Baby Registry Must Haves

I’ve been working on this ultimate Baby Registry list since Penelope turned 1. I figured I’d give it a full year of being a new mom to really gather an idea of what we really used from our baby registry and what we really didn’t need to put on our baby registry. Now that I’ve got more than a handful of friends expecting, I’ve gotten several questions on this topic! “What should I put on my baby registry?” Well… I’ve got this question and many others covered in today’s blog! Let’s start from the beginning, though!

What is the best place to make a baby registry?

Honestly, it’s entirely up to you! I know that’s not the answer you may be looking for, but here me out! Everyone has different kinds of needs when it comes to registries. For me, I didn’t want to stretch my guests too thin with having TOO many registries, but also wanted registries that were easily accessible. I wound up registering through Amazon, Target, and Buy Buy Baby (yes, 3… and I’ll tell you why). I didn’t do my registry through Babylist because I had a lot of old school family members wanting to buy gifts and their preference was to go in-store to make their purchases.

I will tell you this though, the majority of the purchases from our lists came from Amazon! I found that to be the best overall place to register your baby. I have heard that Babylist is the best UNIVERSAL registry, in terms of pulling items from different websites. I can’t comment on that too much though, as I have no experience in registering for my baby on Babylist.

Amazon was really easy to register. They’ve got a helpful category list to make sure you are covered in all of your baby needs. There is also a free welcome box with items for both you and your baby. You do have to complete 60% of that checklist though, and make sure at least $10 of purchases has been made from your list.

My favorite part about the Amazon Baby Registry is the completion discount! You get a one-time 10% off discount if you’re a non-Prime member (15% for Prime members), and that discount is valid 60 days before your entered in due date and expires 180 days after your baby has been born. You can use this discount only on valid items on your registry though and are most beneficial for those big ticket items you really wanted but maybe weren’t gifted.

Now, why did I do multiple baby registries? Honestly, for the free stuff – haha! Like I said, nearly every registry has a free Welcome gift that has goodies for mommy and baby. I’ve even gone to a few different Targets to get a few extra welcome bags. Look, I was pregnant during a pandemic. There was no telling what I was going to get.

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What are must-haves for your baby registry?

So, let’s get down to it. WHAT SHOULD YOU PUT ON YOUR BABY REGISTRY?? I’ve written this post several different times to get you the best info in the best way possible and I think that grouping the main categories would be most helpful!

Newborn Essentials

1. Muslin Swaddles Blankets – We used swaddles daily. We kept some in our room, in baby’s room, in the living room, in the car, in the diaper bag. If you ever think you have too many swaddles, you probably don’t.
2. Swaddle Sleep Sacks – There are a few we used that transitioned with each stage of movement our baby went through (i.e, rolling over). We used the Halo Sleep Sack Swaddle for the majority of Penelope’s first year until she grew out of the ones she had. I’d put about 3 of these on the registry because you’ll never know if you’ll hit a diaper blow out in the middle of the night.
3. Diapers – You will never run out of diapers, so yes… put diapers on there! In all of the sizes, because you’re going to need it! We alternate between Pampers and Parent’s Choice!
4. Wipes – Our go to was Water Wipes. We found them to be the most gentle for Penelope. Again, though! Here is where the welcome bags come into play. We got a few samples from other brands that we were able to test out here and there between new packs of wipes we were gifted and always found ourselves wanting to go back to Water Wipes.
5. Socks – Keep their wittle feet nice and warm. Make sure to add a few different sizes to the registry, from newborn all the way up to 12 months!
6. Muslin Burp Cloths – Another item we used all day every day (and night!) At one point, we had 10 and I found myself ordering more because they were constantly on rotation in the washer! These that I’ve linked were ULTRA absorbent and super soft.
7. Baby Shusher – Any kind of white noise machine will do the trick! I found myself playing running water on YouTube most of the time, but then realized I needed my phone for other things. Then I found myself running actual water from the faucet to help calm Penelope down, but then remembered there’s a thing called a water bill. A portable baby shusher will save you!!
8. Pajamas that Zip – We did get both zip and button pajamas, but ask my husband which he preferred at 3 in the morning while changing Penelope’s diaper in the dark while she slept. Zipped pajamas are just easier and faster!
9. Baby Bodysuits and Onesies – Sure, dresses and complete outfits are cute, but let’s be honest. Your baby is going to live in a onesie for longer than your visitors will ever see them. Register for onesies in a few sizes!
10. WubbaNub Pacifier – Penelope wasn’t really into pacifiers, but in the VERY beginning, she’d take one here and there. I’d put at least one pacifier on the registry because every baby is different. Your baby might LOVE pacifiers! The one P liked the best was the WubbaNub! Some welcome bags come with different pacifiers from different brands.
11. Pacifier Clip – If you’re going to use a pacifier, a pacifier clip is going to come in handy because nobody likes to drop a pacifier in the middle of a baby cry.
12. Dock-a-Tot – Honestly, this wasn’t originally on my registry because I couldn’t fathom anyone wanting to buy us a baby lounger for that high of a price. Until a friend of mine texted and INSISTED I put it on there. She bought it for us, and swore by this thing. HANDS DOWN ONE OF THE BEST GIFTS WE GOT! One of the only ways we could get baby girl to sleep!
13. Pack N’ Play All-In-One – We actually got two! We kept one downstairs in the living room and the other right next our bed. It served as a bassinet AND diaper changing station. We used this all the way until she was starting to show signs of lifting herself from the larger raised mattress. It also comes with a little diaper caddy to carry all of your necessities close by. We didn’t use a fancy bassinet or other bed side sleeper. BONUS! These can be packed up for travel! It was super convenient to bring this with us on our beach trip!
14. Baby Drooling Bibs/Bandanas – We used these for feeding and while she was teething! Plus they were super cute and kind of added to her fashion statement!
15. Diaper Bag – To carry all of your necessities in them! I have a whole blog post on what I carry in my Diaper Bag now that Penelope is a TODDLER, but I wonder if I should share what is necessary to carry in your Diaper Bag for your first year.

