I Registered For My Baby on Amazon and Got Everything I Needed

My sister-in-law sent this to me right after I had my baby, and I don't know how I got through any of those early feedings without it. As I would be nursing on one breast, the other would start to leak, and all that precious milk was just wasting away in the burp cloth I stuffed in my bra. Enter the Haakaa manual suction breast pump ($13). Suction it onto the breast your baby is not feeding from, and catch all that letdown. I would score two to three ounces every feed and was able to boost my freezer stock without having to add extra pumping sessions!

This one might confuse a few people, but they saved me during those first few weeks of breastfeeding. A lot of people recommend ointments, breast milk, or saline soaks, but honestly (and prepare for some TMI), the only thing that helped my battered nipples were these medicinal Manuka honey bandages ($10) my lactation consultant gave me. I would wear them between feedings and noticed immediate relief.

I remember thinking, "Is a nursing pillow really necessary?" I can now say with total certainty — yes, yes it is. There are a lot of options out there, but I ended up going with the Breast Friend nursing pillow ($35), and I absolutely loved it.

Again, you can never have too many bibs. It won't come as any surprise that babies drool and spit up a lot. I registered for these white muslin bibs ($20) because I could use them from birth, and unlike popular bandana options, they don't rest against the chin, causing a rash.

Save yourself a world of trouble, and get yourself a Velcro swaddle. I love the Ollie swaddle ($65) as an investment that grows with your baby.

When it comes to babies and pacifiers, it's always kind of a hit or miss. Some kids just don't like them! That being said, it's probably a good idea to have a few ready and at your disposal for when the time comes to pop one of those suckers in. I have a basket full of these Bibs pacifiers ($15 for 2) ready to go.

It seems so simple. Essentially this is just a firm pillow. But the DockATot ($175) was vital for me those first few months. He slept in this thing exclusively, and I cried the day we had to pack it up and put it away.

I was a firm believer in "less is more" when it came to baby stuff — until I actually had my baby. If you want a few moments of peace to shower or drink a cup of coffee I would definitely recommend this BabyBjorn bouncer ($200).

Whether your exclusively bottle feeding or only plan on giving your baby a bottle every now and then so you can catch a break, it's important to stock up. We weren't planning on giving our baby a bottle for the first eight weeks until I literally couldn't take it anymore. I'm so glad we had a stash of these Avent bottles ($25), sterilized and ready to go for when we needed them.

Again, just get it. You go through so many bottles, and there are so many bits and pieces to every bottle and pump, it's nice having a drying rack ($20) to just toss them all onto when they're not in use.

Here's a hot tip for you: poop stains. The Dreft stain remover ($27 for 2) can help with that.

Tuck these reusable nursing pads ($11) into your bra, and avoid embarrassing milk stains when you finally venture out in public.

I feel like all the aunties gave me a lot of funny looks for registering for this guy. And I know the Keekaroo Peanut Changer ($130) looks a little funny and seems a little overpriced, but when you have a baby boy who pees all over the place with every diaper change, you're going to want a changing table you can just wipe down.

This one was basic genetics. I have sensitive skin and so does his father, so we assumed our baby would have a delicate complexion. Good news is we've been using these WaterWipes ($31 for 9 packs) since his birth, and we've had zero diaper rashes to date!

Keeping with our modern nursery theme, I registered for this simple wipes dispenser ($20). No internal heaters or other frills, but it gets the job done and isn't a huge eye soar on our dresser.

Never in my life did I think I would be talking about Gasspassers ($16), but alas, here I am. These little guys are kind of gross to talk about, but they work! That's all you need to know.

To be honest, we haven't had to use this highchair yet, so I cant speak to it's functionality or ease. But I can tell you that this modern highchair ($140) is less obtrusive than other options, which is what we were looking for in our small city apartment.

I'm a firm believer in baby wearing. I have multiple options, but we registered for this Ergo Baby Carrier ($179) for my husband to use.

This baby bath ($20) worked great in the sink for those first few weeks, and it's just as functional in the bath now that he's bigger.

This comfy bath cushion ($19) was a tip from a coworker of mine. It's great for those early newborn days and sponge baths.

Five months is a little young for bath toys, but these colorful sponges ($8) are easy for him to grab and throw about in the tub.

I love this bath towel/bathrobe hybrid ($16) for keeping baby warm and cozy after bath time.

A baby brush and comb ($12) may seem silly, but my baby loves to have his hair brushed after his bath.

Yes, a snot sucker ($16) is a real thing that multiple people told me I needed.

Another great baby "thing" that's worth the investment because it grows with your child! This Lovevery Play Gym ($140) has tons of elements that keep my baby entertained for solid stretches of time.

Strollers are a real hot topic during pregnancy — everyone has an opinion! We opted for the Babyzen YoYo Stroller ($500) for a few reasons. First, it's superlightweight, and I can actually fold it up on my own, one-handed. Second, it comes with adaptors so your car seat can plop right on top. And lastly, when it folds up, it takes up almost no space, which was ideal for our city apartment. The only negative I would say are the wheels aren't ideal for going over bumpy sidewalks, and it's a definite no-go on gravel.

It's easy to buy into the hype surrounding diaper bags, but I learned quickly that when it comes to lugging around all your kid's stuff, you want to keep it simple. This nylon backpack ($20) is superlightweight, keeping even the heaviest load manageable.

You may be wondering why I have puppy pee pads on here. Well, being the cautionary germaphobe I am, I quickly started getting grossed out when I would have to lay down a blanket or a changing pad in a public restroom and then stuff it back in my bag. HARD PASS. Instead, I bring these disposable pee pads ($29) with me so I can toss when I'm done.

My boss told me while I was pregnant that when you have a baby in the city, your stroller is essentially your minivan. If that's true, than this "mommy hook" ($8) is essentially my trunk.

Gloves that stay attached to your stroller. These stroller mitts ($44) are GENIUS!

If you want to know how I've gotten my baby to sleep through the night, it's all thanks to my best friend — the white noise machine ($19).

This comfy little sleep suit is meant to help your baby transition out of the swaddle once they start rolling over. Consider the Merlin Magic Sleepsuit ($40) a weighted blanket for your little one, keeping them calm and cozy all night long.

When it came to a baby monitor, I wanted the no-fuss approach. This video monitor ($165) had enough special features to excite my husband but was simple enough to operate when Granny and Pops come to babysit.

I was really trying to avoid getting one of these things, but I saw my baby playing in one at daycare and who am I to deny him such a good time at home! This activity center ($120) is the least offensive-looking option I could find.

We live in a one-bedroom apartment with no stairs, so I feel a walker ($80) is a good option to keep baby contained while letting him engage with everything around him. Here's hoping he doesn't run over the cats!

Here's a hot tip for any expecting first-time moms out there: you need to keep your baby engaged and basically set up a bunch of different stations throughout your house. For example, I have him do tummy time on play mat for 20 minutes, and when he gets sick of that, I move him to the activity center, and when he gets sick of that, he goes straight in the Bumbo seat ($64) for some quality time with Mr. Rogers.

Between the holidays and vacations, this playard ($120) has already been worth the investment! Plus, it doubles as a playpen once baby gets more mobile and I need to shower.