I had Lilly December 3, 2015. While making my registry I would go to baby stores and take pictures of everything I thought I needed, then would head home and google the reviews. After making my extensive list and getting everything I asked for I still found some things were a waste of space while others I couldn’t live without. I’ve emailed this list to a few people that have asked for it so I figured I should share it here. Just remember that every baby is different and your child may hate everything on this list.

Nursing Favorites

I breastfed for 18 months… Never intended to do it that long, it was just the only way Lilly would fall asleep. People always say, “Wow that’s so great!!!” and I say no, it was miserable and all I wanted was my freedom back. To each their own.

• NURSING PILLOW- My Breast Friend.
  •  My mom found this purchase completely unnecessary because in her day you just used a pillow. I’m so happy I didn’t listen because the few times I tried using a pillow my back was killing me. This allowed a firm platform to keep Lilly higher and the belt kept me from having to constantly push it close to me. I honestly don’t think I would have been able to breastfeed as long as I did without this.
  • You can buy it here
  • Also- buy the separate cover, it’s much softer than the one that comes with it buy it here

• NIPPLE CREAM- Lansinoh HPA Lanolin 
  • This stuff was amazing for not making my nipples feel like they were going to fall off in the beginning.
  • Added bonus- it makes great chapstick when you’re finished nursing and have leftover tubes.
  • You can buy it here
• NURSING BRA PADS- Lansinoh Stay Dry Disposable Nursing Pads
  • These are so easy to stick in your bra so you don’t leak through your bra and clothes. They have reusable ones you can wash but honestly who has time for that with a newborn. The back has tape so it sticks where you want all day.
  • You can buy it here

All Things Diapers

• DIAPERS- Pampers Sensitive
  • I asked for only sensitive diapers because I have sensitive skin. It’s a safe bet when you’re asking for diapers before the baby has arrived because you never know what their skin will be like. In the beginning we only used sensitive and eventually I branched out and used the regular pampers we were given as gifts. I noticed Lilly gets diaper rash more often with regular and I think it has to do with the fragrance they put in the diapers.
  • Amazon offers diaper subscription discounts.
  • You can buy it here
  • Pampers Gentle Care- As she got bigger I couldn’t get her size in Pampers Sensitive anymore so I switched to Gentle Care. I can only find them at Target but you can sign up for subscription discount. You get even more of a discount for having a Target Credit Card.
  • You can buy it here

• WIPES- Pampers Sensitive
  • I went with the same theme of choosing the sensitive wipes but after having to use the regular pampers wipes one time realized they are so much better. I don’t know why they made the sensitive wipes thicker than the regular but it really makes a difference. No one wants to stand there and wipe poop for 10 minutes going through 50 wipes.
  • Buy the big packs of refill wipes you can throw in a container but also make sure you get the pop-top packs. They are awesome for your baby bag.
  • The sensitive wipes are surprisingly available everywhere- even Rite Aid. You’ll get subscription discounts at Target & Amazon.
  • Buy Pop top Wipes & Refill

• DIAPER PALE- Ubbi Diaper Pale
  • I remember being at a friends house and smelling the diaper pale from 10 ft away. It was one I considered getting myself until I realized how badly it trapped odors. Plastic absorbs the smell so the makers of Ubbi decided to go with a “powder coated steel.” I’m so glad I picked this one instead. Unless you have just thrown a diaper away and opened the lid you don’t smell anything. The design of the lid is sliding to eliminate the smells wafting out every time you open it.
  • Extra cost saving bonus: they have bags you can buy but it fits a tall kitchen trash bag perfectly. We buy the ones with Febreeze for the house anyway so it’s no extra cost. I overheard a couple in buy buy baby debating between two diaper pales and I said, “this one can use tall kitchen trash bags” and they went, “Ooooooooooh.”
  • The cheapest price I can find it for is $64. That’s at Buy Buy Baby using a 20% coupon. (They take all current <<and now expired!!!!>> Buy Buy Baby coupons AND Bed Bath & Beyond coupons)
  • Buy it here

• DIAPER WARMER- Munchkin Wipe Warmer
  • I didn’t think this was necessary when I made my registry because I heard mixed reviews from friends with kids. I ended up getting this one as a hand my down from a family friend done having children. We still use it today and I feel bad when I run out of wipes and she has to have a cold one from the new pack! Everyone enjoys a warm hiney.
  • You can buy it here
    

• CHANGING PAD LINERS- Boppy Waterproof Changing Pad Liners
  • These go on top of your cute changing pad so if there’s a mess you don’t have to wash the whole thing. These are my favorite because they stay flat while others will come up with her or move the whole time. Just DON’T dry them. The heat makes it stick together. Just hang it over a hanger.
  • You can buy it here

Getting Around

• STROLLER/ INFANT CAR SEAT- Britax B-Agile/B-Safe 35 Travel System Stroller
  • After lifting all of the strollers in Buy Buy Baby I went with this one. It’s one of the lightest strollers at 18 lbs and I’m not a strong person. Knowing I’d have Lilly with me 99% of the time I knew it needed to be something easy for me to handle alone. It pops open quickly and the infant car seat clicks out of the car and into the stroller. It comes with the stroller, infant car seat, and 1 car seat base.
  • Extra cost saving bonus: If you get last years model it is cheaper. Use a Buy Buy Baby or Bed Bath and Beyond coupon to get an extra 20% off the reduced amount. Buy Buy Baby and Target will have promotions from time to time on this stroller so keep an eye out!
  • Buy it here
    

• CAR SEAT- Graco 4Ever All-in-1 Convertible Car Seat
  • Lilly went from being tiny to being a chunk real quick. I have friends who were able to keep their baby in the infant car seat until 1 like advertised. Lilly was so cramped we switched her to this one before she turned 7 months for a road trip. Learning to transfer a sleeping baby from this car seat is an art form. Hold on to the ease of the infant seat for as long as you can.
  • This car seat will last from infant to around 12 years old. It comes with an insert for infants and eventually breaks down to a booster seat.
  • Many stores carry these car seats (toys r us, babies r us, target, buy buy baby, walmart) but they tend to give different color options to different stores. I ended up getting mine from Toys R Us because I was given enough gift cards to cover it. We got my husbands from Buy Buy Baby and used a coupon for an extra 20% off.
  • Buy it here
  • Side note for buying any convertible car seat: I bought the same car seat (different colors of course) for both cars and every time we have a new stage to change it to I’m so glad I did. After spending 30 minutes in my car figuring out how to install it forwards I was able to pop in my husbands and do it in about 2 minutes.

I will add more items soon!