2021 Baby Registry Essentials List

DISCLOSURE: THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING I RECEIVE A COMMISSION FOR PURCHASES MADE THROUGH THOSE LINKS, AT NO COST TO YOU. PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO.

Planning your baby’s registry can be so fun! The excitement of picking out all those cute little clothes for you baby – still, coming up with your list of baby registry essentials can also be overwhelming, especially the first time around.

I researched tons when I set up my son’s registry a few years ago – but using all of those items during that first year is what really helped me figure out what worked best. Now that he’s a toddler and we have baby #2 on the way, I decided to put together a list of baby registry must-have’s using what I learned the first time around. I hope this list helps you feel more prepared and at ease!

I’ve also tried to also include options at different price points for different budgets/priorities wherever possible. Plus, I’ve included my list of the top 5 things we loved & used most plus 7 helpful tips & resources for new parents.

Whether you’re pregnant or mom of a newborn, or looking for a great gift for a pregnant/new mom in your life – I hope you find some great ideas in this tried & true list!

Where to create your baby registry

There are several great options for where to set up your registry – BabyList, Target, Amazon and BuyBuyBaby just to name a few. Most offer a completion discount and some other freebies – so ultimately, it really comes down to what perks matter most to you, and what’s most convenient & works well for you and your baby shower guests.

With my son, I set up a baby registry at BuyBuyBaby and Amazon – and that worked out great! I liked having part of my registry at BuyBuyBaby because some of my family members prefer to shop in-store, and I liked the convenience of an Amazon registry for those friends & family who wanted to shop online.

BuyBuyBaby offers a 15% completion discount, plus they regularly have coupons – so I bought a few of my big purchases there. Amazon offers a 15% discount for Prime members, and a diaper discount for the first year, after a certain amount is spent on your registry. [And if you’d like to set up a registry through Amazon, click here.]

Now… onto the list of baby registry essentials!

Sleep Essentials

Bassinet/crib

I’ve found baby preference makes a big difference when it comes to bassinets – although there’s no shortage of good bassinet options available. Popular options include HALO bassinet, Fisher-Price Soothing Motions Bassinet, MiClassic bassinet, and the SNOO Smart Sleeper Bassinet.

With my first baby, we used a bassinet that was handed down to us – but he hated it and never slept in it. He did occasionally fall asleep in a product that’s no longer being sold in stores – so this time around I’m really excited to try the SNOO (it’s pricy, so I’ll be renting it month-to-month to see if baby likes it, and hopefully using it until transitioning him to a crib around 4-6 months). I’ve heard so many great stories about the SNOO Smart Sleeper Bassinet and the fact that it has an integrated swaddle also majorly won me over… so I’m giving this a try because I promised myself this time around I would try a few things to help me get more sleep during those early months and I’m hoping this helps!

In terms of buying a crib, I’ve found that most cribs are functionally essentially the same except for their aesthetics – so really, as long as you find a crib that’s safe (you can find the CPSC Crib Guidelines here), it’s really a matter of what style and price-point you are looking for beyond that. We bought the Graco Lauren Convertible Crib and that’s worked out really well for us.

Swaddles/swaddle blankets/sleep sacs

There are tons of swaddle options out there – everything from blankets you can fold yourself to swaddle your baby (the way they do at the hospital), to little sacs you can place your baby in and then fold over the sides. I’ve found it’s best to have a few different options ready to go when you bring baby home because baby preference (and your preference) will make a difference. We ended up trying **so many** different swaddles until we found a few that both we and our son liked. Halo Sleepsacs and Love To Dream Swaddles were the ones we used most consistently and were easy to use.

Crib mattress & sheets & waterproof cover

Crib mattresses have come a long way – and there’s a range of good options depending on your budget. There’s the popular Newton mattress which is 100% breathable, washable (both the cover and core), and even recyclable – but also one of the priciest. Moonlight Slumber Little Dreamer Mattress is another great option – it’s a foam mattress that’s also Greenguard Gold certified, and very highly rated. Graco Premium Foam Mattress is a very popular budget option that’s also Greengaurd Gold certified and also very highly reviewed.

Personally, we used a hand-me-down mattress for our first son, but it really needs to be replaced so I’m about to order him the Moonlight Slumber Little Dreamer. For our newborn, I’ll be ordering either the same Moonlight Slumber mattress or the Newton mattress.

