Baby Registry Must Haves
Congrats mama! The time has come for you to put together a baby registry! Or maybe a friend of yours is pregnant and you are looking to find out the baby registry must haves. When I was registering for my first child I remember walking into the store, and being hit with a feeling of anxiety and overwhelm at the options and multiple brands to choose from. “What will the baby actually need?”… “What brands are worth the extra money?”… “I wonder what he/she will use the most…” etc. Also, before having my own kids, I remember not having a clue what I should get my friend when I attended my first baby shower.
While researching what we were going to need for a newborn, I was surprised to see most of the articles I came across were from companies trying to promote their products and not from real parents who have experienced the sleepless nights, poopy diapers and spit up. I wanted advice from other moms on what I truly needed. So my goal is to shed some light and tips on our most used products and baby registry must haves!
Keep in mind that every baby is different. What seemed like an essential with my two kiddos, might not be the case with your own child. Now that I have two kids (ages 3 &1) I feel like I’ve gotten a good grip on what our essentials really are, and thought it would be helpful to share my master list.
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Baby Registry Must Haves
Crib/bassinet
This one is obvious, but you need a place for your baby to sleep. Our crib & bassinet was made by my father in law, so fortunately I never needed to add this onto my registry. If I didn’t have a crib already, I would pick this one! There are many different sleeping options such as a bassinet, Moses basket or co-sleeper. Some parents even use a pack N play that has a removable bassinet feature. These are all great for the first few months of life to keep them close for those middle of the night feedings. You really just need a flat, safe surface for sleep with minimal things that could obtrude their airway. We transferred our kiddos to a crib around 3.5 months for night-time sleep. Since they were already taking some naps in there throughout the day, it made the transition less difficult. If you aren’t doing a full nursery room, or just don’t have a ton of space you could also do a cute mini crib like this one.
Car Seat
They won’t let you leave the hospital (for good reason) without this item. I highly recommend this infant car seat which will last until they outgrow it (30 lb. or 30 inches tall). This car seat has the best reviews, is easy to transfer in and out of the car and is one of the safest (and cutest) car seats on the market. We used the same infant seat for both kids. Now that John William has outgrown his infant seat, we went with this convertible carseat. It’s called the Chicco Next Fit zip & we chose it because of it’s safety ratings, reclining positions, comfortable design features and the cover actually ZIPS off for easy cleaning! They definitely made this car seat with busy moms in mind! You can click here to see the installation & how well it fits in our small car. Highly recommend this Chicco car seat.
Nursing Pillow
These pillows are a must have for new parents. I actually had two different kinds that I used. I used this one the most during the first few months when she was so small. The harder cushion and back support helped when I was nursing in different rooms around my house. Even family members were putting it to use to hold or bottle feed the baby. However, I did find that I used this one most often while breastfeeding in my rocking chair. I kept it within arms reach. It helps to position the baby correctly to latch on and nurse. It also comes in handy for bottle-feeding or to set behind them when they are learning to sit up.
RELATED: The Truth About Breastfeeding
Comfy Chair
This probably should be number one on the list since it is our most used item by far! A great comfy chair is SO worth the investment. We got this “reclina-rocker” from La-Z-Boy in tan and I use it for nursing, rocking, reading book, lounging and late night feedings. I recommend picking a rocking chair/glider that isn’t only meant for nurseries, but one that will transition into other rooms when your kids are older. Choose a chair that is comfortable, can rock & recline instead of the uncomfortable nursery gliders… trust me, you’ll thank me later!
Swing
This swing was a total lifesaver for us. You can’t always be holding the baby, so this was a safe place to put the baby down & helped soothe both babies when they were little. In the words of my husband when I asked him our most essential baby items, he said “for sure the swing, that thing saved our bacon.” Haha! I’d have to agree!
Nursing cover/car seat cover
I love this nursing cover because it covers well, is super soft, and comes in trendy patterns. It also has multiple uses and can be used as a car seat cover, scarf or stroller cart cover! I chose this brand because it was super comfy, stretchy and breathable. This is a must have item for busy moms who need to nurse on the go!
Stroller
I really enjoyed the stroller we chose. We chose this one because it had three real tire wheels, was so easy to manage (I could close it with one hand!) compact, and it was highly recommended to us. Originally, we were going to get this jogging stroller recommended by my running friends. But since neither of us are huge runners or go off-roading all that much we chose one similar, but way less bulky. The only downside I would say is that you need to get a car seat adapter to make sure the Chicco car seat we got can click into it easily. My brother and sister in-law actually got the travel system that went with their car seat and they love it. I still love our stroller, but a travel system like this one, built for the specific car seat you buy, might be the way to go.
Baby Monitor
I really wanted a video monitor that would allow me to see and hear the baby in the nursery. We have enjoyed this one that we could check in on our phone from anywhere and check on the baby. Love the feature and that it matches his nursery so well.
