preparing for a little one: registering

making a baby registry can be overwhelming. there is so much stuff out there and it takes a lot of time and effort to figure out which products are going to be just right for your baby, especially before your baby is even born.

having been around the pregnancy block already, i guess i have a little expertise on what items you simply must have on your registry. 

1) Aden + Anais swaddling blankets- these are A-MAZING! seriously the number one item all pregnant momma's need to stock up on. they are a little pricey but they're worth it. the light breathable material makes for easy swaddling without the worry of over heating you baby (which is a common new momma mistake)

2) an automatic bouncy chair- it bounces your baby so you don't have to. need i say more? this was a life saver during Owen's first couple months. as much as you might think that you'll never want to put your baby down now, 7lbs gets heavy quick. 

3) gauze cloth diapers- but not for what you'd think. these make the best burp cloths. don't bother wasting your time trying other burp cloths. trust me on this one.

4) Baby K'tan baby carrier- some doctors call the first 3 months of a baby's life the 4th trimester, because they are still so fragile and need constant care. since Owen was born a month early this period lasted more like 4 months. for that period he basically lived in the Baby K'tan. it provided a way for him to feel secure and close to me while giving me my hands free to do other things.

5) breast pump- if you're planning to breast feed at all a pump is a must have. it was a life saver in the first few weeks of Owen's life. he had difficulty latching on so i had to pump and feed him with a syringe. depending on if your planning on going back to work or breast feeding exclusively you can decided whether a manual or electric pump is best for your situation. i was fine with a manual since its rare for me to not be home with Owen when he needs to nurse.

6) diapers- any size, style, brand, you name it. you can never have too many diapers. this is something you'll learn all too quickly when your little one arrives. i would recommend thinking beyond the newborn size because it will shock you how fast your tiny baby grows out of them.

while i have compiled a list of 6 items you absolutely must register for i also go by the rule that more is more when it comes to making a registry. register for anything and everything that you would like to have for your baby (nothing you wouldn't be happy to receive) in all different price ranges. make sure there are little items on the registry for your starving college student brother and big ticket items for your 4 best friends who want to all chip for a big gift.

pick one store and make a full registry there but open registries at all the stores that offer a baby registry- you get a fun freebie gift at each one!

more than anything have fun while your registering. make it a date with your hubby and let him hold the fun price gun (it'll make him feel like he's helping make the decisions)