Registry Must Haves

There’s obviously a bunch of things I need for a new baby. And on top of figuring out what I need: I also need to sort through which products and brands are the best for my needs.

I went through the online checklists: How Many Onesies Do You Need? How many in each size? Button vs. Zipper. Etc Etc and that was only for clothes. SO my list of needs is on the high side with baby #1.

It’s also hard knowing what to buy before baby arrives, because I don’t know what size she will be when born, what her needs are going to be..is she going to be normal temperament? Fussy? I have no clue.. so certain products may work for one child and not be necessary for my own.

I went ahead and bought a handful of newborn, 0-3 months, and 3-6 months outfits just to make sure I had something for her to wear. I keep adding products to my amazon cart as I read up on them from various moms and instagram influencers. But even now, weeks away from birth I’m uncertain of what I ACTUALLY NEED and what is a nicety to have.

That being said, there are a few things I know I will need no matter what. So here are some of the basics that I will need.

Stroller:

My demands for a stroller were as followed: Light Weight, Durable, Storage Below, Convenient, and Efficient (travel system.)

I looked at various companies based on style. When it came down to it, the luxurious strollers I had wanted, did not offer enough storage, which I knew I would need for the diaper bag, toys, etc. (i.e.) Mima had very limited storage as well as the Stokke Xplory.

I narrowed it down to two brands: Nuna & Uppababy because both also offered the capability of using the car seat with the stroller (hoping not to wake the sleeping baby in changing seats.)

Coco is 99.9% going to be my only child, so that also helped with narrowing down which stroller made the most sense with each company.

With Uppababy that meant I could go with the Cruz instead of the Vista, which is a bit smaller and lighter. Nuna, same concept, I needed a stroller with a travel system but could go with a smaller style-not looking for the twin option!

I eventually went with the Uppababy Cruz with the add on of the bassinet. The stroller comes in many more color options than the Nuna and since I knew I was having a girl, I could opt for the pale pink!

One of the best features of the UppaBaby stroller is the bassinet. The bassinet allows the baby to lie completely flat, so it is safe for both naps and overnight trips. This is a huge perk for our family.

Car Seat:

The car seat we went with was the Uppababy Misa which connects to our stroller as well. We were looking for a safe, lightweight option that would make our lives much easier. This was pretty much a no brainer after deciding on our stroller. I bought a separate base for Scott’s car as well so both cars will have the convenience of holding the car seat. For me, having a travel system was essential. I don’t want to move a sleeping baby from a car seat to a separate stroller seat.

Bassinet:

I’m planning on having Coco in my bedroom for the first 4 months until I can start sleep training in her crib. Therefore, I am putting a bassinet in our room next to my side of the bed so that I can wake up in the middle of the night and feed her.

There are many different options out there, but I went from the middle-higher range with various options included: motion, sound etc.

I know the rage right now is the SNoo ($1395) and the fact that you can rent or buy it. The cost seemed a bit too extravagant for me considering I’m hoping to move Coco into her crib and out of the bassinet by 4 months.

I went with the Halo BassiNest swivel sleeper Luxe plus. The reviews were great and I love that it has the option to move and soothe the baby to sleep on a timer. Also, if the bassinet is next to my bed, I can easily slide it away from me to get in and out of bed.

Crib:

The Crib was the easiest decision for me, I knew I wanted an off-white upholstered crib that was French inspired. I had two choices from Potterybarn that fit this description: The Blythe Upholstered Convertible Crib or The Blythe 3-in-1 Upholstered Convertible Crib. The main difference was where the upholstered part was located. The 3-in-1 option had the upholstered part on the back—like the headboard, whereas the one I opted for had it on the sides.

I loved the 3-in-1, but I put my camera and photos on the wall behind the crib, so the alternative option looked better.

I absolutely love this crib: color, style, length & height. I still need to buy the conversion set to the crib, but my nursery is basically set up and it’s everything I had hoped it would be. **IF you are planning on buying from Potterybarn Kids, make sure to sign up for their rewards and NEVER buy full price. They have 20% nearly every month!!!!

Changing Table:

For the dresser, I went with the match to my crib and figured it would last Coco a long time. I bought the Blythe Dresser and Changing Topper in French White. I know there are cheaper options out there, but instead of buying a flimsy one now, I went with the nicer option knowing she would get years of use out of this dresser. (And it’s beautiful)

Pack n’ Play:

So, this is a tough one. I have some mom friends who never use theirs unless they are out at the pool or potentially traveling. On the other hand, my sister and mother used their pack n’ play almost daily.

I am going to be with Coco the majority of the time and she isn’t going to be mobile for some time, but I want to be prepared. In the early days she is going to sleep & eat, her tummy time will rapidly increase as she grows and I’m planning on encouraging that as much as possible with mat and blanket time.

Although, once she gets a bit more active and mobile I want to be able to allow her some time to learn and grow on her own and also get some things done around the house. This is where the pack n’play will come in handy.

My requirements for said pack n’play are as follows: light weight, travel essential- portable and collapsible, and option for changing table and bassinet. There are so many great options out there now, but I went with the Nuna SENA Aire Travel Crib with the option/added accessory for changing table.

The Nuna offers a light weight travel option so that I can collapse the pack n’play so it’s not taking up space in my house all the time. The design is not horrible to look at, and it offers a smaller section for newborn with option to remove when baby gets into toddler age. In this day and age with all the endless options, I don’t think you can go wrong. I honestly just went by reviews and weight. This was one of the lightest and durable that would last a long time.

Baby Swing:

Once again, I was torn between two companies: 4moms Mamaroo and the Nuna Leaf Grow Baby Lounger. Both swings (chairs) had great reviews, and ultimately I went with the Mamaroo because it offered a few more options: App & Music. So honestly, I don’t think you can go wrong with either. I did a poll on instagram and found it to be about 50/50.

The Mamaroo offers 5 different motions: car ride, kangaroo, tree swing, rock-a-bye, and wave. It is bluetooth enabled with built-in sounds, adjustable seat recline, and removable seat fabric. (mine came with the newborn add on-until she is a little bigger) The swing/chair will hold up to 25lbs.

Breast Pump:

Not a registry item, but obviously a must have, so I’ve added it. I actually got my pump through Insurance and didn’t have to pay.

The site I used was: insurancecoveredbreastpumps.com but my sister used acelleron.com I filled out the form and entered which brand I wanted (Medela) then they contacted my OBGYN to verify I was a patient, and days later I received my pump. This saved about $300-400, so it’s definitely worth looking into.

I went with the Medela Pump in Style Advanced Starter Set. I’ve heard great things, and their website is very helpful for a first time mom trying to navigate breastfeeding.

I’ve seen a lot of influencers using the Elvie as well, I’m sure it’s great. I just went with what insurance covered, and the reviews were good!

Milk Warmer:

I bought the Phillips Avent from Amazon, it was $39, so i’m going to give it a try. A friend recommended the kiinde system which I am looking into, in case what I purchased isn’t great. I’m also looking into the Baby Brew which is a transportable milk warmer. This actually might be the most convenient thing for me, especially for long car rides and travel. I will keep you posted if I get that and try it out.

Nutrition Goals