When I first decided to work on my registry, I nearly had a meltdown. As a first-time mom, I got so overwhelmed that I ended up procrastinating and starting on it way later than I should have.
If you’re a first time mom and this sounds like you, you’re not alone. Building your baby registry doesn’t have to feel like a second job. In this post, I’m breaking it down step by step so you can confidently create a registry that fits your lifestyle—and actually gets used.
I’m going to do my best to make this as short winded as possible. With that said, I wouldn’t recommend a product to you that I don’t love or know someone who loves said product (namely my sister who has a 6 month old).
Trying to make sure you have everything you need before baby? Grab my FREE Baby Registry Checklist download!
1. When Should You Start Your Baby Registry?
The truth is, you can start your registry whenever you feel like it, it shouldn’t be something that feels like a total chore. But if I had to give an ideal time to start, I would say around 15-20 weeks!
You’re through the first trimester but you still have an entire second half of your pregnancy- it’s probably the best you’ll feel mentally and physically, and you still have plenty of time to add to the list without feeling rushed.
2. Where to Create a Baby Registry
Here are some options to create a registry:
• Amazon (huge variety, universal registry, completion discount)
• Target (in-store + online, easy returns)
• Babylist (add from any site, group gifting)
• BuyBuy Baby (wide selection, welcome bag)
There are tons of options for where you can start your baby registry. I’d love to say I have tried them all- I haven’t – and be able to tell you the best of the best choice. Honestly, I picked Babylist because I liked that you could add items from anywhere. I didn’t want to be limited to only certain brands. If you add an item to your registry it will show people multiple locations they can buy it from. So, if you add something from Amazon, but it’s available at Target then it will show that option to people looking to get something for you. This is especially nice for people who may not want or have time to order online.
Turns out, it worked out really well and there are several other pros to using Babylist (such as easy access to getting a pump through insurance or group gifting), that if I ever have another baby I’ll likely use Babylist again.
There are TONS of things you can put on a registry. Some of it you’ll really need, but a lot of it falls under the “want” category and that’s totally okay. The point of this guide is to give you the baseline on where to start- what I consider must-haves for bringing a baby home.
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Table of Contents
The Extra category has items that I consider nice to have but not a necessity.
Baby Gear
Baby Monitor
This is the baby monitor I have and I LOVE it!
A few important reasons why I chose this specific one:
I didn’t want a camera that connected to wifi. We’ve all heard those stories of wifi connected baby monitors getting hacked.
Yeah.
The stuff of nightmares.
This one is Bluetooth operated and all you have to do is plug it in and turn it on. Which means you can take it with you places and not have to worry about wifi set up.
I used to take it to my mom’s house to use while my son napped, until she ended up just buying her own.
Owlet Sock
I’ll be honest, I didn’t have this on my registry originally.
I gave birth to my son and then immediately started having raging anxiety. I wasn’t able to sleep and the first night we were home I called my sister while standing in the shower- bawling my eyes out- and asked her to go get one from target for me. She’s an angel and she showed up with not only the sock but a slew of other items to support me in the early postpartum days.
Don’t be like me. Plan ahead and add the owlet sock to your registry. At the very least, it will help provide a little peace of mind in those early days. (We still use ours a year in.)
Travel System
Ahh the car seat. It’s one of those that everyone knows to add to the registry, but has SO many options to choose from. There are plenty of high price point travel systems that are much fancier than my choice.
I’ll be honest I didn’t have $2000 to spend on these items, nor did the people who would be buying it for me.
I wanted a well known, reliable, and safe brand.
I wanted a full multifunctional travel system that we could use for as long as possible that wouldn’t break the bank. After tons of research I landed on the Graco Modes Nest Travel System.
My son is a year old and we still use it almost daily.
Convertible Car seat
We didn’t add a car seat for the next step up after the infant car seat and honestly I wish we would have. I’m currently shopping for one as my son is getting close to needing a new one. I’ll likely go with a Graco car seat because I like their products.
If I could do it again, I would absolutely go ahead and add one to my registry.
Baby Bouncer
At first I wasn’t sure if this was a need.
Until my son was born and we used it daily.
I used it to put him in when I needed to shower, when I was doing the dishes, when he was having reflux, anytime I just needed my hands.
