Can you ever have enough burp cloths? I found that the best ones I used were also intended as cloth diaper inserts! They were hemp and ultra-obsorbant.

A diaper caddy filled with goodies - I've been using our "Sara Bear" Diaper caddy every day since our son was born almost two years ago. Love it!

Fill it with California Baby or another brand of all-natural or organic body washes, shampoos and lotions. Diaper ointment (my fav is Desitin Original with the purple label) wash cloths, bath toys...

Itzbeen timer. lets you see how long it's been since feeding, changing, waking up, etc. and has a little flashlight. we still use it every night, at 17mos.

also, big sturdy bibs. we have 3 by this line -- https://www.oreoriginals.com/estore/loadCatalog.do?page=2&categoryId=961 -- and they are perfect for meals.

Nosefrida, miracle blanket, ergo, and some cloth diapers are all great. Some natural, unscented body wash and lotion are nice. We like California Baby unscented and Avalon Organics unscented lotion. But if they still have an ugly bouncer or exersaucer or the like that is probably what they really want.

And for god's sake don't buy clothes/blankets/bedding/burp clothes/teethers. I was plagued by millions of them.

Personally, I'd skip infanthood alltogether and give some nice, good quality natural wooden toys for 9-15 months. I have an amazon list under JudiAU if you need some ideas. Most people buy a ton of boring teethers and nothing for when they become engaged with play.

Diapers and wipes....seriously. Best. Gift. Ever. Also, these blankets are the best for swaddling http://www.adenandanais.com/ they're super stretchy so you can really get your baby wrapped tight.

And DVDs on a baby registry? Yikes. That is really depressing.

We didn't register for blankets or clothes because people like to buy those things so you get a lot and they like to buy the ones they think are cute. Here is the short list of the the most used things we received: cloth diapers to use as burp cloths, diapers, wipes, California Baby products, Triple Paste and the Dr. Sears Baby book.

These are fantastic suggestions everyone! Please keep them coming.

Carrie - Thank you for the bottle brush suggestion. Their registry had several different kinds of bottles, but no brush or drying rack. This one will definitely make the final cut.

JudiAU - RE: DVDs - I know, right? It really bums me out.

A bath basket...fill it with Burts Bees or California Baby products like baby shampoos, lotions, diaper cremes, then include a couple of wash cloths and bath toys and a nice hooded towel. We got a Pottery Barn monogrammed hooded towel as a shower gift that my daughter still uses at age 3.

Besides that, maybe a good ear thermometer?

The boon grass drying rack. It not only functions to hold all the parts of your bottles that are drying, but it also looks adorable on your counter!

Sophie La Giraffe! Every time.

My second day home from the hospital I had to go out and get a bottle drying rack, and a bottle brush..Get them as they are essential! I also bought a few of the summer infant velcro swaddle and the zipper one because as much fun swaddling can be doing it a few times a night half asleep the zipper or velcro became my best friend!

A basket of the classic board books - goodnight moon, brown bear, peek a hoo, ...

How about seeing if you can get them a gift certificate for pictures somewhere.

I don't have any suggestions as I'm 8 months pregnant with my first, but I would like to say, before you buy something not on the list, please consult the future parents, they might already have what you want to get them, or they might not want it.

For example, I told everyone to buy only clothes and toys if they really want to buy something, because we have everything we need already. I go to great lengths not to use dispoable items and products full of chemicals, so I did not enjoy receiving inididually wrapped disposable nursing pads and stuff with BPA in it.

"Can you ever have enough burp cloths? "

I never owned or needed a single one... My kids never spit up...

That's the problem with getting practical things -- whether they are successful picks depends on the baby and the parents (are they going to use it?).

If they are not interested in cloth diapering, don't get them diapers (but if they are, the best fitting for newborns are Kissaluvs, and then, we loved the entire Imse Vimse line). My husband was a HUGE fan of our cloth wipe system (velour/sherpa wipes, a Prince Lionheart Wipe Warmer, and home-made wipe solution -- distilled water approx. 2 quarts, 2TB of pure aloe vera gel, 1 TB Dr. Bronner soap, 1TB grapeseed oil, 12 drops lavender oil, 12 drops tea tree oil).

Another vote in support of California Baby products -- their diaper cream is the best, as well as their other ones (calendula, as well as a moisturizer).

I always give CDs of lullaby music -- The Planet Sleeps as well as Lullaby: A collection.

My favourite thing present was books -- Gooodnight Moon, Goodnight Gorilla, The Runaway Bunny, My Very First Mother Goose by Iona Opie, Look! Look! be Peter Linenthal, Pat the Bunny...

Or, you could get them a special baby book to put together....

http://gadanke.bigcartel.com/product/you-are-loved-baby-book

http://www.ragandbonebindery.com/babybook.aspx
http://binth.com/Pages/Display+Products+Category?subCategory=binth%20baby%20book&category=binth%20baby%20book

http://www.amazon.com/First-1000-Days-Baby-Journal/dp/157061508X/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1294426440&sr=8-5

I second the diapers and wipes. As a mom of 6 I can tell you these are always appreciated.

Receiving blankets, burp clothes, socks, and velcro swaddles are great.

I also love babylegs leg warmers. My youngest is 3 and I've used them since she was a newborn and still use them. Target carries them.

A good ear thermometer is a good idea too and becomes your best friend when the kids have the sniffles.

Oh yea and food I wish people would have given us food and gift cards for food...cooking is that last thing anyone wants to do when they have a newborn

I'm going to second the ear thermometer and add some Hyland's homeopathic colic and teething tablets.

Though they might not get the ohhs and ahhs at the baby shower that a cute onesie will, they will be truly appreciated at the moment they are needed and on hand.

If you're crafty, maybe make a little first aid kit that could be easily tucked into a drawer and you might just get those oohs and ahhs yet :)

Hi Catherine_g!
Thank you for your mom-to-be thoughts! I'm certainly trying to err on the side of caution and limit/eliminate the amount of scary toxic plastic-y stuff that somehow finds a way to creep into kids' lives (as well as superfluous "must have" items recommended by many registries).

The parents-to-be are definitely starting from scratch, so I was hoping to do a basket of "playing" or "feeding" necessities. The bottles they registered for are all BPA free and while they registered for some plastic/disposableosh toys I'm leaning more towards non-toxic wooden toys from companies like Haba or Kid O. I've purchased some in the past and they have been really well received.

CaseW - Duh! Books! All of the little ones in our lives received books from us this past holiday season so I can't believe I completely spaced on that idea.

I'm with mschatelaine--what is "essential" and "practical" depends on the individual parent and baby. While we never used burp cloths (baby had acid reflux--they were about as useful as a square of toliet paper), the baby swing you dismissed in your question was a life-saver and absolutely essential to us.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that you should purchase what they actually requested, even if it's not what you like or think they need. They are adults and probably have their reasons for registering for what they have registered for. At my showers, we got tons of gifts that others thought we needed but had not requested and most were promptly returned.

If it's not on the registry it might be because they already have it. Please remember to keep the future parents in mind. Are they clueless and asking for advice and recommended items? Or are they planners? If they are planners, then I say stick to the registry. It might not be as much fun for you, but you'll by buying what the parents to be want rather than what you want to buy.