A waterproof mattress protector is often recommended because it will help protect your mattress further (especially if you plan to use the same mattress as your child gets older and accidents become bigger). This and this are a few good options.

For crib sheets, you’ll want 2-3 sets so that you always have one or two backup sets when you have any accidental diaper leaks. There’s lots of options depending on what color and pattern you’re looking for. Currently, I’m torn between ordering one of these cute options from Burt’s Bees or Newton Baby’s crib sheets.

Clothing Essentials

Babies grow pretty fast in those first several months and simultaneously they require lots of clothing changes because of messes and spills – so I’ve found it’s helpful to have quite a few outfits in each of the early sizes (newborn, 0-3 months, and 3-6 months). You’ll likely get quite a few clothes from your baby shower, but here’s a basic list to help you get started:

(7-12) Newborn Outfits – including footie pajamas (this is what we kept our son in nearly all day since it was easiest!), and any onesie/pant combinations if you prefer those for daytime.
(3-5) no scratch mittens
(7) pairs of socks
(2-4) hats
(7-12) Size 0-3 month Outfits – including footie pajamas, onesie’s, pants
(7-12) Size 3-6 month Outfits – including footie pajamas, onesie’s, pants
(1-2) booties – we loved these fleece booties!
Any seasonal clothing – Depending on if it’s summer or winter, you might need a heavier winter hat, sun hat, blanket for keeping baby warm on walks, etc.

Also – one quick note about footie pajamas. Though a lot of parents agree zipper/magnets pajamas (instead of with buttons) is the much easier for overnight changes, I’d recommend having at least a few button footie pajamas on hand, just in case. We found that in those initial 2-3 weeks, our son’s zipper pajamas wouldn’t lay flat on him since he was so little and would poke him in the face, whereas button pajamas did lay flat on him – so we actually used button pajamas more early on. You might not end up using them, but might be worth having a few button pajamas on your registry in case you do.

Diapering Essentials

Diapers

There’s lots of great cloth and disposable diapers out there – regardless of which option you choose. I ended up going the disposable diapers route, so I’ll share what we found worked best for us in that category. For those first few months, I found that Pampers seemed to fit a tiny baby best, prevent leaks best, and was gentlest on their more sensitive skin. Beyond those first few months, I found that Costco’s Kirkland diapers (available in sizes 1-2 or 3-6) were the best value while also being a diaper that worked really well, didn’t leak, and were gentle on our baby’s skin. Ever since we made that switch early on, we’ve used Kirkland diapers ever since.

My best tip here is to register for a few boxes of Pampers diapers in sizes newborn, 0, and 1 – then when you run out of gifted diapers, that could be a good time to switch to Costco diapers (or whatever brand you prefer). Whatever choice you make, you’ll be buying diapers frequently for roughly the first few years, so I’d recommend choosing an option that’s convenient for you. Costco, for example, delivers its box of diapers (which lasts us roughly a month) with free shipping – so I either get them delivered monthly or pick them up in-store when I’m there. It’s worth doing some quick research to see what option will be most convenient and the best value for you in the long run before choosing which brand to go with.

wipes

For those first few weeks of baby’s life, I really like using Water Wipes because they are 99.9% water plus a drop of fruit extract – so it’s really gentle on that extra-sensitive newborn skin. After that initial period, I made the switch to Costco’s Kirkland baby wipes and they’ve worked really well for our son. They are hypoallergenic, fragrance & alcohol-free so they are gentle on our son’s skin. They’re available in store or can be delivered, but if that’s not convenient for you – there are lots of other wipes that would likely work well. In my opinion, wipes have a pretty basic function so I don’t think you can go very wrong here. 😉

diaper rash cream

After trying several different creams, we landed on Boudreaux’s Butt Paste Diaper Rash Cream and never looked back. It works better than anything else we tried and the ingredients are simple and gentle.

Diaper cream applicator

This might not be an essential for everyone, but it definitely was for me. I used this every day for over two years to apply rash cream because it’s the easiest, quickest, and cleanest way I’ve found to apply. I keep this applicator next to the rash cream for easy access and simply wipe it off with a baby wipe when I’m done. No more messy hands!

changing pad & covers

You’ll basically have 2 options for a changing pad – with a cover (non-wipeable) or without a cover (wipeable). I decided to go the wipeable route with my son because I didn’t want to have to pull off, wash, and replace a cover every time we had a messy changing situation. Personally, I think this is the easiest route and I can’t even count the times I’ve wiped down our changing pad in a week… but definitely do what works best for you! There’s plenty of changing pads and cute covers you can find online or in-store if that’s your preference.

