Once you start to prepare for your baby’s arrival, you’ll realize that you need a lot of things for your baby! And whether you have a baby shower or not, it’s a good idea to put together a baby registry since there are so many perks.
And, friends and family are usually more than excited to buy baby gifts as well. That said, with so many baby essentials to choose from, it can be overwhelming to know where to begin, so I wanted to give you this as a checklist for your baby essentials. Kind of a list of what to register for + what not to forget.
We’re going to start the big picture because building a baby registry can feel a little overwhelming. Before you start to choose specific items to add to your registry, it’s a good idea to step back and really understand the needs specific to you and your baby, give it some good thought, and strategize on the best way to pick out baby’s items that are most important for your lifestyle.
So, I have put this guide to help you feel confident, prepared, and fully understand more about your baby’s needs so you can make thoughtful choices when it comes time to create your baby registry.
Need more help with your registry? If you are finding that you don’t even really have a grasp on what kind of baby products to register for, or how to prepare for your baby, grab a copy of my ebook — The Baby Registry Handbook. It’s perfect for mamas who want to prepare really diligently for their new baby!
What is a Baby Registry?
A baby registry is a list of items you want to purchase/receive for your baby before birth. The list can also serve as a great exercise to get you organized, think through what you really need for your baby, and allow you to prioritize accordingly.
Once you create your registry, you can share it with friends and family who can then purchase items off of the registry as gifts. Typically, the place(s) you register will keep track of the list of items purchased, so that duplicates do not occur. You can also add new items to the registry as you think of them. There are often perks associated with a registry, depending on where you register. For example, some stores may offer a completion discount where you can purchase leftover items on your list and receive a percent discount.
When to Sign Up for a Baby Registry
So there is signing up for a baby registry and there is doing your homework. I suggest signing up for a baby registry around 20 weeks pregnant. Most women feel much better at this point in their pregnancy, especially if they’ve had to deal with morning sickness. I suggest doing your registry research (like reading this article!) a bit earlier (as soon as you can stomach it!) Ideally after the first trimester, around 13 weeks. This gives you over a month to read up and assess your needs.
Where to Find the Best Baby Registry
The place with the best variety is definitely Amazon. The perks include a nice welcome box, a 15% off completion discount, and free 2-day shipping.
If you want to add additional stores to your registry, I also love Target, Buy Buy Baby, and Pottery Barn Kids. For a full breakdown of perks, discounts, and general comparisons, you can check out my guide on the best baby registry sites.
When you create a baby registry at any of these stores, you’ll get perks such as completion discount coupons, extended return windows, and even some freebie baby welcome boxes.
It’s also important to choose where you’ll register based on how convenient it is for you and your baby shower guests.
Questions to Ask
So before you set out on your registry journey, and even before you turn to a registry checklist, it’s a good idea to make some important considerations.
Think about your space.
You want to think about your home space. Will your baby have his/her own room or share a bedroom with you? Will he have a play space? If you’re tight on space, you’ll want to minimize big baby items and subsequently, keep your registry to the essentials, choosing space-saving baby products. If you have more room and you want to have organized baby spaces, sprawling out over a few rooms, you may want to have some extra baby items in your home for your little one.
What is most important to you?
When considering baby products, what is most important to you? Is it a select few brands you’d like to stick to? Is it important to you that you get to handpick some of your own baby items rather than put them on your registry for someone else to get?
Along similar lines, are you interested in keeping a minimalist approach or do you want all the baby things now? Some parents prefer to wait to purchase some baby and toddler items (like a baby carrier or a bouncer) to see what the baby prefers while other parents want everything in-house from day one.
What do you want to research before you put together your registry?
Think about if there is anything specific you want to learn more about before you put it on your registry. Whether you want to understand more about baby crib mattresses and sleep safety, or you want to understand the importance of material safety and how you will create a registry that hones in on products/materials you are comfortable with within your home.
After you ask these questions, I suggest you turn to some general registry-making tips. These are great little tidbits of advice to help you before you approach your checklist.
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30+ Important Things to Add to Your Baby Registry
So now the biggest question: what are the most important things to register for? Whether you are taking a more minimalist approach to your registry because having hundreds of baby products delivered to your home at once is overwhelming or if you’re thrilled to go ahead and stock up on everything, here is a look at the most important baby registry items to register for. No matter your approach to your registry, you’ll have all your bases covered!
1. Diapers
Every baby needs diapers from day one. During those early months, don’t be surprised if your baby goes through 10 diapers a day! Definitely stock up and add diapers to your baby registry. Of course, as with all baby items, not all diapers are made the same, so you’ll want to check out the materials and find the safest, non-toxic diapers, whether disposable or cloth.