Munchkin bottle brush, the one with the nipple brush in the handle (still using it years later for sippy cups)
little wash cloths (we use one after every meal)
good nail clippers
little bag for diapers and wipes to make any bag a diaper bag
wet bag (like Monkeyfoot designs ones, great for cloth diapering or for the stuff that gets icky and wet, plus they are super pretty)
nice wooden rattle chew toy
Sophie is a great early toy and chewing thing
gift card for photo prints online
American Hospital nose sucker with the clean out valve at the back
Baby Bjorn Soft Bibs
baby legs
and receipts for everything so it can be returned.

I was absolutely in love with my leather bibs. They're a little more expensive than the cloth ones, but since you can rinse them in the sink (and not run through the washer), I didn't need many. They have a magnetic closure that lets you hang 'em on the fridge to dry. Soooo easy.

I was also at shower where the mom-to-be received a good quality track suit in a bigger-than-her-avg size. You don't bounce back to pre-baby weight right away, you want to be comfy but you want to look good when all those visitors come over. Such a thoughtful shower gift!

Hi mschatelaine and nellymom -

I know, it's completely subjective, right? We had friends who had a baby several months ago and that baby decided it would not go into the bouncy seat so help you! It was promptly returned to the store and replaced with a swing, which the baby found to be an absolutely blissful substitute. (Incidentally, the swing on my sister-in-law's registry has been snapped up already.)
I'm definitely conscious of the products and brands they've registered for and will be including some of them in their gift - they took the time to carefully choose what they want for their baby and I certainly want to honor their choices. I'm just hoping to also supplement with some items that first time parents might not be aware of and will (fingers-crossed) minimize frustration and maximize baby time.

My twins just passed the 6 month point and I have two suggestions: velcro swaddlers (we used the Summer Infant brand) and a "boppy" or similar curved pillow. Even if you don't nurse it's very nice to have when bottle feeding and as a bolster pillow for tummy time.

I agree with what a few people mentioned - my best friend had a lot of people go off-registry so their gift would be super useful, or reflect their own personal taste or interest, etc. and I ended up helping her return a carful of stuff at Target. The problem is, between hand-me-downs, things already purchased, and personal choices they've made for themselves and their baby....going off registry can be dangerous and you end up frustrating a hormonal pregnant woman who is grateful but then has to go return tons of stuff to get what she asked for in the first place.

For people who don't know the couple/mother extremely well, I think you should always stick with registry items. If you are very close to them, I would recommend getting something from their registry and an additional gift that is something sentimental (baby book, photo session, etc) and/or a useful gift that you KNOW they don't already have and will work with how they've chosen to feed/diaper/clothe/nurse/whatever their baby.

My baby girl is 4 months old. While I am not particularly fond of the way it looks, I'd be lost without my baby swing. It has a mobile and plays some music and sounds. It really helps when I want to pick up or just have some space. It also allows me to put her someplace safe while I play and cuddle with our other daughter who is 2 y/o.
I never ever use burp cloths. To me they're useless. Way too small. I like to use the thin blankets for burp cloths. Much better IMHO.
HALO sleep sacks or any sleep sacks are great. We have a 3 story house so we have a little changing station on our main floor. Priceless!
Whatever you decide, enjoy your baby.

My baby girl is 4 months old. While I am not particularly fond of the way it looks, I'd be lost without my baby swing. It has a mobile and plays some music and sounds. It really helps when I want to pick up or just have some space. It also allows me to put her someplace safe while I play and cuddle with our other daughter who is 2 y/o.
I never ever use burp cloths. To me they're useless. Way too small. I like to use the thin blankets for burp cloths. Much better IMHO.
HALO sleep sacks or any sleep sacks are great. We have a 3 story house so we have a little changing station on our main floor. Priceless!
Whatever you decide, enjoy your baby.

Hi eatoatmeal!
The parents-to-be wouldn't fall into the "planners" category and I'm hoping the fantastic Ohdeedoh readers can fill in some gaps in their registry items. Right now they really only have a set of washcloths (purchased by yours truly from their registry that I included in an apartment warming basket this fall). So they're really starting with zilch.
A quick example - they registered for a diaper bag that doesn't come with a portable changing pad included and they didn't register for one separately. Something along those lines.

Hi RNM -
Trust me, I definitely don't want to fall into the "Even though you registered for things you like, here's this other thing that I (me, me, me) like and it's soooo much better than what you picked out." Especially since I've already been tapped to help with the return of dislikes/duplicates after said shower.
I've known the mom-to-be for several years now and while I'm working on a handmade quilt for my soon-to-arrive niece I'm worried that I won't be able to finish it in time for next weekend (I'm also working on the favors for her shower). I would hate for her to think that I just sortof ran out and grabbed the first few things I could find from her registry without putting too much care and thought into the selection process.

I wouldn't have made it without the baby swing, DD used it for 9 months!

But other things that were really helpful:

books

Miracle Blanket (awesome swaddling blanket)

portable diaper holder - holds one or two diapers, a cloth diaper for a change pad and a small wipes container - great for leaving in the car or when you don't need the giant diaper bag (Target sells them)

stuff for first meals - non-plastic bowls, spoons etc... are nice to have on hand

for a nursing mom, I often get a set of men's basic stretchy undershirts in black - they're great to wear under clothes for nursing because they're so long in the torso

nightlights for the hallways

the new forehead scanner thermometers are great and super easy to use (much easier than the ear ones)

gift certificate for baby pictures - particularly for a photographer who will come to the house

Babies don't really need much :)

There are so many good ideas on here. My list is something like
Temperal Thermometer (this was a lifesaver. I couldn't bare to do the rectal one and the ear ones are inaccurate until the are at least 6 months old).
Moby Wrap (they have them at Target now!!)
Bath stuff (We go through that stuff so fast)
Bumbo (really is was great around 3-5 months, not so much before, but awesome when he was old enough to use it).

I'm 9 months pregnant and would love to receive a thoughtful gift like this, so don't be afraid to stray from the registry. While many say to stick to it, I found that I was just putting stuff on my Babies R Us and Target registries so people would have things to buy me, even though some of the things I wanted weren't actually available at those stores. I'd say if they are unique/well-designed/mom-tested like many of these suggestions, they will be appreciated and there will be plenty of people who do buy off the registry.

We used our Aden and Anais swaddle blankets like crazy--"burp cloth" for crazy GERD projective vomit, light baby blanket, swaddler, nursing cover, sun shade etc, etc. In fact, in those first few months, we would know when we had to do baby laundry by how many A&A blankets we had left.

One of the best and most useful gifts I have seen is a laundry basket (always need more) filled with detergent, a lingere bag for tiny baby socks, cloth diaper laundering essentials (if they are going that route) and other laundry-related things.

