Ding, Ding Ding! Round 1 of registering has begun. Jen and The Captain 1: Big chain store 0! wooo whoo! Ok, I think that’s a bit of a lie…the big store totally owned us. As much as I went in there with a game plan I still found everything overwhelming, but the good news is that Captain Awesome and I got a lot of our big ticket items registered for. Now lets hope we get them!
As I have said before I am approaching this whole baby thing, and registering thing as a learn as you go type of situation. Everyone is different, and has different needs, so I should figure out what will work for me/us. Now only if it were that easy! I did a lot of research, spoke to friends, and relied heavily on the Baby Bargains Book. That’s how I am making decisions these days. So when the day finally arrived for the Captain and I to make our first pass at the registry I figured I was good and ready. I think The Captain dreaded this part, but I told him I just wanted him there for the big stuff. I thought it was important for him to be a part of it, and I’m glad he accommodated.
So here is a list of what I have decided on thus far. I won’t bore you with a complete list, but here are some of the bigger items, and what I decided we needed.
Graco Snugride Lotus
Let’s first start with the infant car seat. I decided to go with the Graco Snugride Lotus. I know the Graco Snugride 35 is very popular, but I’m a HUGE wuss and needed the lightest one they had. I was told the Lotus was it. I felt the weight difference between them all, and I think up to 22 lbs is more than fine. I asked them, and I was told that the baby would most likely be out of this seat before 22 lbs anyway..so here is my infant seat! I also decided to go with the Snap and Go piece for this seat. I had no interest in a full on travel system. Especially since I live in the suburbs and will really be just putting the kid in the car and using the stroller to go in and out of stores. I wanted the easiest and lightest thing possible, so I was told the snap and go was it.
Baby Jogger: City Mini
Ahhh the stroller. This one stumped me a bit but in the end we ended up with the Baby Jogger City Mini stroller. I have gotten good recommendations for this stroller and it came recommended for suburban living in the Baby Bargains book. Why? well it’s light weight, easily folds, but has the features of alot of the bulkier strollers. I personally loved the one step fold up! you just grab this handle in the center and Voila! It folds! Not to mention that I don’t need things like big wheels for off roading, or sand use. And I certainly will not be jogging! (ya right!) so don’t let the name fool you. This baby looks like it’s going to be perfect for what I need…See the pattern? Light and EASY!
Graco Pack and Play
I got a little stuck on the pack and play. What do I need when it comes to this?? Right now I am registered for 2 lol. 1 is less expensive, but I don’t LOVE the pattern, the 2nd is more expensive but do I need the bells and whistles? What do I plan to do with it? In the house I am hoping to keep it downstairs where I will have my office. I want to be able to change him there, and have him sleep in the bassinet part while down there. I also need it to turn into the play yard for travel, and or if we go outside. So what do you think? Here are the two. The one to the left is more than the one to the right…
Fisher Price Space Saver High Chair
We got stumped on the high chair. I had my book and was ready to go with their top picks and found that it wasn’t at the store. This threw me off. The person helping us was pushing a very expensive one and I just got confused. Do I need to have a fancy high chair? Do I go with the childlike one the book recommends even though it will look horrible in the house? So we waited. I came home and put it out there on Twitter, and my Facebook Fan Page. People liked the fisher price space saver! I was pretty relieved actually. It’s cute, it’s little, perfect! I appreciated the feedback!
Little Lamb Swing and Bouncy Seat
This little swing was just so soft and cute I couldn’t resist! I also registered for the matching bouncy seat. I hope our little Pooh Bear likes it because mommy wishes she could swing in it!
So there are some of our big ticket items! We also registered for the standard tummy time mat, and excersaucer. Even with the recall I decided to register for the Nap Nanny. I have heard good things about it and I hate when people’s stupidity creates fear and recalls for others. I went with the Ergobaby carrier over the more well known Baby Bjorn. The only reason here was because it has an infant insert, and also was better recommended in my Baby Bargains Book. I really hope I like this baby wearing thing because it sounds great to me!
So what do you think? Did we do good in round 1????
I don’t know if you’ve noticed I LOVE my ErgoBaby carrier. I bought that instead of the stroller I wanted. It is wonderful. Louis is 20lbs and I carried him around NYC for a whole day and barely felt it on my back. I also don’t do the Bjorn carriers because I don’t agree with forward facing carriers and my kids hanging from their crotches. I don’t knock other people’s choices, I just love my Ergo lol.
