Recommendations from Real Mamas

If anyone else is feeling a little overwhelmed with what items to put on your baby registry, you are not alone! With thousands of different items and brands, it can feel impossible on where to start. So I decided to ask some mamas what they recommend for a mom-to-be: items that worked well for their little one, items that were a life saver, what they recommend avoiding, etc. Here are their suggestions with recommended brands in parentheses! Just remember that every mama and baby is different :)

For Baby:

* Swaddles with velcro and sleep sacks (Aden + Anais, Copper Pearl, Halo)

* Baby swing (Graco, Snugapuppy)

* Bassinet or Pack 'n Play

• It is great to put in your bedroom for 2am feedings, so you can avoid walking anywhere.

• One mama suggested to put baby supplies such as diapers, wipes, feeding items, water/snacks for you, small trash can, etc. on a rolling cart to have easy access to them.

* White noise/sound machine (Hatch)

* Baby wrap/carrier/ring sling (Tula, LILLEbaby, Boba Wrap)

* Stroller that you can easily click your car seat into for a graceful transfer (Chicco, Graco)

* Burp rags (just get the big pack of plain white ones)

* Nose Frida

* Pacifiers: get multiple brands to see what your baby likes and keep an eye on the sizes

* Baby lounger/bouncy seat (Boppy, Snuggle Me Organic, Dock-A-Tot)

• A mama of 3 recommends getting an extra cover for the Boppy for if baby gets sick, has a blowout, or it just needs washed.

* Diaper rash cream (Triple Paste, Burt's Bees, Desitin)

* Body wash (Baby Aveeno, Cetaphil, Tubby Todd)

* Munchkin Fresh Food Feeder

* Humidifier

For Mama:

* Comfortable pajamas/tank tops, especially for nighttime if you decide to breastfeed. Or ask for a gift card if you enjoy doing the shopping yourself!

* If you like to adventure/travel, a backpack style diaper bag may be a good fit for your family.

* A list of people to bring you food, help with laundry, or other household chores while you spend time with your baby or sleep.

* Glider with ottoman

* Portable baby monitor (one that is not on your phone, so you can use your phone while still keeping an eye on your baby)

* Spinning Babies class

For Breastfeeding:

* Nursing pads and soothies (Lansinoh)

* Breastfeeding pillow (My Brest Friend, Boppy)

* Haakaa

* Breast milk storage bags (Lansinoh)

Recommendation from a Dad:

* Shop vac to help clean up after sickness

Not their Favorite Things or Thought it was Wasteful:

* Baby pajamas with snaps or buttons. Do yourself a favor and get ones with zippers! No one wants to be fastening 50 buttons/snaps at 3am.

* Wipe warmer

* Fancy diaper pails, such as a Diaper Genie

* Johnson's baby products. Multiple mamas said it made their baby's skin dry or break out.

* The Owlet Sock seemed to be a hit or miss. Some mamas loved the peace of mind it offered, while others say it didn't fit well or they had difficulty getting it in the right position for it to work properly.

* The mamaRoo baby swing was also a hit or miss. Some loved it, while others said it wasn't worth the money, because a traditional swing that goes back and forth worked better for their children.

Additional Tips:

* Check with your insurance to see if they will help or completely cover a breast pump! (Spectra S2, Medela)

* If you are breastfeeding, start using cream on day 1!

* For baby shower, instead of people bringing a card, try "bring your favorite book" or "bring your favorite baby food."

And there you have it! I hope this helps you with your baby registry. Congratulations on your little one!

Picture taken by @lferrell.photography