Diaper Bag
Another necessity with so many options it’ll make your eyes bleed. I chose this one because of the excessive amounts pockets as well as the diaper changing pad and paci case.
It holds everything I need it to, it has tons of compartments and pockets, and it has been more than functional for us.
After a year, I can confidently say that I do love this diaper bag and would absolutely recommend it!
Car Seat Base
This was absolutely ESSENTIAL for us. This base pairs with the Graco Travel System I mentioned above. The Travel System comes with one so don’t worry about that, but we have a second car and wanted the convenience of just clicking the car seat in either without fuss.
While not necessary to travel safely it is incredibly quick and convenient to have one in both cars.
Car Mirror or Camera
This was not something I put on my registry but ended up wanting later. Truth is, I didn’t think about it when making my registry, but when we got my son home and settled and we started going out, I wanted to be able to see him while driving. Particularly without craning my neck while driving. I felt a mirror was sufficient and have had no issues with it. Some people prefer a camera to be able to see them without adjusting their rear view mirror.
It’s really about what you feel is best for your peace of mind that’s also within your budget.
Baby Carrier or Wrap
This Boba wrap was my absolute favorite and I ended up giving it to my sister when my son got too heavy for it because I loved it so much. I didn’t have it when he was first born and ended up buying it later. I 100% recommend registering for it so that you can have it as soon as they’re born.
It’s a game changer in those early days when they only want to be held.
There is a tiny learning curve but there are lots of YouTube videos on how to wrap it properly.
If you plan to baby wear often, I highly suggest finding a Facebook group that offers tips and fit checks to be sure you’re doing it safely.
The Ergo Embrace is a bit more structured and I liked it once he got a little bigger.
Feeding
Burp Cloths
Seriously, you can never have enough. Pick some you like. Register for more than you think you’ll need.
These were my favorite. They’re thicker than a regular muslin and they can also double as a washcloth when they get a little older.
Silicon Bibs with Catcher
Silicon bibs with a little food catcher is the only type of bib I recommend. Not once have I used a fabric bib where it actually did it’s job. These actually help contain *some* of the mess.
Baby Eating Utensils
I didn’t register for any eating utensils. For some reason, I really just felt that they were unnecessary for a baby.. boy, was I wrong. My son is 13 months, and granted, we didn’t use them early on, but now he refuses to eat without a fork or spoon. Just get some so you don’t have a shortage and have to wash a fork for every meal.
Munchkin Straw Cup
100% recommend this cup. We tried several before that we hated or my son hated. We now have 3 of these and they are all he uses.
I will say the straw seems hard to clean at first, but you have to use the little straw cleaner to open the stopper and then water will flow through. Or if there’s liquid stuck in the second half of the straw, if you use the straw cleaner to release the stopper, it’ll flow right out.
Bottle Brush
Honestly, I think any generic bottle brush will work. We use the Dr. Brown’s because it’s what we had. I did register for and receive a fancy rechargeable one and HATED it. We went straight back to the regular one.
Collapsible Dish Basin
This is technically not a “baby” item. I actually think I saw one at an Army Navy store once. That said, we use it every day. I don’t like putting bottles and baby stuff in the sink with all our dirty dishes. This sits beside the sink and I toss all of his stuff in it.
Highchair
I have the ingenuity high chair. I don’t love it and I don’t hate it.
It does what I need it to do. I like that it has the tray and the tray cover. It’s affordable.
I wish it was easier to clean.
If I ever had another baby, I would probably register for the highchair I linked. Full disclaimer, I have not used it and I don’t know anyone who has.
It has great reviews and here are the things I’m looking for in the future:
-Easy to clean surfaces
-Sitting straight up (ideal for eating)
-Adjustable foot plate
This one is a high price point and I would encourage you to research something that checks all your boxes. Remember, this is an item that your baby will use everyday, up to 3-4 times a day.
Boppy or Feeding Pillow
If you even have an inkling that you’re going to breastfeed- you need one of these. I promise finding positions that work for you and your baby are not always as straightforward as you may think. Newborns also want to nurse 25/8. Your arm will get tired.
Bonus: When your baby is learning to sit you can use it to help stabilize them.
