The Ultimate Baby Registry Guide: Must-Have Items for New Parents (2023 Edition)
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As a new mom, I remember feeling completely overwhelmed by the idea of creating a baby registry. I had no idea where to start, what I needed, or even what brands to trust. And let’s not even talk about the anxiety of the cost - babies are expensive, y’all!
But after some trial and error, and lots of research, I’ve created the ultimate baby registry guide to help other moms-to-be build their baby prep wish list!
Baby Gear
Car Seat: Graco Slimfit 3 in 1 Car Seat or the Doona Carseat for the Mom-on-the-go
Since your baby can’t leave the hospital without one of these, I figured this is the best place to get started! If you are not going to opt for a travel set (see more in the Stroller section), the Graco Slimfit is great because it grows with your child so you don’t have to buy all the car safety seats you would otherwise need as your child grows. I’m a big fan of multi-purpose items, so that’s a big win in my eyes. The Doona is also a great choice because it easily converts to a stroller when you’re out and about. No need to have to pack the trunk with endless baby gear when it’s all-in-one.
Car Mirror or Car Camera
There are a couple of options for keeping an eye on your baby in the car: a standard mirror or a baby car camera. The baby camera option is great because you have your baby on a screen to the side at all times, but it may not be perfect for every car (or every state, as some states have restrictions on screens in cars) and doesn’t usually have options for viewing your baby at night. If you instead opt for the mirror route, make sure the mirror is flat or convexes outward to ensure the sunlight doesn’t focus on a single spot and turn into a fire hazard. Most commercial mirrors do not concave, but it’s worth noting incase you stumble across one in your shopping.
Stroller/Travel Systems: Graco Modes Element
Again, being a fan of all-in-one options, I would opt for a travel system so your carseat can clip right into your stroller. The Doona (from the Carseat sction) is a convertible infant-seat-to-stroller option, but it can be pricey, doesn’t have storage options and is illegal in Canada (sorry my northerner friends). The Graco Modes Element travel system comes with both the SnugRide infant car seat, as well as a toddler seat so you can use it for years with your little one.
Baby Carrier: Infantino Flip Advanced 4-in-1 Carrier and Momcozy Baby Wrap Carrier Slings
Wearing your baby is the best way to be close to your baby while also being able to multitask around the house. Unfortunately, baby carriers are notorious for being complicated to put on and figure out. These two are the simplest options out there. The Infantino is a great sturdy baby wearer for infant’s 8 - 32 lbs. The Momcozy is the easiest baby wrap to use. No special knots to have to learn, and easy to loosen and tighten for baby. I keep an extra one of these in the car because it can fit in a small compact bag for easy on-the-go baby wearing.
Pack ‘n Play: Graco Day2Dream
Playing right into my “all-in-one“ favorites, the Day2Dream is a portable bassinet, changing table, baby crib and playard all in one! I love a good multi-use baby tool to keep the trunk from getting too full when you leave the house with baby.
High Chair: Evenflo Convertible
This high chair is going to stick with you for years as it converts from a high chair, to a toddler chair, to a big kid chair and table set. Another baby gear choice you will get years of use out of!
Infant Seat: 4moms MamaRoo & Baby Delight Bouncer
The MamaRoo is a widely recognized choice to sooth baby and entertain them with the gentle motions, and sounds as well as the mirrored mobile up top. A great choice for infants as well as babies (but if you want to use it with your newborn, make sure to get the infant insert for them). The Baby Delight Bouncer is an awesome, more affordable bouncer option to have a safe place to put baby down as you’re doing things in the kitchen. Baby will love to bounce themselves in it, and I loved the different inclines to choose from.
Diapering
Changing Space: Many, many options; just not a stand-alone changing table
I don’t see the point in standalone changing tables. Between the changing table options that already exist (ex: changing area comes with a Pack n’ Play, you can throw a changing liner in a baby lounger and change them anywhere around the house, attach your changing pad to the top of your baby’s dresser), I don’t really see the point in having a designated changing table. They’re unnecessary furniture to take up space in my opinion.
Changing Pad: Munchkin Waterproof Changing Pad
This one is soft, waterproof, and has slip-resistant spots on the bottom to keep it from sliding around on whichever surface you put it on. Also, you have the safety strap to keep baby from rolling out.
Changing Pad Covers
These ones are super soft, stretchy, and affordable; simple and all you need for changing pad covers.