2. Baby Wipes
An everyday essential that goes right along with your stash of diapers is baby wipes. Add these to your baby registry! Unfortunately, many companies use harmful ingredients, exposing babies’ skin to toxins, allergens, and irritants. So do your research and opt for the safest baby wipes on the market. You can also register for diaper cream, but obviously, this isn’t a huge expense that you can easily pick up at the store or order online.
3. A Diaper Pail
Babies go through several diapers a day, so it’s helpful to have a place to dispose of them that isn’t the kitchen waste bin. I encourage parents to add a diaper pail to the registry so there is a convenient, odor-free place to dispose of all the dirty diapers. Diaper pails are designed to help keep odors contained, whereas a regular trash can would allow odors to escape anytime the lid opens. Read about my top recommendations in my guide to the best diaper pails.
4. Nursing Pads
If you’re planning on breastfeeding, you’ll want a stash of nursing pads to help with any milk leaks as your milk comes in. Again, there are cloth and disposable options available, so you might try both until you figure out what works best for you.
5. A Nursing Cover
So, you can definitely get away without a nursing cover, but I always tell moms it’s a good idea to be prepared so that you can comfortably nurse in public or even at home with family and friends coming by to meet your new baby. Nursing covers offer an accessible way to nurse while covered. Find a style you like and register for one! Certainly can’t hurt to have one or two on hand.
6. A Nursing Pillow
A nursing pillow is honestly such a godsend for new moms as they adjust to breastfeeding. They provide comfort and give supportive posture to help you breastfeed any place you may be set up – including the hospital, your sofa, bed, or glider! You may even consider registering for two so you can keep one downstairs and one upstairs.
7. Haakaa Breast Pump
Breastfeeding and pumping is a lot of work, and you learn that every drop of breastmilk is liquid gold. So why waste precious breastmilk and let it leak into your nursing pads? That milk right there is valuable! With the Haaka breast pump, you are able to capture breast milk that would normally go into your nursing pad. Simple and effective, every breastfeeding mom should have a Haakaa. Definitely register for one!
8. Swaddles
Newborns love to be swaddled. Because babies take a few months to really adjust to the world and still need the comforts of the womb, swaddling is the perfect way to help your baby feel better – whether they are ready to sleep or just need some soothing comforts. Swaddles should definitely be on your baby registry. There are velcro swaddles as well as more free-form swaddles that you wrap and fold to secure. Both are great choices!
9. Noise Machine
Most babies prefer the shushing and comforting sound of white noise. I recommend you put a noise machine on your baby registry because they really do help babies connect to their sleep cycles. They also coming hand if you have siblings around who may be a bit noisy while the baby naps.
10. Glass Baby Bottles
There are a huge number of styles and sizes of baby bottles on the market. And even if you decide you will exclusively breastfeed, it can’t hurt to have some bottles on hand in case you decide to pump. Register for a few different types of bottles because often your baby will dictate what he/she will take, so you’ll have to try a few.
The safest materials to use are glass baby bottles or stainless steel baby bottles, though I always prefer glass if possible.
11. A Bottle Warmer
The convenience of a good bottle warmer is unbeatable; it can save a few minutes and a lot of sanity. The two main types of bottle warmers to consider are the steam heat warmers and those that use water circulation to heat a bottle. The steam heat method heats water to steam that comes into contact with the bottle to warm it. Those warmers that use water circulation basically use hot water that circulates around the bottle for even distribution of heat. The warmer gently heats up the milk until it gets to the best temperature for the baby.
12. A Play Gym
While it might seem a bit peripheral to a baby’s needs, I promise a play gym is totally appropriate and necessary for a baby’s development. I personally always tell parents to go with the Lovevery play gym. It has been designed to stimulate their cognitive development as well as enhance their motor skills. This gym offers different play zones with interchangeable toys, teething accessories, and learning cards. It’s one of those long-lasting first baby toys that you’ll use a lot!
13. Baby Books
While you might think it’s silly to pull out a baby book when your baby is still working on opening his eyes, it’s worth it to register for a few baby books to start your baby’s library.
From even the earliest stages of infancy, reading is one of the most powerful ways you can influence your baby’s speech and cognitive development. Even the youngest of babies can benefit from seeing the pictures in books and following the patterns and rhythms of your voice as you read. It’s a great way to bond.
Register for the best 25 baby books and start a wonderful little library collection. You might also like our guide to the best bedtime story books.
14. Baby Bouncer
A bouncer is essentially a baby seat that gently bounces when the baby moves around. It’s a good idea to put on your registry because good-quality bouncers can be expensive, and you can use a bouncer in those early months.
The BabyBjorn in particular is a great one to peak at first. It has four positions and can be used from birth to age 2, making this a versatile bouncer that will last a long time. As with all BabyBjorn products, the fabric used is Oeko-Tek certified, meaning it’s free from harmful chemicals. And with the fabric being removable, it’s easy to throw it in the washer.
