Week 13 : Did you keep your receipts?

I say, once you’ve made it out of your first trimester, it is entirely acceptable to begin your baby registry. Wait. You’re at 13 weeks and haven’t started one? It’s okay; you don’t have to admit you’ve been secretly searching all the baby websites for the past nine weeks.

Trying to register for a baby without the baby there is like trying to cut your own hair in the dark: You have an idea of what you want, and you have good intentions, but it doesn’t mean things will turn out the way they should.

You register for bottles only to find out after you’ve opened the package and sterilized the bottle that your baby really does believe that “breast is best.” Who needs a wipe warmer? Do you? What the heck is a onesie? How the heck are you going to drag around a stroller the size of a car?

My best advice is to put down those magazines toting the biggest, bestest and “most educational” baby items and ask other parents. Don’t just ask one either. One person’s Exasaucer is another’s Torture Device.

If there’s anything I’ve learned after having two, it is to keep the receipts. I mean, come on, do you really need five baby bathtubs?

1. Jamie wrote:

   I already had a baby so I know that I don't need a wipe warmer..although in the hospital I think they told me about one, I just didn't think it was anything necessary, which it wasn't. My baby did just fine without it. She cried the first few weeks when getting her diaper changed but they get used to it and they don't cry as much. I didn't get a stroller considering I live in the country and the paths are pretty bumpy. I recommend getting a sling to hold your baby in..that way they are close to you and you can move at your own pace..fast as you want which is good for fitness. I don't think i'll ever buy a stroller..maybe later on but who knows. That say that newborn babies and babies at a few months age need that close contact with their parent so a sling or a baby carrier is best. Before I had my baby there were things that were bought that weren't very useful, like a bassinette for instance. Nobody told me that the baby was not going to tolerate sleeping alone..that she was going to cry every time I put her in the bassinette so the only way she would sleep was in my bed. Also, nobody told me about a bedside bassinette (which is a safer co-sleeping plan than sleeping with the baby in the bed).

   Comment on 6th Nov '06 @ 11:50 amThis comment is 1

2. Jennifer wrote:

   We're pregnant with the second one and we're not bothering with a bassinet either. Even if my first daughter had tolerated sleeping in hers, I didn't want to have to get out of bed every two hours for feeding. It was just easier to have her sleep with us. One of the items we couldn't do without though was a swing, it was the only way I could get my daughter to sleep in the mornings and in the afternoons so that I could rest or get things done. Unfortunately, she toasted her swing, babies do some nasty stuff. So, we've got to buy a new one for her sibling.

   Comment on 30th Dec '06 @ 4:33 pmThis comment is 1

3. Nikki wrote:

   This is my first pregnancy and I just want to buy everything I possibly can. But I will keep out the things you ladies mentioned because it seems your babies are doing just fine without them. Thanks for saving me a little money. :)

   Comment on 2nd Jan '07 @ 11:51 pmThis comment is 1

4. Heather wrote:

   If you have a boy a wipe warmer can be helpful. Little boys tend to pee anytime air hit their business but it is even worse if you wipe with a cold wipe! I bought one after getting hit in the face more than I can count in a 2 week span.
   Baby Bjorn is an awesome carrier. I used mine until my son was over 25 pounds..

   Comment on 29th Mar '07 @ 11:46 amThis comment is 1

5. candice wrote:

   I Have just been for my first scan and I have just found out that I am 13 week and 2 day which was a shock as I thought I was only 12 weeks and 3 days, was not able to find out what sex it is tho at the mo but it does not matter at least it is healthy and a wriggler as she called it, it even gave us a little wave which was lovely. I will be glad when i can call the baby a boy or a girl as it sound better than it.

   Comment on 21st May '07 @ 2:13 pmThis comment is 1

6. Nikki wrote:

   With my first I wanted to buy up everything at Babys R Us, but with this one I think simple is better. My husband lost a child in his first marriage, she had a lot of health problems and only made it to her third month of life. With that in mind I'm sure he's going to be very anal about our new little one when s/he arrives so he probably won't put the poor kid down...which will eliminate the need for a lot of the gadgets they offer now to keep babies busy!

   Comment on 6th Jun '07 @ 2:51 pmThis comment is 1

7. Smith Mom wrote:

   I made all of those mistakes with my first. I especially laughed about the bottles - my son did exactly that! With this one, I cant even remember what week I'm on let alone what to register for. I don't think we will register at all...

   Comment on 8th Jun '07 @ 3:19 pmThis comment is 1

8. Brenda wrote:

   At age 44 and my youngest being 11yrs. I don't see the need to buy alot of things. We are starting from scratch and I have learned from my other children less is more. Moms don't need the added clutter or extra cleaning. With my first we went all out, and found that we didn't use half. A good stroller around age one is the best investment we found.

   Comment on 12th Jun '07 @ 6:19 amThis comment is 1

9. Hazelle wrote:

   I'm 21 wks and want to know when is the acceptable time to start my baby registry. We already know that we're having a baby girl. I'm only halfway through the pregnancy so I think now is too soon, what do you think?

   Comment on 23rd Jun '07 @ 9:33 amThis comment is 1

10. NIkki wrote:

    I'm at 21 weeks too, and I think that it is perfectly acceptable to register now. My work peers are throwing me a shower tomorrow b/c I've decided to leave work to stay home with my son for the rest of my pregnancy. If I hadden't registered already they wouldn't know what to start with! Then my in-laws are throwing us a shower next month...I don't think its ever to early! Besides yo can always go back and change the things you think would work for you!

    Comment on 28th Jun '07 @ 1:41 pmThis comment is 1

11. Lauren wrote:

    I am pregnant with my 2nd child. So far the saying "every pregnancy is different" irritates me more every day. I remember the must haves of my last pregnancy, and I hardly recall a wipe warmer? What I really didnt understand was the diaper genie, i broke mine with my first attempt and ended up giving it away. I will use an old school covered garbage can....As far as a registry, I believe in baby voodoo. I want to ensure this little one is kicking my ribs really good before I even start a registry. One day at a time, never hurt anyone unless your getting your bladder bounced on by a little one internally.

    Comment on 5th Oct '07 @ 10:39 amThis comment is 1

12. Kady wrote:

    I never had a wipes warmer either and I kind of wish I had one. There's one thing that I don't think I will ever give up no matter how many kids I have. I love the Playtex dropins system. It's easy to do with only I hand and is so handy when you're traveling. It was amazing with my second. I wish I would have used them with my first. He had really bad colic. My daughter didn't have any and the only difference was the bottles. Good luck and God bless.

    Comment on 4th Jan '08 @ 7:53 pmThis comment is 1

13. xlgun wsrn wrote:

    mosvgpt nirgoqw ryjoabz wdxnqbl nbpimfe nbqvgu lrehm

    Comment on 15th May '08 @ 4:03 amThis comment is 1

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