Diapers & Wipes: Pampers Wipes and Diapers or Huggies Wipes and Diapers
I will make those two recommendations to get you started, but you will find what works best for your baby. Moms have been debating about the “best” diapers since diapers were invented. I have found the Huggies to be a bit roomier, so they’re great for when your baby is starting to grow to be in between sizes. The Pampers have been great at keeping those blow-outs in check. But that is just my experience with them, and you will learn what works best with your little one with trial and error. Others worth exploring: Honest diapers, Hello Bello diapers, and Huggies Snug & Dry.
Diaper Pail & bags: Dekor Classic & refill bags
I followed the hype for Diaper Genie, and Ubbi, and having tried them myself, I have to admit: I chose wrong and overpaid. The Dekor does just as well with odor control, is half the cost, and is arguably easier. Learn from my mistake, and just get the right diaper pail from the start.
Vaseline
Do yourself a favor and get the squeeze kind of vaseline. Vaseline has been clutch for diaper changes, whether it be as a fill-in for diaper cream, help with combating chafe, and help with circumcision healing.
Diaper Cream: Burts Bees Diaper Rash Ointment
Similarly to diapers, moms have been debating the best diaper rash remedy since forever. I have found vaseline and burts bees to be the answer for my little guy, but worth also exploring Tubby Todd, Boudreaux's Butt Paste, and A&D.
Pro Tip: Also throw one or two of these tube spreaders in your registry so you don’t have to use your hands or the silly spreader tool that everyone buys (and never uses).
*BONUS ITEM: Frida Baby Windi Gas & Colic Relief
Your baby will at some point have trapped gas in their lower intestines. It will be painful for baby to deal with, and equally painful for you to try to cope with and try to comfort. These Windi’s will ride in like a knight in shining armor, releasing the trapped gas from your little one’s bottom and helping them to instantly feel better. It’s an odd solution, but most any parent will tell you that anything to help baby feel better, is the right way to go.
Sleeping
Swaddles: SwaddleMe, Love To Dream or Sleepea
The SwaddleMe, and Love To Dream hug the baby so they are nice and snug for bed. They are amazing at keeping the baby from waking themselves with their startle reflex. The Sleepea is awesome once baby gets a bit older and can have their arms out of the swaddle. Get multiples, as late night spit-ups happen!
Sound Machine: Hatch
This sound machine can do it all. Between the endless color choices, the soothing sounds to choose from, easily picking it up to take it anywhere, and having a nightlight option for late night diaper changes, it has been clutch in our nightly routine. This option has all the bells and whistles for a sound machine, but you can also go with a simple white noise machine if you don’t need all the extras that come with the Hatch. Be warned, the downfall of the Hatch is the subscription cost that is required for it.
Baby Monitor: Nanit
Let me start out by sharing the obvious: this is a pricey item. But that is why it makes a good registry item, so multiple people can chip in.
Your baby monitor is going to watch your baby when you can’t (meaning, when you can finally get some well deserved sleep of your own), so choosing the right one is an important decision to make. I love the Nanit because it keeps track of when baby falls asleep and wakes up, can track growth and even monitors baby’s breathing for me. Gone are the days that I wake up in a cold sweat and sneak a peek at my baby while they are sleeping to ensure that they are still breathing. The Nanit tracks baby’s breaths per minute for me, and has a siren alarm if I need to be made aware of any breathing problems while baby is asleep.
So again, yes, it is expensive. But yes, it is 1000% worth it. A great registry item so multiple people can help out with cost.
Baby Bassinet: Baby Delights Bedside Sleeper
Again, learn from my mistake. Get a bedside sleeper. Bedside sleeper bassinets are amazing so baby is right there next to you when they need to nurse during the middle of the night, but they are safe out of your bed so you don’t have the risks of co-sleeping.
Baby Crib: Delta, Costco, and Amazon
I don’t have a specific recommendation for a crib except choosing one that matches whichever nursery set you decide on. There are endless choices for nursery sets out there, and they all vary in design, material, and cost. Choose the one that works best for your space and budget.
Sheets
Soft and stretchy. Everything you need in Crib Sheets
Crib Mattress & Protector
This is the least returned crib mattress of the lot. Your baby will sleep comfortably on it with the perfect blend of firmness and comfort.
Nursing/Feeding
Breastfeeding Pillow: My Brest Friend Pillow
Breastfeeding pillows are so helpful to prop baby up to be level with your breast when they are learning how to breastfeed. You can go with a boppy pillow, but they can be floppy and need constant adjusting. Having tried both, I recommend the My Brest Friend pillow as it has a comfy spot for baby and is the perfect height for them. It wraps around you and stays in place so messing with the pillow is one less thing to have to contend with as your baby is learning the new and important skill of feeding.
