Baby Registry Basics (and What I Would Have Done Differently)

Oh, baby registries… the most daunting of tasks for most pregnant women (and that’s really saying a lot!). There are so many options out there! And it’s so much more difficult to make choices when you’ve never even used the items before. I probably spent hundreds of hours researching baby products as I was building my baby registry. As part of my research I loved to read other mom’s blogs, so I figured I should pay it forward by sharing my own thoughts and experiences with our baby products.

I originally wrote up this list for a few friends when Jackson was only a few months old, so the focus is primarily on newborn supplies, but that is exactly what I think is most necessary for a baby registry. There is so much stuff to consider that I wouldn’t recommend worrying too much about phases that are further in the future (i.e. starting solid foods, convertible car seats, etc.). If you know what you want, then by all means go for it, but if you’re trying to cut your list down or save time, then focus on what’s first—the newborn phase.

I have since gone through and added to and edited my commentary as I’ve used the products longer. Jackson is currently 13 months old, so I’ve spent a little over a year with these products. However, my opinions are of course unique to me and my family, so please just take them as such—recommendations, not requirements. You know yourself and your situation best, so above all, I recommend that you go with your gut!

And now, without further ado… Here are my baby registry recommendations:

GEAR

Need:

• Car seat – There are many safe, great options out there. You can’t really go wrong as long as you make sure your baby will be safe!
  • We got the Chicco Keyfit 30 for its safety ratings, and it was great.
  • Jackson outgrew this around 10 months of age, so then we transitioned him to the Graco Extend2Fit Convertible Car Seat, and we have been very happy with this as well. (It was truly so helpful to have the removable car seat for those early days, though.)
  • We also have a Cosco Convertible Car Seat in our extra car and for travel (it can go on airplanes if need be!) and in grandparents’ cars. Again, no complaints! And I love how affordable it is ($54), especially because we only use it occasionally.
• Stroller – There are so many factors to consider that I really can’t recommend just one…
  • We started with the Chicco Bravo Stroller while Jackson was a newborn, and it is great: lightweight, easy to fold, easy to travel with, and has ample room underneath for storage.
  • I found myself wanting a jogger once Jackson could sit up and once I wanted to start running again. We then purchased the BOB Revolution Flex, and WOW, I don’t think I can ever go back. It is so easy to push and it’s a much smoother ride for Jackson. But it is pretty bulky and doesn’t fold up easily, so I still appreciate having a lighter-weight option.
  • Other considerations…
    • The one thing I wish I did differently: I wish I didn’t feel tied to the stroller that matches our car seat. There are many brands that have adapters to the most common car seat. I would still maybe get two options—one lightweight for traveling and one jogger for daily use around the neighborhood—but I would feel more comfortable leaning into each of those specialties instead of trying to find ONE car seat/stroller combo that does it all, because no travel system is going to check every box.
    • Should I purchase a used stroller? (Or other baby gear, for that matter?) I think this is a great option! In many cases you can buy new fabric or upholstery and replace that on a used stroller, which will save you money overall and still make your final product like-new!
    • Should I get a stroller that easily converts into a double? This is certainly a personal decision that depends on how close together you are trying to have your kids and what your budget is. We decided that “we will cross that bridge when we come to it,” and we just got the single. I would also imagine that you could take advantage of the resale market while exchanging a single stroller for a double stroller to lower the cost.
• Baby seats/swings/rockers – We had some sort of seat on every level of the house and used them all of the time! You just need somewhere to set your baby down when you need to go to the bathroom, eat breakfast, etc.
  • Seats – We liked the vibrating seat that came with our Pack n’ Play the best at first, and then grew into loving the BabyBjorn Bouncer because it sat him upright (which was good for right after feedings) and was easy to transport.
  • Swings/Rockers – We had this swing, which was certainly helpful at times. I have also heard wonderful things about rockers. I will say… I think you could get by without a swing or rocker. They may be more important to have for difficult or colicky babies (which, thankfully, was not ours), but if that ends up being the case for you, you could make a last-minute decision to buy one. For the most part I feel like these just take up a lot of room when a simpler seat would be fine.