For those looking for a wipeable option – there’s good options at various price points. For us, we went with the least expensive option (similar to this) – a very simple changing pad with a wipeable surface – no frills, not especially warm in the winter for my son’s back (though a towel behind his back helped)… but it worked well enough in the end.

If you have a little more room in your budget, you might consider some of the newer easy-to-clean options. The SkipHop Changing Pad has great reviews and even has an optional toy bar to keep baby entertained; the Keekaroo Peanut Changer is a BabyList best winner, is easy-to-clean and looks incredibly comfortable for baby; and the Hatch Baby Grow is easy-to-clean and simultaneously tracks baby’s weight.

DIaper pail

Diaper pails are optional for some (if you prefer, you can take the trash out every time your baby poops if you use a regular trash can) – but personally, a diaper pail was one of my most-used items. I wouldn’t say any one pail is perfect, but they do hide its smelly contents really well the majority of the time.

We’ve used the Bubula JR Steel Diaper Pail since my son was born and it’s worked really well for us (though it does tend to smell during that short time when changing out bags and when open/in use). The Ubbi steel diaper pail is a highly rated and popular option that’s received multiple recognitions (and which can use regular trash bags, saving money in the long-term). The Munchkin Step Diaper Pail gets rave reviews for odor-control (even when it’s open!) but it does require the use of its proprietary bags, which are more expensive than buying regular trash bags long-term. I don’t think you can’t go very wrong with any of these choices, though – ultimately, it will smell a lot better. 😉

Feeding Essentials

nursing/feeding PILLOW

I found that using a nursing pillow was super helpful both when I was breastfeeding and when I was bottle feeding our son – so it was definitely an essential in our house. I really liked using the Boppy pillow, and found it helpful to buy 2 covers to be able to wash one when needed.

Another unexpected benefit of having a nursing pillow is that it can be so helpful for guests holding the baby. We used it almost all the time when friends and family came to visit in those early months. Using the Boppy pillow was a comfier way for many of them to hold our son – plus I found it’s especially helpful when you have younger kids holding the baby.

BURP CLOTHS

I loved using these Burt’s Bees burp cloths because they were thick enough to be really absorbent yet really soft and gentle to the touch. I relied on them pretty much exclusively, but I also kept a few of these extra thick flannel burp cloths on hand for some occasionally super messy situations.

Bottles

With our son, we really loved using Dr. Brown’s bottles. They were great, easy to clean in the dishwasher (though I recommend this dishwasher basket for putting its various parts in) and held up so well that we’re going to re-use them with our baby on the way.

Another great option that I’ve heard so many good things about are these Comotomo bottles that are made of silicone, are soft, easy to clean, and have received numerous recognitions. If I didn’t already own Dr. Brown’s bottles, I would definitely check these out for my baby!

DRYING RACK

If you’re using a bottle regularly or formula feeding your baby, you end up having tons of bottles and accessories everywhere – so it’s helpful to have a place to easily corral everything together. I went with the popular Boon Grass Drying Rack and that’s worked well for us.

Back-up formula (for breast-feeding mamas)

I wasn’t prepared for the possibility that breastfeeding might not work out for me, so when we began supplementing with formula a few weeks in, per my pediatrician’s recommendation – I felt pretty overwhelmed at all the formula options in my sleep-deprived state. I’ve learned it’s important to have one can of a formula that you feel comfortable feeding your baby on hand… just in case.

NURSING ESSENTIALS

Although I initially tried (so hard!) to breastfeed – I stopped after about a month because my son wasn’t gaining enough weight, I didn’t seem to have a great supply, and he was having difficulty latching – so we ended up switching to formula. Because I only breastfed for a month, I’m not listing any nursing recommendations since I don’t feel I spent enough time using them to be able to give good recommendations – but there’s lots of great recommendations out there online or by asking around`.

