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After having our son during the summer of 2014, I realized how nice it would have been to have some sort of Baby Registry Checklist, because there were so many things I would have liked to have ahead of time. You can easily create your registry on Amazon or Target.com and family can even have items shipped directly to your home.
When my son was adopted ten years ago things were so different, and it was also very different having a child at home from the very beginning (Our other son came home from Guatemala at four months). You can read our own story about The Prayer of the Persistent Widow. Definitely check out our post on The Correct Way to Take Off a Onesie too!
Our list below includes items you can’t live without, items you can buy later, and items you might not need, but can decide later. Remember this is a list that will be adapted to your needs, and we’re including links to some of our favorite items for you as well. Congratulations on becoming a new mom! It’s the most exciting time of your life, and we’re hoping this list will make things a little easier for you. We also have a great article on How to Have a Baby on a Budget where we even show you How to Make Your Own Baby Wipes.
Also, please note that we purchased a subscription to Consumer Reports when we purchased our car seat. While we can’t display information here from their website, please know that a lot of our choices were based on their rankings.
Buying Guide Key:
Bold print = Can’t live without
* asterisk = Could be purchased later
NN= Not Necessary to have
Baby Registry Checklist
Nursery & Sleeping
*Co Sleeper. While this is an optional purchase, I have to tell you that as a breastfeeding mom that works full-time, this Arm’s Reach Co Sleeper was a lifesaver for me. There is no way I could have survived breastfeeding at night without this, because I am a heavy sleeper, and don’t do well on missed sleep. It was so easy to pull him over into bed, nurse, and then put him back into his co sleeper and not worry about his safety. While this is an optional item, I highly recommend it for nursing moms.
Crib. A crib was not a necessity for us right away because we were using the Arm’s Reach Co Sleeper for the first year. However, after that he was definitely growing out of it, and we already had a crib from our other son. The biggest issue about a why we feel a crib is necessary even after a co sleeper is that there is so much evidence about why your children should not sleep in bed with an adult. My own grandfather was our local coroner for over thirty years and begged me to never let our son sleep in our bed because he had so many infant deaths caused by a parent rolling over on a child.
Consumer Report’s highest rated crib was a Land of Nod low rise crib. However, it was around $900, and we felt there were many lesser priced options that were lower cost. The Pottery Barn’s Kendall Fixed Gate crib came with a slightly lower score than the Land of Nod low rise crib, and the Graco Lauren Signature crib had the best rating for the lowest price.
(NN) Changing Table. We feel that a changing table is nice to have, but not necessary. If you are lacking in space and finances, this is definitely something you could forgo for now until a later date. However, if you are looking to invest in a particular crib, most ladies like to have a matching crib, and these are often sold in a set. However, you can often pick up something like this at a yard sale, or in a Facebook yard sale group as well. Also, please note that most changing tables do not come with the pad. You will need to purchase a changing table pad separately. This Summer Infant changing pad from Walmart has lasted for us. You will also need a changing pad cover, and we love the patterns and styles Target offers.
Summer Infant Swaddlers. While these aren’t required, we highly recommend these Summer Infant Swaddlers to keep baby swaddled easily through all seasons. This greatly helps them fall and stay asleep. While you can swaddle a child with a baby blanket as well, these are so nice with the velcro to close them, and baby doesn’t wiggle out of these nearly as easily, especially once they are older.
Dr. Harvey Karp’s Album: The Happiest Baby on the Block. This…is…a…lifesaver. When our son was eight weeks old we drove to Texas over three days, and could not have made it through the trip without this, since I couldn’t hold him all of the time. We still use this in our newborn photography shoots, to keep the babies happy while we take their pictures.
Monitor. Yes, we feel this is a must-have if you are not room sharing with your little one. With SIDS happening many times while babies are sleeping, we feel that something like this Motorola Wireless Monitor is essential for monitoring baby once he or she arrives. If you are room sharing, then a monitor without a video will suffice, but it is very nice (especially as baby gets older) to have a monitor with a video camera. Please keep in mind that this also depends on the layout of your house. When my sister had both of my nieces, their bedroom was downstairs, while the girls slept upstairs, so it was imperative that they have a good monitor with a video. If you are sleeping in the room right next to your child, it might not be as much as a necessity to have the video feature, but we definitely recommend having a monitor for your little one in most cases.
Crib Sheets. Crib Sheets are essential for your crib, and we recommend having at least three on hand for the middle of the night accidents. Even at twenty-months we changed our son’s crib sheet at 2a.m. last night because he peed through his diaper. We love the Circo crib sheets at Target because of their adorable designs and great prices.
Receiving Blankets. We love Circo blankets for the same reason we love the crib sheets – design and softness. We recommend having at least 2-3 receiving blankets as well.
Gear
Car Seats. If you knew how long it took me to pick out my car seat, you would be amazed. It literally took four hours, three stores, and a subscription to Consumer Reports that I purchased on my phone that day. The Chicco Nextfit was the absolute winner in our opinion (check out our Chicco Nextfit car seat review), with the Britax Marathon coming in second. Our choices were based on safety ratings, then comfort second.
On a side note, if cost is an issue, we purchased the EvenFlo Sure Ride as the seat for my husband’s car, and my mom’s car so we didn’t have to switch seats all the time. This was rated third for overall safety, and since he wouldn’t be riding in those vehicles nearly as much, comfort wasn’t as big of an issue.
Stroller (Need now if car seat is part of the travel system).
