Cuddles & Chaos

Deciding which items to add to your registry can be overwhelming. How many types of baby detergent are there really? Don’t they all just wash dried-up poop out of clothes?

Prior to making my registry, I looked up every list imaginable—”top baby registry items” and “baby registry items I wish I had asked for”—you name it, I asked for it.

The results were exactly what I needed. They helped me make sense of what was necessary and what was just nice to have.

They didn’t tell me what my baby needed. This can’t be pre-planned or assumed. But since most of us have these showers before our baby is born, we kind of have to just hope for the best or make sure there is a good return policy.

Which brings me to this point:

No matter how badly you want to complete the nursery, remove tags from clothes, and trash item boxes – don’t. Fight the urge! You will be happy you did.

This way if you end up not needing an item or just not so many of the same item you can easily return it. Unlike me – who sent my husband into a store to return an open and used mamaRoo… with no box. (They accepted it!)

So, here’s my list of baby registry items that you probably won’t use and what you should get instead:

1. Onesies. In the hospital, they put Anakin in a 6-month-old-sized kimono shirt that had oversized arms, and buttons that wrapped the shirt around the body, and it ended at his hips. I remember wanting to go home and put him in a form-fitting onesie and pants. But when I went to dress him to leave the hospital I hated the idea of lifting his incredibly delicate head to put on his snug newborn-sized onesie.
   1. Instead, try Kimonos. My husband found these kimonos. They have attached mittens which stopped him from scratching his face, easy open buttons that didn’t require me to have to pull something over his neck, and they allowed his bottom to be totally open which made it easier to check his diaper and change him. Serious game changer.
2. mamaRoo for Rock ‘n Play. I’ve seen some pretty heated debates about this. I really wanted the mamaRoo to succeed but Anakin, well Anakin had other plans. He refused to lay in it for longer than a few minutes. I tried every motion setting and none of them calmed him. I finally gave up when he got a cold and was unable to breathe if he laid flat, so I had to look for another solution.
   1. Instead, try Rock N Play. That’s when I decided to give the Rock n Play a chance. He immediately liked it and didn’t fuss or cry to get out. The seat is very deep and snug which I think is what he enjoys. I usually put the lowest rocking setting on and the music. That’s all it takes and he completely relaxes.
3. Playard. This is based primarily on my experience with a newborn. When he continues to grow, I’m sure a playard will be useful. But for now, it’s pretty unnecessary simply because an activity gym covers all the things a playard does but is way easier to carry around (like, to the bathroom when you have to go, and he doesn’t want to sleep).
   1. Instead, try an Activity Gym. It is way more friendly in terms of playtime since you can just get on the floor and join without the restriction of sides and it comes with a ton of toys for maximum engagement. I went with the 5-in-1 activity gym because of the fun colors, the ability to grow with him, and the collapsible walls.
4. Boppy. As I type this, I am in bed at 4:30 am feeding Anakin with one knee up under the Boppy to support his head with my body hunched over to meet his face as the Boppy continues to slide out from my waist. The issue here is that nothing keeps it from moving away from your body so it is a constant struggle to keep it close to you.
   1. Instead, try My Brest Friend. Prior to a meeting with a lactation consultant last week, I had only seen My Brest Friend online. After having the chance to use it, I regret not going with this option. It is SO soft and wraps around your body to provide back support, and most importantly – clips together so it can’t move away from you. Oh, and it has a cute little pocket for a burp cloth or bottle.
5. Owlet. This had to have been one of the worst things on our registry. I’m a pretty anxious parent and was really looking forward to using the Owlet, so I could finally sleep without my head right next to Anakin’s bassinet to hear him breathing. Huge mistake. It is not as easy as it seems to put on and it’s just as easy to slide off on its own. The third night we used it I woke up to a red glaring light and a siren-type alarm. It took me a minute to even realize it was coming from the owlet pod. When I finally did I flew over to the bassinet only to find my son still sleeping peacefully but the owlet had come off and was next to his knee. Needless to say, we returned it the next morning and used the money on diapers.
   1. Instead, try to trust your instincts 🙂