The day I found out I was pregnant, was one of the best days of my life. I can remember that feeling of anxiousness and excitement when I came home with my unopened pregnancy test. My husband wasn’t home at the time and I was very impatient, so I decided to find out on my own. When I saw those two pink lines, I was ecstatic. I was completely over the moon and, my mind instantly began conjuring imagines of what my beautiful baby might look like. From the beautiful clothes my baby would wear, to the gorgeous stroller I would push him or her in to the fabulous nursery I would have, I couldn’t wait to start to plan. I had dreamt about being a mom for the longest time. And now, I could officially plan for my child without feeling weird that I was jumping the gun.

When we headed to the doctors for our first ultra sound, we received the biggest news of our lives. We were having twins! Needless to say, I couldn’t wait to register for my baby shower. My husband and I, with the scanning gun in hand, set out to choose the most fabulous things for our babies. As I peered at our list it looked like we had scanned the whole store. We had made the mistake of not researching what we really truly needed. We should have learned our lesson when we did our wedding registry. We still have several ‘must-have’ gifts still sitting in the basement. In our defense, at the time we really did think we were going to use that fondue pot all the time.

To save time and help you avoid our past mistakes, here is a list of ’10 must have’ items to make sure you have on your baby registry.

1. A Great Car Seat And Stroller Travel System

A good car seat that you can easily transfer from the car into a stroller will make life easier with a baby. Especially when your little one has fallen fast asleep in the car (finally!) and you need to transfer them seamlessly into their stroller without disturbing them. It’s best to choose a travel system that will grow with them. There is a stroller called a ‘snap-and-go’ which is basically a frame stroller that you can put your car seat in. This will only be handy for the first 6 months to a year depending how long your child stays in that first car seat. Invest in a stroller that you will be able to use even after you don’t need to snap the car seat in.

Recommendations: Baby Trend Expedition LX Travel System (an awesome stroller and carseat that you can take your baby around knowing he/she will be comfortable and safe.)

2. A Super Breast Pump

If you plan on breastfeeding, a great breast pump is a must. You want to make sure you look for something that you can travel with and has great compartments to hold and store bottles. This is pretty essential if you plan on pumping at work. Breast pumps are also great when you are trying to build your milk supply or for storage, so that you can get that much needed time away from your baby and plan that romantic date night.

Recommendations: Medela Pump in Style Advanced Breast Pump (a great pump that is a must buy for busy moms)

3. Nursing Pillow

A good nursing pillow will be your best friend for the first few months. This will help you support your baby while you breastfeed and get you in the best position, so that you are not hurting your back. Breastfeeding did not come easily to me and this item was a huge help. The Boppy is a great nursing pillow. Not only was I able to use it during nursing but when my babies was ready for tummy time, I could use it to prop them up. It was also a great tool to use when we were practicing sitting up. It also comes in different slip covers so it was very easy to clean.

Recommendations: The New Boppy Nursing Pillow (breastfeeding’s breast friend that will make nursing a comfortable experience for both baby and mom!)

4. A Fabulous Diaper Bag

Finding a great diaper bag can be tricky. Not only must it hold all of your things for your baby, it will also most likely double as your handbag. When traveling around with a baby, carrying an extra bag will be a hassle. I would recommend something you find stylish and won’t mind lugging around everywhere. Lots of compartments for storage and a waterproof lining is a must.

Recommendations: Skip Hop Studio Diaper Tote Bag (the perfect functional and stylish bag for the mom on the go!)

5. Sleep Sacks

I actually had no idea what a sleep sack was until our hospital sent us home with two free ones after the birth of our twins. It was one of the only items I felt comfortable letting my babies sleep in. Sleep sacks are like wearable blankets that are safer to use because you are eliminating loose crib blankets. With a big emphasis on SIDS prevention, it is recommended for your baby to sleep without anything but a fitted sheet in its crib.

6. Baby Carrier

Finding a great baby carrier is a lot of trial and error. There are so many different baby carrier choices. You never know what will work for you and baby. Some of them are quite the obstacle to put on while others may be easy, it might not feel as comfortable. You best bet is to try them all and if possible, try them all with a life-like baby doll. Many stores will provide you this doll so it can give you a more realistic feel to what it will feel like with your new baby. There is even a whole support group and site all about “baby wearing.”

7. Bath Tub

One of my biggest recommendations is not to pick the most expensive bath tub. I did this and I barely used it. We chose the bath that had all the bells and whistles. In the end, our babies did not care if there are jets or vibrations in its bath tub. I found that I was using the newborn sling that came with the baby spa tub in the sink than the actual tub. It was such a hassle pulling the whole bulky tub out. I ended up selling mine at a garage sale and opting to get a simpler tub. I could fit it in my bath tub and my baby could take a wonderful bath without ever missing all the extras.

Recommendations: The First Year’s Infant To Toddler Tub With Sling (that fits perfectly in a kitchen sink and makes bathtime so easy and enjoyable!)

8. Swaddle Blankets

Finding the right blanket was a process for us. After trying many different types of blankets to swaddle our babies in, we fell in love with the Aden & Anais Muslin Swaddle Blankets. They are, hands down, the easiest blankets to wrap your baby in. They are so soft and light. A bit more expensive than your typical blanket but they are well worth the price. When I started to allow items in the crib this blanket was the only one I felt the most comfortable with them having. It is light and very breathable. I can use these blankets in the winter and in the summer. I have also used them as a nursing blanket, to cover my stroller and as a tummy time blanket. I love these blankets!

9. Sophie The Giraffe Teether

I’m not sure why babies seem to love this toy but I have yet to meet a baby who does not love to chew on this toy. All three of my babies coveted this toy when they started teething. It is made from all natural rubber and food paint. Check out this article about the history behind Sophie.

10. Fitted Sheets

I would recommend registering for a few fitted sheets rather than a whole crib bed set. It is always nice to have multiple sheets available when you need to do a quick middle of the night change due to accidents. Though crib bed sets are awfully adorable, you really only end up using a few of its pieces. You end up storing the crib bumper, baby pillow and quilt away. It is recommended that your baby should sleep in their crib, on their back and clear of clutter. Remember that Bare is Best! For more information about safe sleeping visit: www.cpsc.gov/onsafety/2012/09/safe-sleep-bedding-pillows-safety-and-more/

Extra Baby Registry Tips!

• Large Bottle Systems – I would recommend registering for a few different types of bottles. Some babies are a bit more fickle as to which bottle they prefer. It is better to have choices, rather than go all in on a certain type. When they pick out the one they like best you can go back and purchase more in that brand.

• Don’t Register For The Most Expensive - Being the most expensive does not mean it is better. Make sure you do your research online and always ask your fellow moms.

• Bottle & Wipe Warmer – With a bottle warmer machine I found to be too time consuming and not worth getting as there are other easier ways to warm a bottle. When I was heating up stored breast milk, it was easier to let the bottle run under some warm water. It was one less thing I had to clean. A wipe warmer would just dry out my wipes. In my experience, my little ones never really cared if their wipe was warm.

• Newborn Clothing – If you are going to register for clothing make sure you pick out larger sizes. Most of the newborn clothing I received was worn once or not at all. Babies grow fast so it’s best to get larger sizes.

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