Here are a few things that I would ask for if I was having a first baby again:

1. Maybe a little emergency first aid kit: rectal thermometer, thermometer covers, Vaseline or lotion for the rectal thermometer, baby acetaminophen and ibuprofen for when they're a little older, bulb syringe (although they'll probably get one when baby is born, too), nail clippers, teething tablets. I kept all this stuff in a box in the top drawer of her dresser (out of reach, of course) so it was available when needed.
2. Diapers and wipes.
3. The miracle blanket for swaddling- they're expensive, but they kept my ninja baby from escaping and waking up in the middle of the night.
4. Board books- my daughter loved The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Karen Katz's Baby books, Goodnight Moon, and anything published by Priddy (they have tons at Target and bookstores).
5. Ziploc bags (they help organize everything!)
6. Hand sanitizer
7. Newborn clothes that you don't have to pull over their head (i.e. kimono style or zip-up sleepers)
8. If they haven't registered for it, one of those baskets that you put in the dishwasher for all the bottle pieces.

Here's what I wish we didn't have:
1. A diaper bag I didn't register for. I chose the one I liked for a reason.
2. Blankets. Seriously- I have like 20 ugly receiving blankets when I can put towels under my spitty-uppy kid just as easily.
3. If they're having a girl, take it easy on the cute dresses for teeny tiny babies. They weren't so practical!

I received and bought way too many receiving blankets, and none of them worked to swaddle my babies - maybe for the first week or two, but from those big box stores, they were just not big enough and rectangles don't work!

Anyway, receiving blankets from Swaddle Designs are THE BEST!
http://www.swaddledesigns.com/

desertisburning - That's a great list, thank you.

You also bring up another good list - the "wish we didn't have" wishlist.

Posters - what did you receive that really missed the mark?

Kathleen...same thing here. I think I ended up giving away 30 flannel receiving blankets that I had received as gifts and never used. Same thing with washcloths. Babies don't need 15 washcloths!

Diapers and wipes were our favorite gifts. We didn't have to buy any diapers or wipes until our son was 3 or 4 months old.

We really appreciated (although maybe not at the time) receiving white onesies in larger sizes. We like to layer our son's clothing, so those larger-size white onesies really came in handy when he started outgrowing his cute newborn onesies (which was very quickly!) Everyone always wants to buy cute little newborn outfits that make them say "awwww!", but white onesies are a very practical gift. Maybe not for a baby girl, but it's something to keep in mind.

Another thing we got a lot of use out of was a "baby first aid kit" put together by my friend who had a 3-year-old. It contained diaper rash cream, rectal thermometer, infant tylenol, things like that. We got a lot of use out of it in his first year, especially when he was teething!

kathleen08 and leeannabelle - Yeah, there's about 30 odd receiving blankets, blankets, and sheets on the registry so I think I'm staying away from the bedding department.

I'm also shying away from buying clothing for a couple different reasons:
1. Almost everyone I've spoken with about the shower is bringing clothes (because who doesn't love to buy a cute, girly dress for a baby?).
2. They registered for oodles of outfits on their registry, but only in newborn size.
I'm worried about getting them too many outfits that might be outgrown sooner rather than later.
Although, I did think about buying some baby-sized hangers for the closet in the nursery.

My little one is 5 weeks old as of today! Ironically, my husband and I were talking about our baby "lifesavers" just last night. Our top must haves are: a package of cloth diapers to use as burp rags and a swaddler (we have the Summer brand).

We've also used the following on a regular basis and they've made our lives easier: car seat cover (the Summer brand, shower curtain one; although if you're some place warm you won't need this!); the itzbeen timer; the boppy pillow; baby nail clippers and lap/burp pads.

As for the whole registry thing and staying on it/off it, do what you think is right. Just make sure you provide a gift receipt. I loved it when people went off our registry and got our family something that was truly "us" and I loved it when people stayed on our registry and got exactly what we asked for. I only hated it when people didn't provide a gift receipt - even if it was on our registry!

Good luck!

Great suggestions already. Here are mine:
Package of cloth diapers - use as burp cloth, changing pad protector, etc.
Diapers and wipes - include a travel pack of wipes (we totally forgot about needing wipes on the go with our first one)
California baby soap or similar
Munchkin dishwasher basket (if they have a dishwasher) - great for bottles, pacifiers, little baby toys, etc.
Good swaddling blanket - I second Swaddle Designs
Sophie the Giraffe - every child I have given one to has become instantly attached to Sophie
Socks - I think trumpette stay on the best

I have to second the wash cloths, wet bag (hello poop-explosion clothes change while running errands), and any bathing supplies - soap in particular. I would also second the leg warmers, I adore ours, but caution that those aren't for everyone. I also support buying burp cloths - not necessarily for spit up - my child is 2 and those cloths are great to shove in my purse to take out and about if you need an emergency napkin, something to dry the slide at the park, etc. There is always a mess to clean up, at least between myself and my child.

If the mom plans to breastfeed, I would recommend "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding" book - it was a great reference when I was trying to figure out something (diagrams/illustrations and detailed descriptions and instructions), especially for someone without access to a nursing consultant, support group, mentor, etc (or someone who is shy). I also like the cloth nursing pads. Again, these are only if the mom has plans to breastfeed.

A toy that isn't necessarily a teether: the O-Ball. You can find several kinds on Amazon. Lightweight and easy for tiny hands to hold and control.

A good humidifier - check if they have one first.

And I LOVE the idea of a first aid kit. I have a leak-proof zippered bag that I keep my first-aid-to-go in. Included are:

infant motrin and tylenol (go generic brands)
band-aids
sunscreen - California Baby Stick
baby nail clippers
thermometer
baby orajel
and a gentle salve that can be used on diaper rash, chapped nipples, chapped skin, etc - we have used this stuff all the time for lots of things like diaper rash, little scratches and on our daughter's sensitive skin, which is easily chapped/wind burned in winter. Brands I've used and liked: Motherlove (both diaper rash/thrush and green salve), Sweet Blessed Bee Magic Baby & Mama, and Flying Bird Botanicals Baby Bird Salve (we received the baby bird starter kit, and everything included was awesome, but the salve really stole the show)

http://www.motherlove.com/product/1101_GS-Green-Salve.html

http://www.sweetbeemagic.com/baby_mama.html

http://www.etsy.com/listing/58901599/baby-bird-salve2oz

I also like to include a cloth/flannel wipe(s) for purposes beyond cloth diapering - works great on noses and softer than tissues.

My little guy is 6 months old and these are my go-to items:

-munchkin dishwasher basket for bottle parts
-paci strap (it's great to clip to their clothes to prevent drops or to clip to carsest/diaper bag to always know where to find it)
-washable nursing pads, if she plans to BF - so much more absorbant than the disposable ones
-yes, the boon drying rack is wonderful!

Here are a few suggestions:
1) Boppy and an extra cover for it. Great for nursing or just to prop baby and later to help baby sit up.
2) baby tylenol. you never know when you're going to need it the first time, but it's usually in the middle of the night.
3) Triple paste diaper cream.
4) Baby socks: I like the roll-over kind by Carters (the sort of old-school booty ones) because they are the only socks I have found that don't fall off.
5) Look down the road a bit toward solid foods: baby spoons, wipeable bibs.
6) There is this great little plastic cagey thing for the dishwasher that holds bottle nipples, pacifiers, etc. - things that would fall through cracks. It's a lifesaver and costs about $3.
7) Bath toys.
8) Nested/Stacking cups! I can't tell you how useful they are!
9) Aiden/Anais muslin swaddle blankets.
10) Plastic links - also unbelievably useful.
11) One of those mirrors that goes in the car so that you can see the baby through the rear view mirror.
12) Orajel teething swabs.
13) Lap pads. These are excellent waterproof cloths that you can put on a changing table to help with wild, crazy blow-out situations. I seriously couldn't have lived without them.
~~
I would caution the buying of diapers and wipes. With my older son, he had huge problems with blow-outs, and even though my parents had bought me giant boxes of huggies, they just didn't hold it in for him and I couldn't use any of them. For my younger son, he ended up being SO sensitive for the first couple of months that we could only use organic diapers and alcohol-free wipes. I also had a bunch of gifted diapers I couldn't use. Frustrating! If you want to go the diapers route, get them a giftcard instead.

