scoop – So many bath toy holders either don’t hold enough toys, or don’t stick to the wall very well and keeps on tumbling down. Not this one! This one really sticks, and is able to hold a ton of bath toys. I also like that you can hang loofahs and towels onto the frog’s webbed feet, and store the kid’s shampoo and body wash behind the body of the frog. Pretty nifty design if you ask me.

8.  Pigeon Baby Nose Cleaning Tweezers – These tweezers are made in Japan, and really great for pulling out hard boogers from a baby’s nose.

9.  PRIMO Infant Bath Seat – I love that that this is such a simple, ergonomic bathtub that you can use anywhere, including the sink or bathtub. I was never a huge fan of the fabric that came with the Infant to Toddler tub I owned with my babies. This looks like it’d give me easy access to washing my baby without breaking my back, and looks easy to clean and disinfect as well.

10.  Diaper Genie and Refills – Looks like they’ve improved upon the Diaper Genie in recent years and now it comes with an odor lock component. I heard bad reviews about the Diaper Genie when I was registering for my first, but honestly, it’s one of my most used baby items and it locks in smell so well. Our diaper genie has held up well with two kids and too many diapers to count. It’s also great that they sell the refills everywhere, including Target and Costco!

11.  NoseFrida – I’ve looked, and nothing can compare to the NoseFrida when it comes to sucking out snot. It is disgustingly satisfying when you suck a bunch of snot out of your little one’s nose.

12.  Summer Infant Complete Nursery Care Kit – This kit comes with everything you need to keep your baby well-groomed.

13.  California Baby Calendula Shampoo and Bodywash – Calendula is really great for babies with eczema or sensitive skin. California Baby products are some of my favorites, and I love how this one combines both shampoo and body wash in one so I rub my baby all over from head to toe in one go. It is pricey, but it is a big bottle that should last you the year!

14.  Vanicream – My daughter had eczema as an infant, and this unscented, thick moisturizing lotion was perfect for her dry, sensitive skin… as well as mine!

15.  A&D Ointment – Get this if you’re having a boy and planning to circumcise.

16.  Aquaphor – Really seals in moisture. So helpful to have aquaphor around for a variety of uses, including eczema, diaper rash, and cracked skin.

17.  Triple Paste Rash Cream – This is the best rash cream I’ve found on the market!

1.  Fisher-Price Rainforest Melodies and Lights Deluxe Gym – This activity gym has a lot of dangling toys to keep baby’s attention.  It’s great for tummy time, or just as a place to lay your baby when you need your hands free for a moment.

2.  Pingko Playmat – Love this colorful, one-piece playmat! If you have hardwood floors like I do, this is a necessity for babies who are constantly on their hands, bellies, and knees.

3.  Winkle – The shape makes this easy for little hands to hold, and it doubles as a teether too.

4.  Baby Einstein Take-Along Tunes – This was one of the most played with infant toys for both my kids. The handle is easy for little hands to grab, and the music keeps them preoccupied. It’s great to just toss in your diaper bag whenever you need to go somewhere too.

5.  Sophie the Giraffe – It just wouldn’t feel right to leave this infamous giraffe off the registry.

6.  Bright Starts Lots Of Links – There are so many things to link! You can use it as is and let the kids gnaw on it, or link it together and attach toys and other things to it that you don’t want your child to drop all over the floor.

7.  Lamaze Freddie the Firefly – This is the most popular of the Lamaze take along toys, with over 1,000 reviews. The way that this particular one is shaped, along with its various textures and sounds, makes this loads of fun for baby. Both my kids fought over this one even though we owned the Jacques the Peacock one too.

8.  Leapfrog Musical Table – The musical table was one of my children’s most played toys that first year once they hit 6 months old. In the beginning, you just lay the table on the floor without the legs, and as they learn to stand up you can attach the legs back on. It really grows with your child.

9.  Tiny Love Take Along Mobile – This versatile mobile doesn’t just attach to the side of the crib, it can also attach to your carseat, pack ‘n play, and stroller. Wish this was around when I had my kids. So convenient!

10.  Tiny Love Take-Along Arch – We used this a lot for the carseat and the rock ‘n play once baby was more aware of his surroundings.

Did I miss something that you thought was a must-have on your registry?