MY TOP BABY Registry Items
I had fun putting together my Top Wedding Registry Items a couple months ago and it seemed to be helpful for you guys. One thing I heard a lot in the DMs when I shared? The request for a similar baby registry post…so this one is for you.
I remember feeling very overwhelmed and unsure of what to buy ahead of having kids. There are a million baby products and it’s obviously an unknown period for most new parents. Looking back, Paul and I kept it pretty simple (outside of him being psycho about researching things like formula, sleep habits, etc). We didn’t overbuy too many baby products because as long as you have the basics, you can always see what’s missing once the baby arrives. Each baby is different and each family lifestyle is different, so it really depends. Of course there were things, in hindsight, that I definitely did NOT need (hello, huge f*cking swings), so that’s what I’m trying to help with today.
There were a handful of non-negotiable products for me + the obvious things like bottles, so I’m breaking all that down below. I’m also adding a few additional items that are a luxury to have & worth adding to a registry if you have one.
I’m sure there are a million new products that have come out since having babies in our house, so let me know what I’m missing!
Also LMK if you want a toddlers / little kid essentials list next, though I have most of that here.
ESSENTIALS
These are the items that most parents will need.
+Diapers: One thing you’ll need more than you think, but I’d hold off buying *too* many newborn sizes since they go through those quickly. Honest diapers worked for me from Day 1. I loved their auto home delivery service and the cute prints.
+ Diaper pail – You’re going to want somewhere to put the shitty diapers (w/ a tight lid!), trust me.
+Bottles – We used Dr. Browns all the way through until toddler sippy cups.
+ Washcloths – I loved Burt’s Bees because they were the softest.
+ Burp Cloths– You’ll go through a million, so stock up. They don’t need to be cute.
+ Changing mat – Definitely don’t need to get fancy here. Something to put on their changing table / dresser. Get a couple if you’ll have multiple changing stations.
+Waterproof mats – You’ll get peed on as you’re changing diapers. Again and again and again. Place one of these bad boys ON TOP of your changing pad cover to save yourself that extra load of laundry daily. Buy the 3 pack, trust me.
+ Dock-A-Tot – My kids both LIVED in this until about 9-10 months. I went to link for you guys and I’m now I’m seeing all this info on how they stopped making them in the US? Not sure, but it was essentially one of these, which looks like it’s still on the market. Definitely issues / concerns around having babies sleep in them, so do your research. These were great for hanging on the couch or bed when the kids were little.
+ Pacifiers – A must for soothing babies. We started with these when the kids were tiny. After a month or so, we especially liked the Wubbanub ones because the weight of it helps to stay in their mouth & eventually they can grab / replace themselves (a milestone!!!!).
+ Shusher – One of the weird baby items we used and loved – TRUST ME here. We gift this to every new parent because it will save your vocal chords lol.
+ Sound Machine – The kids sleep with their sound machines until this day. Drowns out the noise in the house and also creates a consistent & serene sleeping environment for them. We usedthis when they were young then eventually moved to the Hatch for a night light situation / change in color at “wake up” time.
+ Monitor – We actually used sound monitors with both kids when they were little, and people were always shocked by this. We never felt the need to see what the kids were doing (since we could hear)…until we had Walker and he started climbing out of his crib very early. We then switched to this dual video monitor so we could keep an eye on them – still use it.
+ Miracle Swaddle – I (over)bought so many cute swaddles and ended up using this one 99% of the time because it was the easiest.
+ Carrier – I loved carrying both of my kids (even though Capri hated it until she could face OUT) and it’s the only way to get shit done. I don’t think you need anything fancy here – Artiopoppe are the cutest $$$ option, though. Paul liked the Ergobaby best.
+ Bassinet – This can go a lot of ways but is an essential for next to your bed – before they can sleep in a crib or their own room.
+ Stroller – My best piece of advice is this test drive these fuckers before purchasing. Is it easy to snap into place? Break down? Push? Does your bag fit? Does it fit in your car? If the answers are yes yes yes yes yes then go for it. If there’s a NO in there…thank you, next. We loved the Bugaboo when we had one kid and then honestly hated our double stroller – it was so bulky and hard to maneuver. I have a couple friends who invested in the Thule double stroller and honestly, a dream if you want to spend extra. Looking back, I wish we did because we used the double stroller a lot.
+Baby bath – Baths are awkward when they’re very new and we used a collapsible version, but this is then what we used until they could safely sit on their own.
+ Hooded towel – Necessary for after a bath to keep them warm. Heat escapes from the head so the hood is essential to trap the heat.
+ Ugly toys – Yes, the uglier and more colorful the better, unfortunately. And yes, I tried to natural shit and they hated it. Sophie the Giraffe was good for teething & she’s kinda cute at least.
