Baby shower wish list

[Rein1987]

Our first baby is coming on April and my friends are planning for the baby shower. They ask me to give them a wish list.

What are essentials to put on the wish list? Our friends already gave us their used crib, mattress, car seat, stroller, cradle...Not sure what other are necessary to ask for. Any suggestions?

BTW, I did not create wedding registry so that time I received too many gift cards. About half of them are still there that I have no idea what to buy from these shops. So this time, I think I should explicitly give them a wish list, instead of receiving tons of weird gift cards.

[goatmom]

1.  If you are doing cloth, ask for diapers. 
2.  Baby sling/carrier. 
3.  New crib sheets.
4.  Boppy if you are planning on breastfeeding.
5.  If you travel at all, a pack - n - play.
6.  If you only got an infant car seat - ask for a car seat for the older baby.
7.  Board books.
9.  Swaddiling blankets - love the anais ones made of gauze. 
10.  High chair - I like the one that straps onto a regular chair.

Congrats!

[Kapiira]

The advice above is good.
- For carriers, I know people who like the Becco for younger babies and I really liked the Ergo for older babies/toddlers. These also have good resale value.
- Diapers are good whether you're doing cloth or disposable.  Also, a cloth diaper service is a nice thing to ask for.
- I found a bouncer to be useful.
- Waterproof mattress cover for your mattress if you don't already have one.

[MsPeacock]

Consumables are always good - stuff you,use up, like baby wipes, baby wash, etc.  Also gift cards for restaurants that deliver to your house, or asking friends to set up meal delivery calendar for after the baby arrives. Baby clothes (IME people go overboard on this and give useless overly complex cute outfits or 4 dozen 3 mo. Size sleepers). 

Eta: much easier to exchange or return items if you register somewhere. I would recommend it even if you dont want half the stuff. Better to have things you can take back and exchange for what you need vs. a bunch of mystery stuff that you can't turn into something useful.

[little_brown_dog]

Check out the mini money mustaches board - there are alot of threads related to baby supplies.

Please do not use a used carseat! Carseat safety experts, the American Academy of Pediatrics and Children's hospitals all recommend purchasing new, up to date seats. Safety is just not the area to skimp on. Register for the carseat if you can't afford it yourself. If you register for a reasonably priced one, chances are someone will purchase it for you.  If someone doesn't get it for you, chances are you will receive quite a few gift cards at the shower and you can use those to reduce the cost.

[MillenialMustache]

A little off topic, but in reference to gift cards from your wedding you never used, you may want to sell them to a place like Cardpool. I have sold to them and it worked great. I also buy from them all the time.

[zolotiyeruki]

Check out the mini money mustaches board - there are alot of threads related to baby supplies.

Please do not use a used carseat! Carseat safety experts, the American Academy of Pediatrics and Children's hospitals all recommend purchasing new, up to date seats. Safety is just not the area to skimp on. Register for the carseat if you can't afford it yourself. If you register for a reasonably priced one, chances are someone will purchase it for you.  If someone doesn't get it for you, chances are you will receive quite a few gift cards at the shower and you can use those to reduce the cost.

Used car seats are actually just fine, as long as they meet two conditions: 1) not past the expiration date, and 2) not involved in an accident.

[Elliot]

A lot of new parents forget baby medicine until they need it. Save yourself a 2am Walgreens run and ask for gripe water, teething tablets, baby Vicks, etc now.

[chemistk]

You definitely want to create a wish list. When we had our baby shower last year, we ended up with WAY too many clothes...to the point that our son only wore some of them once. I would ask for the things which you can't easily get secondhand. Like others mentioned, a convertible car seat (good until almost 4 years old), a high chair (get one that's not standalone, they're smaller and easier to manage), books, cloth diapers, carrier. Don't be ashamed to ask for specific gift cards, either. If you're an avid amazon shopper I would highly recommend asking for amazon gift cards - much of what you'll end up buying down the road can be found for cheap there.

[nobody123]

Diapers.  If you're using disposables (worth every penny IMHO), ask for size 1 and 2, the little one will outgrow the newborn ones quickly.

Hypoallergenic wipes - you can never have too many.

A DANCO disposal genie (google it).  It blocks the opening to your garbage disposal so the tiny baby spoons, sippy cup valves, etc., don't get into your garbage disposal.  The $9 now will save a bunch of headaches later.