Depends on your situation:

• Extra car seat base – This is helpful if two different cars will frequently be used for transport, because you don’t want to have to switch the base out between cars a lot.
• Car mirror – I am WAY too curious to not have this, haha… I literally cannot imagine not being able to check on my baby to see if he is sleeping or why he is coughing, etc.
• Baby carrier – This is helpful if you want to wear your baby and have some free hands to get stuff done. We got a strappy carrier, but I know a lot of people like the fabric ones. I think the fabric ones would be better for supporting newborns, which is probably why I didn’t wear my baby very much… (This is something I want to do differently next time around!)
• Travel crib + sheets – If you’re going to be traveling places without rentals (i.e. family’s homes). We have a traditional Graco Pack ‘n Play that has great features like a changing table and vibrating seat (which, as mentioned above, was great for the newborn days). I could also see myself liking a lightweight version like the Zoe Cloud or BabyBjorn.

SLEEPING

Need:

• Velcro/zip swaddles!!! – This is the #1 thing I regret not putting more of on my registry. We had tons of swaddle blankets, but those can become loose in the crib and increase the risk of SIDS. And babies sleep sooooo much better when they are swaddled because of their startle reflex. So I highly, highly recommend getting a lot of zip/velcro swaddles (because babies go through laundry very quickly and you don’t want to be short on sleep aids). We liked the Halo brand best and also SwaddleMe for the first month. I’ve also heard the Ollie swaddle is very good. Make sure you have the small sizes ready to go at first, and then you may want to wait and see what you like before getting the bigger sizes.
• Sound machine! – Please don’t be afraid of white noise (and LOUD white noise, at that). All of the research points to how helpful it is for facilitating sleep! We love the Hatch for daily use at home and the Rohm for on-the-go.
• Monitor – Radio or WiFi, that is the question… This is another one that I struggle to answer because we ended up with both, and I really like both. (However, I will admit that I am obsessed with monitoring and data! I recorded my baby’s sleep times through his entire first year, so most people probably aren’t as obsessive and thus monitor-needy as me…)
  • The radio monitor is easier to check in the middle of the night and hand off to babysitters because it is separate from our phones. It also stays connected if our WiFi is having issues, so it’s a bit more reliable. We have the Infant Optics DXR-8. It does the job, but sometimes I wonder if there are better, more affordable options…
  • The WiFi monitor is great because I can see it anytime, whether I forgot the other monitor upstairs or I’m away from the house entirely. I am extra obsessed with ours because we got the Nanit, and its smart software is perhaps my absolute favorite baby invention! I could go on for days about the Nanit camera (I may have to dedicate an entire post to it), but for now I’ll leave it at this: it can monitor your baby’s breathing and alert you if your baby stops breathing (how INCREDIBLE! I wish I had this from the beginning!), and it calculates your baby’s sleep and wake times so you don’t have to obsessively track the monitor (if you’re anything like me). It’s not always perfectly reliable, which is why I also like having the radio monitor, but I would still HIGHLY recommend it! (And you could always do a cheap non-video monitor as a back-up instead of another expensive video monitor.)
• Crib
• Crib mattress – You could easily keep this simple, but if you’re extra worried about SIDS, the breathable Newton mattress looks SO COOL. We did not know of this until after Jackson was born, but I would love to have it if we have another baby. It’s definitely not necessary, but I just love anything that soothes the nerves of new parents. (Plus it’s washable! Honestly, WELL DONE to whoever invented this item.)
• Crib sheets (and possibly mattress protectors) – If your baby is anything like ours, you’re probably going to want at least 2, probably 3… #somuchspitup

Depends on your situation:

• Bassinet – If you want the baby to sleep in your room at first.
• Portable monitor – If you’re going to be traveling and don’t want to disassemble the nursery monitor.

