There are plenty of large ticket items that you can add to your baby registry, but many of them will be outgrown before you get your money's worth.
When I was pregnant with my first baby, I bought a pair of Nike shoes because I thought they were adorable. They were, but he wore them twice and outgrew them in about ten minutes, so I felt like it was a bit of a waste.
On the flip side, I feel like a few products are probably worth a splurge because you'll get a lot of use out of them.
Now, not all of them are a 'splurge,' but I'd take time choosing them or get the better version if you're debating between a few brands because you can use them for a while. Here are the ones I'd consider if I pulled together a baby registry today.
1. Hatch Baby Rest
I reviewed the Hatch Baby Rest, and it is making the rounds through our house because everyone keeps stealing it. It is currently in my older son’s room because he likes the nightlight feature and the rainforest sound when he sleeps. (I thought someone was having a shower the first night he used it.) Nothing about it looks ‘babyish,’ so it fits in any room. Get it on the Hatch site here or on Amazon.
2. The Mockingbird High Chair
This high chair is made of solid 100% beech wood and can be easily converted to a Child Chair (max weight of 150 lbs) without any tools. The straps are removable and the tray liner is included. (I've compared it with the Stokke Tripp Trapp if you are deciding between the two of them.) Kids are in a high chair for a relatively short, albeit important, period of time so it's nice to get something that can grow with them. Get it here.
3. Totter & Tumble Playmats
These gorgeous playmats can be used as baby playmats and then as tumble mats or crash pads under climbing gear in the toddler years. You can even use them as exercise or yoga mats down the road. I'd opt for something that goes with your overall home aesthetic vs. anything babyish, so the design doesn't shorten its shelf life. They are an investment, but they are truly beautiful. Shop them here.
4. Baby Gate
Baby gates would have been very high on my list of things I'd assume would become obsolete as my kids got old but I am shocked how often I've used mine. Whether it's keeping a visiting dog away from our cats or an 'offlimits' indicator at a birthday party, I've found that they come in handy over the years and I still have one in the basement. This one is the Regalo Easy Step 38.5-Inch Wide Walk Thru Baby Gate.
5. Ear Thermometer
Many medical professionals like you recommend using a rectal thermometer when babies are little to get the most accurate reading, but I always found my ear thermometer did just as well, and it is still used by everyone in my family today. (Thankfully, I can't say the same for the rectal thermometer.) The one shown here is the Braun ThermoScan 6 Ear Thermometer.
6. Little Unicorn Muslin Quilt Blankets
These muslin quilts from Little Unicorn are great for bundling up on stroller rides and a little tummy time in the nursery, but the 47" x 47" size is also perfect for snuggling on the couch for movies down the road. (Or as a shawl as you grab ice cream from the freezer - personal experience there.)
I would get something timeless like this Little Vintage Floral pattern or one of their solid colors and save the 'baby patterns' for the bibs and burp cloths. You can find them on Amazon.
7. Frida Baby 3-in-1 Cool Mist Humidifier
Humidifiers are always listed as a ‘must-have’ on baby lists, but they seem to drop off the radar for kids and adults, and I don’t know why. Everyone needs moisture, dammit!
I like this humidifier because it is easy to clean and doesn't have a filter (two things that are a headache when it comes to this gear). I also like that it's not covered in Pooh Bears or something that's going to feel out of place in a couple of years.
By no means is this a giant investment piece, but you will probably use this as long as people in your family get colds (or nose bleeds), which probably means forever. So, get a good one. You can find it here.
8. Potterybarn Anywhere Chairs
I got one of these chairs when my older son was a toddler. He read in it, watched movies in it, and made forts with it. My younger son, who is now a teenager, is currently sitting in it while he plays video games. Thankfully, I bought a timeless color (red) and didn't have it personalized—although I don't think either of them would care either way. Shop them on the Potterybarn Kids site.
9. Veer Cruiser Wagon
A Veer wagon combines the features of a stroller and a wagon to make one versatile piece of parenting equipment.
Its flexible design allows for safe and comfortable seating and gear hauling, making it ideal for outings, parks, and family adventures.
Parents can typically use a Veer wagon from the infant stage (with an infant car seat adapter) until their child reaches around five years old, making this pricey gear a little more manageable as you amortize the cost over the years.
We took one for a spin a few years ago and it's on it's third family and 7th kid so it's stood the test of time! You can find the Crusier and the Cruiser XL on the Veer site.
10. Ruggable Rugs
Instead of buying a nursery rug, I love the idea of buying a neutral rug that can be used long after the baby years. Thheir rugs are washable, so when someone barfs, spills, or worse on the carpet, you can easily clean it. This one is the Holme Pearl Tufted Rug, but they have a ton of sizes and styles. I would stick to the 5x7 size and smaller so it fits in your washing machine, but you may have access to something bigger.
In Summary
When creating a baby registry, take your time to choose items with long-term value as much as cute stuff (I still love those shoes). Certain products are worth investing in because they will last months and sometimes years past the baby years. Let me know if you'd like to add anything else to the list!
Our next reco: Best Gifts for a New Mom
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