Baby Registry Must Haves

One of the most frequently asked questions I get is “what should I put on my baby registry?” or “what are your must have baby items?” I’ve had 5 babies at this point, 2 at the same time, so it makes sense that this would be a common question as I have definitely had my fair share of baby items.

I love baby gear! I thoroughly enjoy researching things like carseats and strollers. I love to make spreadsheets with all the specs on the carseats and strollers I’m trying to choose between so I can pick out the absolute best one. The best part is Andrew and I are very much alike in this category and he enjoys going through my spreadsheets and helping me make decisions.

What do you need for your new baby? Less is more! You don’t really NEED much, but as someone who does also enjoy buying fun baby gear, I’ve created this little baby registry of my absolute favorite items! A little disclaimer, some of these links are commissionable to me, it doesn’t cost you any extra, but it helps support my family and I really appreciate it!

• Grovia All In One Cloth Diapers. I love Grovia’s organic cloth diapers. There is an upfront investment with cloth diapers but long term gains especially if you have more children later on, the savings are really seen with the second child.
• Abby & Finn Diapers. A&F diapers and wipes are my personal disposable favorites. You can save money by signing up for a monthly subscription.
• Abby & Finn Wipes
• Cybex Aton M Infant Car Seat. This infant seat has a cover that comes all the way down to protect baby from sun, wind, rain & strangers. Most importantly it has a front anti-rebound bar AND a rear anti-rebound load leg.
• Diono Radian 3RXT All In One Car Seat. The work horse of all car seats. Can be used from birth through school age. Goes from rear facing to forward facing and then on to a high back booster. With a 10 year life-span this is the only seat you will ever need for your child. Bonus points that it is one of the narrowest car seats on the market so you can fit 3 across in one row in all vehicles that have a full size backseat.
• Babyzen YoYo2 Travel Stroller. This stroller is super light weight at under 13lbs and folds up small enough to be carryon luggage on airplanes. Although slightly larger than the GB Pockit that can go under a planes seat, the YOYO is sturdier and thus nicer.
• Baby Jogger City Mini Double Stroller. The best double stroller on the market. Don’t be fooled by the single line doubles that sit in front of each other because they look narrow. Front/back double strollers often have to be taken apart to be folded or fold up into a giant bulky contraption. The city mini double folds quickly and completely flat, it is also narrow enough to fit through any standard doorway.
• I don’t have an experienced recommendation for a single stroller as I had twins first so I have never had a single.
• Wildbird Ring Sling. Ring slings are the perfect carrier for newborns who are too small to go in a soft structured carrier. Ring slings can also be folded up really small to fit in your purse or diaper bag which makes them ideal for traveling.
• Lillebaby Complete All Seasons Carrier. This soft structured carrier allows you to carry baby in several different positions and also has a mesh panel for when its hot.
• DockATot. This one has become controversial but its a must have for me personally.
• Dr. Brown’s Glass Bottles. I like Dr. Brown’s bottles because of the air valves in them which helps keep air out of the baby’s belly. Gassy babies are not fun babies. These bottles are glass which I strongly recommend because plastic is highly toxic and especially putting hot breastmilk or formula in a plastic bottle creates a perfect environment for the plastic chemicals leaching into your baby’s food. These bottles come in several pieces due to the valve so they are more of a pain to clean but once you get used to it you won’t mind. Especially if your baby is not gassy and therefor not fussy!
• Boon Grass Drying Rack. I love this bottle drying rack. It’s so convenient for letting all the bottle pieces dry on your counter. Don’t forget to clean underneath the mat inside the tray though!
• Breast Pump: If you are nursing and staying home with your baby, you do NOT need to pump. Pumping can create an oversupply of milk which can cause a number of problems. I also do not recommend using the Haaka if you are staying home with your baby for the same reasons. It may seem harmless but the suction seal created does encourage let down and milk production on the side you aren’t using which in turn tells your body to make more. Over supply can be difficult for you and your baby. If you have an under supply pumping can help you increase production. I have exclusively pumped and exclusively nursed multiple babies so if you have more questions or specific questions related to pumping, please send me a message!
• Boppy Pillow. Whether your nursing or bottle feeding, the boppy pillow is so useful! In those very early newborn weeks its super helpful at positioning baby to eat. As baby gets bigger it can be used as a lounger and then to help baby learn to sit up.
• Burp Cloths. Spit up happens! I always keep a burp cloth in my diaper bag because you never know when a baby is going to spit up, it could be hours after they last ate, their tiny tummies can be very sensitive.
• Baby Bath. This is my favorite baby bath ever! It’s so easy to use and keep clean. The ones that go in the sink often float up and are difficult to keep baby positioned in. This baby bath is cheap and fool proof. Make sure you keep a warm wet wash cloth over baby while you’re bathing so they stay warm.
• Bouncer. All of my babies have loved a bouncy seat. You don’t need to spend a lot of money on one. This cheap fisher price one has served us well. I have yet to have a baby who liked a swing and although I have a Mamaroo, 5 kids later and none of them have liked it…
• Stokke Tripp Trapp High Chair. This is definitely a splurge item, but to me it’s very worth the cost. The tripp trapp is a European high chair that really is a long term investment. I would also recommend purchasing the newborn set that allows your baby that can’t sit up yet to sit with you at the table. Once your baby outgrows the high chair part you can remove the infant pieces and it becomes a chair. Both the seat and the leg rest are adjustable to basically any table height and can even accommodate an adult.
• White Noise Machine. Babies have spent 9 months in your belly listening to the sound of your heartbeat, your belly growl, your voice, and all the blurry outside noises. Silence can keep them startled and awake so a white noise machine is helpful to give your baby some background noise that is familiar. Any simple, cheap, white noise machine will work even a fan in your room will do the job as long as it isn’t blowing on baby.
• Bassinet. I prefer to cosleep but if I wasn’t going to do that I would definitely have a bedside bassinet. Even the AAP (which I really don’t recommend using them as your source of accurate information…) recommends that babies sleep in the same room as their parents for at least the first 6 months of life.
• Glider/Rocker. A good comfortable rocking chair/glider is a must! Choose a location that you think you will be in with baby the most. For me that is our bedroom and I have a glider that reclines that is so nice! Many many hours have been spent with me and a baby in that chair.
• Muslin Swaddle Blankets. Swaddling blankets are so useful! They’re great covers for breastfeeding, draping of the carseat when getting in and out of the car, light blanket for baby in the carseat or stroller, wiping up spit up, they are just so useful!
• Love To Dream Sleep Sack. This is my favorite sleep sack! It keeps babies arms up by their faces in their naturally preferred position, allows their legs and hips to move freely and keeps them feeling tight and secure. My babies have loved these and are great sleepers.
• Nose Frida. Snot happens. This is way better than a suction bulb.
• Humidifier. Great for stuffy babies during dry winter months.
• Play Mat. Sometimes baby needs to be confined to a safe space so you can do things like shower, cook dinner, etc, but when possible it’s best to let baby explore their surroundings on their own. Most cost effective way to do this is to just lay baby down in the floor on a blanket, but I really love these little play mats and think they’re worth buying!

I’m sure I have forgotten some things, but I’ve done my best to exhaust my memory on what our most used baby items have been. If I left something out that you think is a must have, leave it in the comments!