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Nursery + Decor

1. Hatch Rest Sound Machine – We were gifted a few different nursery sound machines and night lights but found that this was our favorite. You can control both the sounds and lights from your phone and set up schedules for different sound/light settings. We still use it to this day!
2. Owlet Baby Monitor with Sock – I have tried a variety of Baby Monitors and have my top three favorites but this one is by far our go-to for peace of mind. I’ll share a blog post soon reviewing all of the ones we’ve tried but if you’re a paranoid first time parent like I am, this is the monitor you’ll want. If you’d prefer a less expensive option without the fluff that doesn’t work on WiFi, try this one.
3. Glider Chair and Ottoman – Here is one that you might want to try out yourself at a Baby store near you. Comfort is key! A tip we got was to get one that would match the aesthetic of your house, not JUST your nursery. That way when you’re ready to move it out of the nursery, you can still use it in the house!
4. Dresser – Some dressers come with changing table tops. We just went ahead and added our Diaper Changing Pad to the top of our dresser and kept our diaper changing necessities in the drawer closest to the changing pad, that way we had everything on hand that we needed and would never have to leave our baby.
5. Velvet Baby Hangers with Size Dividers – It’s a space saver for the closet AND the size dividers make life super easy when finding items in your baby’s size!
6. 4-In-1 Convertible Crib – Another one that’s really based on personal preference! Remember though, depending on your parenting style, your baby might not even sleep in their crib right away. Penelope didn’t start sleeping in her own crib until 6 months. Still, if you’re like me and want to have the nursery done and ready, a crib will make the room feel complete!
7. Crib Mattress – You wouldn’t believe the amount of time I spent deciding on which mattress to add to my registry. Until I asked one of my cousins which worked for her baby, and I just went ahead and added it to mine! We went with this one! It came with a water-resistant cover.
8. Extra Mattress Pad – If your crib mattress doesn’t already come with a water-resistant cover, then get two mattress pads. It’ll come in handy in case your baby wets the bed in the middle of the night.
9. Crib Bed Sheets – There are TONS of designs to choose from to match your nursery, but we just went with white!
10. Diaper Changing Pad – A nursery staple! Don’t forget to add a few changing pad covers to your registry too!
11. Storage Baskets – If you get a set with a variety of sizes, you’ll more than definitely find a use for all of them! We use our baskets for laundry, trash, blankets, AND toys!
12. Books!! – You can never have too many books. Soft books are going to be perfect for when your baby is teeny tiny, Board books are going to be better when your baby grows a little (and wants to destroy the pages). We were reading to P as soon as we brought her home and some of those books were even board books! The Jimmy Fallon Everything is Mama was her favorite, until Lance got her hooked on Your First Word Will Be Dada.

