Everything You Need On Your Baby Registry (With Links!)

 

Everything You Need On Your Baby Registry (Tried & True List)

The very first thing you need to know... there are NO AFFILIATE LINKS in this list. 

These are all real, honest, tried-and-true items that I tell all of my friends and family having babies for the first time to add to their registry. 

I remember building my first baby registry being so overwhelming since I didn't know anything about having a baby, so I almost completely relied on friends suggestions at first. This list is a combination of items I was recommended from my close friends when building my first baby registry, and I tweaked the list to what I felt you actually needed after my baby turned one year old. 

My Top Must-Have Items:

• Electric Baby Nail Trimmer
• Less scary than sharp clippers on tiny fingers and easier to use.
• Lifevac
• For peace of mind to always keep in the diaper bag. 
• Tubby Todd All Over Ointment 
• You can only buy this ointment on their website, but its the best brand for rashes and common newborn skin conditions - expensive but a little goes a long way so it lasts a long time. The Tubby Todd diaper rash cream is also a super great product.... otherwise I would also recommend registering for the Aquaphor diaper cream for daycare to use (or just good to have on hand).
• Sound machine
• We love the Hatch sound machine because it can be used long-term for toddler purposes, has a lot of features and I can dim or turn off the light if I want it (a.k.a dual purpose and comes with an app). However there may be cheaper brands that do similar things now. 
• Baby monitor
• MUST REGISTER for the Owlet sock and camera. Best quality camera, has an app, and the sock provides peace of mind to help me sleep better. I leave the app on all night long so all I have to do is glance over to it and see the baby is sleeping fine without having to get up and check if they're breathing and accidentally wake them up. It tracks oxygen levels and heart rate. 
• Another great baby monitor for travel purposes (no wifi needed) is the vtech to add to your registry. 
• Pacifiers
• Make sure to get pacifiers that are "straight out" nipples (not curved up). 
• You can also register for the Babylist pacifier sampler box to see what baby likes - just toss out the curved-up binkies. Our son's favorite binkies are these. 
• Don't forget to register for a couple pacifier holder clips too, and bungee clips for toys/bottle since they will never stay in their mouth/hands (to avoid those items falling on the ground).
• Boppy nursing pillow
• This can also be used to prop baby while feeding bottle or hanging out with you on the couch, but not to be used for sleeping. Always monitor baby when in inclined position to avoid suffocation or falling out of it.
• Diaper pail and bags 
• We love this brand with their bags. The bad smells from the trash won't really come until after baby starts eating solids, but it still does a good job keeping the smells in.
• Diaper bag
• I have tried multiple types of diaper bags and I highly recommend this brand (especially the "Be Right Back" style, comes in various colors/patterns) because it has all the pockets, organization, size and functionality you need. 
• Don't bother registering a "fun" bag with a built in "bassinet" (like this) because it takes up a lot of space and you really won't use the bassinet feature much. 
• Sterilizer and dryer (for bottles and breastfeeding supplies)
• We like this one best (even more than the popular Philps Avent brand). It's so much faster to do bulk supply of sterilizing bottles/pacifiers/breastfeeding supplies at once with this device. 
• You might also want to get microwave sterilizer bags for travel purposes.
• Pack-n-play
• We got this one but I don't think it really matters what kind you get. These are super easy to install/put away, once you learn how to use it. They can be used for travel / visiting other homes, or some even use a pack-n-play in lieu of a "bassinet" (however the cons to this is that you have to bend over to get the baby each time, which may be hard to do after delivery, and it's much bulkier). 
• It's optional to get a pack-n-play that includes special attachments, like the changing station and bassinet. But if you plan to travel / stay other places overnight for the first few months, we personally liked the bassinet attachment because we ended up not needing to bring the whole pack-n-play....and just brought the bassinet attachment instead, that our son could sleep on the ground in it just fine for the first few months. They grow out of it soon after that because it's pretty short/small. 
• Bumbo seat and tray attachment
• Great for when they can start sitting up on their own and/or start solids. It's easier to travel with this than bringing a high chair, too. 
• You can also additionally register for the bigger bumbo seat that has a tray with it, but babies won't fit in this size of seat until at least 6 months. They fit more snuggly in the smaller bumbo seat when they are younger and able to sit up on their own.
• THIS portable breast pump motor and THESE silicone cups
• You have to buy the silicone cups from their website, but it's worth it. 
• Unless you already know you're planning on not doing any breastmilk and just going straight to formula, this portable pump and cups are a must have so you can do stuff around the house, pump on the go/in the car or take with you traveling. I ended up even using this exclusively because I liked it so much and it was very effective in getting my milk out comfortably. 
• The pump motor is super strong even though its small, and the cups can be used with the Baby Buddha motor (in lieu of those flanges that come with the motor). 
• FYI If you buy any breast pumping items from anywhere, you likely will not be able to return them since it's a "sensitive" item and can't be reused by someone else. So choose carefully — I learned the hard way and got a portable pump recommended by a friend, but I didn't end up liking it at all. So I bought these pair of items, which were recommended by my lactation consultant and it's the best pump set up, and worth it.

