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That's about what I got and we used it toward our glider. I wouldn't use it for a pump. You should inquire with your insurance how they handle pumps. Mine was free.

@bluestriped bee: contact your insurance directly or check their website. Most of the time you have to order it directly through a durable medical equipment provider, who will take care of all the insurance stuff. You might need a prescription from your doctor.

No need to use it right away. I think using it for car seats is a good idea since you will need two of each (infant and convertibles), if not more if you have two cars.

I would talk to your insurance about a breast pump. My insurance isn't very good and I got a free one. And even if you think you'll get better deals on big ticket items down the road, you should save your money and use it to complete your registry. No one, like family, is gifting you anything big like cribs, strollers, car seats?

Ditto to calling insurance first. A lot of times they won't reimburse you because it needs a scrip and that you buy through certain medical supply providers .
For me it would depend on what big ticket item is unclaimed. And you don't have to spend it now. I would wait till after your shower.

I used my work gift card (about that much) to buy the video monitor.

@bluestriped bee: you don't have to spend the money right now. I'd put that money towards a stroller or a diaper service. $300 would pay for 12 weeks of a cloth diaper service.

I would save it and see what you need after baby arrives.

@bluestriped bee: I did not have to use my FSA for the breast pump. I called, told them I was pregnant, and they sent it to me in the mail. I got $200 from my work shower and used it with a 20% off coupon and got the 4moms Breeze playyard!

We put all cash gifts into a 529 plan.

I was surprised at the odd stuff I realized I wanted after baby was born. For example I decided I liked certain clothes best for her, she was the gassiest baby ever and I probably spent $50 on stuff for baby gas etc. I wound up with a decent stock pile of gift cards so these purchases were much easier to stomach.

I second on waiting until after the baby is born. I had a colicky baby with reflux and the first 12 weeks we bought a lot of stuff out of sheer desperation because you just don't know before you try. 4 kinds of bottles, binkies, swaddles, gas drops, colic products, bouncer, swings - they all add up.

If you can, hold off until like 3-4 months when they actually like toys like a jumparoo or exersaucer or activity table. Or high chairs.

If you want to use right away, definitely newborn photos. Mine were $300-350 and definitely worth it.

i'd put it towards diapers!

I put my work gift card towards buying our glider for the nursery!

I'm another one voting for holding onto it until a later date. There were things we had to go purchase after DD was here that I just hadn't thought of or that I decided I needed more of. For example I had a few different style burp cloths and I realized I liked a certain kind better so I bought more of those. I realized I wanted a changing station downstairs as well as upstairs so I went a bought another changing pad/cover. Just little things that you might decide you want after and if not then you could spend it on a big ticket item that you didn't get or something you really want...