Over the past several months, I have had multiple soon-to-be-mom friends ask me what my go-to baby registry items are. While you'll never catch me trying to claim that I am an expert on things when it comes to babies, I am about to become a mom to 3, so I have, what I like to think, is a little experience, and felt that this would be a great opportunity to share all of the things that have worked for us, and talk about the products that WE love.
This post will kick off a series of posts, where I break down MY Baby Registry Favorites. I decided the best way to do this was to separate everything into categories, so that I didn't overwhelm anyone too much, because let's be honest, becoming a parent is overwhelming enough. I'm hopeful that I can get a post (or 2) published per week, and I will link them all under the "mamas + littles" page at the top of this blog, so they will be easy to access.
With all of that said, there are a few important "words of wisdom" that I want to share... In terms of registering, I always felt guilty registering for big ticket items. Some stuff that we really wanted was on the pricey side, and I feared that adding these types of items to our registry would give people the wrong idea... I want to tell you... DON'T THINK THIS WAY! Here's why... many stores offer a percentage off items that weren't purchased off of your registry, and a lot of people will gift you with gift cards. If there is something that you really want for your baby, then go right ahead and add it to that registry. If people don't pool together and buy it for you, at least you can purchase it at a discounted price in the end!
Secondly, baby items are like technology items. There is constantly newer/cooler/better stuff making its way on to the market. So, I fully disclaim, that some of the items I will be linking in this series are items that we have upgraded to before baby number 2, or while we await baby number 3's arrival. It's just the way of the world.
Okay, let's get down to our favorites in terms of feeding....
Comotomo bottles- Neither of my children so far have been big on the bottle. They have loved to nurse straight from the breast, and when I say we have tested almost every bottle on the market, with the hopes that someone else might be able to occasionally feed them, it is not an understatement. These bottles, that come in both pink and green, closely resemble the real thing (when it comes to the boob), and if we have had any luck with a bottle in the past, this is the one that worked!
Re-play Recycled No-spill Cups- These cups are obviously for when your baby is a little older, but I swear by them. They really and truly don't spill! Plus they come in a ton of fun colors, and they're made from recycled milk jugs! You can read more about them
here.
Boon Drying Rack- I love this thing. Not only does it look cool, it comes with some super cute accessories to dry all of the pieces of your babe's bottles/cups, and it's great for air drying pump parts too.
Re-play Recycled Plates- Just like their sippy cups, these are super durable, and come in every color of the rainbow. As mentioned above, you can read my review of these products
here.
Aden and Anais Burp Cloths- These are a favorite for a number of reasons. They come in some great prints, they're super soft, they're lightweight, and they work as both a bib that snaps in the back or as a traditional burp cloth that you drape over your shoulder.
Zoe Organics Nipple Cream- I'm going to be honest... if you've never nursed before, the first few weeks can be tough. New babies like to nurse... A LOT... at least mine did. You are going to want something to soothe your girls, and this stuff is awesome. It's 100% organic, so it's great for you and safe for your babe.
Medela Quick Clean Steam Bags- I can't say enough about how great these sterilizing bags are and how easy they make it to clean all of the parts of your breast pump. Bonus points for the fact that you get a few uses out of each bag.
Medela Pump and Save Bags- If you plan on going back to work, or giving your baby bottles of pumped milk, you're going to need a way to store your supply. These bags are compatible with the pump that I use and love, and they're great for storing milk to freeze.
Lansinoh Disposable Nursing Pads- After your little one arrives, your milk supply will likely be all over the place for awhile. Trust me when I say that I know from experience, that you do not want to be caught in public without wearing these!!! Some people prefer reusable nursing pads, but I already have a ton of laundry to do, so these have always worked great for me!
Medela Pump In Style- As a stay at home mom, I haven't had to use a pump a ton, but when I do pump, this is the one I use. I love that it comes in a discrete black bag, and for me it has always worked really well. I highly recommend checking to see if your health insurance covers the cost of a pump, mine did, and it obviously saved us a ton.
Stay tuned for my next Baby Registry Favorites post, that will feature all of my favorites when it comes to hygiene.
