baby shower suggestions?

Hi ladies,

  This is my first baby, and I was just wondering if you had any suggestions/recomendations for what to register for the baby.  I went last Saturday but felt overwhelmed by the choices that were out there.  One of my main concerns is the crib (should I go for the convertable one or just a regular crib), the carseat (is the travel system the best bet?  which brand?), Highchair (band?), I'll be a working mom so should I get a manual breast pump or an electric one?  HELP!

Thanks!

Depending on your income level (sorry, but it's true!) and where you usually shop, I would recommend the Wal-Mart registery.  That way you can go to a store, peruse the baby department and make a list of what you liked and then put those items on your registery list.  If you're unsure of brands, as in carseats and highchairs, try "googling" those items or looking under "consumer reports" for the safest, most recommended brands. 

For a more specific answer on breast pumps: if you will be working I would go with the electric pump.  They are much more time efficient and comfortable to use!

Congratulations and best of luck!

Electric pump, and try to pump at night. That's when I did it. 

Wal mart is the best choice for your family and friends. Low Low prices everyday.

Please do research online for the best crib and car seat.

Their are a lot of recalls on these things, even high chairs, walkers, car seats, cribs and swings. You want to a make sure your new baby is safe from harm. 

My last born is 9 years old now, and I'm not all that new with the up to date stuff, but researching these things are the best way to go.

What I will say on this subject is the ultrasound technicians told me that I would be having a girl. They did say that they couldn't be 100% positive but still, when they say it is a girl you believe them. Well I got all my girl stuff together and took the tags off and washed everything (even when my skeptical husband told me not to). When he came out and they said "Its a boy", I think I almost passed out. So, my advice is, whatever they say in the first place, keep all tags and gift receipts for future exchange if neccessary. I have an electric pump that works wonders. I believe it is an Evenflo brand. It was like $40 at Target and I love it. I have a travel system that my sister gave me and it is very convieniant but it is very big and bulky. Congratulations and have a blessed day!

Congrats!!!

Good info above !!

I would say, wal-mart, target, and toy-r-us .....

Crib I have one that converts and was great for the toddler stage, but I ended up taking the bunk beds, I use to sleep in and put that in my daughters room.  So just what you think you will use is the best.

And breast pump well personally lol even though I felt like a cow being milked the electric.

I wish you the best of luck and if you have questions I am open lol... My daughter is three and full of energy!!

hi!

elecric pump for sure that does both breasts at the same time.

and I MUST warn you; since I'm a new mom about the travel system and car seats.  make sure you get one that you can lift with a baby IN the car seat.  Mine is so freakin eavy it is so hard to maneuver.  I have a Graco Travel System and I love it b/c it is so sturdy and safe; it was so hard for me to lift in and out of the car-  especially when I was still having pain from my c-section.  My little one is growing fast-  she's almost 8 weeks now-  born 8lbs 5 oz and not she's past 12lbs!!!  Thank g*d I went back to the gym two weeks ago and started my weight training again LOL.

Register for batteries-  C's, D's

You won't need the highchair for a while-  I went on consumer reports and opted for the safest one-  not for looks-  I believe it was a chicco  -  I have to look and see.  I'll PM you.

I'm a working mom too-  so I know how it is.  I go back in 4 weeks-  yikes!  I stopped the breastfeeding and pumping two weeks ago b/c I needed to get back on birth control and go on an agressive low card diet to shed the extra few pounds I can't seem to lose.  Plus; I wasn't making a lot of milk either and had to supplement.

good luck!

I registered at buy buy baby and babies r us-  but you can register anywhere-   target and walmart have great things for the baby.

I have a Graco travel system, too, and I love it.  The carrier/car seat is a bit bulky, but you'll only use it until the baby is about 20 pounds.  So if you go that route also register for another car seat that can grow with your child.  We have an Eddie Bauer seat in my husband's truck and a Cosco seat in mine.  I really like both car seats.  But back to the travel system...I really love the stroller.  I heard mixed reviews on travel systems and one of my friends insisted that I shouldn't get one because she hated hers, but the stroller has so much storage it's amazing.  I take it everywhere, and I never have to carry anything.  Just make sure you have room in your trunk for it when you fold it up to travel. 

I also did not register for a high chair.  Actually, I didn't register for anything I wouldn't need for a while.  My husband's grandma took it upon herself to buy us one, and it's great!  I think it's a Graco.  But like the others have said, do your research and make sure you're getting a good one.

I bought a convertible crib for my son, but I think it was a waste.  He's 2 and a half, and he's still sleeping in it.  He refuses to sleep in a "big boy" bed, so it's useless as a daybed or a toddler bed.  But that's all going to depend on the child, and there's no telling if yours will want a big boy/girl bed or just want to stay in the crib like mine.  Still, I like having the option to turn it into something other than a crib if he ever decides he's not a baby anymore.  LOL! 

I bought a manual Avent breast pump when I had my son, and I don't like it.  I couldn't ever get more than 2 ounces at a time, so I gave up trying to pump.  I ended up not breast feeding him either after I went back to work.  Now, I'm breast feeding my baby girl, but I don't pump since I'm a stay at home mom now.  I just feed on demand.  I never had an electric pump, but I'd suggest one over using a manual pump just because I didn't have a good experience with mine.

One last thing, just compare prices when you register.  I registered at Babies R Us even though my mom always insisted that it's more expensive than other stores.  Really, it's not.  In fact, I've found things cheaper there than other stores.  It just depends on what your registering for.  Their clothes are ridiculously over priced, but everything else was fairly comparable to other stores.  Their Similac formula is always cheaper than at the major grocery chains around here.  I also registered at Burlington Coat Factory.  They had a lot of the same bedding as Babies R Us, and it was $5 cheaper.  LOL!  It wasn't much cheaper, but I my mother-in-law wanted to buy it all, so I shopped around and registered at the cheapest place.    

 

Thanks for all your posts!  It's really overwhelming thinking about what all you need and it helps to know I'm not alone out there.  I'll definately do some research about the cribs/strollers.etc.

 

Thanks again!

Some great things to ask for at the baby shower is diapers, onesies, socks, receiving blankets, clothes in all sizes as they grow very quickly, bottles, all the little things that add up in price really quickly. 

Congrats on the baby!