Baby Carrier/Wrap
These wraps are a must have if you would like to hold your baby close while having your hands free or are busy wrangling other little children. The first few months of life truly are the “fourth trimester”- where the new baby is still used to all of the comforts of the womb (muffled sounds, voices and movement). Most babies like to be comforted with being held tightly and enjoy the same movements as when they were in the womb. These wrap carriers are so convenient (just watch a YouTube video to know how to tie them) when they are little. It came in handy when I needed to get things done but they didn’t want to be put down. Or when I didn’t want to bring the stroller. It also helps to sooth them during those cranky nights around 8pm when most babies have their fussy period. Once they get a bit bigger and can support their head, I would recommend getting a structured carrier like this one that allows them to face out and adds more support.
Sound Machine
Like I mentioned earlier, most babies love the sound of the womb and that was definitely the case with Audrey. This sound machine was a life saver to help promote sleep and minimize the noise going on in the rest of our house! We use this for every nap and at night. They also have this portable one that you can take with you in the car or hook onto your stroller when they need to nap on the go. Genius!
Activity Gym
Audrey loved her activity gym and spent a lot of time there. We made sure to get one that would work for a girl AND a boy down the line! So glad we did! We got a ton of use out of this play mat for tummy time and discovery/play time. This is also where she first rolled over! For when they get a little older and can sit up, this bouncer is the best one for some fun entertainment.
Breast Pump/Bottles
When I needed to pump, I used this breast pump and stored the milk in these containers until she needed a bottle. Also, breastfeeding mamas do yourself a favor and get this portable pump/milk collector to place on the opposite side when nursing. I would sometimes get 2 oz of milk when using it & loved that I didn’t have to hook up to anything. It was such a great find.
When buying bottles, I would just register for 1-2 brands to try. Get the 5 oz ones first and see which nipple the baby will take. Once breastfeeding was established, we introduced the bottle around 1-2 months of age about once a week. That way she could get used to it for when I wasn’t around for a nursing session. Audrey Grace really liked these bottles and they were actually the first ones we introduced, so that was a huge win!
Diapers/ Wipes
This may seem obvious, but don’t forget to register for these! There are many different types, but I have become kind of brand loyal to Pampers swaddlers. We have found we like the fit, the absorbency and the feel of their diapers and wipes. They are soft, prevent leaks and have a stripe that turns a color of the diaper is wet. That’s super helpful when you are trying to narrow down the list to determine why the baby is crying! You can also use Amazon Family to get a 20% off subscription to diapers sent straight to your front door. You can click here for a 30-Day Free Trial
Changing pad/Wipeable cover
Chances are, you’ll be changing a lot of diapers in that first year of life and beyond. This changing pad and wipeable cover were so simple to use and keep clean. We put the pad on a changing table (or you could did a dresser that is the right height) for a quick diaper change.
Diaper Bag
This one is the best hands down! It’s a little expensive, but definitely a good investment. This will be one of your most used accessories for a while! I love that you can wear it as a back pack and it doesn’t look like your typical diaper bag. It comes with a changing pad a lots of extra space for things like diapers/wipes, rash cream, snacks, toys, etc. I think this one is worth the money! I did want to include the diaper bag my brother and sister in law use and love here. Its a really trendy and functional back pack diaper back.
Infant Bath
There are so many fancy newborn baths and seats, but I discovered that all you really need is a soft cushy sponge to lay them on when they can’t sit up on their own. We really enjoyed this infant sponge bather and it is super cheap and easy to wring out and keep clean. When she was able to sit up and didn’t like laying down to bathe, we used a bath seat similar to this one.
Body wash/shampoo
We really like this gentle organic body wash. I would stick to one similar to keep their delicate skin hydrated and soft. Also, make sure not to bathe them too often (esp in the winter time!) or it will dry out their sensitive skin. For shampoo, we like this one… just the smell of it brings me back to my child hood!
Zipper Onesies
We love these cotton zippered sleep and plays. These are basically pajamas, but during the first couple of months they practically live and play in them (hence the name). These are definitely a must have. Make sure you get the ones with zippers as they are much easier and quicker than snaps!
Nose Frida
A necessary purchase for when your child gets their first cold. These work WAY better than the bulbs that come in those safety kits. At first, these seem super weird! I totally get it. I assure you the filter works and when you hear your baby breath more comfortably and aren’t struggling to breastfeed you will know the importance of this item. Get some saline solution and then clear out their tiny little passage ways!
Another tip is to check out other friends registries for inspiration and direction. Be sure to register for items that will grow with the baby. Diapers and clothes in different sizes will be really appreciated down the road.
I suggest checking out different registry options and see who gives the best incentives. I have chosen to register through Target and Amazon. They give great completion discounts closer to the due date. If you register through Amazon, you get a free welcome package just for adding items to each category! Click the link to Shop Amazon – Create an Amazon Baby Registry
Hope this master list of newborn baby registry essentials is helpful to you as you start out on your parenting journey! If you have other children, I’d love to know what you found useful during their first year of life. Let’s help each other out, parent to parent!
If you are nearing the end of your pregnancy and want to know what you’ll need after delivery, click here to read my un-glamorous list of postpartum essentials. I also wrote about what I decided to include in my hospital bag the second time around here.
XOXO, Dorothy
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