After my last plea for baby gear advice, two fabulous ladies have chimed in. As a public service, I thought I’d post Angie’s comments here (Kirstin’s are in the comments of the original post).
Thanks, Ladies!
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BabyBjorn Original Carrier - Chocolate Brown
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2608235&cp=2256186
*I loved this baby carrier, and I can still use it now. It's up to 25 lbs and Gianna was 22.5 at one year (8.12 when she was born). It was really nice for getting things done around the house because she just wanted to be close to me and I needed my arms free. I also liked it because it reminded me of being pregnant again. They have many different options on this one. You can get a mesh material that breathes easier or I think a stronger fabric. We just got the cheapest one, and it works great. I HIGHLY recommend staying with the BabyBjorn brand though. Some of the others just didn't feel as sturdy or safe. We also went to the store after she was born and I tried them on with her in it, so this is something that can wait until after the baby is born if you don't want to add it to the registry.
Baby Trend Playard
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2966845
*There are many different options on this. This is the brand we have (although I didn't see our pattern) and I loved it. The key things about this is to get one with a changing table that flips down and out of the way. I didn't think I would use this that much, but we had a two-story home, so I had this set up in the corner of the living room and I would set her in there to sleep. It was really nice to have a separate place to change her so that I didn't have to get on the floor (I'd had a c-section) or walk the stairs every time she needed changed. She also loved the little animals that hung over it and it would keep her occupied. Before you register, I would play with the store models and make sure that it's easy enough to break down and put away and not too heavy to carry around. This will also be nice when you come back to visit to have all your essentials in one place at the grandparents houses.
Fisher-Price Rainforest Deluxe Mobile Mirror
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2585673
*You'll want one of these for the car. Make sure that it will hook to the head rest and be easily movable so that you can always view it from your mirror without adjusting it. Also, get one that doesn't make noise. Trust me, the last thing you want when you're driving is even MORE noise!! =)
Fisher-Price Rainforest Bouncer
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2508008
*Gianna didn't like this until she was a little older and she outgrew it really fast. I didn't register for one, but a friend got it for me anyway. It was nice when she liked it, but she LOVED her swing, so we used that instead.
Fisher-Price Butterfly Garden Papasan Cradle Swing
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2674706&isTopSellingItem=true
*AWESOME swing. It turns so it will either swing from side-to-side or front-to-back. The chair tilts so that the baby can either lay down or sit up. It also plays music and has little animals that rotate around for her to look at and a mirror that she can see herself in. Also, there is a little bar that has toys as well. The biggest part of all is that it's battery operated and you can use it anywhere. (Most swings are that way now.) I think I only replaced batteries once the whole time we used it. This was the best thing we had because it was the only thing that she would sleep in when she was fussy.
Fisher-Price Rainforest Jumperoo
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2508003
*This one was great. She didn't use it until she was about 4 months old, but it gave her something to do and she was able to get her energy out in a safe place. We liked it better than the stationary ones, and better than a jumper that hung in a doorway. Plus, it comes apart easily and you can transport it.
Playtex VentAire Narrow Reusable Bottles
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2408953
*These are the bottles that we used. I had heard that other people had problems with them, but I never did and I am still using them once a day. I did nurse for the first 6 months, but you'll still use bottles every now and again even if you do. I love these because they come completely apart and you don't have to use a bottle brush to clean them out. They are completely dishwasher safe. I never really had a problem with colic. They say that they are supposed to help, but I'm not sure if they did or not.
Organic Cotton Burp Cloths
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2267606
*OK, so you don't have to get these exact burp cloths, but I did want to say that I went through a lot of trial and error trying to find some that I like a lot. I hated the "old diapers" that you could use, and the really nice ones just didn't absorb anything. So what I advise is that you find something that feels like a really thin bath towel. Also, make sure that they are wide. The really skinny/long ones are never in the right place at the right time. I got mine at Target, they came in a pack of three, but I can't find them on their website.
Medela Quick Clean Micro-Steam Bags
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2735035
*A MUST-HAVE!!! These are awesome, especially when travelling. Each bag will steam clean (in the microwave) either a bottle, breast-pump items, or pacifiers. I nursed and pumped a lot and it was nice to have the ability to clean the pump parts without having to wait for the dishwasher to run. Each bag can be re-used up to 20 times. I still use them when we're travelling to see Tony's family in Cleveland! They are great!!
Boppy
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2507965
*This was great for nursing. I used it like crazy. I think that my mom also used it for giving her bottles. It was even nice just when I was rocking her to sleep. I had one at home and one at my mom's house. (She found the second one at a garage sale for $1.00) They can be pretty pricey, but I would suggest getting an extra slipcover for it so that you can change it if anything gets on it. You can use a regular pillow, but these really are great and fit around you in a rocking chair.
