Baby Registry Checklist: Essentials for your Baby

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Excited about creating your baby registry? We’ve got the ultimate baby registry checklist to help you make the perfect selection of must-have items.

Creating a baby registry is an exciting and essential part of preparing for your little one’s arrival. With so many adorable and practical items out there, it can be overwhelming to determine what exactly you need on your baby registry.

But fear not! We’ve got you covered with our comprehensive baby registry checklist that includes 60+ baby items and everything you’ll need to ensure you’re well-equipped for your parenting journey.

Whether you’re a first-time parent or adding to your growing family, this guide will help you curate the perfect registry that suits your needs and preferences.

Let’s dive in and discover all the must-have items that will make your baby’s first year a breeze!

Baby Registry Checklist - baby essentials graphic

When to set up your Baby Registry?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer – listen to your comfort level and choose the timing that feels right for you and your growing family! Here are some things to consider when deciding when to set up your baby registry:

Most parents wait until about 12 weeks, when the risk of complications decreases
If you want to add gender-specific items, you will want to wait until after your 20 week scan where you normally can find out your baby’s gender (unless you have an early blood test or use Sneak Peek to find out gender earlier)
Consider when your baby shower is if you will be having one; most baby showers happen in the third trimester, between 32-36 weeks.

Where to set up your Baby Registry?

There are lots of choices out there when it comes to setting up your baby registry! My top choice is the Amazon Baby Registry, because you can get most everything on your checklist, and your friends and family might also enjoy the free shipping if they are already signed up for Amazon Prime.

In the past, I have also made a baby registries with Target and Walmart. Depending on if you are having an in-person or virtual baby shower, having a store that is local to your town is also helpful so guests can shop in person if they want.

Here are some of the best places to set up your Baby Registry:

What to put on your Baby Registry Checklist?

As a seasoned mom of three, I’m thrilled to share my personal registry must-haves, the items that transcended trends and truly made a difference in our everyday lives.

Drawing from my own experiences and the wisdom gleaned from raising three little ones, I’m here to offer a curated guide to crafting the perfect baby registry. Forget the generic lists and questionable gadgets; I’m sharing the tried-and-true essentials that truly made a difference in our household.

Nursery Items

Creating a nursery is an exciting first step in welcoming your new arrival. We’ll highlight the essential nursery must-haves for a cozy and convenient space, making sure you’re well-prepared for your little one’s arrival!

Most nurseries start with a crib, changing table or dresser, and a good cozy chair. You will probably be spending a lot of time in your baby’s nursery between feedings, diaper changes, and getting them ready each day.

Here are some nursery essentials to add to your baby registry checklist:

Convertible Crib
Crib Mattress
Mattress Protectors
Fitted Crib Sheets – I recommend at least 2-3
Changing table/dresser
Swivel Glider
Side Table
Blackout Curtains
Nursery Birth Poster
Area Rug

Related Post: How to Set Up Your Nursery

Baby Gear

Preparing for parenthood involves selecting the right baby gear to make daily life easier and more enjoyable. As a mom of three, i’ve got you covered!

First up, you will want to select an infant car seat. Choose something that is easy to install and consider a full travel system (infant car seat that quick connects into a stroller) to make life a whole lot easier with a sleepy newborn! Once your baby outgrows the infant car seat, you will want a convertible carseat and I often always this to my registry as well.

Beyond car seats, you will likely want to registry for a stroller, diaper bag, and hands-free baby carrier so that you can move around with your baby, run errands, or travel hassle-free.

Here are my personal picks for the must-have baby gear that combines convenience with comfort, making your parenting journey a smoother experience:

Infant Car Seat – start here and move to a convertible car seat close to 1 year old. Don’t forget an extra car seat base
Stroller Travel System
Convertible Carseat
Diaper Bag Backpack
Back Seat Mirror
Car Seat Cover
Baby Wrap and/or Ring Sling – great for newborns and less bulky
Lillebaby Baby Carrier – great for older babies or longer outings
Baby Bouncer
Playgym – check the Lovevery site for sales too!

Diapering Items

Let’s face it, mamas, diaper duty is a rite of passage. While it might not be the most glamorous part of parenthood, it’s definitely one of the most frequent!

You will want to stock up on diapers (in multiple sizes, I recommend Newborn, size 1 and size 2 to start) and should definitely add to your baby registry. Don’t forget the wipes and diaper cream as well.

Plus, you will want a place to put all those dirty diapers. I have tried quite a few diaper pails and have found the best diaper pail out there!