I have the playyard on the left. I like the under storage. I use it a lot.
Oh good. I wasn’t sure which carrier you used! I liked that it moved from front to back! I’m excited about it!
Ok good to know about the playyard, so that zipper part/storage part folds up and can become a regular full sized playyard?
Yup it converts to a full play yard. I also have this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Graco-Playard-Newborn-Napper-Broadstreet/dp/B001PIJEJE
We ended up with two so one is at the grandparents.
I loved the newborn napper on this but because Louis was almost 10lbs we weren’t able to use it very long. He started to roll over at 2 months so we had to discontinue use.
I haven’t had any problems with the changing tables on the playyards. I can see how as the child gets larger it may be uneven. But honestly at this point with Louis he is changed more often on our bed than on the changer just because he moves around so much and I feel better with changing him on the bed.
But for the first 3-4 months I loved using it.
I don’t think I need the nap station since I’m also registering for the bouncy seat, swing and nap nanny lol…the kid will certainly have a spot to nap!
Funny you say that about the bed..lol My mom tells me all the time I will just end up changing on the beds!
that napper may be good at the grandparents house though…
I used it beside our bed. Breastfeeding at night was much easier for me with the baby by the bed versus in a crib. But with all the other stuff you registered you definitely don’t need it for napping.
For what its worth I do like the play yard with the storage.
Funny you mentioned your mom & the bed thing. If I had a changing table I probably wouldn’t use it. They are all too high for me!
I wanted the Arms Reach Cosleeper but couldn’t justify the added expense of something I knew I wouldn’t be using for a long time. The bassinet in the playyard has been a lifesaver for me the past few months. We co-sleep & bedshare but are transitioning Louis to his crib so I will be changing it into a playyard now.
I plan on having a bassinet in the bedroom (my mil is buying it for us) I originally liked the co sleeper but my bed is so super high it wouldn’t work, so a regular bassinet will do (I htink)
Isn’t it crazy how heavy those car seats are? We ended up with the Stylus travel system because we liked how the stroller manuvered in tight spaces.
I like the top pack and play because of the storage. Ours doesn’t have that, and I need to set it up (it’s a basic graco one). I’ve read a lot of reviews on the changing table thing there (from Target and Walmart) on the pack and plays. Something about it not being sturdy enough?
Love the swing! Can’t comment on the high chair, because we got ours from a friend, but it’s cute too.
Yes it’s insane how how heavy they are. I don’t know how I will do it! I better start lifting weights now! lol
Ok, so you are liking the storage part…good to know!
Oh, this brings back fun memories of us a year ago! Your list looks good so far. I loved my snap ‘n go – so easy and lightweight. We had the Snug Ride, but they are all fairly similar. And good call on the space saver high chair. We actually went one smaller and did the Fisher Price booster, so we can travel easily with it!
I actually went with the booster also. I registered for both…one for home and one for going out?? lol We’ll see! Good prices so I am sure I’ll get them, and if not it won’t break the bank to buy myself!
I’ve been looking at that booster. I think we are going to pick it up this weekend.
I registered for the same stroller. I hope I get it too. We did register for the Snugride 35. Given my husband’s size, I’m convinced we’re going to have a giant baby. lol. I did the same high chair too. I was a little surprised how overwhelming the store was, but the husband did surprisingly well.
oh good we are on the same page!! ?
Wow, shopping for babies is just another world entirely from where I am. Exciting to see you finding good options for you and Pooh Bear, though!
Good job on Round 1!!! LOVE the stuff you picked out!!
Great job on round 1 of registering. It’s definitely overwhelming. We have the city mini stroller and love it. It’s lightweight and so easy to fold. We have been using it for over a year and are really pleased with it. We also used the Fisher Price cradle swing and I don’t know what we would have doen without it. It’s wonderful!
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Stopping by from SITS. I have to say you did great for round 1. I say this because you picked a lot of what I have! haha! I have the stroller you registered for and would have LOVED it but unfortunately my daughter was born with special needs and I have to carry this huge horrible suction machine around with me everywhere I go because she has a trach. I can’t use it because the basket won’t hold the darn thing. I was so bummed. ANYWAYS…AWESOME STROLLER and you will love it. I actually just purchased the city select stroller as I have baby number two on they way! 25 weeks right now ?