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Nursing + Feeding

Depending on how you choose to feed your baby, some of these items might work for you and others you won’t find a need. I chose to breastfeed by nursing and bottle feeding, so these items I found the most helpful!

1. BABY BREZZA STERILIZER! – I swear by this! This was actually not on our registry. We were gifted a sterilizer of a different brand but could never figure out how to use it so I wound up sterilizing the old school way on the stove. My husband got us this for Christmas and I’M SAVING IT UNTIL OUR NEXT BABY BECAUSE IT WAS THAT AMAZING!
2. Dr. Brown’s Bottles – Again, all babies are different and may prefer a certain bottle type. Dr. Brown bottles worked for us the best! Remember, if you’re breastfeeding you don’t NEED the 8 oz bottles. Reach out to an IBCLC about appropriate feeding amounts of breastmilk.
3. Breastmilk Storage Bags – You need somewhere to keep your liquid gold! These were my favorite!
4. Bottle Brush – Dr. Brown’s wins again. These were the only brushes that we liked for bottle cleaning.
5. Boon Drying Rack – This is going to take up your counter space until your baby is done with bottles. So we chose white to match our kitchen, hah!
6. Boppy Nursing Pillow – I found myself buying this for friends who didn’t even have it on their registry! It’s that convenient whether you decide to nurse, or bottle feed with formula or breastmilk!
7. Spectra Breast Pump – Check with your insurance first, as some breast pumps are free with insurance. If you don’t have insurance and plan on breastfeeding, put it on the registry!
8. Haakaa Silicone Breast Pump – One of my lovely subscribers gifted this at my baby shower and I’m so glad she did! It saved me at times I had clogged ducts or mastitis!
9. Convertible High Chair – Meal times are going to be your favorite! We got this high chair and are JUST about ready to convert it to a booster! Almost there.
10. Bumkins Washable Feeding Bibs – These were perfect when we started introducing solids! Who cares about a mess when you can just pop these in the wash! The long sleeved ones were perfect for introducing spaghetti (and even later when playing with paint!)
11. Pre-Spoon GOOtensils – These were (for us at least) the best way to get P to practice using utensils!
12. Suction Plates – Whether its a divided plate or a bowl, MAKE SURE IT SUCTIONS or your baby will fling it across the room.
13. Nursing Bras – 3 or 4 really good and comfortable nursing bras shouldn’t be forgotten! Yes, the registry is technically for the baby, but I mean… our boobs belong to our baby, and therefore this is another item for baby, right?
14. Teething Toys – I only put this in the feeding section because it has to do with their teeth, haha! But also learned through a feeding specialist that dipping this in baby food during meal times helps with oral development! This one was one of P’s favorites!

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Baby Gear

1. Car Seat and Stroller System – We found this to be the most convenient for us! Not quite time for Penelope to switch to a forward facing car seat just yet so still using this system now! If you’ve got two cars, consider getting a second car seat base!
2. Car Backseat Mirror – To see that your little one is safe back there!
3. Stroller Toy – I’m sure you’ll be gifted different toys here and there so if you spot something that has a clip to secure it on your stroller, add it to your baby registry!
4. Boppy Baby Carrier – Really any baby carrier that you find comfortable, put it on the registry! Of course, if you’re pregnant trying on different carriers it may feel a bit odd. I found that the Boppy Baby Carrier was the most comfortable when Penelope was born. I’ve also used it forward facing when she got a bit older and it was comfy both ways!
5. Baby Bouncer – This was something that our baby really enjoyed. It was a great way to set her down for a minute while I was able to do laundry or any other chore (or even a bit of work) with her sitting next to me
6. Floor Seat – We found that this was better for Penelope than the Bumbo. This came in handy when she was starting to sit up on her own. My mother got us the Frog print and it was super cute!
7. Baby Glider – I think we started using this the day after we brought Penelope home from the hospital and well into her first months. She LOVED this rocker/glider combo! She wasn’t a fan of the Mamaroo
8. Lovevery Play Gym – There are tons of play mats on the market but this is by far the one that P played with the most! Great for tummy time and sensory play, too!
9. Fisher Price Kick and Play Gym – This is another great option! I’ve already memorized the songs from the piano. I could sing it in my sleep!

