Reddit reviews Fisher-Price Rainforest Melodies and Lights Deluxe Gym

Get ready for too much information....

Amazon wants you to put something from every category under the sun, but you can also check "this category is done" or something so it will stop prompting and you can get your welcome box! Tips on getting your welcome box

I really liked Alpha Mom's list because she kind of goes through what you can get and what you can skip and wait until baby comes. It is really helpful to have people buy some of the stuff though! I also liked Lucie's list- I would still just concentrate on one or two categories at first, then come back around once I was less overwhelmed a week or so later.

I wouldn't register for : clothes, blankets, bibs, toys etc unless you have a particular one you really want. You may get a lot of those kinds of things. Ex I registered for 2 cute hooded towels and ended up receiving 5. For this baby that is not bathing everyday.... I did still want the muslin blankets from Aden & Anais (and we use them all the time). They weren't purchased off the registry so I got them myself later on. The only newborn clothes I liked for our summer baby was newborn kimono shirts - very helpful for easy diaper checking, don't have to pull over baby's head and helps you not put something over the cord stump in the first week. She was also swaddled so much of the time or skin to skin that we regulated her temp that way instead of with clothes.

I did register for a starter set of bottles from Dr Browns (baby still won't take a bottle- tried 4 brands so far)- I wouldn't register for a lot of any one brand of pacifiers or bottles- maybe just 1 set to try out. It totally depends on your child, but we got a hand me down swing and we bought a bouncer that can rock itself- both have helped a lot starting around 6 weeks when no sleep was happening (smarter parents might have tried them out sooner!). Bouncer we like Smartbounce. Some kids will love a bounce, hate a swing, and vice versa. Our girl is a movement junky but hates all car rides, so go figure.

I did like having a wrap early on. Baby ktan can be nice for the newborn stage if you're unsure about tackling a wrap, but you have to pick on for your size and I'm not sure how long I'll keep using it. I have a bunch of baby wearing options, but if I had to start with just one I would keep the Boba wrap- it's not as intimidating as it seems to tie once you practice a bit and baby loved skin to skin early. It's just a little annoying to put on, but really was the only sure fire way to make baby sleep, after about 2 min of protest crying.

Crib, changing table or to not changing table, etc all depends on your needs. We did an IKEA crib and chest of drawers with changing pad on top. If you're really tall or have a bad back you may want the changing area taller, but that hasn't been an issue for us so far. I also really like having changing pad liners (lots of options on Amazon)- we get these a little to a lot dirty throughout the week and just wash them as needed- my changing pad cover has only gotten poop-tagged once- so much easier to not wash it all the time.

Someone here mentioned safe spaces to put baby and that really helped. We have a bassinet in our room, crib in her room and a bed, pack n play in the living room with portable napper/changer - this is one of our most used changing stations and an easy safe space for baby to nap early on, especially when she was less sensitive to sound. I like the pack n play we got because you can pop the napper/changer out and use it on the floor of needed. We took it to the in laws for a day trip and that was nice, but not totally necessary. Only $10 more than the "reversible" (not "portable") one- the ones that just say reversible can not be put on the floor. We also have relatively big dogs so we got child safety gates to install on key rooms (ex her nursery, where she might be on the floor while I run to the restroom).

For toys, I would register for an activity mat- I got this hand me down but use it everyday. She's still really enthralled with it.

For carsear/stroller, we went with the Chicco keyfit magic (the hood comes out farther than the other chicco once you unzip the back portion and expose the mesh for air circulation) and the stroller frame because its such a light weight stoller for before they are ready to sit up. But this will depend on what you like. I did a lot of research online and then went to the most overwhelming stores to finalize /change my mind. :)

Other stuff that is stupidly expensive but people will buy so let them IMHO are: diaper bags ($60 or more! My hand me down bag was $200!), travel changing pads (we'll be using these in the living room once she outgrows the changer in the pack n play), diaper organizers for the house (I like the Sarah Bear ones here and here- we have one for living room and one for bedroom. This one has a changing mat too).

