It's been a wonderful 4 and half months since my son entered this world. He is on the brink of crawling and has settled into a sleep/eat pattern although he's not sleeping through the night yet. It is a steep learning curve, but I've developed an instinct for my son's needs and wants and motherhood has become an adventure.
My b-school friend A., who is about to have a son herself, asked me to share my old registry list with her and asked what was useful and what was not so useful. Being an early bird type, I had created my registry about five months before my son was born using such guides as Baby Bargains and hundreds of online registry lists. I drove myself crazy reading at least 20 reviews of everything before deciding on brands and types. It is fun but overwhelming combing through the myriad products and gear that are available for babies today.
The baby industry is similar to the wedding industry, so don't believe the must have checklists out there. Knowing what I know now, many of my items were unnecessary. Below are the ones that have been the most essential for the first four months.
- Diapers, baby wipes and vaseline - It's hard to know beforehand what diapers will work for you as babies are particular. For newborn, I used Pampers Swaddlers because they were sensitive to the umbilical cord area, but now, I prefer eco-friendly diapers with less dyes and chemicals. Seventh Generation didn't fit that well but are 100% natural, so I continue to buy them. Huggies Pure & Natural fit well but aren't as natural as you'd think, but I consider them a good compromise. Seventh Generation baby wipes are chlorine and fragrance free and also thin, which I like. Vaseline is an awesome product overall! In fact, diaper rash cream is not necessary until you have a rash issue. The Baby Trend Diaper Champ was perhaps not needed but makes life easier.
- Diaper bag: Get yourself a chic diaper bag! You'll carry it everywhere and might as well look trendy. I had one from Kate Spade that didn't work well for me because it was hard to carry around the city. Then, I got a messenger bag from Skip Hop and a shoulder bag from Fleurville. Both very cute.
- Car seat, stroller, and Baby Bjorn: The Graco Snugride car seat is top rated and the SnugRider car seat frame stroller. This combo has been invaluable because as a city dweller, I take cabs to the Pediatrician or to activities and this stroller is light and simpler than my Bugaboo. That said, for navigating the sidewalks of New York City, the Bugaboo is fantastic - a smooth ride for baby. I bought mine gently used from craigslist.org. My son loves going outside in the Baby Bjorn because he can see more than when in the stroller.
- Nursing needs: For the nursing pillow, I got the Boppy at first, and then my b-school friend S. suggested the Breast Friend pillow, which I prefer because it is firmer and isn't always slipping. It is more of an effort to strap on this pillow, but is stays in place. The Boppy is good at night when I don't want to wake up to strap on the pillow. Both have their uses, so I'm glad I have both. Get a tube of Lansinoh lanolin for the soreness of the first few weeks of breastfeeding. Get a motorized breast pump - I used Ameda and got started early. I rented the hospital grade pump for the first month until I had a good supply of milk going. Also, have plenty of storage bags handy and start storing immediately.
- Bath time - I start the bath routine with an allover massage to stimulate digestion and growth. Use a plant based oil, such as sesame oil. The Eurobath is a good bathtub and I bought a floatie raft to fit inside, which has been even more useful for the early months when he's too small to sit up. California Baby Super Sensitive body wash and lotion are eco-friendly and free of fragrance.
- Sleep - SwaddleDesigns blankets are the best for serious swaddling. The Arm's Reach co-sleeper sits next to the bed and is good for the first few months of life, but you could also skip this and go straight to the crib. Two must have sleep related books - Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child and The Happiest Baby on the Block. The Ikea crib is made of sustainable wood, highly rated on consumer reports, and cheap.
- Feeding - Dr Brown's BPA free bottles are safe and the Munchkin bottle brush set is great for cleaning them. We tried Enfamil formula a few times but have stuck to mostly breastmilk for the first four months (and hopefully six). We have a space saver high chair ready to go, as well as, sippy cups and straw cups and soft spoons. The Beaba Babycook is good for steaming/blending/reheating homemade food. The cookbook Feeding Baby: Everyday Recipes for Healthy Infants and Toddlers provides healthy recipes separated by appropriate age group and the cookbook The Baby Bistro Cookbook: Healthy, Delicious Cuisine for Babies, Toddlers, and You was recommended by my good friend J.
- Play - He doesn't play with many toys right now, but the Whoozit toy is his favorite. Graco Pack 'n' Play - he's in this every day either kicking his legs at the Whoozit or napping. He's learning to swing his arms more thanks to an activity mat.
- Other: Buy a rectal thermometer and grooming tools (hair and nails grow fast).
As for clothing and blankets, we took as many hospital outfits and hospital receiving blankets that we could. Stockpile whatever you can get from the hospital - formula, nasal aspirator, combs, pacifiers, outfits, blankets, crib pad.
No matter what you buy, you will be ready. You don't need the newest toy or most expensive stroller to give your baby your love and attention. Those are the essentials.