Now, I registered for the Boppy and it definitely served it’s purpose! With that being said, I have heard fantastic things about the “My Brest Friend Nursing Pillow.” If I were to have another baby, I would probably try this one out!
Bottles
I registered for the avent bottles. I didn’t do much research and they seemed popular. However, they were not great for our feeding journey. My son had a tongue tie and a poor latch and the avent bottles only made his latch worse.
We transitioned to the lansinoh style bottles and then eventually the evenflo. Getting him to be able to use the evenflo bottles was the number one thing to help consistently strengthen his latch.
Lactation Consultant
Okay this isn’t necessarily something you could add to your registry directly. You might could do a specific gift card option to help with the expense if your insurance doesn’t cover it.
I HIGHLY recommend getting established with a lactation consultant before you have your baby. Research your area- there was a group for my location that would come to your house for appointments and it was a game changer. I, unfortunately, did not do this before and struggled a TON to breastfeed. It ultimately led to us switching to being fully bottle fed around 3 months. I 100% believe my breastfeeding journey would have been entirely different if I had researched more before giving birth, but also if I was able to have a direct line to a lactation consultant as soon as issues arose (which was approx. one week in for us).
Want to hear more about my breastfeeding journey? Have questions? Let me know in the comments!
Sleeping
Crib or Bassinet (or both)
We had both. And used both.
We used the bassinet until he was borderline too big for it. I liked the mobility of it and the fact that it could be so close to my bed.
I had this bassinet and liked it! It raised up pretty high and we had a tall bed so that was convenient. My cousin gave me hers since she had a baby the year before and didn’t need it anymore and it worked well for us.
This is the crib we chose! We do like it, but if you’ve ever seen those videos where a parent hops in the crib to settle their baby- this one does not have the weight capacity for that!
The next four items are self explanatory but not always on the forefront of your mind. Don’t forget them!
Crib Mattress
This crib mattress comes with a waterproof cover, but if the one you choose doesn’t then I would be sure to register for one!
Crib Sheets
Bassinet sheets
You just want to make sure that whichever set you choose is compatible with the brand of bassinet you register for!
Waterproof covers
Love to Dream Swaddle UP
My little starfish baby. We loved this as a transition from swaddling as swaddling really isn’t super recommended and definitely not after they start trying to roll. He also loved it because he preferred to sleep with his hands by his face.
Sleepsack
We didn’t register for one of these. Ended up needing one and the store closest to us didn’t have anything but a pink one. So, my son used a pink sleep sack for the first 10 months of his life. We got a bigger one recently, same brand, but we did score a blue one this time.
Don’t forget (like me) that they do grow and having the larger sizes will be essential.
We ended up buying both a small and a large in the sleep sack.
Diapering
Diaper cream
The Holy Grail. You NEED it. It will clear a rash overnight.
Wipes
I’ve used lots of different kinds. I prefer a more natural water wipe option. Currently don’t have a favorite. I use what I have.
Diapers– Target or Walmart
Okay this may be controversial- I don’t know. I was on the all-natural, super clean diaper train and was super picky in the early days. Here’s why I’m (sort of) not anymore:
I need a diaper I can pick up in store. I wish I was Type A enough to keep them ordered on time, I’m not.
I tried Huggies, Millie-Moon Diapers, Pampers, and Parasol Diapers (Amazon).
I did like the Parasol diapers, but honestly, they were SO expensive and inconvenient. So if those issues don’t bother you- try them!
When I tell you the Huggies and Millie Moon diapers made my son break out in a rash (nearly blistering) almost immediately. We immediately went back to Pampers. Pampers work for us and don’t break my son out so that’s what we’ve stuck to.
Bonus tip: If you have boxes of diapers from Target or Walmart you can exchange them for a different size.
Clothing
SLEEPERS!!!
My son lives in sleepers. All the time. Day/Night doesn’t matter.
They are comfy and cute! I would register for 3-5 in each size.
This was the first ever outfit that I bought for him. I still love it to this day.
I was 100% on the bamboo sleepers train when I first had him. I bought so many pairs… like so many. I’ll be honest, the patterns are cute, and the fabric is nice, but I found that I preferred a more loose fit on him. I specifically like the Cloud Island brand from Target. They’re soft, stretchy, and don’t cost me $36 a pop.