Read about additional bouncers in my guide to the best bouncers on the market.
15. Baby Care Items
While these items aren’t super expensive, you can put a few of them on your registry so that gift-givers may opt to gift a bundle of care items. Also, don’t forget that you’ll likely need multiple baby towels and washcloths, so definitely put these on your registry so you can begin to stock up.
And don’t forget a natural baby shampoo and body wash!
16. A Humidifier
A baby humidifier is a must-have. It’s great to use when a baby isn’t feeling well, and it also comes in handy when the air is cold and dry. So, if you have a winter baby definitely put one on your registry.
The Crane humidifier is an easy one (although, it does require daily cleaning). It has a nice, sleek design, too. For other options, you can check out my full guide to the best humidifiers for babies.
17. A Baby Bathtub
You will definitely need a bathtub designed specifically for bathing a wiggly baby! While you’ll be doing sponge baths for at least a couple of weeks, when you switch to baby baths, having a tub ready is great. I love the Puj Flyte bathtub for those early days. Be sure to check out my non-toxic guide to baby bathtubs for more bathtub suggestions.
18. A Baby Carrier
Having a baby carrier ready to go is a great way to promote closeness. Babies have an innate need to be held close. Not only does closeness promote bonding, but it also encourages physiological development.
Early on, I recommend the K’tan baby wrap. It’s hassle-free and very comfortable for mom to wear. For other options, read about the other top baby carriers I recommend. There are a bunch of different styles out there. Find one that works for you!
19. Crib
Clearly, a big-ticket item, but a very necessary one! A baby will spend a lot of time in the crib over the first few years of his life. Romina Furniture is among the best of the best when it comes to non-toxic baby furniture. Not only are the designs incredibly stylish and elegant, they are Greenguard Gold Certified and extremely well made – from 100% solid beechwood – and are non-toxic, with no formaldehyde emissions.
You can learn more about Romina and also find a few other options in my guide to nursery furniture.
20. An Organic Crib Mattress
Going right along with a baby crib is a baby crib mattress! Register for one that you like and note these can be on the expensive side. Naturepedic is one of my top recommendations for an organic crib mattress. Their mattresses are Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified and the innerspring line is made with GOTS-certified cotton, heavy-duty innerspring coils, organic cotton, and PLA batting, and polyethylene waterproofing and firmness layers.
21. Waterproof Mattress Pad
While some crib mattresses include a waterproof coating, it’s a good idea to have a waterproof mattress cover for the crib, so if your baby has an accident, you can simply change out the cover quickly without having to wipe down the whole mattress.
Not only can a mattress pad protect the mattress from baby messes and bedwetting, but it can also help with irritants and allergens, keeping your baby’s crib clean. Register for two!
22. Changing Pad
A baby changing pad is a stationary, clean, and soft surface that sits inside a secure changing topper or tray on the baby’s dresser. You will definitely want to register for one.
Keep in mind, even if you don’t have a changing table or a dresser, you can also use a changing pad on its own, setting it on the floor or on a bed when it’s time to change a diaper. It certainly keeps the changing area confined to a small space and keeps the baby on a comfortable surface. An all-natural, non-toxic changing pad is a must, and Naturepedic offers just that.
For additional non-toxic options, read my guide on the best non-toxic diaper changing pads.
23. High Chair
This is one of the baby items you don’t *need* to register for, especially if you are tight on space. A baby won’t typically use a high chair until starting solids around 6+ months old. This said, if you have the space, definitely put it on your registry so you can receive it as a gift or receive a nice discount.
Possibly the most popular among the non-toxic high chairs, the Stokke Tripp Trapp high chair is made from solid beechwood and water-based paint. Here are some other reputable, non-toxic high chairs you can look into as well.
24. A Stroller
Unsurprisingly, this is another big-ticket item that’s worth putting on your baby registry. You will want to use a stroller to cart the baby around whether on a nice stroll, going to the doctor’s office, or venturing out on a shopping trip. A stroller will often be a great on-the-go product to have on hand.
Oftentimes, you can find a stroller that accommodates a newborn by latching in a car seat, which can be particularly helpful. Find non-toxic stroller options in my guide on Buying the Healthiest Stroller for Your Baby.
25. Car Seat
All parents need a safe car seat for their baby from day one. In fact, hospitals require you to strap a baby into his car seat before you are able to leave.
Definitely do your research on these because there are so many on the market. One thing to remember is that a lot of car seats are full of flame retardants. The UPPAbaby was the first to market with their Merino wool-poly blend car seats that are naturally flame resistant. Both the Henry and Jordan models contain no flame retardant chemicals, and the wool used is Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified.
For more car seat options, check out my article on the best non-toxic car seats.
26. Bassinet
The best place for your baby to sleep will likely be a bassinet. It provides a firm, flat surface that can sit comfortably right next to your bed so you can still monitor your baby and pick him/her up to nurse, burp, and cuddle.