+Soaps / Lotions – So my pediatrician basically told me not to use anything but Dove bar soap and absolutely NO lotions. I did that when they were a baby baby, but starting at about 2 months I switched to Mustela products. I love the smell, it’s very gentle on their skin, and there are no endocrine-disruptions like lavender.
+ Onesies – If we are just being practical here, you really only need onesies for a baby. 1 per day is fine. If you’re extra, 2 per day. You truly don’t even need outfits (unless you want to) until they’re 4+ months old because that shit is annoying to get on. Love this brand for onesies.
+ Hat – Like I said above, heat escapes from the head so I kept a little beanie on my kids 24/7 when they were they were newborns.
+ Lounger / bouncer – We got a wooden [lounge] chair from Scandiborn that’s old / sold out but somewhat similar to these. We put both kids in it sooo often while we ate, we’re cleaning up, hanging out, etc – basically when we needed a break from entertaining or holding them.
+ Carseat – We had Nuna Pipa but lots of new options, I’m sure.
NON-NEGOTIABLES FOR US
These are things that we loved and our babies used a lot.
+ Hands-free pump – I had a plug-in pump for Capri and it was very, very hard for me. I felt like I was literally stuck to the wall half of the day & I hated the feeling of not being able to do anything…other sit and pump. I ended up getting the Elvie (hands-free pump) with Walker and it was a game-changer for my mental health and productivity, especially when I needed to be chasing around a toddler during the baby stage. I will say they aren’t as powerful as a plug-in, or at least they weren’t a handful of years ago, but maybe they’re better now? Still, worth it.
+ Yoga ball – This was key for Capri. Us holding and gently bouncing her ended up being the most useful tool for soothing and putting her to sleep in the early days.
+ Car Mobile – Capri was a little psycho in the car seat at first and we finally realized it was because she was bored. Sometimes we’d put it on her stroller as well since again, she’d get bored.
+ Layette Gowns & Snap-free Onesies – OKAY I hated these at first (like, before Capri was born). I thought they looked straight out of Little House on The Prairie and I was not about that life for my baby. BUT, the second she was born and I had to change her diaper the first time in the dark I was converted. Fuck the snaps! For Walker & once Capri grew out of the gowns, we went with snap-free onesie PJS from Kickee & Spearmint Love.
EXTRAS
These are items that are nice to have & are a luxury if family / friends are wanting to spoil you.
+ Baby Brezza – We didn’t have this with Capri (we did it old school and heated her milk in a bowl of boiling water) and then quickly realized there was a much better solution…the Baby Brezza. It’s essentially a Keurig / Nespresso maker for bottles *IF* you’re using formula. It does the math for you, the formula comes out warm, and it was a life-saver in the middle of the night when you’ll do anything for a few more minutes of sleep. It doesn’t work if you’re breast-feeding, so this would only be worth it if you’re going the formula route.
+ Sterilizer – Having Walker during the pandemic didn’t help Paul’s neurosis, so we invested in one of these bottle sterilizers to not only give him peace of mind but to also save my poor hands from washing endless baby dishes (& pumping parts) in the searing hot water. Way easier than doing it by hand, like we did with Capri.
+ Changing caddy – Some sort of changing situation in your living room is nice to have, especially if you have stairs. You change babies 89324083 times a day in the beginning, so having diapers, wipes, creams, whatever in a couple spots is nice.
+ Night nurse – Paul’s work gifted us with one each time, so it’s an obvious privilege, but it was incredibly helpful. Not only on the sleep component, but in having someone there who was more of an expert with baby stuff. I wrote more about the experience here. My thoughts? If someone if providing you the option, you have the funds, OR you can’t function with little sleep when it comes to your job, get the damn night nurse.
THINGS I FOUND OVERRATED
These are items that we either used with Capri and then skipped with Walker, or never used altogether.
+ Pack & Play* – This has an * next to it because I actually think it’s either an essential or something to skip, it just depends on your situation. We never used one with Capri – if we were traveling, we rented a crib or family had one. If you are a family that travels often (especially to places where it’s hard to rent), your childcare situation needs flexibility, or you have a big house and want a closer place for your baby to sleep, it could be worth it. I’d wait and see if you need one, personally!
+ Diaper bag – I never used one, not for me. Instead, I used regular tote bags I like with an organizer like this.
+ Wipe warmer – We used for Capri, didn’t use for Walker, and didn’t notice a different, so I’d skip this. Plus, it’s just one less thing to figure out / deal with on the changing table.
+ Swing – Capri hated this so we didn’t use for Walker. I’ve heard some babies who love it…but I’d skip and then figure out if you truly *need* it. Also they take up SO much space.
+ Breast-feeding pillows – I tried multiple of these and they were never that useful or comfortable for me. I also feel like they’re so depending on the chair or bed you’re using… I used a chair arm or my own pillow to help wherever I was sitting, which was fine for me.
P.S. I’ve written about moth baby / childhood milestones, regressions, struggles on the FAMILY section of my site if you’re looking for more.