Onesies
These are good for hotter months but also for pairing with shorts or pants to make a cute little outfit. Try to register for a few in each size.
Socks
Socks are nice to have for their little feet if it’s cold. I keep my son in sleepers at home which most of the time have built in footies, but I would put him in socks if he was in a onesie and we were going out or if it was cold.
I have never once put my son in a shoe before 12 months old. Do with that information what you will.
A Few Cute Outfits
A couple cute outfits are a must. Try to think of the holidays or occasions that will happen within your baby’s first year of life and register accordingly (by the correct size). It might feel silly to register for a First Christmas outfit in the middle of June, but you’ll be glad you did when you have a cute outfit to put them in when the time comes.
Bathing
Baby Bath
I had 2 different baby baths. I suppose which one you would want is dependent on how you intend to use it.
I started with the Angel baby bath and I liked it okay. But we used it in a huge bath tub.
I ended up preferring a baby bath that held its own water, so I didn’t have to worry about cleaning the tub every time I wanted to bathe him.
Rinse Cup
Full transparency, I didn’t register for a rinse cup and currently use a cup from my kitchen. If you don’t want to poach a cup from your cabinets, then I would register for one you like.
Wash Cloths
These are SO soft, and I wish I had registered for more of them.
Toys
I try to pick bath toys that don’t harbor water to avoid mold growth.
Shampoo & Lotion
I LOVE the Tubby Todd products. I even used their all over ointment on my belly when I was pregnant.
Playing
You know, while building my registry-this category didn’t feel super important. Truthfully, for the first few weeks it won’t be, but around 3 months they really start to learn to play and interact and these become essential.
Fisher Price Playmat
If you take any recommendation from me, LET IT BE THIS ONE.
We are a YEAR in. A YEAR. My son still plays with this toy daily. Granted, the way he plays with it has evolved but it stays on his favorite toy list.
Large Floor Mat
I like this one because it’s colorful. Let me tell you, I was adamant that I didn’t want to be a beige mom.
If that’s your style, absolutely more power to you- I think neutral is and can be really beautiful. But I really wanted my son to have a lot of color in his play area because littles love color.
This play mat sits in our living room, and it acts as a really nice place to keep his toys. My son has free access to our entire living area so at the end of the day there are typically toys strewn out everywhere, but in the evening, we usually collect them and put them all on the toy mat which helps my sanity.
Books
My son loves books. I swear we never have enough. Obviously, pick some of your favorites.
It’s fun to read books I remember from my own childhood.
I will say, I highly recommend board books. He is not gentle with pages.
Here’s a few we still read daily:
Goodnight Moon
The Goodnight Train
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Toys
We don’t have one of these but our remote is currently in a toy bucket (without batteries).
My Father-in-law got my son a xylophone before he was even 6 months old. Honestly, I thought it’d be a while before he was able to play with it. I was wrong.
He started playing with it almost immediately and it is still one of his favorite toys.
This v-tech cube stayed at the top of his favorite toy list for months.
Nursery and Decor
Dresser
Even if you don’t register for them, you will likely be gifted a ton of clothes. Buying a dresser specifically for my sons clothes was one of the best things we did.
Hatch Sound Machine
Everyone has a different opinion about these. We LOVE ours. We use it every night and every nap. Our son still sleeps in our room, but we’ll have to buy another one when he doesn’t anymore because I need the noise now too.
Glider Chair
I chose this chair because I wanted one that was both cute and affordable. We have loved it.
Its comfy, its cute, it reclines, and it doesn’t break the bank.
I rock my baby for every nap and every night at bedtime. This allows me to do that comfortably.
My parents intentionally bought this chair for me during my last trimester because I was SO uncomfortable. I slept in it on many of the nights that I was having raging heartburn or couldn’t get comfortable.
Rolling Cart
I love this little cart. We have ours right beside the glider chair and it has a little lamp and my son’s books on it.
Diaper Caddy
Disclaimer: I did not buy this exact one. But for this particular item, I don’t think which one you buy matters. It’s the functionality of being able to fill it with diapers, wipes, burp cloths, etc. and take it with you. I always kept one on the couch.
Health and Safety
Humidifier
When you have a sick, stuffy baby, you’re going to want one of these.