That said, I’m going to give breastfeeding another try. If all goes well with breastfeeding this time around – I’ll write a post about nursing essentials and update this list later. 😉

(Also – my best advice if you’re hoping to breastfeed is to ask the lactation specialists at your hospital lots of questions while you’re there with your newborn, and to check if your insurance covers home visits from a lactation specialist because that can be super helpful in the weeks after bringing baby home. I had no idea that was a possibility and wish I’d known the first time around.)

Nursery (OR SLEEPING AREA) Essentials

White Noise MAchine

A white noise machine is definitely one of my most used & loved items for baby! Essentially, since its quite loud in the womb, the sound of white noise is comforting and can help babies fall asleep quicker and longer. It can also help minimize some of the ambient sounds in your house. (You’ll just want to ensure that the sound isn’t louder than 50 decibels and is placed farther than 200 centimeters away, which is what the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends)

Personally, we’ve loved using the Yogasleep Dohm Classic White Noise Machine (which at 6.5 feet away, at its lowest setting measures 41.5 dBA). We’ve used this with our son since he was a newborn and still use it overnight to help muffle our sounds around the house while he’s falling asleep.

Another popular option is the Hatch Baby Rest, which is a combination sound machine, night light, and time-to-rise trainer that many parents swear by.

Glider/rocker/Recliner

I highly recommend a comfortable glider/rocker/recliner because it can make feeding and soothing your baby a much more enjoyable experience. If you’re able to go to a store and sit in some gliders/recliners before purchasing, I highly recommend that to see what feels most comfortable. I went to BuyBuyBaby, which had lots of chairs on display to sit and test out – and found that for my height (5’2″) this glider felt most comfortable. I loved using that glider for the first few months!

We later ended up buying a recliner because my son was having a terrible time sleeping outside of our arms and we were spending long, long hours sitting in it. It was especially handy when I was sleep training my son and I literally slept in the recliner (alone) for a few nights while my son slept in his crib next to me as I gently shushed and comforted him until he was comfortable sleeping on his own.

Also, if your chair doesn’t come with an ottoman – I would definitely consider buying a footrest or ottoman, especially if you plan to breastfeed. I found it to be much more comfortable with one!

Night Light

A soft night-light worked great in my son’s nursery for multiple reasons – first, he prefers having a little bit of light overnight, but also because when I was still feeding him overnight, the night light gave just enough light for me to feed him without turning on brighter lights that would inevitably keep us both up longer than we wanted to.

There’s lots of options out there, but I’ve really liked this night light and we’ve used it for years. I especially like that according to their website, its “proprietary long wavelength LED source promotes sleep, will not affect sleep hormone melatonin production.”

Another popular option is the Hatch Baby Rest, which is a combination sound machine, night light, and time-to-rise trainer.

Hamper

I found it’s much easier to keep all of baby’s dirty laundry separate from any other household laundry (especially because it can be wet and quite dirty) so having a hamper next to wherever you tend to change baby is super helpful. There’s lots of cute prints and colors available available at different stores online (I bought ours in a blue print similar to this one) and I’ve always seen a great selection & price for nursery hampers at Home Goods.

health & Safety Essentials

Laundry Detergent

I loved using this gentle Dreft detergent on my son’s clothes for his first year, mainly because it smells so amazing – but any other gentle (i.e. free and clear) detergent would also work (this is what I’m currently using on my toddler’s clothes.)

Nail file/clippers

During those early weeks, a newborn’s nails can get long so quick but can also be so hard to clip! My pediatrician recommended using a nail file for those first several weeks, and then later switching to a nail clipper once it was easier. I loved using this Friday Baby nail clipper (and still use it today with our son!) and this set includes a nail file as well.

Thermometer

I think most parents agree that the thought of using a rectal thermometer on your baby sounds horrible, but I’ve found that most pediatricians/nurses will ask you to take your baby’s temperature using a rectal thermometer if your baby has a fever in those first ~3-6 months because rectal thermometers will give the most accurate reading.

So, although hopefully you never have to use it, it’s important to have on hand. The Kinsa QuickCare Smart Thermometer is a great thermometer that I bought especially for those first 6 months. It’s highly rated for accuracy, but I especially like it for those early months because it has a soft, flexible design in the event you do have to take a rectal temperature. It also takes oral and armpit temperatures so it can be used beyond those early months too.

