I remember when we were putting together Maggie’s baby registry and I didn’t quite know where to start. I knew we needed things like a car seat and stroller and burp cloths and diapers, but had yet to research brands for those things. Plus, there were all those other things I knew we’d need…but I wasn’t totally sure what those necessary items WERE! Thankfully I have lots of great friends who became mamas before me, and they were helpful resources in navigating that first baby registry experience.
Even still, we ended up with things on our registry that we didn’t end up using (some of that is par for the course since different babies have different needs and preferences), although most of what we received were helpful.
When it was time to put together a registry for Vance, things were much easier. Not only did I have a better idea of what we’d actually NEED for him, it was also a much shorter list since so many of the big items — the stroller, the car seat, the baby swing, the pack and play, the carrier, etc. — we already had on hand. (It’s nice that there’s a four-year gap between our kiddos so we don’t even have to worry about the double stroller.)
Oh, quick side note!: Two items I think are absolutely worth the splurge when it comes to baby gear are:
- The Tula Free-To-Grow Baby Carrier: I LOVED this with Maggie, and even though Vance isn’t even a week old I’m already using it with him, too. It accommodates babies from 7 pounds all the way up to 45 pounds, so we’re able to use it right away with Vance without a separate infant insert. SO easy and convenient, and having two hands free while still keeping the baby close (especially this time around) is amazing.
- Baby Bjorn Travel Crib: GET THIS PACK AND PLAY. It’s lightweight, so compact, and easy to put together and pack away. Many pack and plays are bulky and cumbersome, but this one is sleek and so simple to use. I can’t recommend it enough!
Okay, back to registry #2…
Here are some of the things we included on our registry this time around. (These are in addition to things like crib sheets and changing pad covers that are blue and white, since Maggie’s were light pink, as well as some replacement items like a changing pad for the diaper bag, a new Sophie the Giraffe teether, a new NoseFrida, etc.):
–Glass Baby Bottles: With Maggie, we used the Medela bottles, but I wanted a safer option than plastic so we went with these. I love that they are wrapped in silicone to make them a bit more durable, too! (If you’d like to do a bit more research about baby bottles, which might be right for your family, and some top-recommended brands, check out this post I wrote for Zulily’s blog!)
–DIAPERS AND WIPES!!!!: You can never have too many, so I included diapers in several sizes on our registry.
–Baby Proofing Accessories: We’re in a different house than we were with Maggie, and so we have different stairs. We knew we needed a gate for both the top and bottom of the stairs, as well as these tried and true bumpers for our coffee table (which has metal corners — ouch!).
–Toddler Dishes: The old adage is true — “They grow up so fast!” — and I know Vance will be ready for real food before we know it. I went ahead and included some toddler dishes on our registry so we’d be set for that stage down the road!
–Baby Lotion, Bath Wash, Etc.: Beautycounter’s baby line, which we used on Maggie, has been discontinued (so sad!!), so we needed to find a new brand for Vance. I’m excited to give Pipette — another great safe option — a try!
–High Chair: This probably wouldn’t be included on most people’s second baby registry, but for Maggie we used Kevin’s old high chair and wanted something a little more updated this time around. Even though we’re months away from Vance needing to use it, we went ahead and set the high chair up, and we’ve had a couple of kiddos give it a test run and give it two thumbs up. I love the design and the fact that it’s so nice and compact. (So many high chairs are really bulky and wide at the base!)
–Haakaa Silicone Breast Pump: A friend beat me to the punch and gifted me a Haakaa early on in my pregnancy, but if she hadn’t it absolutely would have made it onto Vance’s registry. I’d heard amazing things about the Haakaa (which came onto the scene after Maggie was born), and I’m loving it already! (When nursing, you attach it to the breast baby isn’t feeding on to catch all the excess milk. What a great little invention and helpful way to start to build up a freezer stash!)
–Infant Supplements: It’s recommended that breastfed infants take a Vitamin D supplement, so that’s a great thing to include on your registry! As you know, I’m also all about gut health so I included an infant probiotic as well (from MaryRuth’s, a brand we love and trust).
For other second-time parents, what were some items you included on your registry that were a huge help the second time around?