Also Register For:

• Diapers and wipes
• Pampers we like best for both (Sensitive wipes)
• Car seat
• We got the Clek Liing specifically for safety, but it's not as common so you have to get separate stroller adapters to use your specific car seat on your specific stroller. 
• Strolleria is a good website resource to find accessories and even baby equipment for a good price.
• Make sure the car seat you choose comes with a car seat base, otherwise you will need to register for that separately. Also, would be a good idea to get at least 2 car seat bases so you can have one in each car without having to constantly switch those out. 
• Bassinet
• You could also buy on marketplace/used/hand me down instead. Just make sure it meets the safety standards, don't get one that is old.
• We like our Dream On Me one because it has the option to close the top to prevent the cat from getting into it, however we never use that part because i want the camera to see the baby inside of it and I don't want to have to unzip it everytime we get the baby out. We got ours used. 
• Don't forget to register for bassinet sheets that fit the exact size of your bassinet pad (not all are equal).
• Crib
• You could also buy on marketplace/used/hand me down instead. Just make sure it meets the safety standards, don't get one that is old.
• Crib mattress
• I hear the Newton mattress is great because it’s supposed to be 100% breathable and safe. It's expensive though so if you don't get it from someone, you might consider just getting a new cheap baby mattress that fits your crib.
• Crib sheets and mattress protector that fit the mattress size.
• Hamper for laundry
• Stroller - optional. 
• If you don't think you will use a stroller often, I would just register for the baby carrier or sling for now. By the time the baby gets older/heavier to carry around, you could then probably find a cheaper used stroller that works just fine or get a hand me down from a friend/family who is done having kids. If you want a lightweight, compact stroller though, we like the Uppababy Minu. 
• Baby carrier or sling of some kind.
• Activity center - optional
• We liked this center for months 3 to 5 (once they could support their head/neck on their own) to keep them occupied while we got a few things done around the house. This one you can apparently grow with the toddler as a play center but beau lost interest in it kind of quick / as soon as he could start crawling because he doesn't like to be confined to a chair lol. But might be worth registering for something like this. Another option.
• We also got a "play gym" that beau loved until he could start crawling. So something like this would be handy for "entertaining" him the first 6 months. This is a more expensive version we were given that does the same job.
• Organization/storage
• If you’re having a dresser, baby clothes are hard to organize in drawers so dividers are nice. OXO Tot Drawer Dividers, 2-Pack https://a.co/d/aaoPDHU
• Hanging over-door storage - great for closets 
• Bins that you can store clothes are another option if you have lots of shelving.
• Car mirrors
• I would register for 2, one in each vehicle. This allows you to see how the baby is doing while you're in the front passenger seat (not safe for driver to look / can be a distraction unless it's a quick glance when you're driving alone)
• Car seat cover - optional
• Some moms claim its good to shield them from germs when in public places, but I mainly liked having one to protect them from the sunlight when we went on walks with the stroller. Also could be good to help them nap and not be distracted by surroundings. 
• Another option is getting a cover that you can also use as a breastfeeding cover (which i didnt use much because i almost exclusively pumped, but this can come in handy)
• Baby thermometer
• If you choose to do the rectal temperature route (which is most accurate), then make sure to write with sharpie Rectal on it so you dont use other ways lol but in general need to have your own thermometer for baby.
• Bath supplies
• Bath kneeler and elbow pad is great if you have a shower-tub. 
• For newborns, all you need is a cheap bucket/bin because you will have to hold them the whole time you bathe - which is why you should have all bath supplies in arms reach before you start the baby bath. You could find this at a thrift store or register for something like this.
• When they get a little older and can sit up on their own, you might find something like this useful (helps save water) or just put them in the tub with shallow water. 
• Soft baby towels
• I like a hooded one so it keeps their head warm while I wipe them down to dry, and it's cute. Hood will be too large at first but they will grow into it. 
• Washcloths - these are handy for more than washing, but they are soft enough for baby and since there are so many that come in one pack you can use them once and throw in the hamper. and can use lots of ways like drying a wet butt before putting on a diaper, washing body/hair during bathtime, wiping face from milk/food, etc.
• This is a good baby shampoo that can be used as baby wash.
• Get this scrubber for washing hair with soap (also used for cradle cap).
• Baby loungers/ swingers / bouncers
• Not to be used for sleeping, but monitor closely if baby does take nap in it to avoid suffocation.
• Portable Baby lounger like this - Recommend also getting a cover for it since it might get dirty fast.
• We were given this swinger and Beau loved it/soothed him. A similar version of this would be nice to register for if someone wants to get you one, or you could probably find one used. 
• A bouncer seat like this is a cheaper version of a swinger and easier to transport/lightweight. 
• Nursing items
• Love these nursing bras and not too tight. Comfortable.
• Haaka (helps with expressing milk manually but also if you get sore/tender boobs from engorgement)
• Breast hot pads (helps with expressing milk manually but also if you get sore/tender boobs from engorgement)
• Breastmilk storage bags
• Feeding supplies
• Drying rack for bottles / breastfeeding supplies
• Bottle cleaning brushes
• Bibs - for when they start eating solids, it will be sooo messy. Usually beau just goes clothesless when he eats so I can just wipe him down, but for times you want him to keep his clothes on and not ruin them (some foods if not washed immediately will stain their clothes), then you might want something like this. In general, bibs with a food catcher is the way to go.  
• Babylist makes a bottle sampler box (as well as a pacifier and a swaddle sampler box). Babies can be picky about what they like, so just something to think about until you find the one they like to get more of. Beau (/us) liked this bottle best and got the preemie nipples for it which they need when young to avoid reflux. You'll want to register for at least 4 bottles if you choose to pick one brand.
• Burp rags - these are good to protect your clothes from spit up or throw up (because if that happens it smells bad and can stain your clothes if not washed asap). You'll likely get these anyway but we like the "curved" shape that goes nicely over the shoulder, plus can be used to wipe up spit/milk/etc. 
• If you do breastmilk instead of formula, baby will need probiotic drops every day.
• Diaper changing supplies
• portable pad (your diaper bag should have one included but in case you opt to not get a diaper bag then a portable pad is needed)
• changing pad for home - we first opted to get a wipeable pad for diapers, but found it was cold to a newborn and not cozy, so you might just do a soft one that can be used for both diaper and clothes changing like this.
• Humidifier
• Especially good for winter/dry months or when baby is sick
• Dreft baby detergent
• This is sensitive for baby skin and smells so good. A little goes a long way (still using one carton for beau's laundry the past year!).
• Baby lotion - optional. 
• We don't usually use lotion on beau but some people do after every bath or every day. 
• Baby hangers
• Love felt ones so the clothes stay on easier. 
• Baby brush set
• Night lights
• To put around your house so you can see where you're going in middle of night feedings, feeding baby without turning on lights, pumping, etc. 
• Mini portable fan
• For the car/stroller/etc during hot days
• Nose Aspirators
• As much as I hate using the NoseFrida and avoiding getting it at first, it's really the most effective to use when baby has a lot of drainage. So good to have on hand just in case your baby really needs it to breathe better.
• Also register for the battery powered / rechargeable one for most uses to avoid having to use your mouth to suck. 
• Regardless of which method, you must always use saline spray first before using the devices. 
• Dryer balls
• Better baby skin-safe alternative in general than those dryer sheets, and last a long time.