Here are all of my top recommendations for diapering items to add to your baby registry checklist:

Ubbi Steel Diaper Pail
Diapers – I also highly recommend Healthy Baby Diapers
Baby Wipes – my favorite wipes, they are quilted!
Changing Pad
Changing Pad Cover – I recommend 3-4
Diaper Rash Cream – I also recommend Triple Paste Diaper Medicated Ointment
BabyBum Brush
Baby Wipes Dispenser

Nursing and Feeding Items

How you decide to feed your baby is a very personal choice. Whether you decide to breastfeed, bottle feed, pump and feed, or any combination, you will want to have the right baby nursing and feeding gear on hand.

Even if you intend on exclusively breastfeeding your baby, I recommend adding some bottles and pumping essentials to your registry, because you never know when you will need them. As a mom of three, I can tell you that sometimes nursing doesn’t go as planned and you will want to have these on hand!

I have tried many bottles, and these are currently my favorite bottles! However, there are a lot of great ones out there and some babies might be more picky than others, so you might have to try a few to get it right.

After about 6 months old, your baby will also start to include solid foods into their diet, along with breastmilk or formula, so it’s also a good idea to register for a highchair, and some basic feeding items.

Lansinoh Bottles – they also have a glass version.
Bottle Warmer
Muslin Burp Cloths
Bandana Bibs
Silver Nursing Cups
Drying Rack
High Chair
First foods set
Breast Pump: this is a personal choice, and you might have to decide through trial and error. My favorites are Spectra, Baby Buddha, and Pumpables Genie Advanced. Make sure to check with your insurance because you may be able to get a free one!

Related post: Baby Buddha Breast Pump Review

Bath and Hygiene Items

Keeping your baby clean and comfortable is essential, and having the right bath and hygiene items is crucial.

Here, we’ll cover all the essential items you’ll need to keep your little one clean and comfortable. From our favorite baby bath seat, to hygiene items to keep your baby groomed, we’ve got you covered! It’s also a good idea to add these items to your baby registry to prepare for your baby’s first cold.

Here are our favorite baby baby and hygiene items:

Newborn Baby Bath Seat
Hooded Baby Bath Towel
Baby Shampoo & Lotion – I highly recommend the all over ointment, and fragrance-free shampoo! This link will get you 10% off!
Digital Ear Thermometer
Grooming Kit
NoseFrida Nasal Aspirator
Nursery Humidifier
Baby Medicine Dispenser

Baby Sleep Essentials

When it comes to your baby registry, don’t forget about the essential baby sleep items. Having the right items for a good night’s sleep is crucial for your little one.

As a mom of three, I am serious about sleep! Before each of my babies I have read On Becoming Babywise: Giving Your Infant the Gift of Nighttime Sleep and highly recommend it to everyone I know. I also alway use a sound machine and a swaddle to start. I normally transition from a velcro swaddle, to the love to dream swaddle up between 10-12 weeks, and then use a sleep sack until my kids are about 3.

Here are our top picks:

Velcro Swaddle
Love To Dream Swaddle UP
Merino Wool Sleep Sack
Sound Machine
Muslin Swaddle Blanket
Wyze Camera – this is what we use instead of a baby monitor!
On Becoming Babywise: Giving Your Infant the Gift of Nighttime Sleep

Baby Travel Gear

If you have any desire to travel with your baby or toddler, make sure to add some baby travel gear to your baby registry! We travel quite a lot with our kids and I am so happy that we have some of this gear.

Having the right baby travel gear, like a travel playard, slumberpod, and inflatable bath tub can make traveling with your baby so much easier and more enjoyable!

Here are some of our top baby travel gear to add to your baby registry checklist:

Above are what I recommend for your baby registry checklist; everything i’ve registered for before and what I have used the first year with both all of my kids.

It’s a tried and true list by a mom of three)! Everyone is different and some parents might not use everything on my list, just like there are some baby items missing from mine.

Below are some items that some people recommend, but I personally didn’t use. I just want to mention them in case you want to do your own research and see if they would be a good fit for you!

Baby Swing – this can be convenient, but is not a safe place for your baby to sleep and can become a sleep prop (meaning it will be hard for your baby to sleep in a normal bassinet or crib). I have never used or owned one.
Baby Lounger (like Dock-a-tot) – this is not a safe place for your baby to sleep and is really not necessary. I have never used or owned one.
Bassinet – we used our pack n play as a bassinet the first week or so and then moved to the crib, this is my personal preference but I also don’t have any experience with bassinets to recommend one.
Changing Table – I personally like a changing pad on a dresser, or many parents just use the floor.
Nursing Pillow – I never found one I loved and just use a normal pillow.
Baby Detergent – most organic or free-and-clear detergents are better than baby detergents anyways! (Puracy is our favorite)
Wipes Warmer – it happens so fast your baby won’t even notice.
Baby Toys – you don’t need a ton and could totally save them for the next major holiday, check out my full list of favorite baby toys for your registry!
Postpartum Supplies – check out my related post for that list (20 Postpartum Supplies for Mom)

Thanks for stopping by!

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