Higher Priced Items:

Having a few higher priced items is great because many times a group of friends or co-workers will cooperatively chip in and purchase one of these gifts rather than purchase separate, individual presents.

-Universal Baby Stroller: Kolcraft and Graco both make a stroller that easily accommodates any infant car seat. When you have a newborn, the easiest way to transport them in and out of restaurants and stores is by keeping them in the infant car seat, which generally snaps into a base that’s anchored in the car. Rather than using a full size stroller, which is bulky, either one of these universal baby strollers is perfect for everyday use. It’s a lightweight, yet sturdy, aluminum frame that the car set just snaps into. There is an attached basket and it fold easily for storage. At $59.99, it’s the perfect group gift.

-Portable Crib: A portable crib, which is often referred to as a pack n’ play or play yard, isn’t just for travel. While it’s certainly convenient for overnight’s away from home, it’s also a handy piece of gear to keep set up in your family room. In particular, you should never leave a newborn unattended with a pet. If you need to change laundry, answer a phone call or step away from your child for any reason, a portable crib is a safe place for your child, rather than on a blanket on the floor. If you don’t have pets, once your baby starts to roll over, generally around three months, this is really a must have. You can’t keep an eye on your baby at all times, so rather than run yourself ragged trying to juggle a newborn and other tasks, use the portable crib as a safe space for your child.

Other Items You Should Put on Your Registry:

-Infant Bath Tub: A non-slip tub that fits in your kitchen sink will allow you to bathe your infant safely without having to bend over the bathtub and strain your back.

-Crib Sheets: You can never have too many sheets for the crib since they’ll need to be changed often.

-Crib Mobile

-Diaper Genie: By far, the best diaper pail available!

-Bouncy Seat: Your newborn won’t be ready for a swing or Exersaucer for a few months, so don’t crowd your family room with these items just yet. Instead, opt for a bouncy seat which, for most newborns, is a great way to sooth them, occupy them for a bit or lull them to sleep.

-Baby Carrier: Every new mom needs a baby carrier. Whether you use it while taking a walk or while vacuuming and folding laundry, if you want to keep your baby close, but have your hands available, the baby carrier is the perfect solution.

A couple of final tips about registering: First, don’t register for anything too personal, such as breast pumps or creams. Second, diapers are generally not placed on gift registries nor are small, incidental items, such as nail clippers and baby wash. Those are all items that you should pick out and purchase for yourself. Otherwise, go ahead and have fun registering. Take a veteran mom who knows the ropes and can steer you in the right direction. Not only is it fun to register with a friend, but she can tell you what products have worked for her and what items she couldn’t have lived without.