The Ultimate Baby Registry Guide
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Friends and family are always excited and willing to give you and your baby gifts when you are pregnant. Though, I’m sure that any gift received is appreciated, you can help them out by specifying exactly what you’ll need for your baby with a well thought out baby registry. Being intentional about what you put on your baby registry can ensure that each gift received by a friend or family member is put to good use and there is less likelihood that there will be duplicate gifts. Another benefit of taking the time to compile a baby registry that is complete with everything you’ll need, is if you still have unpurchased items on your list, some stores allow you to have a discount for the remaining items when you close out the registry. With that said, when I was pregnant with my first child, I did so much research to find out what exactly I needed to fulfill my baby’s basic needs, as well as things that we anticipated needing as our child would grow and develop in the first year. So, if you are looking for the most complete, no nonsense baby registry, you have come to the right place! I have put together a list of some of my favorite items and all the general supplies you will need with a newborn! Join my email list to gain access to a simplified printable checklist!
Hygiene
Diapers - All sizes are welcome! Newborns are expected to eat about every 2-3 hours, and their diapers are usually changed just as often. I would recommend asking for a total of 2 large boxes per diaper size to start. Your baby will size up depending on their weight gain, which can be different for each individual baby. At least you’ll be ready for abruptly needing to size up, but you can buy more of specific sizes as needed.
Wipes - You’ll probably need an infinite amount of these!
Baby Wash - Aveeno Baby and Dove Baby were my two favorite baby wash brands because they smelled good and didn’t dry out my babies’ skin. But, again, the kind of baby soap that you use is totally your preference.
Baby Lotion - The Aveeno Sleep baby lotion was my favorite because it kept my kids’ skin soft and it had that subtle, clean baby scent if you are okay with using scented lotion.
Hooded Towels - I would have at least 2 hooded towels, so that you have an extra when one of them is in the washer. These hooded towels from Burts Bees conveniently come in a 2 pack and several cute designs to choose from!
Baby Washcloths - You’ll need plenty of these for several reasons, such as baths or just cleansing baby’s skin between baths. Any baby washcloth should work just fine, but we used the Burts Bees brand.
Baby Hair Brush and Comb- I used the Safety First Brand hair brush and and comb. There are fancier options out there, but these worked great for gently brushing my kids’ fine baby hair and carefully working out occasional cradle cap flakes.
Baby Nail Clippers and Nail Files - I really liked using the Frida Baby brand because the design allowed me to cut baby fingernails with more precision. Their nail files had the perfect amount of grit to soften the edges of my kids’ nails without roughing up their skin too much.
Diaper Cream - We were a 2 kinds of diaper cream household. I ended up using Desitin diaper cream preventatively to help make a barrier between their skin and moisture in the earlier days. And, I always had aquaphor available for helping to clear up minor skin rashes quickly. Of course, everyone has their favorite diaper cream brands, so you might have to try a couple once your baby is out to see which one works best for your baby. And remember, if rashes start to look off or take a while to clear up, you can ask your pediatrician for recommendations.
Diaper Cream Spatula - We used the Bumco diaper cream spatulas. These spatulas may seem like an extra thing, but diaper creams can be thick and if you get it on your fingers, they can be hard to wash off.
Burp Cloths - Because our first baby was a refluxy little guy, burp cloths were extremely necessary. If you’re looking for functional, yet stylish burp cloths, our favorite brand is Copper Pearl.
Cloths Bibs - Babies drool quite a bit, and wearing a cloth bib can really help to protect their skin on their neck from breaking out in a drool rash. Again, our favorite functional and stylish brand was Copper Pearl!
Baby Bathtub - Back when our kids were babies, we just bought a basic, baby to toddler bath tub from Fisher-Price and it worked for us just fine.
Diaper Pail and Refills - There are probably so many diaper pail options available now, but we used the Diaper Genie, which worked just fine for its purpose. It was easy to use, kept the smell of dirty diapers sealed within itself, but the refills did get pricey after a while. I like the Diaper Genie, but if I had to do it all over again, I might try to find an option that did not require specific bag refills.
Diaper Supply Caddy - It was nice to be able to keep diapers, wipes and diaper cream all in one portable caddy for diaper changes in our living room. The diaper caddy that we used for both of our kids is the diaper caddy from Skip Hop.
Health
Nose Frida with Filters - The Nose Frida is one of those items that you’ll be glad you have when you need it for your baby’s first cold.