A basic baby grooming kit with the tiny comb and nail clippers, since adult ones are tricky to use on tiny fingers.

If breastfeeding, my wife says a boppy pillow or two are awesome.

Other than that, I would ask for gift cards so you can buy what you need when you need it.

Pack N Plays are a total waste of money in my experience.

[La Bibliotecaria Feroz]

One of those little dishwasher basket doodads. Good for bottle and sippy cup pieces.

I registered for cloth diapers at CottonBabies.

Used car seat is fine if you trust the people AND it has not expired. They are good for only 5 years.

Crib sheets. You may need extra if baby is going to day care--I used to have to provide these, but other places provide their own.

If you don't know several ways to tie a silk scarf, register for a velcro swaddle wrap :-). I never could get the hang of swaddling, myself.

[serpentstooth]

If you don't have family that insists on buying stuff for newborns, this is the stuff that my 10 month old has really enjoyed:

1. A Tula baby carrier. Easily the most comfortable I've ever tried, and I've tried many of the brands on the market today. There's a reason they have a crazy fan following.
2. Duplo. Babies low it and I don't know why.
3. My favorite bottles have been th Evenflo Glass ones, which are cheap and surprisingly durable. Get a little mesk basket for the dishwasher too.
4. For starting solids, the EzPz plate, little silicone tipped Gerber baby and toddler spoons and the refillable Squooshi pouches and screw on handle for them have done us well.
5. The Aden and Anais swaddle blankets are great and my daughter still plays with them. I never found it hard to swaddle and you get a lot more flexibility with size this way.
6. My daughter has really enjoyed Tobbles and cardboard stacking blocks.
7. A mobile is kind of unnecessary but my daughter is obsessed with them.
8. Those teethers you stick in the freezer are a lifesaver. Request several, because when they are teething they often constantly want a fresh one.
9. Fisher Price made this toy in the seventies called a Happy Apple. They're charming and my daughter loves hers, if someone would be willing to eBay you one.
10. Oxo makes a really great wipes dispenser that releases wipes one handed way more easily than the kind that comes from the diaper company.

[cloudsail]

Digital thermometer.

[serpentstooth]

OH. See if you can get someone to buy you one of those little handheld vacuums. They are invaluable for cleaning up after your little domestic terrorist angel.

[MsPeacock]

OH. See if you can get someone to buy you one of those little handheld vacuums. They are invaluable for cleaning up after your little domestic terrorist angel.

Oh yes! And a little steamer - they used to make one called something like a little green steam machine. You will get something on your sofa that you don't want there (things that can't be vacuumed up).

[serpentstooth]

A lot of new parents forget baby medicine until they need it. Save yourself a 2am Walgreens run and ask for gripe water, teething tablets, baby Vicks, etc now.

And infant Tylenol, which is exactly the same concentration as children's Tylenol, which is much cheaper. But you'll want an initial box of the infant stuff to get one of those teensy baby dosing syringes.

Also, I use the tear-free baby shampoo, and that's a great thing to ask for. If you put a tablespoon of it in one of those empty 8oz foaming soap bottles and fill the rest with water and shake, you get magic, instant foaming baby wash that is much easier to scrub onto and rinse off of a baby than the thicker stuff. And that way, the single bottle of baby wash will last you forever.

A good pre-baby DIY project would be to replace your shower head with one of those ones you can detach and hold. They are very useful for rinsing the baby, particularly once they want to start splashing around the tub.

[bearandmoose]

Bibs!  Waterproof cloth ones like these for all day to catch drool and spit up.  Change hourly with a drooly newborn or teething bigger baby.  Drool soaked shirts are gross and can lead to infections in the neck skin folds below the third chin (ask me how I know).

http://www.buybuybaby.com/store/product/green-sprouts-reg-by-i-play-reg-10-pack-stage-2-3-terry-cloth-bibs-for-boys/1015021489?Keyword=Bibs

Plastic bibs with pockets on the bottom for when you start solid foods.  I hand wash those during the day with a damp cloth and then throw in the washing machine when they get gunky.

