Thursday, February 5, 2015

Baby Registry + Hospital Bag Checklists

As promised here are yet more lists that I made while I was pregnant. It includes a registry checklist and a hospital bag checklist. 

Before we even told our families that we were pregnant I made a list of what to register for. I quickly got overwhelmed with all of the things that babies need but it's not so bad if you take it step by step over time. We got most things at showers which was a huge blessing. I did a lot of research trying to find out what other moms like best. Hopefully you'll find this useful as well!

Registry Check List:

  • Furniture for Nursery
    • Crib
    • Crib mattress
    • Glider
    • Dresser
    • Bookshelves
  • Apparel
    • Hats
    • Mittens
    • Onesies
    • Pajamas
    • Play outfits
    • Dressy outfits
  • Bathing & Skin Care
    • Bath mat (skid resistant)
    • Hooded Towels
    • Baby shampoo, soap, lotion, other bath essentials
    • Washcloths
    • Infant/toddler tub
  • Crib & Bedding
    • Pack n Play Sheet that fits your pack n play
    • Swaddle blankets in different sizes
    • Waterproof crib pad
    • A few crib sheets
    • Bumper
    • Crib skirt
  • Car & Travel
    • Baby viewing mirror
    • Backseat organizer
    • Car seat + base
    • Stroller
  • Diapering
    • Diaper bag
    • Diapers in different sizes
    • Wipes
    • Wipes case to keep in the diaper bag
    • Changing pad + cover
    • Desitin
    • Boudreaux's Butt Paste
    • Diaper Genie + refills
    • Basket to keep diapers/wipes in in the living room
  • Feeding
    • Nighty Night Nursing light
    • Boppy pillow and slipcover
    • Medela steam bags (for sterilizing things on the go/when you're traveling)
    • Baby food containers (if you want to make your own food)
    • Powdered formula dispenser
    • Breastmilk storage bags
    • Nursing cover (A drape to cover you and baby)
    • Bottles
    • Podee handsfree bottles 
    • Bottle sterilizer (we use this every day)
    • Sippy cups
    • Sippi grip suction sling
    • Bowls/suction bowls
    • Soft tipped spoons
    • Toddler forks and spoons
    • Munchkin snack catchers
    • Bibs
    • Burp cloths (lots of these)
    • High chair
    • Table chair (like a high chair that attaches to any table)
    • Baby medicine dispenser
    • Sippy cup medicine dispenser
    • Bottle brush
    • Bottle drying rack
    • Dishwasher basket
    • Bottle warmer
  • For Me
    • Lansinoh nipple cream
    • Nursing pads
    • Tucks medicated cooling pads (for after giving birth)
    • Handsfree pumping bra
    • Breast pump (Your insurance most likely will provide you a nice one for free. Ask!)
  • Pacifiers & Soothers
    • Pacifier clips
    • Soothie pacifiers 0-3 months
    • Soothie pacifiers 3+ months
    • Mam pacifiers (or any brand)
    • WubbaNub pacifier
    • Sophie the giraffe teether
    • Mam bite and brush teether
  • Gear
    • Fisher-Price Rock n Play Sleeper (Presley currently sleeps in this by our bed and loves it)
    • Mamaroo
    • Pack n Play with bassinet & changing station
    • Activity jumper/jumperoo
    • Play gym
    • Shopping cart cover
    • Infant carrier (example/ Baby Bjorn)
    • Fabric wrap carrier
    • Bumbo with tray
    • Door jumper
  • Health & Baby Care
    • Humidifier
    • Infant thermometer
    • Baby nail clippers & files
    • Nose bulb (hospital gives you a great one as well)
    • Infant tooth and gum cleanser
    • Infant brush and comb
  • Safety
    • Stair gates for top & bottom of stairs
    • Plug covers
    • Other childproof gear
    • Video baby monitor
  • Toys
    • Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes
    • Bath toy scoop
    • Books
    • Misc toys
  • Misc
    • Nightlight
    • Cloud b Sleep Sheep sound machine
    • Baby clothes hangers
In addition to making a registry list I made a list of things to take in my hospital bag. Hearing from other moms was so helpful in figuring out what to bring and made me feel so at-ease and prepared.

