Make the most out of your spontaneous and scrupulous oncoming nesting instincts, and create a worthwhile baby registry.
I was a teenager when my brother and sister were born, so I thought I had a pretty good idea of what I would need when I started to create my first baby registry a few years ago.
Then, shockingly enough, I discovered I was wrong. (Gasp!)
When I got around to browse the baby section on a few of the big-name, go-to stores’ websites, to say I was overwhelmed would be an understatement.
The amount of baby gear and “necessities” being shoved in my unsuspecting face was absolutely ludicrous, and I got lost and sucked into the infinite possibilities and wild imagination of what I wanted on my baby registry.
I even Googled lists of what should be included on baby registries. I wasn’t impressed. But still, I made the notorious first-time mom mistake of including a lot of unnecessary things and skipping over items I have definitely included this go ‘round.
Sure, those socks that look like shoes are pretty darn adorable, but do they need to be on the registry? No. People buy baby clothes out the wazoo as baby shower gifts; registering for any is just pointless. (Unless you are adding them so you, yourself, don’t forget which outfit you want to buy amid the growing forgetfulness of pregnancy/mommy brain. Then it’s understandable, though probably still a waste of time and money as the amount of clothes your baby will receive as gifts is remarkable – you will become jealous of his/her expanding wardrobe.)
Now, as I prepare for my second little munchkin, several of my friends are experiencing the joy of their first. Not to say the second pregnancy/baby isn’t as filled with joy – it is, in a different way. But that’s for another day, my friends.
As I meander through my friends’ baby registries, knowing good and well that I probably won’t buy anything on the list, I have flashbacks of being lost and misguided in my own registry making. And since I didn’t find any pre-made list that I turned to while making my registry helpful, I’m simply going to go ahead and include some of my own dos, don’ts and other thoughts on baby-registry creation.
- First, my dream registry would include categories of needs and wants. Then, there’s no question about what you absolutely can’t live without and what your dream world consists of. True, for some this line may blur, but this is my frugal, necessity-driven mind at work.
- Secondly, my dream registry would include a notes section under the items; that way, the creator can leave viewers a note like: “I like this kind of exersaucer, but I don’t mind if it’s not brand new, though still in good shape.” Then, deal hunters and bargain shoppers can shop secondhand stores or turn to (one of my favorites) craigslist.
- DO ask some friends who have already joined the mom community what they wish they would’ve gotten at a baby shower. You may also want to ask them what brand of essential baby items (diaper rash cream, diapers, wipes, shampoo, wash, laundry detergent) they like best and why. Don’t just assume the most popular brands are the best – ask those who know and who share similar desires as you (cheap vs. expensive, organic vs. regular).
- You also want to look past the first six months of your baby’s life and register for items you’ll need in the future, like babyproofing items; baby bowls, plates, spoons, forks; sippy cups; snack cups; and toys/books for all ages. If space is an issue, then forget about the toys/books until you can sell those that the baby outgrows to replace with age-appropriate things. But baby dining ware will have to be accommodated at some point, so you might as well prepare for it while your nesting – it will be time much better spent than washing the baby’s clothes six times and reorganizing his/her closet/dresser ten times. And if you can receive all the items as gifts, that’s even better.
- DON’T include only expensive items. Add some cheaper items (wash cloths, diaper rash cream) for some people who may want to buy the baby something but don’t have a lot of wiggle room in the budget.
- DON’T include only gender specific items. It doesn’t happen often, but ultrasound technicians can be wrong. Your baby’s gender isn’t set in stone until his/her birthday, so having a few unisex onesies and such isn’t necessarily a bad idea. Plus, walkers, exersaucers, swings, pack-n-plays, etc., that are gender neutral are much easier to sell once your baby outgrows them.
- DO still have fun with your baby registry – again, this is where I wish there were necessity and want categories within registries. Add a few things you want (or think you want) but you don’t anticipate anyone actually buying for your baby shower. Some stores will send out a coupon after your due date for items that were never purchased off your registry.
- Oh, and DON’T get upset when your significant other is not as excited about the oh-so-cute and handy baby stuff you’re registering for. The first go ’round, I remember trying to get my husband’s opinion on competing baby products after explaining what I found to be the pros/cons of each. I probably would have gotten more feedback from one of our dogs. This time, he has gotten a bit more excited as he (kind of) knows what we need, what we don’t need and what could be helpful. But instead of asking his opinion, I just tell him my decision and the reasons for that. If he has an opinion about it, he will have no problem sharing it. And it has saved me a lot of grief about why he isn’t as excited as me — because he was, he was just excited in his own way.
I’m not going to make a list of what I think should and should not be included on a baby registry. At least not in this post, since none were never very helpful for me.