[bearandmoose]

Reusable pee pads.  Newborns leak.  Put one of these down every time you put the baby on your bed or you couch or your rug etc.  when they spit up or pee through a diaper, clean up is easy

http://www.buybuybaby.com/store/product/green-sprouts-reg-by-i-play-reg-10-pack-stage-2-3-terry-cloth-bibs-for-boys/1015021489?Keyword=Bibs

[serpentstooth]

Bibs!  Waterproof cloth ones like these for all day to catch drool and spit up.  Change hourly with a drooly newborn or teething bigger baby.  Drool soaked shirts are gross and can lead to infections in the neck skin folds below the third chin (ask me how I know).

http://www.buybuybaby.com/store/product/green-sprouts-reg-by-i-play-reg-10-pack-stage-2-3-terry-cloth-bibs-for-boys/1015021489?Keyword=Bibs

Plastic bibs with pockets on the bottom for when you start solid foods.  I hand wash those during the day with a damp cloth and then throw in the washing machine when they get gunky.

YMMV. I just undress the baby before meals and wipe her down after. These things are great, by the way. My cleaning rag needs went way up when the baby was born. I got a six pack of them.

http://www.amazon.com/Bamboo-Towels-Washable-Reusable-replaces/dp/B00KWBSDYC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1455847252&sr=8-1&keywords=bamboo+paper+towels

[serpentstooth]

Oh, and just a thought inspired by dressing my daughter in her pajamas. You might consider asking for Hanna Andersson clothes and gift cards. Their sleepers are incredibly soft, famous for their durability, and have a high value on the secondary market. They're also expensive. The handful I have in each size are the first thing I reach for when they are clean. And my daughter yanks them out of the laundry basket to cuddle them.

[john1053]

1.Baby-furniture basics like crib, bassinet
2.infant car seat
3.formula if ur planning for bottle feeding
4.diaper cream, lotions.
5. high chair, strollers.
6.bouncy seat..
7. Baby carrier https://www.sophielagirafe.ca/store/il-etait-une-fois.html

[Dicey]

Pack N Plays are a total waste of money in my experience.

Agreed They're readily available second hand because they don't wear out.

We gave our practical daughter something called a Bassinest, because it was on her registry. We bought it used, which she was fine with. She said it was her favorite and most appreciated baby gift.

[I'm a red panda]

Pack N Plays are a total waste of money in my experience.

Our pack and play was a free hand me down, but it has been used extensively.  Baby is in it, in the bassinet attachment for the first 4 months or so. Then in the bottom of the pack and play for another 2-3 months. Then we put the crib together (which takes up a lot more room in our room), until they a year, and move the crib to baby's room.  Additionally, the pack and play travels great- ours has been to 6 states allowing us to stay in hotels and airbnbs that don't provide them.  The toddler can still use the pack and play when we travel, even though she sleeps on a mattress at home.

I find infant car seats a waste of money. We went straight to a convertible in each car.
We also didn't use almost any "bucket" contraption in the house: no bumbo, rock and play, swing, exersaucer, jumperroo, etc.  My friends who are pediatric physical therapists cautioned highly against them. We had a bouncy chair to put the baby in when we showered. 

I find this question difficult, as I returned 90% of what was given to us at the shower and got gift cards, which have slowly been used through the years (often not on baby- but on things like Christmas presents...)  So for me, I'd populate a registry at a store I know I would use cards at (Amazon or Target) and then plan on returning.  We sourced almost everything free or cheap; buying baby stuff new is just silly.

Diapers are a good gift, but I preferred to buy them as I needed them instead of storing them. It also took us awhile to find the brand of diapers and wipes that agreed with her skin.
We did love the boppy pillow for feeding.
We never used bibs.  I used a ton of bottles so that I didn't have to wash them often, but they were sourced as freebies. Some babies are also very picky, so I wouldn't buy much ahead of time.
Our daughter didn't take a pacifier as a baby, so all the cute wub-a-nubs were wasted.
Baby carriers are good- but we went through five (Infantino Mei-Tei, K'tan, Ergo, Boba 4G, and Lillebaby All Seasons) before we found what we liked- husband preferred the Boba, I like the Lillebaby.  For next baby I'm looking at woven wraps.

I like books as baby shower gifts. Not just infant ones, but going into toddler years too.

I agree with having medicine on hand ahead of time!

[zolotiyeruki]

Pack N Plays are a total waste of money in my experience.