Nose Sucker
This thing is amazing. It is SO necessary when you have a sick baby who can’t breathe. We do a couple squirts of saline and then the nose sucker and it makes a huge difference when he’s stopped up.
I found he tolerates this one better than the traditional nose sucker they give out at the hospital.
The next few items are things that I don’t have super specific recommendations for, I would just register for any brand with good reviews.
Saline Spray
Baby Nail Clippers/File
First Aid Kit
Thermometer
Camilla Drops
Baby Tylenol/Baby Motrin
Laundry Detergent
I personally believe “baby” soap is a scam. I would focus on finding a fragrance free, nontoxic detergent.
Bottle Soap
Frida Baby Cradle Cap System
LifeVac
I am so grateful that I have never had to use this, but I want to be prepared in case I need it.
Colic Baby
My baby was not colic, but my sister’s was. I will tell you, you do not want to need these items and not have them.
Mylicon Gas Drops
Gripe Water
Frida Baby Windi
Frida Baby Gassy Belly Rub
These were direct recommendations from my sister who has dealt with a baby who has had tongue tie, tension, food sensitivities, etc.
General
Pacis
I bought several different kinds of pacis. The first one I gave him was the Tommee-Tippee Ultralight and he took it so we bought more.
You never know which one they’ll take, babies are picky.
My son wouldn’t ever take the Happy Paci but they were recommended by my lactation consultant as an affordable option to help with latch.
Teething Banana/Teethers
Outlet Covers
I didn’t register for any, but we were gifted some and I’m so glad. It was so nice to already have them as soon as he started being interested in the outlets.
Cabinet Locks
We chose magnetic locks so that he couldn’t open the cabinet at all.
Baby Gates (specific to needs)
I would encourage you to think about where you do and don’t want your baby to have access to when they start moving around, and register for gates that fit your space. A lot of them have mounting systems so be sure to look at that, especially if you rent.
Extra
These are some of the items that I wouldn’t consider super necessary, but are nice to have! They technically fall into multiple categories but I didn’t want to add them to the main section because they’re not items I would consider absolutely necessary.
Swing
I wouldn’t necessarily say that I just couldn’t have made it without a swing, but it was really nice to have in those moments that nothing was making my son happy.
It’s in a position that helped his reflux, with movement that I didn’t have to create, while playing music- of course he loved it.
I’ve linked the one I have but I’ll be honest- you could probably choose any swing and it would be similar. This one doesn’t have crazy features and it’s relatively affordable which is why I chose it.
I would however buy it again because it did what I needed it to do.
Paci Clips
These are really nice to have in the “throwing every thing on the ground” phase.
Shopping Cart Cover
I am so paranoid about germs (probably from working in a hospital) and this truly gave me peace of mind. It says its compatible with highchairs but I’ve found it does slip a little. It fits on a shopping cart perfect though!
Pack n Play
We hardly use our pack n play, BUT my mom bought her own and we use hers every single time we’re at her house for more than a few minutes. If you plan to travel, or be away from home during naptime, I highly suggest you add one to your registry.
Changing Pad
I never used this a single time. To me, it felt way more convenient to just change him where I was at. I often used the changing pad that came with the diaper bag I chose- even around the house.
Bottle Sterilizer and Dryer
We honestly never used ours. We ended up running “baby loads” in the dishwasher. We would just put all the bottles, pacis, baby items that were dishwasher safe with nontoxic dishwasher tabs and run it in one load. It was way easier and essentially did the same thing.
Booster
We have the ingenuity seat and love it.
I’ve heard great things about the UP seat and it’s great for hip health.
Diaper Cream Wand
Okay, this one is hit or miss. I didn’t use mine and felt like it was unnecessary. My sister on the other hand uses hers every time.
Wipe Warmer
The wipe warmer was really nice to have in the newborn days. Especially for those overnight diapers. About 3-4 months in, we stopped using ours.
Elbow and Knee Pad
Okay this isn’t a necessity, BUT it was for me. My knees kill on the floor by the bath.. this thing SAVES me.
Diaper Pail and Bags
This is preference, we dont really use ours because its inconvenient and fills up so fast.
If you made it through this post, thank you so much for your support!!
Stay tuned for an upcoming post about all the mom essentials to add to your registry!! Signup for my newsletter to get notifications on new and upcoming content!!