Since reading it about a year ago and having my baby 9 months ago, I have given "The Happiest Baby on the Block" to every new parent I know. The tips for soothing babies are absolutely indispensable. It's by Harvey Karp, MD.

I just read "If Your Kid Eats This Book, Everything Will Still Be Okay: How to Know if Your Child's Injury or Illness Is Really an Emergency" by Laura Zibners, MD, and it's a fantastic, humorous go-to guide for those moments in the middle of the night that require a "go to the ER or wait till the morning and see a doctor" decision. (It also gives a half-page shout-out to "Happiest Baby on the Block," heh!)

Books may not be on the registry, or get a big reaction at the shower, but the knowledge in these two has been (or will be) useful. Maybe buy them as iBooks or audiobooks if they're those kinds of people?

I cannot recommend them enough. If you're expecting a kid, GET BOTH.

I received a Nose Frida at my shower and thought it was the most disgusting thing I had ever heard of. I was NOT going to be syphoning snot out of my kids nose by anything attached to my mouth.... Cut to 6mths later and I'm buying the spongeguard refills--BEST shower gift. I think maybe a "middle of the night" basket--filled with things that they might need on that night when baby is sick and they don't want to (or can't) run out to the pharmacy--- nose frida, saline drops, gas drops, infant pain reliever, rectal thermometer--The Baby 411 book (excellent book, by the way).

Diapers and wipes, I agree!
A wonderful changing pad is the round one available at http://www.patemm.com/. (Found mine at a resale shop -- didn't even know they existed before.) Gives so much more room for a wiggly baby! Other idea would be GC for on-line photos like Snapfish or KodakGallery. PS How has no one suggested chocolate for the mom!

I bought this around the 5 month mark and wish that I had it sooner... a WATERPROOF PICNIC BLANKET- I especially LOVE this JJCole blanket. http://jjcolecollections.com/blanket

When my baby was young we spent a lot of time outside laying on the grass. Having a nice padded waterproof blanket was ideal. Once I got it every mom in our play group bought their own too.

We even found that using it under your babies play area indoors is great too. This blanket is made of wipe-able waterproof nylon which works perfectly when the baby spits up a lot. I was always washing blankets or scrubbing the carpet and with this blanket a quick wipe with a damp cloth is all you need!

Here is a link to the Baby 411 book. I like it because it really gives clear and concise info about what constitutes an "emergency" in infant illnesses and really helpful information about things like what the difference between a bacterial and viral infection is, when you should go to the ER and when you shouldn't. But also information on nutrition and other first year things. My pediatrician recommended it and I thought it was really helpful and easy to read. Now in the 2nd edition:

http://www.amazon.com/Baby-411-2nd-Answers-Advice/dp/1889392200/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1294436595&sr=8-2

We ended up appreciating the gift cards the most -- they let us pick up the "omg we need this so bad" things that we figured out that we needed.

At the first birthday, give the gift of Amazon Prime after the first year of Amazon Mom runs out.

Don't forget pacifier clips. They are a lifesaver! My now 7 month old has worn one every day since she was born and often goes through 2 or 3 a day because she chews on them. I made my own, but you can buy them too.

We also use the oxo nightlight every single night. It's portable and gives off a nice light that doesnt wake the baby. I slept with it in the beginning to look over at the sleeping baby and now i take it with me for night trips to make a bottle in the kitchen. Love it!

I am pregnant with our first (girl, 8+ months now!) with my shower next weekend. Anything not on our registry I either got in hand-me-downs (love that) or we are going to pass on due to lack of space in our condo. Some items that would be great gifts but you can't really register for would be:
1) A nursing PJ set for Mom. (If she is planning on breastfeeding)
2) Gift cards for post-baby: Food/Meals, Maid/Laundry service, photography session for new family etc.
3) A homemade baby book - you can make one on Snapfish of pics of large pictures of family/friends/animals in baby's life. Love this idea.
4) Do they have a good camera/video camera? Not sure how much you want to spend.
5) I got our baby an iHome dock station which I plan to use with my ipod for baby's sound machine/silly song player. It also lights up as a nightlight and can stobe different colors so she will love it when she is a little older too: http://www.amazon.com/iHome-Color-Changing-Speaker-System-Subwoofer/dp/B001NJ0PBG/ref=sr_1_28?ie=UTF8&qid=1294441272&sr=8-28
6) Itunes gift cards for baby music/sound machine effects AND they have really great apps out there now which track baby better then an ItzBeen. Very cool.
Other then that, I would recommend that if you buy anything outside her registry make sure that it has a good return policy and give receipts! Everyone's tastes (and babies) are different.

Duh, books! Why didn't I recommend. I'd buy a whole library for someone and skip the rest.

Also you mentioned toys. Haba, Plan Toys, and Grim & Spiel are all great but Kid O not so much. They have cool design but the quality is no better than M&D and they manufacture in China. We have several "cool" puzzles that haven't worn well.

Okay, in addition to my original list with the diaper cream, lullabies, books, and baby journals, here are some practical things:

Sportwash laundry detergent. (Identical product to SensiClean, just a different name and bottle).

It washes out EVERYTHING -- poop, pee, vomit, blood. No smell left. No residue. No brighteners. Still swear by it. (this is what we use for washing diapers and baby clothes -- made cloth diapering a breeze).

http://www.atsko.com/products/laundry-care/sport-wash-residue-free-detergent.html

Definitely, an ear thermometer. (I cannot even contemplate using a rectal thermometer on a miserable, screaming, wiggling baby)

A bottle of Benadryl. Probably can't use it until after 6 months, but I have learned that it is very important to have on hand. It was a godsend when my child had an anaphylactic food allergy reaction -- I had it at hand, and it immediately stopped the reaction. My best friend scoffed at my level of preparedness until her own son had an allergic reaction to peanuts, and because of me, she had a bottle on hand...

This baby book, by the Canadian Medical Association:

http://www.amazon.ca/Complete-Mother-Canadian-Medical-Assoc/dp/1553630149/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1294441123&sr=1-1

What is so brilliant about it is that it shows you exactly what a rash looks like, what chicken pox, measles, etc., etc., look like with extremely clear and informative photographs. It calms parents, and makes them feel more secure. (it did us!!) It is the best one I have ever found! (the Sears Baby Book is very useful, although it is not subtle about espousing a very particular parenting approach, but it only has drawings, not photos...).

We found the most useful washcloths to be very thin single-layer ones for the bathtub. We used dozens of them.