Pampers 92Ct Swaddlers Diaper
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2593094&cp=2918979
*I tried a lot of different brands of diapers, and this is my favorite. I went from Pampers Swaddlers to Pampers Cruisers (when she was big enough). The tags stretch to fit around the baby, and they had the best leak protection that I found. You will always have blow-outs (as Tony calls them) but usually that just means it's time to up the size!! =)
Huggies Gentle Care Sensitive Baby Wipes
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2961743
*Again, I tried a lot of different wipes and these are my favorite. They are much thicker than the pampers wipes and seem to clean much better. You get fewer in a box, but I find that I use a lot less since they work so much better. Also, I had a wipe warmer for the house, but I really didn't like it. The wipes were cold by the time they got to the babies bottom anyway, and I always had to throw out the last 15 or so because they dried out.
Playtex Diaper Genie II
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2437622
*This is great!! It's MUCH easier to use than the first edition. You just pop open the top and push the diaper in and it has a little clamp that keeps the diapers down, and the lid shuts and all the odor is contained. It's easy to change, the top pops off and you just cut the bag (cutter is inside) and tie the end and carry it out to the trash. I've used some of the different brands inside the stores and I still can't figure out what you're supposed to do with it....
Baby Aquaphor
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2329500
*This stuff is AMAZING!! I didn't know about it until the doctor told me. You can literally use it anywhere. If she has dry skin, you can use it as a lotion. If she has diaper rash, you can use it as diaper ointment. Chapped lips - chapstick.... It's similar to Vaseline, but not as greasy. For really bad diaper rash you just mix it with a little bit of Maalox and make a paste that will get rid of anything!! This stuff is a must-have!
Newborn-to-Toddler Tub
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2403667
*This is great for the first 6 months, until she can sit up on her own. It has a little built in chair that will hold her upright so your hands can me a little more free. Any tub with a little seat in it is fine, but don't spend too much, because you won't use it for too long. They outgrow it very fast!
Inflatable Tub
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2627247
*This is the tub that I still use. I love it. You can easily travel with it. It's cheap. And if she falls over, you don't have to worry about her hitting her head on a hard surface. It fits inside a regular tub but won't slide around. And it will save you water since you won't have to fill a whole bath tub to use it.
Tub Side Seat
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2403658
*I love this. My mom doesn't like to use it, but I think it saves my back while giving her a bath. And, it has storage inside for all her toys so they are out of the tub. When she's old enough, she can use it as a stepping stool for the sink. (This also works great when we're giving our dogs a bath, too!)
Spout Cover
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2919694
*You pretty much need a spout cover. I like the inflatable ones because I think they are a bit softer. Just make sure that if you have a bath spout with a knob that you pull up to start your shower that you find a spout cover that won't block it. (I did that at my mom's house!)
Handheld Color Video Monitor
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2265802
*Another MUST HAVE. I didn't think that I would like having a video monitor that much, but I don't think I could live without it. There are several different versions, but we have the portable one. I like it because I can take it with me anywhere so if I go outside to play with the dogs or work in the yard, I can still watch her. They are expensive, but having the ability to actually see what is going on is worth every penny!!
Pacifier
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2738079
*I really liked these the best. They are flat and won't rub the baby's face. Also, it doesn't matter what direction they are so when you're driving and trying to find the baby's face to stick a pacifier in it, it won't matter if it's upside down. Most importantly, they come with a cap. It turned out that all my friends babies use the same brand as well.
Pacifier Keeper
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2784438
*These are hard to find. I wanted to invent my own because I wasn't happy with any of the ones I could find. However, this is what I finally went with. It comes with the round rubber piece that will fit around a pacifier that doesn't have a handle. Also, the rubber piece is detachable and you can velcro on a pacifier that does have a handle.
Pacifier Pod
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3152533
*Everyone thought I was crazy because I wanted this so bad, but it is so nice to have. It saves from having to dig through your purse or diaper bag to find a pacifier. I can fit 3 of the pacifiers that I use (with a cap) in it.
Disposable Dry Washcloths
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2401403
*I know that Huggies or something makes a brand of this and it is much cheaper. Anyway, these are great for travelling. They have the soap in them and you just throw them away when you're done. it saves from having a bottle of soap spill in your luggage.....
Receiving Blankets
*I can't find the ones I like online, however, the only important thing is that they be 40" X 40". Most are 30" X 40". I found some big ones and I LOVED them. They are so much easier to swaddle the baby in. I thought I got mine at Target, but I can't find them online.
Gowns
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2333854
*I actually liked the ones from Baby Gap, but there was an outlet by my house, so I could get them for pretty cheap. These were great while she was still getting up in the middle of the night. (Once she started sleeping through the night I put her in footed jammies.) These are very easy to change in the middle of the night when you're extremely exhuasted!! You don't have to worry about getting buttons right, or zipping skin. I just lifted it up, changed her, pulled it down, swaddled her up and nursed her back to sleep. I LOVED them!!
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