I also bought this HoMedics Non-Contact Infrared Forehead Thermometer to use after those 6 months because I found my son was much squirmier as he got older, so having a non-contact option was really helpful to have too.

Nasal aspirator & saline SPRAY

The first time your baby has a stuffy nose, this nasal aspirator will become a lifesaver. Almost all moms I know swear by this thing – plus it’s much easier to use and clean, and also has no chance of going in too far like the bulb aspirator you’ll get from the hospital. I also found that pairing this with a quick squirt of saline spray beforehand really helps to relieve stuffiness too.

Humidifier

Another lifesaver during your baby’s first (and subsequent) stuffy noses/colds is a humidifier. We definitely saw an improvement in our son’s sleep during colds when we left a humidifier running in his nursery. We’ve used this humidifier since our son was born and it’s worked really well for us (and it’s now available in this newer model that’s easier to clean and has better reviews) – but if you have more room in your budget and are looking for an option that uses mold-free technology, check out Canopy.

Medication

You’ll need to first check with your pediatrician to see what they recommend, but I found it helpful to have a bottle of infant acetaminophen and ibuprofen on hand as a fever reducer stored away in our medicine cabinet, in case we ever needed it.

Baby Monitor

There are so many baby monitor options that have come out in the last several years. Although this might not be an essential for every parent – I found that personally it gave me so much peace of mind.

Monitors are available in two options – they use WIFI or via local video feed. We preferred a monitor that uses local video feed, and we bought the previous version of the Infant Optics DXR-8 PRO – and we loved it! We’ve used it just about every single day since my son was born. I also like the option to talk to your baby through the monitor – it’s helped me soothe my son from afar when he’s gotten up in the middle of the night, etc. I also love being able to easily hand the monitor over to grandma or whoever is babysitting versus having it as an app on a phone. Highly recommend! (I’d recommend the newest version versus the older version that we had because of its longer battery life and reception range that’s extended further by 50%.)

Bathing Essentials

Infant Bathtub

We ended up using 3 different bath tubs for our son to fit his growing needs until he was able to bathe unassisted in the tub. For those very early weeks/months, we used a sturdy bathtub (similar to this tub) with a sloped back that helped baby stay put. Next, we went through several months of bathing him in this Munchkin Sit and Soak Baby Bath Tub which fit in our kitchen sink – and it’s probably my favorite way of bathing a baby (once they are able to sit up a little) because it’s such a back-saver to bathe a baby standing instead of crouched over. Once he was a little too big for this, we bathed him in our tub using this seat until he was able to sit confidently in the tub without it.

Kneeling Mat

If you’re giving your baby a bath in a tub, I highly recommend a kneeling mat. It will really save your knees in the long run. I used this cute mat since we started bathing my son in the tub and still use it!

Baby shampoo/soap & Lotion/Oil

After the initial sponge bath period, we used this really gentle soap on our son for his first few months. Then, we switched to this Honest Company shampoo + body wash which is also gentle but bubbles up more, so it’s especially great for baths in the tub.

For lotion, any gentle lotion will work. I really liked this California Baby lotion for its super gentle ingredients, and I’m also really impressed by the gentle ingredients and great value of this Hello Bello lotion (also available at Walmart) that I recently ordered for my son.

Comb/Brush

I found a soft brush to be helpful not only in getting my son’s hair into place, but also with helping to avoid/reduce cradle cap. This is the set that’s worked well for us ever since those early days.

baby gear & travel Essentials

Car seat

We originally used the Graco Snugride Infant Car Seat during our newborn’s first month or so. It was definitely a great choice – it kept him safe and comfortable and worked well.

I ended up having pretty bad back pain though, so after hearing so many people rave about the Nuna Pipa Lite LX Infant Cars Seat (the lightest infant car seat on the market at just under 6 pounds), I finally caved and we got it. It was just as wonderful as I hoped! Super cozy and safe for baby, and its lightness did help my back. I also love the dream drape cover, which pulls down to keep out the sun whenever my son was asleep on the go – so handy! I’m a huge fan of this car seat.

And if you’re someone who lives in a city or does lots of ride-sharing, the Doona gets great reviews since it goes from car seat to stroller at the click-of-a-button!

backseat car mirror

I found it incredibly helpful and a big relief to have a mirror in the backseat so that I could catch a quick glimpse of my son while I was driving. This is the one that we used all the way until we switched our son to a forward position. (And of course, as with anything, check with your pediatrician about the safety of using one.)