But seriously, my husband (!) raves about our cloth wipes, because they are so much better than disposables -- they get bums cleaner, and you only ever need 1 wipe.

I'd get 2 (or 3) sets of these (i.e., 3 or more dozen):

http://hyenacart.com/smallwonderswipes/mt/220/60616/Extended-Rainbow-Sherpa-Velour-Wipes-Set-18-Different-

Then, match them with the wipe warmer and liquid in my earlier post. For diaper changes on the go, just get a cute wetbag, and at home, a pail for the dirties and a basket to fit the dry ones. Simple, simple system.

And my doctor recommended a swing, and boy was she right!

I am pregnant with baby number 5. I thought we were done with daughter #4, so I got rid of everything as soon as she grew out of them. I now have the unenviable task of replenishing my nursery basics. Here are some things I am definitely buying, the 5th time around!
1. Kidco baby food grinder
2 extra boppy pillow cover
3.lanisinoh breast pads.
4. A&D ointment
5. a small travel size spray bottle (to put olive oil in). I use this on baby's butt after every diaper change to prevent diaper rash and keep me from getting ointment under my nails.
6. Target brand nursing tanks. Cheap and very comfy. I live in these.
7. Cetaphil lotion. Don't bother buying buying baby lotion, Full of perfumes.
8. One of those foam baby bath cushions. Those babies are slippery!
9. extra cover for the contoured diaper changing pad.
10. a fan or white noise machine.

Thats all I can think of now. I will most likely add more later! I am going to have a baby shower this time ( I haven't the last 2 babies) to help me with my list.

11. Water proof bed pads. The big kind for kids who pee the bed. These are AWESOME. Can be used before baby to sit on in the car or sleep on in case of water breaking, and after baby to sleep on because of nursing leaks and baby blow outs. I use on on the kids beds if they are having bed wetting issues!

I have just had a baby (two weeks ago). Our best gift may have been the gourmet dinner delivery.

These are all lovely thoughts. Im expecting my first in May and these are great ideas for me to add to my own registery since I dont want all the 'crap'

You all rock!

I would think a little bit out of the box... I having a new baby is so time consuming and often there is no time for treats and rewards for all the good parenting that is going on... I would treat new parents with a photo session (something new parents often just don't have money for) and a friend just got three months cleaning service as a gift when they had their new baby... lovely gift. I friend collected all our washing and paid for the laundry for a month after one of our babies was born - heaven!!! Otherwise a beautiful classic picture book - they will be swamped with baby clothes and cosmetics... trust me on this!!!

My two additions to the list:

Kladd Prickar Bib set from Ikea. Bibs with sleeves that you can rinse off in the sink. BEST BIBS EVER. Kushies also makes bibs with sleeves, but they are three times the price.

Sumner Infant Tiny Diner. If they like to eat out, this is awesome, otherwise their kid will be eating straight off the table that was just wiped down with a dirty dish rag.

And, as others have said, California Baby bath products are great. Get the sunscreen too!

I'm with the commenters who said that the baby essentials really depend on the baby and the parenting style. Every kid is different. Every parent is different.

That being said, here are some things that we used a lot during the first 6 months of our baby's life:

- the NoseFrida - essential during baby's first cold and not something I knew about at all until someone gave it to me.

- sleepsacks in progressive sizes. Halo or Aden & Anais brands are great.

- We also liked the kimono-style or wrap-style shirts and onesies -- much easier to put on baby than the typical tops or onesies that pull over the head.

- Blabla soft woolen rattles shaped like animals. Still our baby's favorite and such a charming little gift.

- Infant Stim Mobile - a very simple, affordable, and stylish mobile. We received as a gift a much more expensive, fancier mobile with all the bells and whistles -- our baby absolutely loved the Stim Mobile and was not interested in the fancy one. I would hear him in the mornings cooing lovingly to his Stim Mobile!

- I second the Sophie the Giraffe toy suggestion another commenter made. We received two as gifts, and my kid gnaws happily on both of them. (We keep the spare one in our diaper bag.)

- FOOD, FOOD, AND MORE FOOD. Our favorite visitors were the ones who brought meals.

- Another idea is to stock a basket with a lot of relatively healthy snacks for a nursing mum -- nuts, dark chocolate, banana chips, dried cherries, trail mix, etc. Throw in a couple bottles of spring water, maybe an eye mask or bottle of nice lotion, and you have a lovely gift for the exhausted parent.

I'm pregnant with my first baby girl. I had a baby shower recently. I registered on myregistry.com which allows you to add any website. My friends were super sweet to get me bigger items from my registry like high chair, set of Dr. Brown bottles, Babyfood mixer. Some of them added something extra like a pair of cute socks, pacifier, etc. However, they all acknowledged my registry which lessened the load on me.
In stead of burp cloths I bought a stack of regular hand towels which are cheaper and more absorbent.

A diaper cake! It's nicer than buying just a box of diapers, but diapers are a GREAT gift, as you really cannot get enough. Search diaper cakes, buy some cute blankets to use as the "icing" and fill the middle with various diaper rash creams, soaps, teething drops, other essential baby items.

Ergo and a moby wrap. Both are amazing and made my life sooo much easier.

Cloth diapers if they're planing on cloth diapering, just ask which ones they want. I think a lot of people dont register for them since big box places often dont have them. But it really is the gift that keeps on giving.

A wrap definitely. If the baby hates the swing, you still have to get some things done around the house.

And something that we found ourselves going out for frequently was snacks! For the parents, of course. Getting up at o'dark thirty is hungry work, and it's nice to have a quick something for some energy and to fill a hungry parent tummy. Maybe that's more of some contents for after the baby is born than a shower, I suppose.

With both my kids I had to have the Boon Squirt food dispenser spoon, I loved it and with my third in the way I will be getting anther one!

http://www.booninc.com/products/feeding

The Weleda shampoo, it smells so good and leaves their hair so soft and shiny.
The Weleda calendula face lotion especially here in the winter it is amazing!

A number of people have suggested the Moby wrap. I must be one of the few out there who hated it -- tons of fabric. *I* felt swaddled. Maybe this is more of an issue if you have a summer baby -- I was roasting in the Moby in the heat. I found that I much preferred a cotton pouch sling -- fast to take on and off, and very lightweight. Anyway, a sling may not be the best gift for someone unless you know that person has tried on the specific sling and likes that particular style and size.

I second all the California Baby suggestions -- really great line of bath products and creams for baby. I also like the Episencial line -- they make a lovely skin protectant which is perfect for babies in the dry winter months. Something I used very often in the first several months was the Mustela No-Rinse Cleaning Fluid. Sometimes after a really messy diaper, a wipe just didn't seem enough, so I would squirt some of the no-rinse fluid on a wash cloth, wipe down baby's diaper area, and voila! A nice, sweet-smelling baby.

It used to be that people would buy you items for the baby that they wanted to buy. It is called a "gift" and it is afterall thier money!

I always go for books and I make my own baby gowns and bitty booties or burp cloths and booties. If I know something personal such as boy, girl or parents interest I will do specific. (out of a hiking t-shirt I made my brother a gown of my brothers colorado hiking group) Personal and not on his list, but he loved it.