Breastfeeding Cover Ups
Baby will need to eat wherever you are, so having an easy-to-grab cover will be important. I opt for one that can be multi-use, like this one. I use it to wrap my boy’s baby carrier to protect him from the sun and now that he can sit in the carriage at the store, I use it to protect him from the grime on carriage surfaces. Win-win!
Hand Pump/Haakka
First, check with your health insurance provider to see what options they have for your beast pump. Most health insurance companies cover the cost of a new breast pump (they may limit you on which options you can choose from).
Although your pump will be helpful for expressing milk most of the time, sometimes you may need other milk expressing options. Your tubed pump may not be the best option for on-the-go, or during a breastfeeding session to catch your letdown.
When baby feeds on one breast, the other will let down, so having a hand pump and a haakka to catch the letdown will let you save the milk for next meal (or to start a freezer stash). The haakka is also great for expressing milk in general. It suctions on the breast for continuous pressure to express milk, so it’s also a great option if you’re multitasking with other light tasks
Nursing Pads
One unfortunate side effect of breastfeeding is leaking. As your breasts start to develop milk, you will find yourself leaking as they get full. Adding a couple of breast pads to your bra helps save your shirts from those breast milk spots and keep you from having to have a wardrobe change multiple times a day. These ones are great as they have a sticky side to adhere to your bra.
Breast Milk Bags
As you get started, these may be bigger than you need, but your mature milk will come in and you’ll be glad to have the bigger, 6 oz bags! Great for storing milk in the fridge and the freezer.
Lanolin
Lanolin is great for those poor chapped nipples as you get accustomed to breastfeeding. Breastfeeding isn’t comfortable when you are just getting started, but it will get better. Keep extra Lanolin on hand and rub on your nipples when they are sore to keep them from getting too chapped.
Baby Bottles: ComoTomo or EvenFlo
Everyone will tell you to get Dr. Brown simply because they are so popular. But they are so popular because everyone thinks they should get them, not because they are that great. The nipple size isn’t really the best for breastfeeding babies as it’s a more artificial shape. I recommend ComoTomo or EvenFlo. they both have the closest nipple shape to the real deal so they’ll be easier for baby to get accustomed to.
Burp Cloths:
Muslin burp cloths and swaddle cloths are the most popular go-to, and they are soft and great fabric for your baby. Don’t get me wrong, I have some myself. That being said, these no-name brand burp cloths are the softest things ever and will be your baby’s favorite comfort. My guy would grab these and rub them on his face when he started getting tired. Added plus is that they come in a big 20-count size, so we can have them EVERYWHERE.
Whichever burp clothes you go with, get a bunch because you can never have enough burp cloths.
Bibs
These are easy to put on, rinsable for easy clean up and have a compartment to catch all the food from going on your baby’s lap. Great for babies getting started with food. There is also a smock option for full coverage and protection of that cute baby outfit!
Nursing Chair
There are endless options out there for nursing chairs. I have this one which is affordable, comfortable, and a good match for my nursery. Whichever one you opt for, make sure it’s a good one for you as you will spend countless hours in it cradling your little one.
Castile Soap and Scrubber
Castile soap is the best for cleaning baby bottles and baby items as it doesn’t leave that soapy residue that dish soap will leave. It’s super concentrated soap though so be sure to use lots of water to get it all sudsy!
This scrubber is the best for long term use with the bristles, and the nipple scrubber doesn’t get in the way. I have tried the others and the bristles either fall off after 5 or 6 uses, or the cover for the nipple cleaner falls off and down the drain. Learn from my mistake.
Bottle Sanitizer
This bottle sanitizer is easy to use and gets baby bottles and pacifiers sanitized super quick! It takes the smallest bit of water and only requires a dial to turn on, so anyone can use it.
Bath/Health
Baby Shampoo - Weleda Shampoo and Body Wash
This shampoo is gentle, smells awesome, and only has minimal ingredients to keep it safe for your baby. I love that they don’t use commercial fragrances and is paraben-free so I feel good using it for my little one.
Hooded Towel
This cute, soft and absorbent hooded towel is perfect to hug your little one after they get out of their warm bath. The cute animal faces on the hood only add to the adorableness.
Baby Bathtub - The First Year Sure Comfort
Getting back to picking items that will grow with your baby, this is a great bathtub option as your baby can use it all the way to 25lbs. It converts from Infant tub to toddler tub so you have years of usage!
Cradle Cap Kit
Most all babies will have cradle cap on their head at some point, so a cradle cap kit will loosen up those flakes so you can gently scrub them off and hydrate the scalp skin to grow that beautiful baby hair.
