Amazon Baby Registry Must Haves

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Amazon and the #BundleOf Benefits campaign. Although I have been compensated, all opinions are my own.

 

 

Not that long ago, a friend asked me where I was registered for Baby #2. Up until that point, I honestly hadn’t thought about it! I’m currently 26 weeks, and I’m pretty sure when I was pregnant with Harley, that my registry was up and running by week 13! In addition to that, we just started to think about the nursery. There still is a lot to do, which is evident in the pictures below. Oh, the differences between your first and second pregnancies, right?!

Amazon was one of two places we registered for with Harley. We had such a positive experience with them, so it was a no brainer to register there again this time around. What I love about the Amazon Baby Registry is, not only do they have Earth’s biggest selection of items, BUT, you can add items from any other website making it a universal registry [see here]! You can manage your registry on any device [mobile, tablet, computer], and enjoy easy, extended returns.

So let’s talk registry items…

There are definitely items from our first registry [created over three years ago] that we will be using again. However, I am very excited to get some new toys and gear for baby boy! Below is a breakdown of all the different categories, highlighting some of my registry must haves.

Side Note: Keep in mind, some of your family, friends, or coworkers may want to chip in and get you a more pricey gift. So just because something is expensive doesn’t mean it’s not appropriate to add to your registry.

Furniture & Nursery Necessities

Crib: We love this Babyletto Hudson Crib! It’s modern, stylish, and perfect for a girl or boy’s room. It was Harley’s, but now that she’s in a big girl room and I’m only allowed to refer to her as Belle or Queen Elsa, she’s fine with her baby brother now having this crib.

Rocker or Recliner: Our massage chair may be an uncommon choice, as it’s not sold or promoted as a nursery item, but it reclines, swivels, massages [with heat], AND has cup holders! That’s the equivalent of dresses with pockets, and you know there’s nothing better than that! Haha!!

Changing Table or Dresser: Again, the beauty with Amazon is the options are endless! With Harley, we bought a white 6 drawer dresser. Unfortunately, it didn’t survive our move down from Charlotte to South Florida. Now, I’m looking for something smaller… either this changing table/dresser from Delta or this one from Babyletto.

Changing Pad: We used this one on top of Harley’s dresser and it was perfectly fine. Got the job done!

Linens & Towels: Make sure to register for several crib sheets, changing pad covers, and burp towels. They will all require frequent washing, so it’s nice to have multiple clean ones available. These water proof changing liners were great to keep on top of the changing pad. There will be leaks and accidents, so better to be prepared!

Big Ticket Baby Items

Stroller: The UPPAbaby Vista was our most used stroller. We have multiple strollers for different reasons [i.e.; jogging, traveling], but again, used this one for our every day needs. I have zero complaints on the Vista. In fact, I am looking into getting one of the newer models and donating the one we have to a family in need.

Another great stroller to look into is the Doona. It’s an all in one stroller, carseat, and carseat base. So, if you don’t have a lot of trunk space in your car, or if you travel a lot, this is definitely a stroller to look into. My cousins have the Doona for their baby girl, and when my family and I saw it for the first time, we were like,”OMG, this is genius!!”

Carseat: Once deciding on the stroller you want, choose a carseat that goes with it or adapts onto it. We used the Mesa because it easily worked with the UPPAbaby Vista. Don’t forget to register for a second [or third] carseat base if your partner, parent, or nanny plan on taking the baby in their car and using your carseat and/or stroller.

Bassinet: I am very eager to try the Halo Bassinet or the Snoo. I’ve heard amazing reviews on both!

Baby Seat: When Harley was born, Casey and I were living in an apartment in Charlotte that we knew was a temporary home. Now that we’re in our house, we care a bit more about things fitting into our space [size-wise and aesthetically]. With so many options to choose from, we decided on the Nuna Leaf Baby Seat. I am praying our baby likes relaxing in it because it’s so chic and looks perfect in our living room!

 Activity & Gear

DockATot: I think I am most excited for this! Everyone I know who has one raves about it.