Optional, but helpful:

• Pacifiers – HIGHLY RECOMMEND. We like the MAM Glow in the Dark and Bibs pacifiers the best.
  • We also loved the WubbaNub pacifiers once Jackson could use his hands better (~2-4 months), because the weight and size helped keep the pacifier near his mouth when he was in the car seat, and he was thus better able to replace it by himself. However, since they are a plush toy, WubbaNubs should not be used for unsupervised sleep in the first year. (Regular pacifiers are safe though.)
• Swaddle transition sleep sack – You don’t need this until probably around 4 months or so (every baby is different), but we loved the Zippadee-Zip sleep sack for transitioning out of the swaddle. I know others prefer Merlin’s Magic Sleep Suit to help prevent rolling.
• Fan – Our pediatrician recommended having a fan in our nursery that blows air towards the baby at the level of their face because studies show it decreases the risk of SIDS.
• Portable bassinet

FEEDING

Regardless of your approach…

Need:

• Burp cloths – As many as possible! I think we had about 24 and I was doing laundry almost twice a week to keep up…
• Bottles – Even if you’re breastfeeding, you definitely want to have some bottles and back-up breastmilk or formula on hand in case something happens. (For example, around week 3 I got mastitis and had a terrible fever with such a high temperature that Jackson refused to nurse from me; pumping or formula and bottle-feeding were our only options.)

Optional, but helpful:

• Bottle warmer – You’ll want one that works quickly and can also defrost frozen breastmilk, like this one. I also think this portable bottle warmer would be useful if you were bottle-feeding a lot.
• Bottle brush & drying rack

If you’re breastfeeding…

Would highly recommend:

• Lanolin/nipple cream
• Breast pads
• Double electric breast pump – Some insurances will cover a pump. Be sure to check with yours!
• Milk catcher – At the beginning I used this throughout the day to save the extra milk that leaked from the opposite side. It’s better for the nipples (especially at first) because it gives them room to breathe and minimizes the milk build-up in breast pads (which can increase the risk of infection).
• Hand pump – This is helpful if you want to pump just a little (for example, if you’re feeling engorged), and it’s much easier to clean than a full electric pump. I also recommend using it on the opposite side while breastfeeding to save extra milk—it gets more milk, but it’s also tougher on the nipples than the Milkies (above), so I thought it was best after a few months.
• Breast milk storage bags – Be sure to lay them flat when you freeze them so that a bunch of them will more easily fit in the freezer 🙂

Optional, but helpful:

• Nursing pillow(s) – I didn’t even use mine (both the My Breast Friend and the Boppy) at first because I just used normal pillows, so I don’t thinks these are 100% necessary. But I did start using them when Jackson got bigger because they are firmer. I don’t have a preference between the MBF and the Boppy; I just kept one upstairs and one downstairs.
• Nursing cover – I didn’t like using mine but it was helpful if we had people over or if I had to nurse on-the-go. I like those that also double as a car seat cover, like those from Copper Pearl or Milk Snob.

If you’re pumping a lot…

Optional, but helpful:

• Breastmilk cooler & ice pack
• An extra set of pumping parts
• Quick-clean bags
• Wearable breast pump – I got the Willow, which I loved because, although it didn’t get quite as much output, I could get stuff done while pumping. I would recommend seeing if your insurance will cover a wearable pump like the Willow or Elvie if you plan on pumping a lot (i.e. working mamas!). If not, I would only recommend this splurge if you’re really committed to pumping.

If you’re formula-feeding…

I primarily nursed Jackson through his first year, so I am not an expert in this area. I really love Bumble Baby for feeding resources (or any baby tips, for that matter!), so I would recommend checking out her blog or other resources for more about formula feeding.