Bulb Suction - You might be thinking, why do I need a bulb suction when I’m getting a Nose Frida. I find bulb suction great to use in a pinch or for travel. Not only can you adequately suction a nostril, you can also suck things out of the back of their mouth, such as leftover spit up or spit up that goes through their nose (it happens sometimes.)
Thermometer - It is so important to have a working thermometer at home, so that you are ready if your baby has their first illness. In the early weeks, something like developing a fever needs more immediate medical attention.
Humidifier - This is definitely a must-have for reducing coughs for babies. There are plenty of good options, but we use the Crane Humidifier.
Sleep
White Noise Sound Machine - I’m sure any kind of white noise machine will help lull your baby to sleep, but the Hatch Rest Baby Sound Machine is in a league of its own. I like that it has a variety of soothing sounds and soft night light options that are all easily adjustable from your phone. We have used the Hatch long after infancy and even use it to time a soft green night light to turn on in the morning to signal to my son that it’s time to wake up.
Sleep Sacks - When your baby is in a good swaddle, that is not too easy for them to wiggle out of, they sleep more peacefully. We’ve tried several kinds of swaddle sleep sacks, but our favorite by far are the Halo Sleep Sacks because they have a swaddle option for newborns and continue to make sleeveless sleep sacks as your baby grows older.
Transitional Swaddle - Just as much as I love a good swaddler, there will come a time where your baby will start rolling over and you will need to transition to a sleeveless sleep sack. I found it easier to transition by using a transitional swaddle by Love to Dream Swaddle UP Transition Bag. Then I was able to unzip one arm at a time until my babies were acclimated to a sleeveless sleep sack.
Muslin Blankets - These are usually the kind of blankets that are gifted to new mothers. Even though I usually stuck to sleep sacks at night and nap times, I found these muslin blankets incredibly versatile. You can literally use them for anything. They are normally light weight and only take up a small amount of space in your diaper bag. I would use them to swaddle when the sleep sack is in the washer, sometimes I would lay a muslin blanket down for tummy time on the floor, I’ve used them as burp cloths in a pinch, a cover while breastfeeding when I didn’t have a nursing cover available, and of course, it is a light weight blanket or cover to drape over a carseat in the warmer months.
Crib Sheets and Changing Table Sheets - Again, my favorite crib sheets and matching changing table sheets came from Copper Pearl. This is solely because of how adorable the designs are! I’m sure you can find other crib sheets and change table sheets that match your taste!
Crib and Changing Table - We were lucky enough to receive both a Graco crib and changing table as hand-me-downs from a family member. If you have to buy your first crib, it looks like there are plenty of great, more modern looking cribs and changing tables to choose from these days!
Bassinet - Again, we received a bassinet second hand from a family member. I do recommend having some sort of bassinet for the first 6 months when most families are still room sharing, before moving your baby to their own room. That way, you don’t have to move the big bulky crib into your room, and your baby has their own, small space to sleep safely next to your bed.
Baby Monitor - Having a baby monitor provides peace of mind because you can see your baby safely sleeping while you are in a different room. The monitor that we use and love is the Infant Optics Monitor. Not only is it great when using it at home, we can easily bring our monitor on the go if we are visiting someone else’s house, and it was super easy to connect a second camera to the same monitor when we had a second baby.
Pacifier - We actually did not use pacifiers very often, but they really do come in handy during times that our babies needed some extra help with soothing to sleep or to soothe during particularly difficult car rides. We just used the Philips Avent Soothie Pacifiers.
Travel
Pack and Play - We actually used our Pack and Play as a safe place to put our baby down and as a changing table station downstairs. A Pack and Play also acted as a portable crib for when we would stay overnight at a different house.
Diaper Bag - I preferred having a diaper backpack, so that I would have the option of having both hands free, but of course, this is just a personal preference. I used this diaper backpack from Amazon and it came with a changing pad.
Portable Wipes Container - I’ve tried a couple wipes containers and my favorite was the Skip Hop On-the-Go Wipes Dispenser because it is compact, easy to load up with just enough wipes for the day and it does a decent job keeping the wipes sealed and moist.
Baby Carrier - We actually had 2 different carriers. I used the Baby K’tan when my babies were smaller and eventually moved on to the Ergo Baby 360 as they grew bigger. Both carriers were easy for me to secure my babies in by myself, but the baby K’Tan felt more breathable on the warmer days. If I could only choose one carrier, I might just buy the Ergo Baby because it could be adjusted to fit both me or my husband and it grew with my babies.
Stroller - The type of stroller you end up getting is a personal choice. There are some really versatile options out there now that are compatible with specific car seats, making the transfer between the car to where ever you need go a lot easier.