Baby Monitor: Having a monitor where you can hear AND see is so helpful. As a parent, you constantly worry and need to make sure that you’re baby is okay.  This one will hopefully provide you with some brief moments of peace, as you can spy on your little bundle of joy whenever you want. The battery life is much better on this compared to others [thanks to the many reviews documented on Amazon], and the night vision is just as clear as the day.

Exersaucer: I’m on the hunt for a new Exersaucer. We donated the one we used for Harley. It was fine, but took up a ton of space! This seems like a good one, but should you have one that you recommend, please let me know in the comments below!

Play Yard or Pack ‘n Play: The 4Moms Breeze Play Yard is currently on my registry. A few of my friends have it and it’s so much easier to open and close compared to the one I used when Harley was a baby. This is great to bring when traveling [via car not plane] and needing a space for baby to sleep. It’s also good to use in the house… you can bring it into the bathroom with you when your showering, so you can keep your eyes on the baby!

Play Mat and/or Activity Gym: We used this lightweight, foldable activity gym by Infantino when Harley was little. It was super easy to move from room to room.

Baby Carrier: There are so many cute carriers and wraps these days! I have a few different ones, but mostly used the Ergobaby 360 carrier, so plan on using it again. It’s great for men to wear as well.

Pacifier: Harley wouldn’t use a pacifier, and I was 100% okay with that! However, all of my friends swore by the WubbaNubs during infancy, so they’re on standby for baby boy. I’d recommend waiting to see if your baby takes a pacifier or not before stocking up on them.

Infant Sink Bath: This is perfect to use in a bathroom sink, or at least it was for us when Harley was really little. Maybe it’s a sign that I’m getting old, but standing at the sink was/is a lot easier than kneeling on the floor next to the tub.

Leachco Two Way Bath: Eventually, baby will be too big for the sink [sigh], and you will have to make the transition to the tub. Trust me, Harley was just as sad about it as I was. She HATED the overly priced, high tech baby bath we attempted to put her in. So, my mom being the life saver she is sent us this bath after doing tons of research online. It was the only thing Harley would go in in the bath tub. It is soft and comfy, yet still provided the support she needed. We used it until she was able to sit up in the bath without anything closely surrounding her.

Highchair: Highchairs can certainly be a big ticket item, however, they don’t have to be. The Ikea ANTILOP Highchair is easy to assemble, disassemble, and clean. It’s also priced under $50!

Feeding Supplies

Bottles: Unfortunately, it’s hard to know what your baby is going to like or not like until they’re here. And what works for one child, may not work for another. With Harley, we went through almost every single brand and type of bottle on the market. And no, I’m not exaggerating. The ONLY bottles she would drink from were the Playtex Vent Aire bottles, so that is what we will start with for baby #2 and see how he responds.

Bottle Brush: We used this brush and similar styles just for cleaning bottles. You’ll want more than one!

Bottle Sterilizer: The Philips AVENT 3-in-1 Electric Steam Sterilizer is what we used and what we will use again. It’s easy to operate and it stores a lot of bottles and bottle parts at one time.

Bottle Drying Rack: I feel like everyone I know [including myself] has and used/uses this Boon Grass Drying Rack. In fact, even though my nephews are no longer drinking from bottles, my sister-in-law still uses this in her home, but as a wine glass drying rack, LOL!

Nursing Items: If you plan to breast feed and/or pump, you will want to do your research on breast pumps and which one makes the most sense for you and your lifestyle.  Think about where you will be pumping and if you’ll have access to an outlet or not. You should also check with your insurance company, as they may provide you with a free one.  For me personally, there was nothing better than the Medela Freestyle Breast Pump [and I tried several]. Stock up on nursing bras and nursing pads. Also, if your breast pump does not come with a cooler, you will want to get one along with breast milk freezer bags. To add on to this topic, be sure to have Lanolin. This may be TMI, but it helps big time with sore or cracked nipples. [Once you have a baby, I’m pretty sure there is no such thing as TMI!]