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Bath Time

1. Bath Care Set – There are lots of kits available, but these are really helpful for bath time! We started off using Johnson & Johnson since that’s what they used at the hospital but have since switched to Dove since that’s the body care brand we use at home!
2. Angelcare Baby Bath Seat – So this is actually one we didn’t start using until P was starting to show signs of rolling over. But once she did, this was what we were using. Since Penelope was so small, we actually used a tub with a sling that we could lay her on. This Angelcare Seat was used until she started cruising. At that point, there was just no more sitting in the tub, haha!
3. Bath Temperature Reader – Nothing sucks more than a bath that’s too hot or too cold for your baby! These duckies we use EVERY bath, even now!
4. Knee and Elbow Rests – For us, the parents… to keep our knees and elbows comfortable!
5. Hooded Towels – We’ve got a few different animal hoods of this style! The bear and elephant are her favorite!
6. Baby Wash Cloths – Keep them gentle during bath time!
7. Baby Shower Head – If your bathtub doesn’t have a detachable shower head, this might come in handy! We STILL use this!

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Health + Safety

1. Aquaphor – We got a ton of different diaper rash creams and the one we use and trust is Aquaphor. It was actually recommended by P’s pediatrician! We keep on in her diaper bag, in all changing stations, and at my moms!
2. Dreft – We are on to Stage 2 Active Baby Dreft now but this is definitely the brand we love for our baby’s laundry! The scent beads are a plus!
3. FridaBaby Basics Kit – From the Nose sucker to the Derma Frida, we’ve used it all!
4. Health Care + Grooming Kit – I swear, kits in this category are going to be your saving grace!
5. Dapple Bottle and Dish Soap – Fragrance Free and Baby Friendly!
6. Baby Nail Filer and Trimmer – IT EVEN HAS A LIGHT!!! To make cutting your baby’s nails much easier!
7. Baby Thermometer – We like to use the one held up to the forehead or for under the arm. I know that the best thermometer for babies are the rectal thermometer, but we just haven’t gotten one. If you’re able to do the rectal thermometer readings, go for that!
8. Humidifier – Helps baby breathe better at night!

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How many diapers should I put on my baby registry?

A lot! TOO MANY! Put them all on there! You will NEVER RUN OUT OF DIAPERS… EVER! And actually, some stores are really good about exchanging unopened boxes of diapers for another size or brand. Let’s say you were gifted a lot of newborn diapers and your baby has outgrown them before you even opened the box! Bring it over to a Walmart (that’s been the easiest for us – no receipt needed) and tell them you got it at your baby shower and need a different size (or brand) and they’ll let you swap it out provided that its of equal or lesser value I believe!

A tip I shared with one of my close friends was that at EVERY baby party she has (gender reveal or baby showers), to play some sort of diaper raffle to encourage guests to bring diapers along with whatever gift they bring. Just remember, DO NOT OPEN THE BOXES OF DIAPERS UNTIL YOUR BABY GETS HERE! I have a friend that opened a box of diapers to store them in her diaper stations around the house preparing for baby’s arrival only to find out those diapers gave her baby bad rashes. A whole box wasted. And remember, diapers ain’t cheap!

A Little Lagniappe

These next few items aren’t NECESSARY but we have them, and we LOVE them!