Space Heater
Make diaper changes easier for your little one and get a space heater for next to your changing station. Newborns especially will hate diaper changes because they get so cold so quickly. Keeping them warm and cozy will also help keep them sleepy.
Baby Oil - Burt’s Bees Nourishing Oil
Between baby massages and moisturizing baby’s skin, picking a good baby oil is going to be a help for your little one’s nightly routine. I use burt’s bees as it smells and feels so good.
Nail Trimming - Nail Grinder
Newborns come out of the womb with full on claws, so having a good nail trimming strategy is a must! I have tried clippers. I have tried using a nail file. Nothing is better than this nail grinder. It is gentle on baby skin so you don’t have to be super careful to avoid the skin and it grinds nails down to a soft, even surface.
Humidifier
Another tip to help baby sleep is to ensure the room isn’t too dry. A humidifier will keep the room at the perfect moisture level so baby doesn’t get a sore throat from the air.
Saline Mist & Saline Inhaler
When it comes to a sick baby, saline mist and inhalers are a huge help for their nasal passage. The inhaler clicks on and delivers a continuous mist of saline for baby to breath in to loosen up any muck in their lungs. The saline mist is perfect for helping clear their nose (add the nasal aspirator to really get the muck out of the nose).
Nasal Aspirator: Frida Baby Nose Sucker
I know, I know…this sounds gross right? Sucking the snot out of baby’s nose?
But I can attest, it’s really not that gross. You are safe from actually getting baby snot anywhere near your mouth with the filter in the tube. Plus, when you'r little one is squirming to get away from anything nose-related, the quick precision from the snot sucker is the way to go.
If you can’t get over the concept though, there are electric nasal aspirators that will do the same thing. The nasal aspirators that you get from the hospital are, unfortunately, worse than useless at getting baby snot out.
Rectal Thermometer
The forehead and skin thermometers aren’t as accurate as a rectal thermometer for telling baby’s temperature. This one is an easy go-to, but you can use others on the market if there’s another brand that’s more appealing for you!
Pacifiers: Philips AVENT Pacifiers
These are one of the better pacifiers for nipple shape, so baby doesn’t get accustomed to an artificial nipple shape which could negatively affect their breastfeeding learning. Many hospitals standardize on this pacifier as well. That being said, this is another area where you may want to go another route, and that’s totally fine! Whichever pacifier you opt for, know that usually the first pacifier your baby sucks on will become their preference. So bring whichever pacifiers you want to use with you to the hospital.
Baby Clothes & Toys
Footsie Pajamas, Onesies (long & short sleeved), Socks, Pants
This is the best section of the baby registry to fill up yourself. Who doesn’t love shopping for those cute, tiny baby clothes that will eventually warm your little bundle of joy and enhance their cuteness (if that were even possible)? I will leave this section for you, friend, as I know you will choose all the cutest things for your baby!
A couple of recommendations, no buttons on your pajamas. Aim to choose footsie pajamas that have zippers (I have even seen some with magnets!), but those buttons will have you cursing after a few diaper changes. Also, those baby hoods with the fox ears on them are so stinking cute, but don’t get anything sleep-related with a hood as it can be a suffocation risk.
Toys: Skip Hop Activity Center, Sophie, Baby Einstein Music Toy, Baby Einstein Crib Toy, & Teether Rattler
This Activity Center is amazing and is the best choice for avoiding hip dysplasia from an activity centers because of the supportive foot rest. This was amazing in helping my bean boy learn to independent play and problem solve as he figured out all of the toys that come with it. Well worth the registry add!
Sophie is a fan favorite for babies to chew on and squeak. The Baby Einstein music toy has saved us on many a car rides. Between the multicolored lights, and musical tunes, it immediately captures their attention away from a meltdown.
The Baby Einstein crib toy has helped entertain my little one countless times before we start our night time routine. It’s also helped sooth him to sleep on many occasions, so an added plus for any parents who are looking for some sleep helping toys.
When it comes to where to purchase these items, there are plenty of options. I personally loved using Amazon for the convenience and fast shipping. Plus, Amazon’s Baby Registry program gives you a completion discount of 15% off for any purchases made 60 days before and 90 days after baby arrives. That way, anything I forgot to get or didn’t realize I needed before our Bean Boy arrived, I could get discounted afterwards.
Target is also a great option, and they often have sales and discounts for baby gear. And don’t forget about local baby boutiques - they often have unique and high-quality items that you may not find elsewhere.
Creating a baby registry can feel overwhelming, but with some research and careful consideration, you’ll be able to create a list of items that will help make your transition into parenthood a little easier.
Happy registry creating!