FUTURE FEEDING (SOLIDS)

• High chair – There are a lot of great options out there, and I think it totally depends on your personal preference.
• Portable high chair – If you like to eat out and/or travel and/or don’t want to take up too much space with a full high chair.
  • Bumbo Multi Seat – Great for new sitters, and then has a removable insert for when they grow. We keep this in our car and use it for outdoor meals or meals at the grandparents’.
  • Inglesina Fast Table Chair – We keep this on our countertop at home and then bring it when we travel to the family lake house.
  • Folding Chair – This one just looks so cute! So it’s on my wish list too, but I just can’t justify a third portable high chair at this point… (lol)
• Bibs – A few silicone bibs with food catchers are a must! And then BibaDo bibs are my favorite for when the baby start feeding themselves, because they protect the whole outfit and the high chair too.
• This cup – It’s just simply the best one.

DIAPERING

Need:

• Changing table (or dresser)
• Changing pad
• Changing pad sheets (at least 2, probably 3)
• Diaper bag – Whatever you think is cute 🙂 I wouldn’t worry too much about functionality or pockets because you can always get an insert or use smaller bags to help organize.
• Diapers – I recommend getting size 1 and up! We thought Newborns fit better at first (Jackson was 7 lbs when we brought him home from the hospital), but they were causing leaks all over the place. We didn’t realize it was a size issue for weeks! So when in doubt, size up.
• Wipes – Water Wipes are great for the first few weeks since they tell you to only use water on a newborn.
• Diaper cream
• Diaper pail

Optional, but helpful:

• Silicone diaper cream applicator
• Changing table organization supplies (baskets, caddy, whatever…)
• Hand sanitizer

HYGIENE

• Baby bath tub
• Bath rinser
• Baby towel
• Baby washcloths
• Baby soap
• Baby lotion
• Baby oil
• Nail file (would recommend over clippers!)
• Nasal aspirator
• Hairbrush
• Humidifier
• Thermometer
• Gas relief drops
• Baby Tylenol
• Laundry detergent for sensitive skin
• Stain remover

If you’re having a boy who will get circumcised:

• Vaseline – It’s easiest to apply in the form of squeezable tubes.

CLOTHES

• Sleepers – Most people will give you cute outfits, but it’s so much easier to dress a baby in a sleeper, especially ZIP sleepers (rather than snaps)… or even better, MAGNETIC sleepers. I would recommend registering for more of these in a variety of sizes rather than pieces of outfits (onesies, pants, socks, mittens, etc.).
• Pants – Everyone likes to give unique onesies, but the baby needs pants too, so you may want to get a few pairs of neutral pants that can go with the cute onesies.
• Small hangers
• Dresser

FOR MAMA

• Nursing bras – A lot of them! Milk drips on them pretty easily, and you may get postpartum night sweats for the first few weeks after birth, so you’ll go through laundry quickly.
• Nursing clothes & pajamas
• Hands-free pumping bra(s)
• Maxi pads – Pro tip: put a few in the freezer for those first few days home…
• Dermoplast
• Perineal spray bottle

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Don’t Forget

And last, but certainly not least, I would recommend opening, washing, assembling, and figuring out how to use EVERYTHING before the baby comes! There is a slight learning curve to a lot of items, and all of that adds up to be a very large learning curve if you have to do it all at once. Here’s a basic checklist:

Assemble and practice using:

• Car seat
• Stroller
• Baby seats/bouncers/swings
• Baby carrier(s)
• Breast pump (but don’t actually pump pre-baby because I’ve heard it can induce early labor?)
• Bottle warmer
• Sound machine(s)
• Monitor(s)
• Humidifier

Wash and sanitize all feeding supplies:

• Breast pump accessories
• Breast milk catchers
• Bottles
• Pacifiers

Wash all fabrics with sensitive laundry detergent and extra rinse cycles:

• Clothes
• Crib sheets
• Changing pad sheets
• Nursing pillow covers
• Nursing cover
• Burp cloths
• Swaddle blankets
• Mom’s nursing clothes

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Okay, PHEW! That is all… for now…

To all of the future moms (and dads) out there, good luck! Parenthood is one of the hardest jobs out there, but you can do hard things. Please reach out for help when you need it, though, because no one is supposed to it alone!

To all current parents out there, I’d love to hear what you’ve loved (or hated) when it comes to baby products! Feel free to drop a comment below with your best recommendation. 🙂