Baby Registries: A Little Guide
Baby registries are a wonderful thing, and friends and families love showering expecting moms with all the “necessities”. What a GIFT. But when it comes to sitting down to create your registry and choosing the best and safest products, all while keeping things organized, it can become pretty overwhelming. I commonly get asked to share the link to my registry, which was just what I did with friends when creating ours. Up until finding out about our first pregnancy, I had no idea how many options existed for just about every type of baby product I might need. As I talked with friends and did more of my own research, I discovered not all products are as safe, useful, or necessary as companies market them to be, and I’d argue that the baby product industry has some of the most effective marketing there is, targeting new moms who want to make sure they’re as prepared as possible to welcome their little one into the world. Newborn babies only really need a few things… love, their mamas, milk, diapers, a safe place to sleep, and most likely, a car seat. There are, however, many other products that make life with a newborn much easier. Below, I’ve pretty much copied and pasted the products I included on my registry and how I organized them on Babylist - broken up into 10 categories. I wouldn’t include anything we have not only tried, but have loved and used endlessly. As with everything, there are many amazing options in a span of price ranges. Listed below are the products we ended up landing on, but I will try to share other options if I’ve tried out something from a friend, or know someone personally who loves an item and vouches for it. And if you know an expecting mom… go ahead and grab them a little something from this list - wink wink.
01 | Gear & Carriers
I am BIG into baby-wearing, so having three different types of carriers was completely worthwhile for me. If you go with just one to start, go with the Solly Baby wrap - HANDS DOWN. Jonny and I used this endlessly when Sutton was a newborn but continued using it throughout the first year of his life. The Ergobaby Embrace was amazing for quick in-and-out store runs and the wild bird sling was useful once he was bigger and wanted to look out more.
02 | Nursery
We actually didn’t finish Sutton’s nursery until he was about 5 months old because he slept in our room for around 7 months! The only thing not listed here is our crib and dresser! We got his dresser/changing table and rocking chair off of Facebook Marketplace and purchased his crib from Ikea! I know some people add these items to their registry, it’s really up to you! Don’t stress about getting it all together before your baby is here though since they’ll be in your room for some time. Most importantly, make sure you have a safe bassinet and some backup sheets!
Changing Pad - this one has worked really well for us, but I plan to invest in a Keekaroo Peanut next time around!
Hatch Sound Machine (!!!)
03 | Clothing
There’s not many things better as a first time mom than shopping around for tiny clothes for your baby, but hear me out when I say don’t go overboard on newborn clothes. You’ll want a few things to bring to the hospital, but Sutton outgrew the NB size at just a couple of weeks old. And we certainly didn’t have the time or energy to put him in different “outfits”, he slept most days away in a simple white onesie or bamboo sleep gown. I’ve linked some of my favorite “basics” below! Some of our favorite brands to shop are Gunamuna, The Simple Folk, Zara baby, H&M kids, Oat Children, Kindly the label, Riviandkin, August River co., Quincy Mae, and Rylee & Cru!
04 | Transportation & Travel
Your travel system (car seat, stroller, bassinet, etc.) will be the most important thing in this section to have before baby arrives! But having a travel crib, smaller travel stroller, and travel highchair will most definitely come in handy a little ways down the road! We’ve used all of these things again and again and after hours of research (thanks to the Instagram account @Safeintheseat), these are the products we have chosen for our family based on materials, safety ratings, and portability!
05 | Diapering & Bags
I can’t remember the last time I left the house without our diaper bag, so be sure to get a bag that has the number of compartments you need and is comfortable to carry! There are many options and it definitely doesn’t have to be labeled as a diaper bag! Another pointer I have would be to register for all different diaper sizes of whichever diaper brand you choose. If you get a lot of one size, be sure to keep them in the box so that you can return them if you need to! We returned a lot of NB sized diapers and exchanged them for size 1 since Sutton grew out of NB while we were still in the hospital!
Diapers - utilizing Coterie’s subscription service has been great for us, I can tell a clear difference in their diapers. We do, however, use the Kirkland brand a lot during the days (and coterie during naps and at night)! I have also tried and heard great things about Millie Moon.
Diaper Caddy - we used this as a diaper caddy in the early days but now it works great as a car organizer!
06 | Feeding
We ended up getting a lot of baby-led weaning products when Sutton was closer to 6 months old, but it doesn’t hurt to add all of these things to your registry! Sutton never accepted a bottle, so we jumped right to the honeybee straw cups when he was around 4 months old. But if you do end up using bottles, I would recommend a glass option!
Ninni Pacifier - we never ended up using a Paci, but I have this brand and plan to use them in the future!
High Chair - we do not currently have this Stokke high chair, but we’ve loved using it in friend’s homes and will invest in it for any future children! This is another great option if you’re tight on space!
Bottle Drying Rack - this one, this one, and this one (travel) would work great, too!
Glass Bottles - Sutton never ended up accepting a bottle, but these are the ones are have and will try use next time! I’ve also heard great things about Comotomo and Dr. Browns!
07 | Wellness
There are many products I’d recommend stocking up on as a parent, like Mullein garlic oil, probiotics, and teething drops, but below are the items I’d want right off the bat when bringing my newborn home!
08 | Postpartum Care
Yes, you get to register for things for yourself, too! Your postpartum care is so incredibly important when it comes to best caring for your newborn. You need to be well taken care of too as you nourish your body, heal, and rest!
Silverette Nursing Cups - Yes, I know these are on the expensive side. They were 100% worth it for me and I used these until after a year postpartum!
09 | Toys & Play
Babies really don’t need many toys! The most important things you can provide for their development are love, interactive play, talking, reading, and responding to them! We have absolutely loved our Lovevery Subscription and each kit has been developmentally appropriate and has lasted us months. The items we’ve received have also been high quality and I know will last us years through multiple children.
Infant Play Gym - we also love our Lovevery play gym!
Padded Gathre Mat - and this one!
10 | Bathing
Sutton quickly grew out of his infant bath and we also spent a few months just doing sink baths! The items that brought me peace of mind when it came to baths during his first year of life were the bath thermometer, our infant bath seat (once he was sitting independently), and a good quality infant soap with clean ingredients. There are many amazing brands, but I’ve linked our current favorites below!
I hope this list gets you off to a good start and helps you to begin considering some different options! These are “tools” that if I went back in time, I would purchase time and time again. Of course there are so many additional items you can add on to your registry if you choose - for more ideas for meal time, natural remedies, clothing, books, etc., you can visit my Amazon Storefront by clicking HERE!
In the end, many of these products will make the first year with your little one a little easier, but remember all that your baby really needs is YOU. It’s OKAY if you don’t have all the gadgets, toys, accessories, etc.. Currently, my 1 year old loves our kitchen utensils more than any toy we’ve ever been gifted! If you’re a mom in any capacity, God has given you the intuition and love you need to best care for your little one. Sometimes, it doesn’t all seem to come naturally, but I am confident that when we ask God for His grace, patience, and strength with each new morning, He will provide for us and our families what we need for the day.