Cant we give what we want sometimes?

I agree with the California Baby products, they are awesome. We love the bibs from Bumkin, they wash up by hand or in the wash super quick and easy and never stain. The temporal thermometer is awesome as well. The ear ones aren't as accurate and they typically use the temporal at clinics so it's best that they get used to that.

Diapers & Seventh Generation non-chlorine wipes
California Baby sensitive unscented baby wash
Burt's Bees diaper ointment
cheap-o baby brush and comb set
nail clippers
3 pack of kimono shirts to wear until umbilical cord falls off--newborn size
footie snap-front PJ outfits--we lived in these for the first 4 months. I like the Target ones.
Halo Sleep Sack with velcro Swaddle--essential to prevent SIDS. Heck, I'd get these in every size.
Aquaphor cream, Vasoline, baby ibu and tylenol, Orajel, infant toothpaste and brush, Little Noses saline nose drops
Jersey crib sheets that stretch--but no bumper or blankets
Crane Frog humidfier
Hooded towel
Primo bath seat that sits in the kitchen sink (If their sink is big enough)
Seventh Generation unscented laundry detergent
Plush "sherpa" covers for changing pad
Waterproof mattress cover for their bed if they plan to have baby in with them
If you are rich: organic crib mattress and wool waterproof covers
Sony Babycall monitor
Brest Friend nursing pillow
Medela nursing pads
Bumpkins waterproof bibs and some disposable infant and toddler spoons
Freezer trays if they are making baby food

Good luck!

I am four months pregnant and a tad stressed about people ignoring our registry. I have put a ton of thought and research into the items on our registry and I really hope people use it.

We have already received some items (clothing, diaper bag, disposable diapers, rock n play sleeper) and guiltily returned most of the clothes for stuff that was more our style. I'm not sure what we'll do with the disposables, as we are fundamentally opposed to them. After studying the reviews on the rock in play sleeper I am extremely concerned about using it and never would have registered for or purchased it. I found it incredibly stressful to receive items we didn't ask for or didn't need. I ended up feeling like an ungrateful jerk.

I'm sure these gifts came from a similar place of love to what you're feeling, but I'd be very cautious before going off the registry.

I have to echo what someone else said: Temporal Thermometer. They are more expensive than other kinds, but worth the price.

As for not buying off the registry: I am so glad people bought us stuff we didn't register for. As a first time mom I didn't know everything I would need, even with the help of baby magazines and books. I didn't register for the thermometer, but don't know what I'd do without it. You can always include a gift receipt so that they can exchange the item if it turns out they already had it.

We used that nasal aspirator a lot, and it kept disappearing... Also if they're cloth diapering, a gift card to the diaper store of their choice is nice. (It's painful to spend so much at once on diaper supplies!) I was enormously thankful for for my baby sling.

Diapers and wipes! NB and size 1. It is amazing how many you go through at first. Fill up a baby bathtub with the essentials, bottles, breastmilk bags, bottle brush, nipple cream ( Earth Mama Baby) diaper rash cream (Weleda is our fav) Thermometer, Teething tablets, Gripe water, Tylenol, nail clipper, reusable nipple pads. These are the small things that are so useful and overlooked. Aden and Anais swaddle blankets are great, they are big and breathable and we are still using them at 6 months (Those small flannel ones are pointless- ours became burp cloths) Boppy and Ergo with the infant insert. Oh and socks, we never have enough and they are always lost in the wash

I skipped someone's registry because it was 29 pages long (and went through three years of age) and I just got frustrated trying to figure out if the product I was looking at was what she needed.

I walked through the store, and since it was a winter baby, found her a car seat zip up thingie that was like a sleeping bag with feet, so he could be in the car seat without needing a jacket. She ended up using it constantly until he outgrew it.

I think it's clear from these responses that there is no tried and true baby essential. Everyone has personal tastes. For us diapers and wipes were a waste because we cloth diapered and I made cloth wipes.

So many people went off registry at my shower and got me the things THEY thought I wanted, but rarely were they the things we used. So much of that was returned or donated even though they insisted we wouldn't be able to live without it. I must have gotten 30-40 receiving blankets, 20+ bottles and accessories (a waste because I nursed), etc...

Honestly, I think if you're going off registry a gift card for Toys R Us or amazon is the way to go. Not quite as useful, but infinitely more useful.

if you go off registry--please include a gift receipt!

my daughter is 20 months--her aden and anais swaddling blankets still get daily use (although now as her blankie and not for swaddling) and sophie the giraffe also got almost daily use from about 3 months to about 10 months. you can never go wrong with packs of white onesies in a variety of sizes and in both short and long sleeve--the carter's ones were the best that we found and I am so glad that the 24 month still fit.

I never had a bottle drying rack or a bottle brush and didn't miss them--I used the playtex drop in system, I tried a couple of others but they were the only ones that she never got gassy with.

we have been very happy with all of the plan toys and haba toys that we got--the blocks that she got from both companies when she was around 6 months old still get used daily. the stuff may be a little pricey, but it is well made and sometimes you can get great prices from amazon.

no one has mentioned yet, I think, but be careful about getting a bumpo or similar chair--they don't work for chubby babies (I learned this the hard way when my daughter almost lost circulation in her feet when I tested one at target!).

Must be nice to spend hundreds of dollars on Aden and Anais blankets, those are steep!

these oxo lights turned out to be indispensable for me. perfect for middle-of-the-night diaper changes when you don't want to excite baby by turning on the lights, great for checking on baby, etc. they'd be a fun addition to more obvious baby stuff. http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=14927344

As an 8-months-pregnant first-time mom, I really appreciated the original question and those replies here that were thoughtful about answering it rather than the scoldy ones about "going off registry" ... as one of the most Type A folks you'll ever meet, I put a lot of thought into my registry, but I didn't think of at least a dozen things suggested here that I now think would be wonderful to receive. Thanks, y'all, for some truly useful suggestions!

I have a 10 week old and am quickly learning that (as others have said) it totally depends on the parents and baby. That said, the basic things I was most glad to get that were not on the registry were socks in multiple sizes, stretchy swaddling blankets, a soft natural bristle brush, California Baby soap, and a white noise machine (The Sleep Sheep - totally didn't think I'd want it, but we use it every night). I wish we'd been given a beautiful, white, organic newborn outfit as the first outfit to dress our girl in (we ended up dressing her in hand-me-downs, which was okay) and wooden toys, and we actually could have used more burp cloths (I've heard Under the Nile or Aden and Anais are the best). I think a lot of new moms would LOVE a gift certificate for a massage (and an offer to drive her there and watch the baby while she's getting it) - the birth and breastfeeding can do quite a number on your back. And finally, meals we could freeze were the best thing. Those early weeks can be hard, and good food makes such a difference.