Umbrella Stroller - I also would not forget about the option for a simple umbrella stroller when your baby is big enough for a seated stroller because they are cost efficient and lightweight for travel.
Car Seat - Car seats are absolutely essential! Make sure you have one and the base installed in your car, ready to go before you go into labor!
Backseat Mirror - Your baby will be rear facing in the backseat for a while, so you’ll need a backseat mirror to be able to see how your baby is doing in your rear view.
Baby On Board Sign - Not only is a Baby On Board Sign a safety must-have, this is such a fun gift to really announce to the world that you now have a “baby on board!”
Baby Developmental Toys
Tummy Time Play Mat - Early on, you’ll want to start letting your baby have monitored tummy time to help build muscles. Many tummy time mats have a variety of toys geared toward helping your baby reach developmental milestones. We used the Fisher-Price Baby Play Mat which grew with our babies and we were able to use all the way up to when our babies could sit up on their own and a little beyond.
Bouncer - A simple bouncer not only serves as a safe place to put your baby down, the simple bouncing motion is really helpful in soothing crying babies! We also found that bouncers are lightweight enough to easily move to different areas of the house. I personally loved moving the bouncer to the bathroom, so that I could simultaneously bounce my baby with my foot while getting ready or brushing my teeth. I couldn’t find the exact Fisher-Price bouncer we owned at the time, but this bouncer looks similar.
Standing Activity Center - You’ll want a standing activity center as they grow out of their newborn stage because it can help them with strengthening their neck while keeping them occupied. We owned this Skip Hop Standing Activity Center and it was well loved. Once our babies grew out of the inner seated area, they used the activity center to help pull to stand and practice cruising.
Non-Breakable Mirror - Babies just love looking at themselves! This tummy time soft mirror is a safer option than letting them play with a real mirror and keep them busy for a very long time!
Teethers - Teething is inevitable and unfortunately, really painful for babies. Both of my babies loved the banana toothbrush teether! It was the perfect size to hold and it had different textures that satisfied my kids.l
Pacifier Clips - I already mentioned that my kids actually rarely used pacifiers, but I still used pacifier clips quite a bit. I usually could find ways to loop them around various teethers and it just kept my kids from throwing their teether or dropping them on the floor.
Crinkly Books - Simple crinkly books entertained my babies because of all the sensory input they would provide.
Rattles - You don’t need too many of these rattle toys, but they do entertain your baby and help with baby’s development in different ways.
Board Books - It’s never too early to start reading to your babies when it comes to helping your child with language development.
Feeding
Highchair - A high chair is a safe spot to place and position your baby for their first solids. There are tons of great options, I would just pick one that is safe, and fits your space and aesthetic. Just know that it will get really dirty.
Nutribullet Baby System - Not everyone is into making their own baby foods, but I was! The Nutribullet Baby System made puréing my own baby foods so easy and quick.
Baby Bullet Steamer - The Nutribullet Baby Steamer really grew with us. I used it long after my kids were eating puréed foods because I would steam vegetables and some fruits whole until they were soft enough to easily bite into and serve them as finger foods to my children as they continued learning to self-feed.
Soft Silicone Spoons - Soft silicone spoons make great starter spoons for feeding puréed foods and for your baby to get used to a spoon.
Silicone Bucket Bibs - Bucket bibs help to minimize mess during meal times. Our favorite ones are from Cloud Island from Target.
Silicone Plates - We started out with EZPZ plates because they grip the highchair tray so that they are harder for your baby to move and throw they entire plate of food on the ground.
Breastfeeding/Bottle Feeding
Haakaa Silicone Breast Pump - Using the Haakaa to catch let down from your opposite breast during nursing collects so many ounces of otherwise wasted breastmilk. This makes it easier to build up an extra freezer stash if you are planning to exclusively nurse.
Breastmilk Bags - You don’t want to forget these storage bags for your extra breastmilk. I used the Medela Brand.
Disposable Nursing Pads - I specifically recommend the Lansinoh Disposable Nursing Pads because I felt like they worked better than reusable pads as far as keeping your skin dry. In the early days of breastfeeding, it is a possibility that you will experience a bit of milk leaking while your body is adjusting. With that said, you should try to remember to slip some nursing pads into your bra to help prevent leaking through your shirt.
Breast Pump - Before adding a breast pump to your registry, I recommend calling your insurance to see if this is covered by insurance. If you have an option, I loved using the Spectra Breast Pump. Unfortunately, my insurance only covered the Spectra S2, but if you have the choice, I would try to go for the wireless option.