The Halo bassinet provides the baby with a safe separate sleep space, but sits right next to a bed and can swivel closer to the bedside when it’s time to feed or cuddle the baby. This one does contain polyurethane foam, but the company says there are no flame retardants in their products. HALO does offer an Greenguard Gold certified bassinet mattress, which I also recommend.
If you want to look into other options, read my guide on non-toxic bassinets.
27. Diaper Bag
Don’t forget the diaper bag! You’ll have to haul a lot of baby items around when it’s time to head out of the house. Having an organized bag that keeps items handy when you need them is key. There are so many on the market; it shouldn’t be too hard to find one that fits your style. Check out my top diaper bag recommendations for a great list!
28. A Car Seat Mirror
When a baby is rear-facing (which is for a few years!) it’s really useful to be able to see the baby using a car mirror. Register for a shatterproof mirror. Some mirrors strap onto the seat and have an array of adjustments so you can see the baby perfectly.
29. A Travel Sound Machine
So many parents rave about the usefulness of the Shusher! It’s a portable sound machine, which is a genius necessity. I suggest registering for one. It can be a really helpful tool to have especially if you have an unpredictable napper on your hands. This one makes a “shushing” sound that mimics the same sound you would make when trying to calm a baby.
30. Receiving Blankets
Having a handful of receiving blankets on hand is a good idea. You will use them more than you think. Whether you need a clean space for your baby to lie on or you want to keep your baby warm in his stroller, a receiving blanket has multiple purposes in a baby’s life. But please note, it is not safe for babies to sleep with blankets, so do not register for any with the idea they will go in the crib.
31. Baby Bodysuits
While you will likely receive loads of cute baby outfits, they aren’t always practical, especially when you are changing ten diapers a day, encountering multiple spit-ups, drool, etc. You change a baby a lot. Stock up on simple onesies that you can easily take on and off your baby without too much hassle.
32. Mama Care
Don’t forget yourself! Add a comfortable robe, nursing bras, comfortable slippers, and even a perineal spray. These are things that will keep you comfortable postpartum and be great early motherhood staples. Also, don’t forget more out-of-the-box ideas like a Netflix subscription, food delivery services, and cleaning services. These can be hugely useful!
What Not to Register for
So, there are a few things I don’t really suggest adding to your baby registry because they are either a) super small purchases that you can pick up on your own time and can kind of clutter your registry b) are super preferential and depend on your baby – in other words, it’s probably better to wait until baby arrives to purchase.
Baby clothing. While you need baby clothing, you don’t need to register for cute baby outfits. You will likely receive these regardless of their presence on your registry.
Baby toys. With the exception of a baby play gym, I don’t really encourage you to put a lot of baby toys on your registry. Plus, a baby really won’t play with boys for a few months! A baby play gym is all he needs for a while!
Wipe warmer. In my humble opinion, a wipe warmer just isn’t necessary. Your baby will not notice the difference, and if he does, it won’t be life-changing. Skip it!
Baby shoes. While tiny toes and matching shoes are amazingly cute, you simply won’t use baby shoes. It’s best to keep them in socks or bare feet.
Baby food maker. You definitely don’t need an appliance for baby food, especially if you have a blender at home. You don’t know if your baby will want to try purees or try the baby-led weaning approach, so don’t spend the money on a baby food maker that will likely just take up space.
Baby laundry detergent. A lot of laundry detergent is full of nasty chemicals. If you haven’t already, switch your regular laundry detergent to a non-toxic baby detergent. No need to use something different for your baby!
Baby bedding sets. Many baby sets come with sheets, quilts, and crib bumpers, which are not safe for babies. Skip registering for these and stick to plain, fitted crib sheets. That’s it!
Baby bath toys. A baby will not really play in the bathtub for many many months. Stick to the baby bathtub on the registry. Skip the toys!
Baby swing. In my experience, there are not many babies that truly enjoy a baby swing. Plus, it’s not safe to let babies sleep in a swing, so the swing serves a very small purpose. I opt for the baby bouncer since babies like to be inclined upright when they are awake and alert.
Pacifiers. While you may opt to give your baby a pacifier, doctors don’t recommend pacifiers until your baby is used to nursing (you don’t want to have nipple confusion). That said, some babies really do need a pacifier to help soothe themselves. It can’t hurt to have a few on hand, but no need to put them on your registry. Stick to non-toxic, one-piece pacifiers.
Happy Registering!
Now that you have a big picture look at the baby registry and hopefully had some time to mull over your priorities, I encourage you to check out my baby registry handbook. It is FULL of every single thing you need to know about registering. It serves as a trusted guide to help you get organized, figure out what you need, and choose the very best, safest baby products for your home. Happy registering!
What did you prioritize for your baby registry? I’ve love to know!
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