Hellobee Boards

I liked Lucy's List. Its a good read to get you started on the basics of what you really need.

I haven't started my registry yet but I have Lucy's List. I am also planning on taking a friend with me to register at first and not my husband. That way she can give first hand experience on what we need and really don't need. Then I will go to DH and he can pick out some toys and other fun stuff.

I started with the Buy Buy Baby list, and I went to a couple of friends' registries (who had babies in the past year) to see what specific items they registered for. I also sat down with one friend to go through the BBB list and cross out things she thought were completely absurd! That said, at 24 weeks, we haven't really registered yet either...

i printed the babies r us registry list from their website, and went through and marked off things i knew i definitely didn't want/need. i then used the hellobee lists (thanks @Mrs. Blue!) to add or take away specific items. THEN, i looked up all the items on amazon to find which brands/types i wanted, and made an amazon registry. i just used my amazon registry to make my babies r us registry in the store. it was kind of a long process, but i actually enjoyed it -- it got me really excited about her coming!

i wouldn't buy anything until after your shower, because you don't know what you'll get.

also, you can find free bottle samples online. i got a few sample bottles, so i can test them out to see which one baby girl likes without wasting a bunch of money. i just registered for the most expensive ones, so if need be, i can take them back and have plenty of money to get whichever ones she likes.

I would also recommend the registry guides here on Hellobee!! but of course they're not all complete complete (like, clothes, burp cloths, etc). Do you have any friends that you could follow around for a few hours? You could track a feeding, changing, bath, and bedtime round and jot down every thing that they use in the process.

@highwire: bottle samples! I have so many avent bottles from registering (babies r us, target - not sure which gave it to me) and buying items at motherhood maternity (every time I shopped I got a voucher for a free bottle).

I honestly wish I had listened to more people! I registered for, opened and sanitized bottles (tommee tippee - expensive!) thinking I was going to formula feed and need them on day one. Turns out I'm EBFing *and* my daughter happily takes the disposable nipples from the hospital for pumped bottles, which are the same as the low priced Evenflo ones. so I could have returned all those pricey bottles for something else, now I'm stuck with them.

I also bought and received a miracle blanket (so I have 2), and DD hates to be swaddled. I got a swing, she'll tolerate it for 15 minutes and only generally while awake. She prefers to be flat on the bed/bassinet, under the play gym or in a vibrating bouncy seat.

I truly wish I'd registered for less and just kept store credit/gift cards and went shopping when we knew what we and she liked.

the only things I am glad for the first week or two home (before I could have shopped) were:

-the Soothie paci (but, DD had no issues with nipple confusion, I've heard people warn not to introduce this til 1 month)
-2 stretchy blankets I had from when I was a baby! swaddled better than A+A if you can believe that.. the older version of the Gerber waffle knit receiving blanket at BRU ($6.99!)
-newborn clothes. everyone said they won't fit in them, my daughter is still wearing some at a month and 9+ lbs.
-prefold cloth diapers as burp cloths
-baby nail files - I am still terrified to cut her nails

for me! soothie gel pads for my boobs (if you will be BFing), breast pads for leakage, comfy clothes, some bottles of witch hazel (btw - target is $1.44/bottle, CVS is $5), always infinity pads (better than the hospital ones - soft, really long but thin and absorbant), and tucks pads. I actually poured witch hazel onto pads and froze them because the hospital wouldn't really let me take the heavenly ice pack pads home..they wanted me to use sitz bact instead, which I hated with a passion.

If I think of more I'll come back and add! I know that's a short list - it's meant to be, lol. we really didn't need much.

@Mrs. Blue: I was just going to reference these!

The guides on HB are super helpful! Also, I used the Baby Bargains book which is great at comparing costs, ratings, pros/cons, etc.

@Mrs.Someone: Ohhh! I love YHL, but have never seen this. I'll have to check it out.

Buy the book Baby Bargains! It's very helpful.

I also recommend the BRU checklist and Lucie's List! It was all so overwhelming, but those two helped me get a start and then I was done in a matter of days setting up our registry!

I recommend Baby Bargains Book, Lucie's List and my sister in law and sister looked over my lists.

Oh, and love Lucies List!

i had no idea too, I took my sister and cousin and they helped me. They both already had 2 kids at the time.