Pumping/Breastfeeding Bra - Breastfeeding bras are very comfortable postpartum, but if you can get some sort of 2 in 1 that acts as a pumping bra as well, that would make it way easier to multitask or snack while you are spending time pumping.
Gift Card for Nursing Friendly Tops or Postpartum Clothes - Helping a mom shop for new nursing tops and postpartum clothes is one of the kindest gifts geared towards a postpartum mother. Her body is going to change a ton and most pre-pregnancy clothes may not fit right for a while. Why not help her get clothes that are both functional and make her feel good in her new body.
Nursing Cover - By far, my favorite nursing covers are from Bebe au Lait because of the neckline design which allows you to see your baby while breastfeeding and still be modestly covered while doing so.
Breast Pads for Ice and Heat Pack - Whether you are trying to find some relief from engorgement or trying to provide warmth to increase milk flow, the Lansinoh Breast Therapy Packs will be your favorite baby shower gift for a while.
Hydrogel Pads - I’ve tried both Medela Tendercare Hydrogel pads and Lansinoh Soothies Cooling Gel Pads, and they both work well as far as providing comfort between nursing sessions as you adjust to the feeling of breastfeeding.
Nipple Cream - You can never have too much lanolin when you're breastfeeding. I preferred the lanolin nipple cream from the Lansinoh brand, but there are plenty of other great brands out there as well.
Bottle Sanitizer - Having a bottle sanitizer helps to ensure that you are killing all the germs that may be stuck on bottles, pump parts, teethers and even pacifiers. We used the Baby Brezza Bottle Sanitizer, which was nice because of its high capacity and ability to dry all the supplies on its drying rack. I’m sure there are probably updated versions or different sanitizer out in the market these days!
Bottle Cleaning Brush - This item is something that seems like such a mundane gift, but unless you are able to exclusively breastfeed, you’ll be washing a lot of bottles. My favorite bottle brushes were from the Dr. Brown’s bottle brushes.
Drying Rack - When baby comes, you’ll find that you’ll need ample places for supplies to dry out or at least air out. What I love about the Boon Grass Drying Rack is that the design allows you to stick any shaped bottle or pump part on it with ease.
Bottles - We’re a little biased, but our favorite bottle is the Dr. Browns Bottles because they helped our child with his reflux and gas. Since every baby is different, it might be a good idea to try sampling baby bottles with something like the Babylist Bottle Box before committing to buying a full set of 8 ounce bottles.
Baby Clothes
Newborn Clothing - I would recommend requesting clothes that are specific to the season your baby is born in or sleep and play onesies that have a 2 way zipper from the foot for easy diaper access for diaper changes without having to completely undress your baby for each diaper change.
Additional Baby Clothes - I would recommend requesting 0-3 month clothing and 3-6 month clothing. Anything beyond that is a nice gesture, but sometimes they are not always in the right season, unfortunately leaving them unworn at times.
Gerber White Onesies - These plain Gerber onesies usually sell in 3 to 8 packs for affordable prices. I like having a 5 pack of these onesies in each size from newborn to 24 months because they make a great first layer of clothing when trying to keep your child warm and they are easy to keep as an extra onesie in your diaper bag.
Baby Socks - If you can, buying baby socks in 1 color would be easiest to keep track of and keep matching pairs together after laundry. Baby socks are great because they are a two for one; you can use socks for mittens in the newborn stage.
Environment Safety
Playpen - Playpens are great because they give you a safe place to put your baby and have a space of their own to play. I love the Skip Hop Playpen because it is lightweight, easy to set up and you can see through the walls, so you can see exactly what your baby is up to.
Play Mat - You’ll eventually want a large play mat that is slightly cushioned so that your baby has a padded area to have supervised play.
Baby Gates - We use Dreambaby Gates and still have these set up at the top of our staircase and at other safety checkpoints in our house. The lock design is amazing; it’s fairly simple to open, but our kids still have not figured out how to open these gates themselves (and most adults need a quick tutorial too). You also have the option to secure them by screwing them into the wall or by being pressure mounted.
Any Specific Baby Proofing Supplies Specific to Your Home - Baby proofing can be really specific to your home and how it is set up. Some of the extra baby proofing supplies we have are the Safety 1st Magnetic Lock System for some of our drawers and cabinets, stove knob covers, corner protectors, outlet covers, and door reinforcement locks for our front door.
I hope this gift registry recommendation list helped to narrow down the essentials needed for a newborn at home or at least gives you a starting point while you do your own research for baby supplies. If you are interested in a free, printable pdf checklist, join my email list!
