This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walmart. All opinions are 100% mine.
I remember when I was doing my registry for my first baby, I walked around the store feeling so lost. I had no clue what to scan! There were so many options and I had never been down that road. If you want to get into specifics on brands & products, a lot of moms have given great advice on my article Baby Products: what you need and what you don't.
However, before you start getting into the overwhelming world of specifics, you'll want to make sure you are including something from each of these categories:
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Baby Carrier
You may think you won't need one of these, until you have been holding your baby for 3 weeks straight and you run out of laundry and dishes. Some things just have to get done, and if you're like me, baby's nap time will sometimes turn into YOUR nap time, so it's important to find a way to get stuff done during some of that snuggle time! That's when a carrier is useful.
Car Seat
This one is a given, they won't let you leave the hospital without one. I might even suggest you buy one early just in case baby comes before the due date! If you know you are getting a stroller anyway, you might look into getting a travel system.
A Bassinet
I don't know what we would have done without a bassinet or a rock n play sleeper. Chances are, your baby won't be sleeping in a separate room for those first few months so you will want something small enough to put next to your bed for all those middle of the night feedings (I just yawned at the memory).
Diapers & Wipes
Feeding and changing diapers will be your life those first few months, so you better add a Pampers Swaddlers Super Pack to your registry as well. You don't know how big your baby is going to be, so I always suggest having some newborns as well as size 1 just in case. My baby's only went through 1 or 2 packages of newborns before they were ready for size 1. You can never get too many diapers at a baby shower! And I always used Pampers on my newborns because it's what they give you at the hospital and they have been wonderful for us! They have the notch cut out so that the diaper doesn't get in the way of the umbilical cord.
Diaper Bag
Oh the joys of picking out a diaper bag. This wasn't my favorite item to pick out, but it's essential! You will have a lot to carry around, so don't get anything too small. I like bags with plenty of pockets so that I can have certain things handy and available (like pacifiers and hand sanitizer).
Toys
Not everyone thinks to add toys to their registry because baby can't play with them right away, but you don't want to end up paying for them all yourself because it can add up! Plus, your baby will be playing with them before you know it. Trust me, it all goes by so fast!
Bottles and feeding supplies
Even if you plan to exclusively breast feed, it's good to have plenty of bottles on hand for several reasons. You may want to pump so that others can have the opportunity to bond with baby during feeding times, and you most likely will have times when you leave the baby with a caretaker (even if it's just for a few hours, you will always want to leave a bottle). And even though your baby won't be eating solids until 4-6 months, you will also want to include some feeding supplies on your registry. Again, this time will come faster than you think.
Swaddle Blankets
These will be lifesavers! You don't want to put blankets in the crib with little newborns, because they don't know how to pull it off if it gets in their face. Swaddle blankets not only fix this problem, they keep baby nice and tight, which is comforting.
A Stroller
You're going to need one of these too, but good luck picking one out! There are tons to choose from. I would do a Facebook poll with your friends and ask what they like. Always check the ratings. That's the bonus to online shopping and registries 🙂
Health and Grooming Supplies
The best way to go is to get a little kit with everything in it, but if you want to get things separately, just make sure you have a nail clippers, a thermometer, wash clothes, and a brush (to help with cradle cap)
A Swing or bouncer
You can only rock and bounce your baby on your own for so long! Some will tell you that you need a swing AND a bouncer, but I say keep it simple and get one or the other.
Clothing
I left this one for last because it's usually the one thing we all remember. Baby can't go home naked!
Most of all, ask your closest friends and family what else to include and have fun preparing!
For more tips on everything you could imagine (do's and don'ts for changing diapers, exercise during pregnancy, sleep strategies, and even how to photograph your baby), visit Pampers Baby Basics for Any Mom on Walmart.com’s Parent & Baby Center. There is a lot of good info on there!
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