I would NOT register for:

• Clothes
• You will get them anyway. 
• Plus, newborns don't really need any clothes for the first couple months since you will likely be home a lot / they may just be in a diaper many times, or they will spit up on clothes often. 
• Plus, you don't know how big your baby will be so I would only have a couple outfits on hand for newborns and you can always go to Goodwill to get more if needed. You may be getting some clothes from family/friends too who are done having kids by the time your kid needs those items.
• IF you do register for clothes, you definitely want ZIP UP onesies (easier and faster than buttons) - Two way zippers are even better. Socks. Basic everyday onesies. 
• Toys
• You will get them anyway. 
• Plus, newborns really don't "play" with any toys early on. They sleep a lot. And they are more interested in your faces and voices than anything else since they can't see far. You can find almost anything in your house to stimulate them such as contrasting colors/images, being outside, sensory (touching different textures), etc. You may be getting some toys from family/friends too who are done having kids by the time your kid needs those items.
• Muslin swaddles
• You will get them anyway and likely not used a ton. 
• Baby blanket
• You will get them anyway. 
• You likely won't even use blankets for a while unless it's in a cold building or at winter time in the car/stroller.
• Books
• You will get them anyway, especially if you ask for a book in lieu of card for shower. 

Things you should be able to get no-cost with insurance that you will need:

FIRST, go to Aeroflow to enter your insurance info to see what your insurance will offer at no cost. They will also show you items you can "upgrade" to get for a little extra cost beyond what insurance covers but I would opt to just get the portable pump I recommended and get the wall pump that is covered by your insurance.

• A wall pump - I love the Spectra S2. It should come with pump supplies but if not your insurance should also cover getting fresh supplies (milk storing bottles, pump parts, etc) on a regular basis. 
• You should also be able to get pregnancy items like a belly band (for stomach/round ligament support), and postpartum things like compression socks, compression body sleeves, pumping parts, etc. 

FINAL TIP:

• I recommend doing a Babylist registry to add items from anywhere to it and get access to some of those sampler boxes. 
• But ALSO doing a registry on Amazon (+ any other location you want like Target, Buy Buy Baby, etc).... even if you never share those registries with anyone, you will be given a discount to purchase any qualifying remaining items on there after your due date. So if you end up not getting something you need, you will have 10% or 15% off those items that were in your registry. 
• So highly recommend doing more than one registry for that purpose, but setting them as private.... and just sharing out the Babylist registry for people to buy from.