Register like a pro!

If you are expecting, be sure to check out Joanna Goddard's Registration Must Haves.



Being a little bit of a low maintenance mom myself, I think some items are not a requirement:

Baby Monitor - only really needed for a large house, we can hear any rustling,crying etc from anywhere in our home!

Breast feeding pillow - breastfeeding is fairly easy once you get the hang of it, regular pillows work too ;)

Absolute neccessities include:

The thin, soft blankets she suggests (especially love the Aiden + Anais ones)

Swaddlers - some babies just love a swaddle and if yours is one of them, this will be a lifesaver!

Noise machine - the Sleepy Sheep is our best friend!

Amazon for Moms!

I just recieved an invite to join Amazon Moms!  Follow this link to sign up to join the club.  Basically you get free 2-day shipping on all of your Amazon purchases.  Yay!  I LOVE Amazon!  I also love free shipping and 30% off diapers! 
P.S. - Great place to do your registry; everyone just mails the items to you, so handy!

 

Amazon Mom is a free membership program aimed at helping parents and caregivers, from the prenatal days through the toddler years, use Amazon to find all the products their family needs. To join, simply sign into your Amazon account and tell us whether you are a Mom, Dad, or other caregivers of a child. By providing information about your family, you can help us personalize offers, e-mails, and product recommendations to help you find exactly what you need at just the right time. Amazon Mom members receive benefits such as 30% off diapers and wipes, FREE Two-Day Shipping with Amazon Prime, as well as exclusive offers via e-mail.

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These adorable little creatures are complete kid magnets.  Stella does not go anywhere without her "Coo Coo" (he's the racoon pictured center).  They have an appeal that is at once old fashioned and modern.  These sweet companions are knitted in Peru using super soft yarns; which explains the extremely high cuddle factor!  Stella's Aunt Alli found Coo Coo at Nordstrom, they can be found online and at many boutique baby stores as well. 

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Safety Seat

We just scored the convertible car seat I've been eying for a bargain!  With our little one starting Parents Day Out this summer, we need two seats so either parent can do drop off or pick up without swapping the seat out. 

I've been researching online and decided that the Safety 1st Air Protect is the one we want.  It accomodates infants/toddlers/children 5 - 50 lbs and you can keep them rear facing (safest) up to 35 lbs.  I also like the "air" pillows that cradle both sides of the head, she's much more comfortable napping in it because her head doesn't loll about like it does in our old seat.  It usually runs between $179 and $239 and can be found at Target and Babies R Us.  This weekend at Babies R Us, they had the "Harvest" color on sale for $119!  What a deal!

Not a bad item to buy or register for now, as they will be outgrowing the infant carrier before you know it!

I asked Stella yesterday what she thought of her new seat and she said "Love It!"

Safety 1st Air Protect

Blanky Bliss

As a new mom, you will be given a ton of blankets.  If you get these, you won't have much use for the others!  These generously proportioned muslin beauties serve a multitude of purposes: swaddling, covering, wiping, drying and peek a boo!  They are thin and stretchy, making them great for swaddling.  When we attempted swaddling with most "receiving" blankets, they were too small for our healthy sized little one; these are a good 10 inches larger making them the perfect choice.  Their breezy breathability ensures your baby won't burn up in them, even during hot summer months.  They come in a multitude of chic prints (I like the black and white) so you can use them for your child as they grow without looking like a baby blanket.   

Aden + Anais Muslin Blankets

Secret Weapons

I found these little gems on a pretty obscure website back when I was still nursing my first little one.  I was tired of the shields that you stick in your bra to prevent "lactic leakage".  They are bulky and show through your clothes and you have to change them out all the time.

Lily Padz actually stop the flow, hold the excess leche and can stand in for a bra on strapless dresses and such.  I have purchased two pairs even since I've stopped nursing just to wear with tricky dresses or swimwear to prevent highbeams.  They are a life saver during nursing, I wore them around the clock to prevent leaks.  (There is nothing weirder than waking up in a puddle of milk)

Lily Padz Reuseable Nursing Pads

(Side note for new Moms to be - when/if you are breastfeeding, sometimes leakage can be a problem.  At first it is very difficult to control and happens consistently, eventually they become trained and only produce when you are nursing your baby.  To prevent unexpected leaks you wear absorbant pads in your bra.  These are the things that nobody tells you about in preparing for motherhood! )

Registry Essential

In preparing my registry for baby number one I was pretty clueless.  The stores give you lists of essentials (wipewarmer, really?) that they would like for you to buy, but I'll give you a list of potential lifesavers.

My first, most useful item is the swaddler.  Of course you can swaddle them in a blanket, if you are an origami expert, but it still won't last all night .  Wrapping them up may seem like baby torture at first, but it simulates the security and coziness of the womb.  With this little miracle, you wrap them up like some silly little burrito and they stay secure and happy through the wee hours of the morning.  Nothing will prevent dark circles under your eyes like a full night of shut eye. 

Kiddopotamus & Co. Organic Cotton SwaddleMe - Ivory