Diapering

Diapers: After trying a few brands of diapers with Harley, Pampers Swaddlers were our favorite. We had the least amount of issues with them, and the Subscribe & Save option that Amazon offers was a HUGE help!! I’ve also read good things about Well Beginnings™ diapers, so will be trying them out as well when baby is here. Having more than one favorite brand definitely helps when you’re out of diapers and your local store doesn’t have the one kind you love in the size you need. Believe me, it happens. And the last thing you want to be doing is running around to different stores trying to find them.

Wipes: For wipes we love Pampers Sensitive and Well Beginnings™. Again, if the Subscribe & Save option is available for the brand you choose, I highly recommend it!

Diaper Cream: I feel like I used Aquaphor on everything and for everything including diaper cream. I also used ointment from the Honest Company and Angel Baby Bottom. But, when your baby has a diaper rash, you will want to have a tube of Desitin on hand. I promise you! Nothing got rid of those really bad diaper rashes faster than Desitin.

Toys

Take Along Tunes Musical Toy: Okay, so this may seem random, but this little toy was a life saver for me! For whatever reason, every time Harley would be in full on hysterics, this was the only thing that got her to stop crying. It was like magic! It’s actually the only toy that sticks out in my mind.

Bath Toys: Bath toys help make bath time more fun and hopefully something your baby won’t dread. These little guys are great to have!

Puzzles, Soft Blocks, Balls: There’s nothing in particular that I would tell you you have to absolutely have, but just make sure to have a good variety of items. This is probably more of a tip for you than for your baby so you don’t go crazy playing with the same thing all the time!

Clothing

Onesies: Kissy Kissy makes uber soft clothing. Oh, and I can not forget about the magnetic onesie! We had one when Harley was a newborn, and it was the only thing Casey would put her in. It would literally be washed every other day, just so it could be clean for Casey to use. This time I’ll be getting more than one for sure!

Swaddle Blankets: I’m putting this under clothing because there will be plenty of times your baby will just have a diaper and swaddle blanket on. The more, the merrier!  Aden + Anais swaddles are my favorite, but it’s been three years since having Harley, so I wouldn’t be surprised if other brands have stepped up. You’ll use swaddles for everything… no exaggeration, I probably used three a day.

Health & Safety Products

Thermometer: You’ll need to have one for sure! Every time I’d call Harley in sick to the doctor, the first thing they’d ask is if she has a fever. I’m looking into getting this non-contact infrared one!

Baby Nail Clipper & Nail File: We had a few of these around the house. Baby nails grow so fast!

Safety 1st Baby Kit: This is a great thing to have on your registry [see here]!

NoseFrida SnotSucker: Most effective snot sucker there is!

 

1. Leachco Two Way Bath  //  2. Bath Toys  //  3. DockATot  //  4. Infant Sink Bath  //  5. Aden + Anais Swaddle Blanket  //  6. Halo Bassinet  //  7. Ergo Baby Carrier  //  8. Lanolin  //  9. NoseFrida Nasal Aspirator  //  10. UPPAbaby Stroller  //  11. Mesa Carseat  //  12. Baby Einstein Musical Toy  //  13. Waterproof Changing Liners  //  14. Changing Pad

 

When starting your Amazon Baby Registry, you can receive a Welcome Box of goodies. The Welcome Box is a surprise selection of full, travel and sample size products for parents-to-be and baby. The contents of the box changes from time to time, but always includes a full-size swaddle blanket and more. To claim your box, create a Baby Registry, sign-up for Prime, complete Registry Checklist by adding products from each category to your registry or marking the category as complete, and then make a purchase of $10.00 from your registry [either by you or your gifters]. Learn more about that here. I promise, it is so easy to sign up and add items to your registry!

And, I can’t forget to tell you about the completion discount! If your Shower is over, but there is still more you need before baby arrives or you are planning to purchase what you need yourself, the Completion Discount is a one-time discount on baby related products remaining on your registry and is available to redeem 60 days before your baby’s arrival date. The discount [10% for all registrants, upgraded to 15% for Prime members] can be used once for an order up to $5,000.00.

Now you see why it’s kind of hard to not love the Amazon Baby Registry, right?!

I would love to know what your registry must have items are, and if you’re a soon to be new mom, what are you most excited to get?! Tell me in the comments below!