Our pack and play was a free hand me down, but it has been used extensively.  Baby is in it, in the bassinet attachment for the first 4 months or so. Then in the bottom of the pack and play for another 2-3 months. Then we put the crib together (which takes up a lot more room in our room), until they a year, and move the crib to baby's room.  Additionally, the pack and play travels great- ours has been to 6 states allowing us to stay in hotels and airbnbs that don't provide them.  The toddler can still use the pack and play when we travel, even though she sleeps on a mattress at home.

We had a similar experience.  Our babies slept in a pack'n'play in our closet until they slept through the night, at which point we moved them to a crib in another bedroom.  They still used the pack 'n' play for naps.  We took it on vacations as well, typically until the kid hit 2.  Ours lasted through all six kids and countless trips.

[Luz]

Here's a list of things I've found really useful this first year. It really depends on your situation (SAH, bottle and/or breast, etc) and the baby's preferences, so take it with a grain of salt.

Sleeping
Crib/Mattress
2 Waterproof Covers/2 Sheets
2 Fleece Wearable blankets
White Noise
Monitor
Black Out Blinds
Soft Reading Light (for nighttime diaper changes)

Feeding
Breast Pads x 2 sets
Burp Cloths (10 prefolds)
Brest Friend Nursing Pillow
2 Bottles (0-3, 3-6, 6+ nipple flows)
Breast Pump/Extra Set Parts/Hands Free Bra (if you need to pump while working or with low supply)
Nipple Shields (if latch is painful)
Baby Scale (if baby has issues gaining, you can see what they take in over a 24 hour period)
Comfy Chair/Foot Rest
------
High chair (preferably easy to clean and with a foot rest)
Apron Bibs
2 Forks/Spoons, Soft Cup 
2 Straw Sippy Cups
Splat Mat (if you have carpet. Can be used as a picnic blanket as well)
Steamer Basket/Ice Tray

Changing
Pad/Cover/Liners
Hairdryer (I use this to completely dry baby off after baths and also to prevent diaper rashes by drying the bum-on cool)
Drying rack (so many poop stains to deal with and it's nice to let it dry after soaking before throwing in the hamper)

Bathing
Hooded Towels (2)
Washcloths (10) (I really like having soft muslin ones for both bathing and wiping the face after eating)
Bathing Sponge (for laying the baby on)

Medicine Cabinet
Clippers
Thermometer
Tylenol/Syringes
Aspirator/Saline
Silicone Teethers
Outlet covers/Cabinet locks
Vit D drops
Sunscreen
Toothbrush/Paste

Supplies
Baby Wash
Baby Balm
Diapers/Wipes

Clothes
———newborn
3 months: sleepers (14), onesies/bottoms (3), fancy (1)
drool bibs 0-12 months (7)
sunhat 0-12 months unisex
booties 0-6 months unisex
cardigan 6 months, 18 months
fall beanie and fleece jacket 6 month, 18 month unisex
winter hat and snowsuit 6 month, 18 month unisex
------ when mobile
9 m/18 m/3T/5T: pjs (5), outfits (10)-6 dresses, 3 pants, 3 leggings, 4 short/2 long sleeved onesies (until potty trained, then shirts) 1 fancy
Swim diaper + rashguard suit (6, 18, 3T…)
Socks (5: 6-12 months, 7: 1-2 yrs/2-4) unisex
soft soled shoe 6-18 months (non-skid/leather) unisex

Going Out/Around the House
Convertible Car Seat
Bouncer Seat (love the baby bjorn- got it used)
Thick Blanket (for tummy time)
Infant Wrap & Structured Baby Carrier
Stroller (this is more useful for when you have 2)
Multipurpose Nursing Cover (covers car seat and shopping cart, can be used as a blanket and scarf...)
Car Shade
Pack n Play (if you travel often or do independent playtime)
Pacifier Clips (to secure toys and teethers to baby so they aren't dropped on the floor a million times)
Convertible Backpack Tote (I prefer tote bags to diaper bags because you can access the contents more easily, but you also want your hands free. I stick diapers, wipes, changing pad, breast pads, diaper balm, hand sanitizer, 1 toy, and an outfit in a little wet bag and stick it in my regular bag with my nursing cover. When older I include sunscreen/sunhat or a beanie depending on the season, a straw sippy, a bib, and a snack.