We had a baby in August. I think the best thing you can do is know what the parents plan to do. Whether the mom is going to breastfeed or not, cloth diaper or not. I wanted to breastfeed exclusively and cloth diaper exclusively. People actually didnt' believe I would stick to either one so they didn't get me items that went with those and that is what I ended up needing the most. If they are going to cloth diaper you can NEVER have enough and they are absolutely fabulous (Bumgenius is the brand we use). As far as breastfeeding, I could never use enough of milk storage bags. However, I have a ridiculous surplus of bottles that we will never use because even when I pump we use the same bottles over and over. So that was sort of a poor choice of present and several people gave me nice bottles and bottle cleaners. We also got WAY too many blankets. The Aden and Anais blankets are very nice and good for swaddling but we had so many other types that I ended up dividing them up among family members to use at their houses. Pacifiers were good because we said we weren't going to use them but we do now and those tend to disappear! Like others said, organic baby shampoo is always great! I had way too much diaper cream and you can't use zinc oxide on cloth diapers so we can't even use the normal diaper cream people gave us and had to buy our own special kind, so again if they are going to cloth diaper that would be a good buy is the special cream to go with them. Hope that helps!

http://foodartbaby.blogspot.com

So many wonderful suggestions, now I'll say where to go look for them: www.etsy.com
Bibs, hooded towels, wetbags (these are good for wet bathing suits & towels, even if family isn't cloth diapering! Get a large one), diaper & wipe holders, changing pads, pacifier clips, booties, organic creams & lotions - you name it, all handmade.
I have no affiliation w/ etsy; I'm just a huge fan!
So many unique & useful baby gifts! (And for everyone else, too!)
Don't forget about Babywearing, too!
WWW.thebabywearer.com

I don't know about the whole straying from the registry thing, you'd know them better than anyone, but you do sometimes get stuff you never thought about and end up being useful. That said, absolutely, baby's needs will differ. If you do a basket with essentials, for example, I don't know if you can do assortment of brands/types. We had to go through five different diaper brands, three different diapers creams, three different bottle types, you get the idea, until we found the one that worked for us and baby. It's hard to know beforehand what will be a hit and what not.

I do like the idea of getting stuff for the parents, not just the baby. After having a child, all your attention as a parent goes to the baby, oftentimes forgetting about yourself and your needs. I like the laundry basket suggestion, maybe a magazine/movie rental subscription or books for feeding time, definately food/restaurant gift cards, even your time/help will be greatly appreciated (can you pick up their laundry, do a supermarket run, etc?).

I would have been in heaven if someone had given me a few months worth of a cleaning service. Cleaning was so hard to do in the first few months! (In fact, I'd still love that, and my daughter is 10 months old!)

A few of my absolute favorite things:

1) A video monitor. Expensive- but oh-so worth it in our two story house.

2) A "Woombie" swaddle. Our daughter could ninja her way out of all the Summer Infant ones that you can get at Target. This one saved our lives. So worth it.

3) A plastic bib with a pouch in the front. (A pouch that stays out...not just a little sleeve). Great for when they start feeding themselves.

4) Boogie Wipes. Not necessary, but such a nice luxury when your baby wakes up with crusty boogies on her nose in the morning.

5) If she's planning to nurse (and pump)...get her lots of extra bottles. A friend let me borrow hers and it made the whole process so much easier. Also, a good pumping bra made the process so much easier when I went back to work).

6) Gift certificates for restaurants. Or food delivery. Amazing.

7) Baby ibuprophen. We went through so much of this once baby started teething- and it would have been wonderful to have more on hand.

8) Cute pajamas that ZIP. I registered for so many pajamas that were cute...but the ones that zipped were so nice when baby wasn't in a mood to play dress up.

9) I really loved my simple onesies from Baby Gap. They were light pink and long sleeved, and I put her in them under so many outfits. Simple and classic, but they still felt special and like a lovely gift.

Oooh! And a bunch of socks. But get a bunch of the same pair, as baby socks are so easy to lose. Get a bunch of plain white ones and a bunch of plain pink ones....in the exact same style so she's not spending all her time searching for a matching set.

My friends have all enjoyed receiving these:
http://www.rockabyebabymusic.com/ecom2/index.php/music
something for everyone :)

88 comments! wozza! i do gift baskets with things i had no idea i would need so quickly.

baby spoons, dishes, bottle brush, baby tyelnol, baby motrin, diaper cream (praben free) like burts bees, aveeno or other praben free lotions, baby hangers, first aid kit and a few cute little toys. i actualy get my toys for super cheap. i like the baby lovies with the head attached (my son loves the duck which he got for about 20 bucks elswhere) my daughter loves the little bear stuffed small toy. the squeekers are kinda fat and hard for a bitty one to hold. here is the link http://www.littledudesanddivas.com/50-off.html#top

oh yeah and larger size diapers like size three and four. they usually get up to size two but not many over that size.

I am a new mom, and I'd say go with your gut. Sounds like the parents to be don't know what they need, so good for you for researching for them!

For me, one of the best gifts I received was much like the advice given: nasal drops, gas drops, colic calm, infant acetametafin, socks, nipple cream, nursing gel pads, and diaper cream (not the all natural one that I wanted, but the only one that ended up working in those first few weeks).

Don't knock the bouncer or the Rock and Play too quickly. I loved both of mine, and still use the RNP daily (my daughter is 6 months old). You have no idea how essential a portable place for the baby to sleep is until you have a newborn.

Cleaning service is good, food is great but I found it more important when my husband went back to work weeks later, but one thing my husband bought me after delivery that I recommend to every new mom I know is a jersey bathrobe. It's not fancy but gave me something generally presentable to wear when people came over that had very easy access for nursing. Plus it felt nice to wear something new post-delivery!

Thanks to everyone for all of the comments over the weekend!

I just wanted to do a quick Monday morning check-in and share some more thoughts.

Just to give everyone an idea about the couple-to-be's registry, it is 26 pages long and about 5 of those pages are just clothes and another two pages are sheets and blankets. They registered for two different bouncy seats, a bumbo chair, a kid-sized upholstered armchair, a swing, 2 playmats, and about one dozen baby Einstein toys. They live in a two-bedroom apartment, so their space is pretty limited when it comes to new furniture (baby-sized or otherwise).
They're undecided about how long they're going to breastfeed and don't plan to cloth diaper the new baby.
The mom-to-be and I were talking over the weekend about the upcoming shower and she mentioned when she started the whole registry process that she was really at a loss when it came to deciding what to put on it - they just picked up a price scanner and went at it. She also mentioned that they were at the additional disadvantage of not having any other close friends who had children, so there really wasn't a built-in pool of hand-me-downs and advice givers.
I think they registered for some fantastic gifts - like the Munchkin dishwasher basket for bottles, etc. - but I'm pretty sure they're not going to run the dishwasher every time they need a clean bottle, so in that instance I found a compact/collapsible drying rack that they can use to supplement those in-between dishwashing cycles.
I do know that even though the parents-to-be weren't sure what they initially wanted on their registry (it's been through a few incarnations over the last couple months), they took the time to choose the items that currently reside on it and I'm certainly not looking to completely disregard their choices. Having said that, I've spoken to some family members who will be attending on Saturday and definitely fell into the trap of picking out some gifts that I think will be swiftly returned (i.e., the mother-to-be picked out coordinating bedding/room decor and her mother-in-law picked out an entirely different bedding set because she liked it better than the one on the registry).