But for all those who have been dying to know what I bought my first-time mom friends that they didn’t include on their registry, here’s the list:
- Munchkin fresh food feeder – I loved this for my first daughter; she loved, loved, loved cantaloupe but didn’t have any teeth to mash it, and melons aren’t the easiest to puree. Not to mention I was terrified of her choking – it’s a family tradition. This feeder was the perfect solution. Plus, the cold, hard surface of the melon helped soothe her teething gums and was a tasty alternative to the regular teethers or cold washcloth.
- Munchkin snack catchers – They remind of an escapable raccoon trap. Great for making snacks accessible without the spillage that comes with regular bowls. Sure, the snack catchers won’t be needed for several months (maybe around the first birthday), but they save some cleaning-up time once your munchkin figures them out.
- Washcloths – While a dirty baby is a happy baby, all babies need bathed.
- Babyproofing kit – Kit included electric outlet covers, doorknob covers and cabinet door stoppers
- A copy of Dr. Sears’ The Vaccine Book – Even for parents who choose to follow the American Pediatrics Association’s recommended vaccination schedule, this book is full of worthwhile information; it explains, among other things, each disease, how each vaccine is made and the different brands of vaccines. Then you go to your baby’s well-being/vaccination appointments ahead of the game and with any questions that the book may have neglected to answer.
If money wasn’t an issue – and if I wasn’t sporting another baby bump myself – I’d also include: swaddling blankets (a personal life saver), a Burt’s Bees Bundle of Joy Basket and a California Baby Newborn Tote gift set, along with California Baby sunblock and bug spray.
So, when creating your baby registry, ditch the socks (your backseat will be littered with them anyways once your curious George/Georgia figures out how to take them off while you are driving) and opt for diaper rash cream – it’s just the rational, mom thing to do.
Blogs are the enemy; literature graffiti, so I’ve heard.
At least that’s what I used to think, as blogs are just one of the many afflictions that traditional print journalism is attempting, and quite possibly failing, to grapple with. As a classically trained print journalist, I first saw blogs as my nemeses and competition. And, in some ways, they still are. For me, joining the blogosphere seemed like joining the dark side.
But times have changed; the use and purposes of blogs have grown exponentially in recent years. And there’s no sense in fighting the future. At least not this battle.
After coming to the realize some of the benefits of blogs, I’ve still managed to keep away from the blogosphere for one simple reason – what could I possibly have to write about that someone else would actually want to consume and digest?
I’ve become pretty apathetic about an overwhelming amount of topics in recent years (thanks, in part, to years of deep conversations with my husband – opposites really do attract). Finding something that I’m not only passionate about but I also actually think is worthy to share with others and that they might actually find the information useful/entertaining has been difficult. I don’t want to just spout off and vent about random nonsense – there is more than enough of that in our crazy, mixed up world these days.
So, I go back to one of the basics I learned years ago – write about what you know. Unfortunately, I just so happen to know A LOT. (No, I’m not that egotistical. I am that sarcastic, though.)
And what I know, what I love and what seems to be actually becoming a trend is being a SuperMom/Wife – you know, that woman that embraces “weird” parenting styles, researches nearly every product before buying it (and then shops around to find the best price, even if it’s just a few pennies cheaper), finds quirky ways to save money to not only help the budget but also the environment, and may be borderline paranoid when it comes to much of the conventional, mainstream offerings.
If my friends or family think something is weird, they know chances are that I’ll love it. That’s just me. I wouldn’t say I’m off my rocker, but those that know me best know that my rocker may be a little off center, simply because it’s made from recycled wood that may not perfectly fit together. It still works all the same, though.
If you haven’t deciphered me yet, let me break it down for you in laymen, pop culture terms – here’s a sampling of what I’ve “liked” on my Facebook page:
Music: Simon and Garfunkel, John Lennon, Ani DiFranco, O.A.R., In Flames, All That Remains, A Perfect Circle, Puscifer, Deftones, Aphex Twin, Sublime
Books: A Million Little Pieces, The Omnivore’s Dilemma, (not actually on Facebook, but still some of my faves) The Vaccine Book, Walden, Civil Disobedience, Self-Reliance, Nature
Pages: Farmers Market of the Ozarks, Mommynomics, I Love Being A Mom, Diapers.com, Ask Dr. Sears, Homesteading, Non-GMO Project, Food Renegade, Fake AP Stylebook, Overheard in the Newsroom, Bully Breed Rescue, StubbyDog Project
So, here it is – I finally entered the blogosphere.
Stay tuned, especially if you like sarcastic, sometimes brutally honest, dry humor from an old-soul-stuck-in-the-21st-century pregnant mom/household CEO that’s pursuing a graduate degree in rhetoric and composition while trying to stay sane. Winded after that sentence? Yeah, me too. All the time.
(Fair warning, topics may stray from what I’ve vaguely described here time-to-time, depending on what tickles my fancy. Variety is the spice of life, right?)
My next inkling of wisdom to share will (most likely) be about baby registries. Interesting, right? Just wait. I can make anything awesome.
Hour 25 