Stroller

We initially used the Graco Modes Stroller before we switched cars seats. It was a great stroller and I really liked using it. It was a mid-range price, very comfortable and had ample storage. I was so happy I could pass it along to a cousin once we switched to a different cars seat/stroller combo because it’s a really good stroller.

After we switched to the Nuna Pipa Lite LX Infant Cars Seat, we ended up getting the Nuna Demi Grow Stroller because we wanted the option to have 2 kids in the stroller at once, and be able to go on a wider variety of terrains. Like all Nuna products I’ve tried, it’s very well made, works seamlessly, and looks beautiful too. Plenty of storage space too. I definitely recommend it if you’re thinking about using it for 2 kids – but I want to give a quick caveat. If you do think you will only have one child, I’d recommend another single stroller – simply because it will be much lighter than this version, and when you are constantly taking a stroller in and out of your trunk .. every pound makes a difference. 😉 Also, now that my son is 2, he rarely wants to (aka hates) sitting in a stroller – so unless you plan to have your children really close in age, you may want to consider the possibility that even with 2 kids, you may only have one that will realistically use the stroller. Hope that helps!

Baby wrap or carrier

I’ve found that choosing a baby wrap or carrier really has a lot to do with personal preference – so if possible, try some on before the baby comes, borrow from a friend, or consider buying one used because it’s hard to know what you will truly like and use until you try it with your baby.

Though many people swear by baby wraps, I personally couldn’t stand them. It’s a lot of wrapping and my baby was not the type to calmly wait around – so I definitely preferred a baby carrier. Once our son was a little bigger (I think around 4-6 months) we started using the Ergobaby Omni 360 Carrier with him, and we loved using that!

For our baby on the way, I’m ordering this BabyBjorn Baby Carrier Mini to use during the first 6 months, and then we’ll switch to the Ergobaby Carrier (since it’s designed to carry more weight). I’m so excited to try the BabyBjorne carrier because I’ve heard such great things about it for the newborn stage, plus I’m a big fan of BabyBjorne products.

my Top 5 most used & loved items

Out of everything we were gifted and bought for our son, there were definitely some surprises in what we ended up using the most – and from what I’ve heard and read, these 5 products have been widely loved by lots of other babies/parents too. If you’re looking for some solid recommendations for your registry or for a gift, these are the baby registry items I most often recommend to friends & family:

Baby Bjorne Bouncer – A true lifesaver. My son practically lived in this bouncer during his first year (he started using it frequently around 2.5 months) and he used it right until he reached the weight limit. What’s nice is that the bounce is controlled by the baby, so it’s really comforting to them. When they’re tiny and still barely bouncing, it’s a soft, gentle place for them to sit and watch from… and as they get a little bigger and start to pump their legs a little harder, they enjoy the bouncing more. It’s super handy whenever you’re trying to get something done that requires both hands – like cooking, unloading a dishwasher, or even just trying to eat dinner. I’ve heard lots of babies love this bouncer too, and it’s for sure one of my top essentials for that first year. (It’s also easy to clean, folds up easily which makes it convenient to take to other people’s houses, and is light to carry.)
Boppy Pillow – This pillow was super helpful not only for bottle feeding or breastfeeding my son, but it was actually used by so many of our guests too! Especially in those early months, when friends/family came to visit our son, using the Boppy made it much comfier for many of our guests to hold him – especially for younger kids. One of my favorite memories is of my nephew (around 8 years old at the time) with the Boppy on his lap, smiling as he held my son. We used that pillow nearly every day for so long – it was definitely a great purchase!
Aden + Anais muslin blankets – Technically, these are swaddle blankets – but I’ve used them from the newborn days all the way until now (my toddler grew attached to them and uses them as a blanky these days) for a million different uses. These blankets are breathable (which is key if you’re using it as a swaddle), the perfect soft texture, wash really well, and hold up tremendously well. They’re on the pricier side, but in my experience they get used a ton so I find them to be completely worth it. Although we used these initially as a swaddle, we quickly used these for just about everything else. When my son was on our lap and needed a little extra warmth, we put this on him; for inevitable spit-ups, this was always in arms-reach and worked as a burp cloth replacement; and if we were walking my son and it was really sunny, I could put this over the stroller. I could go on and on… This was definitely one my most used items from my registry.
Baby Brezza Formula Pro Advanced Baby Formula Dispenser – If you formula feed your baby, I can’t recommend this formula maker enough! We used this every single day, multiple times each day during our baby’s first year – and it really helped give us that extra help that makes such a difference when you’re making a bottle of formula at 3am. At the push of a button, the machine mixes together the correct formula amount with warm water (you select how warm), and it dispenses right into the bottle. It adds so much convenience at a time when sleep-deprivation is challenging. 100% one of the best and most used items we used during our first year.
Teething Toys – When my son started teething (around 5 months), finding a teether that he could easily grasp at that age was a bit of a challenge until I found the very lightweight Nuby Silicone Teether and the Comotomo Silicone Teether. These two were lifesavers! Both are great and target slightly different areas – but both allowed him to independently get some relief. Highly recommend! (Also – these make a great gift!)