Be careful about buying something that's not on the registry. I'm expecting next month, and my registry is missing some obvious items - a stroller and the Happiest Baby on the Block - because I already have them. It is missing other items - a bottle warmer - because I don't want one. And missing others (a rocker) because I picked out an expensive one that I will buy myself rather than hit up my family for.

Chances are - there's a reason that your idea is not on the registry.

At the same time, I understand how non-personal registries feel. If that's the case, pick something personal that is not a necessity - your favorite children's book, a beautiful piece of clothing that the parent wouldn't buy themselves, a gift certificate for a few weeks of maid's service or some take out dinners.

I had my baby shower this last weekend and I didn't get hardly anything on my registry. The stuff I got was good, mostly books (17 to be exact), which will be nice to have, but now we're in the process of going back and buying all the stuff that was on our registry (the essentials) which is a bummer.

If anyone asks what I really need I just tell them money/gift card, it's much easier for everyone. The gifts from women who are already moms were the best since they always skip the unnecessary stuff. Now that I'll have a baby I'm sure I'll be a much better gift giver myself. I haven't had the baby yet, so we'll see what I end up loving the most.

the baby swing was a god send! (the one we were given, was battery powered and would run out so we even used our foot lol but it helped so much!) especially since i was home alone with my son since birth.

for peoples showers, i always make a quilt that can fit a toddler bed. that way its used more than a few weeks and done with.

things i didnt like receiving for the shower, were bottles (i was pumping/breast feeding and using many types of bottles would have been confusing to my son, the many thin blankets (they are so small anyways), too many small clothes (my son was 8.10 lb at birth so he didnt even fit new born clothes.

books are a great gift, toys for the 6-9 month range, please stay away from all the cheap toys and thigns that will break. i would rather not get anything than have to throw away things that are not safe or wasteful.

if the family is willing, i would give recycled toys, clothing, and i wash the new clothes if i get them any, so there are no chemicals in them. thats if i cant find organic made. i also liked the swaddle thing, and getting (and giving) baby oxiclean.

when in doubt just give gift cards. ya, that gives a def monetary value to the gift, but its better than nothing, and you can always get what you want then.

Wow! I wish I had read this post before I had to make my registry last year... while I did research for my registry there is no way I (or maybe any other "new" mom) really knows what you really need- so I didn't mind getting things off the registry- even with some things not being what I wanted. My best presents were "off" my registry!!! (and of course some we were very grateful to get our carseats from some thoughtful friends who did look at our registry) I guess if you do go off registry include a gift receipt incase of duplicates. But I do agree skip the swaddles or burp cloths or receiving blankets---they will get them from someone else :)

Here is my list of great baby/new mom items that are both gifty and nifty and useful (to me):

skip hop diaper wipes holder
skip hop diaper wallet style changing pad
beaba baby spoons
a sigg water bottle (I was so thirsty post baby and it was great I could just prop it on the couch and not worry about it spilling) or a "cup with lid and straw" I got one from Bed bath and beyond but have seen them at target.
miracle blanket/summer infant swaddle
plan toys/wooden rattles
set of alphabet blocks
cute pair of nursing pj's (or gift certificate to local nursing shop)
mother's milk nursing tea
Dr. Sears Baby Book
a gift certificate to a nearby delivery restaurant
rock-a-bye baby CD- we got Bob Marly and Radio head but they have a ton out there
Trumpette baby socks
baby legs leg warmers

Hey if you live in the Seattle area and are not really enthused about big name baby stores, try Village Maternity near the University of Washington. Lots of cool stuff including the Nose Frida, Aden and Anais, Miracle Blanket, California Baby, Medela pump parts, Ergo Baby Sophie la Giraffe, Angel Dear, Boon, Gumdrop and cloth diapering stuff. All of these products I think are essentials. If you are deviating from a registry, then it is prudent for one to buy something from the registry and something that you think is an essential. You can never go wrong with asking the to-be parents.

Wow, as someone who is about to pop a baby out this month, I was pretty careful and thoughtful about what I put on the registry. I know some people are a bit clueless and just go at it with a price gun, but I have to say, you have to know the parents, most of all. If you know they're clueless and will not get hand me downs, then I'd think they'd appreciate clothes in sizes beyond infant in case they get that from everyone else and you insist on going off their registry. If you think they've got a small apartment-like we do personally, going off registry, I'd think would be a disaster since dipes and wipes are essential, but I don't have a Costco in my house and don't want to be one. I have yet to use them, but the Aden and Anais blankets (4/pack) are beautiful, great quality blankets that I know I'll use for many different purposes. And second the oxo bottle brush with its own stand-I've already used it to wash and sterilize some hand me down glass bottles.

As an expecting mother this list is awesome!!!

It seems that universally Sophie the Giraffe was praised :o but after checking out the 1 star reviews on Amazon some parents reported the legs went down the baby's throat!! So it could cause suffocation :(

I guess when picking out a gift, especially toys, just read the reviews to be on the safe side!

I second RKS. I had a good, well-planned list at BRUs, but I would have loved to get some things not available there - like organic, or non-plastic-y toys, etc from friends with good taste :) But NOT clothes. Sheesh. We got a gazillion clothes, half of which I returned.

My top recommendation: Sophie the Giraffe. My 8-month-old son has a zillion different teethers but he is obsessed with only Sophie. Never had the leg/suffocation thing even remotely happen.

The Boon grass drying rack has been awesome for air-drying bottle nipples, etc.

And it seemed like in the first few months we couldn't have enough receiving blankets. Ours were all cotton/flannel from Target, but I'd have loved some fancy Aden & Anais blankets - lovely but practical.

Thank you so much for this list! It's helped me with my own baby registry.

Non-obvious things we've gotten a lot of use from have been
- nightlights for changing baby w/o waking her (the light sensitive ones are nice so you don't have to remember to turn on/off)
- baby is indifferent to most toys with two exceptions: the Stim-Mobile someone above mentioned, and a bumper from GeniusBabies - they were gifts and they aren't particularly attractive or decor-friendly, but the baby finds them utterly compelling. (She's still in a bassinet, so we just surround her with the bumper like the Great Wall during tummy time)
- some kind of waterproof sheet - I just use 1.5 yds of pretty vinyl I got from HartsFabrics - for naked tummy time, sitting in the grass, putting under high chair at dinner time, and later on the dinner table for arts and crafts
- a bathtub hammock. I don't know the proper name for it, but that's exactly what it is. She goes directly in the big tub in the hammock.

I meant to say - that's the report at ten weeks.

As far as nice things for mommy - there are two things I've fantasized about constantly:

1. Fresh fruit and veggies already cut up or edible with one hand like apples or berries. People keep bringing over baked goods and casseroles which is lovely, but it's not really how I would choose to eat if I could get to the store and use both hands at home. I've heard there's a one-handed cookbook for new moms that sounds great in concept, but I haven't actually seen it. Just bring me some cauliflower florets, carrot sticks and cherry tomatoes and you will make my week.

2. A massage WITH an offer to watch the babe while I get it. Boy is my back killing me - but the latter half is crucial.

Another thanks here from a 'bout to be new mom (of twins!). This post is a huge help in figuring out what we want on our own registry.

I'm pregnant (5+ months) and just starting to fill out my baby registry.

There were plenty of great ideas here - thanks for the suggestions.