1. Postpartum Support Belt – I can’t remember if I actually put this on my registry or not but one of my friends gifted this to me and I’m so glad to have gotten it because this REALLY helped me in the recovery process after giving birth!
2. Shopping Cart Cover – Pandemic or not… don’t let your baby touch that shopping cart.
3. Foam Play Mats – My husband and I are NOT a fan of color in this house. We’ve got a neutral aesthetic. Good thing there are more companies coming out with play mats that actually match your home. They tend to be pricier than your average colorful ABC 123s, but I’d say worth it!
4. Felt Letter Board – for the gram… always for the gram haha
5. Baby’s First Year Book – I only put this in the lagniappe section to make me feel better about the fact that I have yet to finish filling mine out and my child is half way to her 2nd year. But it really is special and maybe even considered essential.
6. Baby Milestone Cards – I urge you to document your baby’s growth with monthly milestone photos! We did the blanket and it worked for the first 9 months. Anything after that was TOUGH as Penelope just didn’t want to stay lying down for photos. I vowed that for the next baby, I’d get cards like these!
7. Baby Birth Announcement Sign – This is something special to have when welcoming your baby in this world!
9. Postpartum Support Belt – I can’t remember if I actually put this on my registry or not but one of my friends gifted this to me and I’m so glad to have gotten it because this REALLY helped me in the recovery process after giving birth!
10. Shopping Cart Cover – Pandemic or not… don’t let your baby touch that shopping cart.
11. Foam Play Mats – My husband and I are NOT a fan of color in this house. We’ve got a neutral aesthetic. Good thing there are more companies coming out with play mats that actually match your home. They tend to be pricier than your average colorful ABC 123s, but I’d say worth it!
12. Felt Letter Board – for the gram… always for the gram haha
13. Baby’s First Year Book – I only put this in the lagniappe section to make me feel better about the fact that I have yet to finish filling mine out and my child is half way to her 2nd year. But it really is special and maybe even considered essential.
14. Baby Milestone Cards – I urge you to document your baby’s growth with monthly milestone photos! We did the blanket and it worked for the first 9 months. Anything after that was TOUGH as Penelope just didn’t want to stay lying down for photos. I vowed that for the next baby, I’d get cards like these!
15. Baby Birth Announcement Sign – This is something special to have when welcoming your baby in this world!
16. Nursery Name Sign – Okay, after this I’m done with lagniappe. Again, totally don’t need this but we love our sign in P’s nursery!
17. Portable High Chair – I actually saw this used by a friend of mine BEFORE I even got pregnant and thought it was cool! Put one on our registry and we’ve used it multiple times when at restaurants or visiting family!
18. Nursery Name Sign – Okay, after this I’m done with lagniappe. Again, totally don’t need this but we love our sign in P’s nursery!

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What you should not put on your baby registry?

So this is debatable… some families REALLY love this stuff. We just didn’t find a need for it or were fine without them, so I’m sticking them here.

• Baby Mittens – Okay, this may be a a necessity for some babies, but we didn’t really use them. I kept our baby’s nails trimmed for the most part, and if I found she kept her hands in her face a lot, I’d put socks on her hands or keep her in pajamas with mittens attached to them.
• Diaper Genie – Some people swear by it. We swore by it for the first 6 months. Until we started introducing solids. Her poops at that point were… a different kind of smell – haha. I call them borderline big girl poop. Anyway, after this point, anytime you’d open the Diaper Genie, it’s like the ghosts of all of her previous poops made an appearance. We found that it was just easier to throw the dirty diapers in a regular small trash can and change the bags often.
• Wipe Warmer or Dispensers – Just not necessary. Sure, it’s convenient at 2 or 3 am diaper changes, but not something that you NEED to have.
• Momaroo4 – Eh… your baby might like it. Penelope HATED IT!!!
• Changing Pad Scale – I get it, helps give peace of mind. Especially if your pediatrician gives you sh*t about that growth chart. But we didn’t have it and were fine.
• Bottle Warmer – My cousin gifted us the Baby Brezza Bottle Warmer. We used it, but P was good whether her milk was cool or warm. You could always just put your bottle in a mug of hot water to warm it up, we did that a few times.
• Crib Mobile – We didn’t have one. I read somewhere that mobiles are associated with play, so keeping one over a crib isn’t ideal. I read somewhere else that they could fall and suffocate your baby. Whatever the reason, you probably just don’t need it. I won’t even link it.
• Receiving Blankets – I don’t know y’all. We had a ton, and didn’t really use them. We used the muslin swaddle blankets for everything. Plus, if we DID use a receiving blanket, it was the one we brought home from the hospital. As a matter of fact, we have 7 from the hospital. I have NO IDEA how that happened, but it did.

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Phew, are you still there?? I know this is probably one of my longer blog posts but I wanted to make sure you were covered!

Are you an experienced momma or a first time mommy-to-be? What are must-haves for your baby registry? Let me know in a comment below!

Un Besito,

Rocío Isabel