Lastly, wipes dont get outgrown, so mega box of those is great to register for. Depending on if you think you'll have a big baby, newborn diapers might be outgrown quick, so 1s might be a better thing to register for. We also got little packs of newborn diapers from people. We didn't need to buy diapers or wipes until about 7 weeks which was nice!

It is so overwhelming to tackle the registry - but I found that 1) having slow weeks at work and 2) taking only 1 category at a time then going baby brain dead before trying to do the next category helped me get through it.

Wishing you luck! I'd be happy to share my registry if you'd like to PM me.

If this is allowed, I'd love to enter for my sister's baby (my new niece/nephew!). She had a miscarriage about a year ago and we were worried for her. But now she's pregnant again and it's looking good so far! Due date is around Christmas! She finds out the gender in a month ish... I'm so anxious!

ALSO

I'd totally get her this because she loves the color green and animals are awesome! <3

Something like this - https://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Rainforest-Melodies-Lights-Deluxe/dp/B000FFL58Q/ref=sr_1_1_a_it

They key is the shiny vs fuzzy material, it's easy to wipe down, machine washable, and hair may be statically attracted to it (e.g. if the cats decide to rub themselves all over it, don't ask how I know lol) but it doesn't stick to it and in it like a fuzzy material might allow.

Lily loved her activity mat and her bouncy chair at 2 months old. We would walk around the flat and look at things and we took a walk every day. She napped A LOT on me at the time so we watched A LOT of Netflix and 4OD. My favourite thing to do with her was just to stare at her and copy all of her noises and talk with/to her.

We got a TON of use out of our play mat. But try and find a used one! The one we have is this one, which I got for $5 at a rummage sale!
EDIT: Forgot to say I liked that it played music and had lights, and was easy to fold up and set aside.

We have this one and my kiddo loves it! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FFL58Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_2HF0xbYKV5PBS

Take him for a walk outside (not too much sunlight) and talk about what he's looking at.

Put him on a playmat with the arches over it, like http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Rainforest-Melodies-Lights-Deluxe/dp/B000FFL58Q/ref=pd_cp_ba_3

Bouncer.

Infant stimulation videos.

Light tickling (not too much, then they cant breathe).

Last choice is super-colorful music-y cartoons, like you said, used sparingly.

Both our kids loved this play mat

I've got an 18-month old lab and a 6 month old baby who is quickly becoming mobile.

For starters, if your dog isn't trained in general start now. Sit, lay down, and leave it are very important. You'll use these constantly. "Excuse me" is also useful, because he'll inevitably be in your way on the stairs when you have your hands full of squirming baby.

Next, make absolutely sure the dog understands the baby is YOURS. Drape dirty burp cloths over your shoulder and let the dog sniff you. Associate your smells. You're the boss, and the baby is yours. Let the dog sniff the baby under strict supervision. Best if you're holding the baby for optimal safety.

Go ahead and get a play mat and set it up, even though you aren't using it yet. It may look like a dog bed to him. Lay down the law with the dog that he can sniff it, but the second he puts a paw on it, NO! This will give you a clearly defined off-limits area for when you first start putting the baby down at his level.

Don't trust your dog. It's an animal, even if it's your most loyal friend. Don't leave the baby at his level unattended - ever. Baby gates are for babies and dogs.

With luck, your dog is well mannered and will adjust no problem. Mine brings the baby a bone when he's crying and became 1000% more protective of our home once the kid came.

It's on a Fisher Price play mat like this one.

My gosh, my SON LOVES this

http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Rainforest-Melodies-Lights-Deluxe/dp/B000FFL58Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371668591&sr=8-1&keywords=baby+floor+gym

It is amazing, he pulls on everything and looks at the lights. He is 6 months and we sit him on it and loves to play with the butterflies.. BUY IT.