New Parent Tips & RESOURCES

If this is your first baby & you feel a little lost on changing diapers, swaddling, and more – check out a baby class in the months leading up to your due date. I hadn’t changed a diaper in some time before my baby came along, and I really found it helpful! There’s also some great online options as well…
Around 6 months, many babies will begin eating solids – and taking an infant CPR class during pregnancy can also be a great idea because things will be busy after little one comes! My husband & I took a class at a local hospital and it was definitely worth it. You can check out classes through your local hospital, American Red Cross, or even online.
Prior to becoming a parent, I had no idea I needed to help my baby practice tummy time multiple times a day from the time time they came home from the hospital. After a while, you’ll find what works best for your baby – but a few good resources are these tummy time basic FAQ’s as well as any good videos (like on YouTube) you can find of babies doing tummy time.
You’ll likely hear about infant sleep safety at pediatrician appointments and along the way but in case you ever need a refresher, you can check out the American Academy of Pediatrics’ infant sleep safety guidelines here, here or here. You can also read about how long to safely use a swaddle with your baby here.
Sleep training books – One thing I wish I’d read up on before having my son was good sleep habits for babies. I was somewhat under the illusion that my baby would naturally figure it out… and that was definitely not the case! Around 4 months I broke down after my son was having such a hard time sleeping anywhere outside of my husband/my arms most nights… and so in desperation one night, I bought this book. I read the parts that were most relevant to our struggles, and after a few nights of sleeping in the recliner (alone) in my son’s nursery while he slept in his crib next to me (as I gently shushed him back to sleep from the recliner several times throughout the night), my son finally slept on his own in his crib. It was a game-changer! Though I had success with this book (which also has a handy chart of average sleep times by age that I still reference to this day), I’ve also heard good things about this and this book as well. Arming yourself with any knowledge about good sleep habits before baby comes will be such a gift to you once that baby comes!
If possible, find a pediatrician’s office that’s close-by/convenient for frequent visits. You’ll be taking baby to at least 7 pediatric visits in that first year alone, and it will continue to be quite frequent until about age 2. Especially in those first months, it’s so helpful to have a short drive for those check-ups. With our son, after his first check-up (around a few days old), we ended up needing to come back every day to have him weighed until he was gaining weight at a rate they were comfortable with. Every time we went, I was so glad that we’d lucked out (by chance) with an office that was so close to home. It was also great for those times that he was sick and needed to be seen same-day. If you’re able to find a pediatrician’s office that you like and trust that’s nearby – it’s definitely worth it!
Most importantly, it’s totally ok to feel overwhelmed at this stage when you are coming up with your registry – especially the first time around! At the end of the day, I found that what others told me was true – all your newborn truly needs is some diapers, a car seat, some clothes, a safe place to sleep, and something to drink (formula, breastmilk, etc.)… plus the care & love you will give your little peanut. No parent has every little thing on hand when baby arrives – but thankfully, you can order most things you need via delivery or you can ask a friend/loved one to pickup what you need. It can feel a little scary to be fully in charge of a little human, especially that first time… but I think it’s worth remembering that feeling of being unsure if you have everything just means you care deeply about your baby’s wellbeing. You’re on the right path. You got this!

I hope this baby registry list was helpful and gave you some ideas of how to feel a little more prepared for the wonderful joys ahead!