Items I wish I added on my 1st AND 2nd baby registry

Let’s face it-doing a baby registry can be super overwhelming.

What if I don’t get the “right” item? But what if something happens in the middle of the night and I have nothing that works???

I totally get that fear because I’ve had it too. When in doubt, register more versus less. If you get a gift that you aren’t 100% positive you will need, just hang on to the receipt and exchange it for something else if need be.

Here’s the basics that you will need for your newborn for that first night home-you ready?

• A safe place to sleep
• Diapers and wipes
• Breastmilk/Formula
• Warm and comfortable clothes

……That’s it!

If you are still in need of something, send someone to the store the next day for you. And if you forgot an item-it’s okay. You cannot expect to know everything about being mother if you haven’t given birth before (or any number of children really).

With that being said, here are some items that I really wish I knew about when creating my 1st and 2nd baby registry.

Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links from which I may earn a commission at no cost to you.

Gripe Water

Babies get tummy troubles pretty frequently; gas, hiccups, spit up, etc. While it may be expected to some extent, it can leave them feeling fussy and uncomfortable.

I give a few drops of these to my babies and within minutes they feel better. It’s safe and tastes good to them too.

This is the brand that I most frequently use and have the most success with. It can get pricey at times but typically I can find coupons for them all the time.

If you do any online shopping, the product frequently offers cashback on ibotta.com (not sponsored).

Milk Collector

Okay….I’m going to admit something that may be controversial here…..

I don’t like using a Haakaa……..gasp!!!!

Some of my friends have amazing results with it, and that’s great! But I found I had trouble keeping it on, putting it on, having a good suction, etc. I will still insert the link in case you would like to try it or just curious on what it is.

If you are getting ready to have your first baby, you may not be familiar with a milk collector.

When you breastfeed, both of your breasts will “let down” milk, even if you are only nursing on one side. Especially in the beginning, you will leak a lot when you let down.

That’s liquid gold baby! Put on a milk collector when you are about to let down and you can catch that let down that normally would go to your bra and instead start building up your freezer stash.

I WISH I knew about this when I created my registry. I would have had it ready to rock and roll and could have built up my stash so much sooner.

For my first baby, I used the Haakaa, but like I said I didn’t have as great of results as others do. By the time my second baby came around, I stumbled upon this little gem.

Seriously, this thing was a game changer for me. I could slip it easily and discreetly into my bra and let it do its thing! I was way more comfortable and could keep it in my bra while I nursed without worrying about it.

One word of caution-if you have to set your baby down and you’re still wearing it, keep upright as much as possible. I still laugh about the time I was just about ready to cry over (literally) spilled milk!

Disposable bibs

I’m still amazed at how I DIDN’T know about this until after my second baby was born.

I really didn’t give this much thought before because I just assumed that most restaurants offered plastic ones like they did in the 90s, right????

It was actually a waitress that said it to us one time, “Didn’t you bring some disposable bibs?”. My mind was blown.

This is the kind that I use. I like that it has a “catcher” like regular bibs do. We keep them in the car so when it’s time to eat, we just bust out one of these bad boys; and toss them in the garbage when we’re done.

They have a paper towel like texture, so I don’t worry too much about buying more plastic stuff.

Snack Cups

Speaking of eating on the go…..little kids love to snack. Though I definitely try to not use snacks as a boredom buster, they do help keep the peace on car rides.

I really rely on these, I definitely am planning to get some more. I love the handles and the little slots on top. This makes for less mess and is easy enough to grab for little 6-month olds to hold onto while eating their puffs.

Plus momma-they are dishwasher friendly. What more can you ask for in life? 🙂

Echo Dot?

Okay, I know this is definitely not a typical registry item but it has made my mom life easier.

We have two in our house; one in the living room and one in my daughter’s room. I use it as a white noise machine for her in there and it works great.

With us having a multi-level house, it’s nice to use it as an intercom system versus yelling up the stairs like a maniac. I use it to play music, set alarms, reminders, play animal sounds, and more.

My favorite feature? The shopping list. Usually I think of stuff while I’m changing diapers and I can just ask Alexa to add the item to my shopping list.

When you’re a parent, you have your hands full both literally and figuratively. Being able to do any task with a verbal command is a game changer. I use this thing so much that I packed it along for our Disney trip. If you need tips on Disney vacation with toddlers, you can find that here.

This is the version I have, even though I know there’s more updated ones. I have seen the prices on these go up and down frequently. The best deals I found were around Black Friday.

Kohl’s sells these too and I used Kohl’s cash to buy my second one (not sponsored).

Bonus: Here’s one item I’m glad I DID add on my baby registry

And that is, a portable highchair. I can’t take the credit for this one, my very wise friend told me to definitely get this.

She was so right.

When taking your baby out and about, that may include visiting people’s houses that don’t have highchairs.

Or I’ve run into it with my mom friends that they obviously only have enough equipment for their children, let alone yours.

This thing folds up like a lawn chair so it’s super light and portable.

Now this one actually isn’t the one I have, but this is the one that I would recommend. Not that there’s anything wrong with the one I have but the tray is very small and narrow.

This is the one I have. Obviously, it’s still great because I wouldn’t be mentioning this, but it’s better suited for beginning eaters who basically eat puffs or cereal. It gets a little cramped for the toddler crowd.

So there you have it! I hope you can find these items useful to you as you get ready for your next little one. But definitely don’t let THINGS determine if you’re going to be a great mom. If you are reading this article or doing research for a registry, then you already are a great mom, my friend. 🙂

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