Creating the Perfect Baby Registry
Creating the Perfect Baby Registry
Registering for a baby can feel overwhelming, but it certainly doesn’t have to be. When registering keep in mind what will work for you and your lifestyle, as every parent and baby will have a different set of essentials and needs. However, the Gugu Guru team has found that there are some universal items that will help prepare all parents for having a new baby in the home.
Swaddle Blanket: Before making their debut into a bright and cold world, babies are used to the warm and snug environment of the mother’s womb. A swaddle blanket is a must-have for babies to wrap up their little bodies and help them feel safe and warm. Babies also tend to startle themselves and awake, so the swaddle will help a baby sleep longer periods.
Sleeping: Where will baby sleep? Whether it’s a crib, Moses basket, baby box, co-sleeper crib, or bassinet, remember to add a safe sleep structure to your registry. Whatever you choose, remember to add a mattress and sheets too if the sleep structure requires them, but does not include them.
Baby Monitor: New parents need sleep! Unfortunately, many struggle with restful sleep when they can’t hear or see baby. There are many types of monitors available, and we recommend registering for one that fits your needs. Some parents want to track baby’s activity while he sleeps, or receive an alert if something could be wrong. Movement and/or video monitoring offers peace of mind and reassurance to parents of newborns and young babies, but also transitions well to the early toddler years… so you can finally get some sleep!
Nail clippers and baby mittens: Babies are born with sharp little nails. To keep their little hands from scratching themselves (or you), it’s essential to have baby nail clippers on hand at all times. To make the task easier and safer, look for small nail clippers that include a magnifying glass. We also suggest having baby mittens on hand for the first few weeks to avoid scratches, as baby may be too small to have his or her nails trimmed.
Thermometer: All kids get sick, even the smallest of babies. A fever in a baby is very different than a fever in a child, so it’s imperative to have a working thermometer in your home at all times. Make sure to register for a thermometer that can work on infants, babies, and toddlers, as you will always need it.
Nasal aspirator: Babies can have very stuffy noses. A nasal aspirator is a must-have for baby, as it can sometimes be the only way to clear a tiny baby’s nose. A congested baby will be fussy and not able to sleep and may have difficulty nursing, so the nasal aspirator is an absolute baby essential.
Diapers and wipes: Whether you plan to cloth diaper or use disposables, it is totally acceptable to add diapers to your registry. Just a tip though: babies often grow out of the smallest diaper sizes pretty quickly, so don’t register for too many size 1 diapers! When looking for wipes, look for the least harsh and most natural wipes, as they won’t be too strong on a little baby’s bum.
Towels and Place to Bathe Baby: In the early days, you will just be using a little bath and washcloths to wash down baby, but it’s smart to invest in a baby bath which can transition from newborn size to older babies. Most newborn baths come with a handy sling for baby so they won’t slide around! Pick soft towels, as baby’s skin can be sensitive.
Car seat: Of course, you can’t forget a car seat! In fact, the hospital won’t let you leave without one. You can start baby in an infant car seat and eventually transfer him to a convertible seat, or you can start out with a convertible seat. Either way, register for the color and style you like!
Stroller: Yes, you can get out into the world with baby! If you have a car seat already picked out, make sure that it’s compatible with the stroller you select. Also, look for a stroller that can be used throughout toddlerhood, as you don’t want to buy another one.
Baby clothing: If this is your first baby, you’re going to want to register for some baby clothing! Keep it simple with onesies and get a bunch of plain white ones to go under other clothing, especially for cold weather climates. Baby socks are constantly getting lost, so double the amount you’ll need and register for those. And, don’t forget baby hats; babies lose a lot of heat through their head, so you’ll want some warm beanies to help keep them warm.
If you’re looking to start your registry, check out Gugu Guru - with its easy and fun style quizzes, it will make recommendations for you and your lifestyle on baby gear, clothing, and more. Its curated registries are personalized for each parent and the site will even help you find essential items you didn’t even know existed! Plus, you can add anything, from anywhere, to your registry. To get started on your style quiz and registry, head to Gugu Guru.
About the Author
Monica Banks is the founder of Gugu Guru - http://guguguru.com - the first baby registry to deliver free, unbiased and highly personalized product recommendations for expectant and new parents based on their answers to a fun style and lifestyle quiz. Prior to launching Gugu Guru, Monica was a branding and marketing consultant in the Mom & Baby industry. In recent years, Monica has worked to launch successful initiatives with such brands as Pampers, Similac and Belli skincare -- to name just a few. She currently lives with her husband and two children in Long Island, New York.
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The team at NAPS helps you tackle the issue of early wakeups. *BONUS* NAPS is hosting a webinar on February 24th. Register here and use the extra-special code MAGICMERLIN and you can join the webinar FREE of charge!
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The sound of cheery calls of “MAAAAMAAAAA” from the next room may be lovely at 7am. At 4am, or 5 am, not so much. Your baby may be up and ready to start the day, but you probably aren’t.
Answering the questions below may help you get there.
- Is your nap schedule mucking up your baby’s overnight sleep?
This might seem like an obvious question, but your baby’s sleep needs will change fast in the first few years of their lives. A quick look at the average nap number and duration might give you an idea:
- For babies from 3-6 months old, it’s normal to take 3-4 hour-long naps per day.
- For babies 6-15 months old, expect 2 naps with 3-3.5 hours of total sleep.
- For one and two-year-olds, you should expect a single 2-hour nap.
Part of the reason you might be seeing earlier wakeups is that your baby has graduated from one nap cycle to the next.
- Does your baby have enough time between their last nap and their bedtime?
We call this an “awake window,” and it can make a big difference. It might seem strange that your baby went to bed fine the night before, and you’re seeing a response to nap scheduling in the pre-dawn hours, but if your kiddo’s sleep is disrupted at night, it will impact the morning.
- 3-6 months, at least 1.5-2 hours between final nap wakeup and bedtime.
- 6-12 months, at least 2.5-3.5 hours between final nap wakeup and bed.
- 12-18+ months, 3.5-4.5 hours between final nap wakeup and bed.
- Is the room staying dark after the sun comes up?
Black 0ut curtains can make a big difference here. Remember that our brains signal wakeup when the light changes. So if dawn is at 430am, and even a little bit of light comes into your baby’s room, their little brains will PING with wake up juice.
- Is your baby going to sleep too early or too late?
It might seem counter-intuitive, but a late bedtime can actually backfire on you. Overtired kids don’t sleep as well. If you made their bedtime later and it didn’t fix the problem, try an earlier bedtime and see if that helps. You might be surprised.
- How do you make it better?
Try to make one change at a time; just one. Stick with that change for 3-5 days to see if it impacts things. (One night is usually not enough to see substantial change.) Be as consistent as you can with the change you made. For instance, if you decide to increase the space between bedtime and final nap wakeup, make sure to stick to the wakeup time you planned.
If your baby is waking up and chirping happily to themselves, feel free to leave them there for a little while. Let them get used to being alone in the crib. If you can, try to delay the start of the day by 5-10 minutes each day. This can make a big impact.
Everything else aside, remember that this is a short time in your kid’s life; as they get older, their sleep will become more regular, and so will yours. Don’t let yourself get too discouraged. Things are hard now, and you’re doing a great job.