Hospital Bag Check List:

  • For Me
    • Nursing camisoles and bras
    • Nursing cover (if you need to nurse when you have guests)
    • Comfy pajama set with button down shirt (for nursing)
    • PJ pants, fuzzy socks and comfy, loose-fitting clothing
    • Going home outfit
    • Robe
    • Disposable nursing pads
    • Super maxi pads (You'll get some seriously huge ones from the hospital. You'll definitely need more maxis after you get home though and the hospital ones run out. Be sure you ask for extras from the hospital before you leave. It's like middle school all over again)
    • Lanolin cream (if you're breastfeeding you'll definitely want to bring this. Lots of it)
    • Granny panties (The mesh underpants you get at the hospital are seriously hideous but even more wonderful. Get extras of these when you leave as well. But once you run out you'll want some reliable grannies to get you through the next few weeks. You'll thank me later. Your husband might not)
    • Tuck's medicated cooling pads (I got Target brand because they were out of Tucks and they were the same. They also give you a pack of these at the hospital. You technically won't need these till you get home)
    • Chapstick (Your lips get so dry. No idea why)
    • Unscented lotion
    • Extra long phone charging cord
    • Pillow with non-white pillowcase (so they don't mistake it for hospital pillows)
    • Mirror (to put on makeup etc without going to the bathroom. You're not going to want to move if you don't have to)
    • Breast pump
  • For Matt
    • Pillow, blanket
    • PJs and clothes for the day
  • For Both of Us
    • Travel-sized toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, soap)
    • Toothbrush, toothpaste, hair gel, bobbypins, brush, makeup, hair ties, face wash
    • Prenatal vitamins/any other medications you take daily
    • Socks, house shoes, flip flops (for the shower if you'd like)
  • For Baby
    • Car Seat
    • Going home outfit
    • Baby pjs (preferably gowns and 1 pieces since your baby will have an umbilical stub)
    • Hat and mittens
    • Socks (they don't give you any there)
    • Swaddle blankets and other soft blankets
    • Boppy
    • Pacifiers
    • Burp cloths
    • Baby nail file (Their little nails come out kinda crazy and the nurses recommend using files instead of clippers at first)
    • Baby book (they'll put your baby's footprints in it for you)
  • Other
    • Laptop & charger + movies
    • Camera + charger (make sure your camera is fully charged and your memory card is empty beforehand)
    • Snacks to suck on during labor when you can't eat  (ie Lifesavers)
    • Insurance cards
    • Drivers licenses
    • Hospital paperwork including any paperwork your doc gives you to take to the hospital
    • Folder to put all of the paper work in that you're given there
    • Change for vending machines
    • Bag for dirty clothes
    • Baby pics of mom and dad
    • Banner to hang up in your hospital room (obviously optional)
I did so much research on what to bring. We attended childbirth class where we were given a list of what to bring as well. We had quite a few bags but we had everything we needed plus some which was nice. 

My water broke while I was sitting in my bed at 11:30 PM the night before my due date. One thing I invested in previously was a water proof pad. I slept on it for a month just in case my water broke in my bed. I was made fun of because what are the odds of that happening and also happening there? SO THERE!! Now I keep it at the foot of the bed for late night diaper changes. I would definitely recommend the $13 investment. It has been so useful. 

So we got to the hospital at midnight on our due date. Couldn't have been more punctual.  I packed our bags about a month before my due date. I couldn't pack everything that early so I made a list of things to grab on our way out and put it with our stuff. That was so helpful because it was late and we were kind of freaking out and our brains weren't working. That list helped us not to forget anything and keep a little bit of our sanity.

I hope these lists are helpful for someone! Let me know if I left something out that you found useful so I can add it.