– Traditional Stroller. While Consumer Reports listed the Peg Perego Strollers as perfect in all categories, they didn’t have quite as high consumer satisfaction ratings on Amazon. These also seemed a little pricey. The BOB strollers were ranked next. However, these are still fairly expensive along with the Britax strollers.
-Travel System. Personally, I loved my Graco Travel Stroller system. It was much less expensive, and I liked the one hand release, but that’s just my opinion! Chicco was listed with the highest score, but three Graco travel systems were listed immediately after the Chicco system.
(NN) Moby Wrap. This is by far one of my favorite items. My friend Courtney introduced me to Moby baby wraps, and it was one of the best purchases I ever made. Courtney has four little ones and while I have known her (with her last three), she has wrapped every baby up until two years of age.
Diaper Bag. This is something that can be picked up for much less at a yard sale or consignment store. However, we do love these Diaper Bags from Target, and The Pottery Barn Kids (these can be personalized, but are a little more pricey). These diaper clutches are nice for when you are on the go and don’t want to carry your entire diaper bag.
Car mirror. You must have a car mirror. If you have ever had a freak-out mode in the car where you are scared your baby is not breathing or choking on something, you will understand why this is a must-have on our list. Don’t judge the fears I had, I was seriously postpartum for awhile after my son was born.
Pack & Play. This can go either way as far as necessity. It’s great if you’re going to travel, and can be used in place of a crib for awhile if finances are tight. It also serves as a play pen when your little one starts to crawl. However, I have to be honest, this is something that is better if you can borrow it from someone. We didn’t use ours very often.
Feeding & Nursing
*Breastfeeding Pump. This is covered by most health insurance companies, so make sure to check with your insurance provider before you purchase your own pump. Because I had low milk supply issues, I chose to rent a hospital grade Medela breastpump for about ten months in addition to using the pump my insurance covered. While it was very expensive, I don’t regret it, because of the health benefits for myself and my baby. Medela breast pumps are the best pumps – no contest.
Nursing bra. This is something you will want to purchase after baby arrives, since your breast cup size may change within the first couple of weeks. It is nice to have one nursing bra on hand to wear at the hospital and for the first few days. This can be a tough choice, because I had a c-section and our local Motherhood Maternity store is about 45 minutes away. They really have the best selection of bras, and while they are a little pricey, they are worth it. I remember walking at the outlets about two weeks after my son was born, wishing I could have had one shipped to the house. It is very difficult to have one of these shipped, since not all styles fit the same. My recommendation would be to have one for right after baby arrives.
(NN) Boppy Pillow. While a Boppy Pillow is not necessary, it is very nice to have if you are nursing. If you’ve ever had nursing neck, then you will understand why this is extremely helpful when you start breastfeeding. It’s also great for positioning baby on the bed without having to lay them flat. As our son grew older I would lay him in his Boppy Pillow and give him a toy while I folded clothes. Again while it’s not necessary, I highly recommend putting it on your registry.
*Bottles & Binkies. If you know you are going to bottle feed in advance, we recommend trying to see if your doctor has any sample bottles that you can try, since most babies are very particular about nipples, shape, etc. Our son loved these pacifiers by Mam. You also need to know that pacifiers and bottle nipples are rated for age. These are usually 0-3 months, 3-6 months, and 6+ months. Again, if you get one as a shower gift, it’s nice to have to try after baby is born to see if he/she likes it, however, remember that this may change based on baby’s preferences.
Burp clothes. I recommend at least 7-10 burp cloths, especially for the newborn stage.
Bibs. You can never have enough bibs. Also note that these come in varying sizes for eating stages as well, so its nice to register for bibs for various ages. These can be picked up for pennies at yard sales too.
Toddler spoons and sippy cups. I always recommend registering for at least one of each of these so that when this time arrives, you have one on hand.
Bath/Diapering
Diapers and wipes. Definitely put these on your list, but remember that some babies have sensitivities to diapers, so just make sure you can return them for another brand or style.
If you are interested in getting started with cloth diapering, you will want to read our article first. Also, PediDerm Bum Paste is our all-time favorite diaper rash cream for tough diaper rashes with our own essential oil diaper rash cream
(NN) Diaper Pail- After having had two children, I have never found a Diaper Genie necessary. We prefer to get rid of that odor immediately, so we take all #2 diapers to our breezeway/garbage area immediately. There are very few pails that can completely eliminate that odor. However, some people don’t have immediate access to trash removal like we do, and so this is a necessity. The Diaper Genie Essentials system was one of the higher rated pail on Amazon for a decent price, so if you have to have one, we suggest this as the way to go. If you are looking for a pail to hold only diapers with minimal odor, we have used two different Safety 1st Diaper Pails. If money is no object, this Ubbi Steel Diaper Pail had over 800 ratings with a 4.5+/5 star average.
Baby Bathtub. You will definitely need a baby bathtub for when baby until they are around 4-6 months. It doesn’t need to be expensive, and we love this baby bathtub by The First Years from Target. This is something you can easily pick up at a yard sale or consignment store for less as well. Never, ever, ever let a child of any age unattended in the bathtub. I had a blogger I knew of who lost a child to drowning when she left her two children in the bathtub together unattended. Be very, very careful to always watch your child in the bathtub.
Bath Towels & Washcloths. Baby’s skin is so sensitive when they are little, so we definitely recommend getting towels and washcloths strictly for baby. We love these adorable hooded bath towels from Target. We also love these Burt’s Bees Baby™ Organic (3 Pack) Washcloth Set, and it is only $5.95 from Target.
Health & Toiletries
Infants Tylenol & Ibuprofen. These are must-have to have on your hand for your little one. Nothing is worse than running to the store in the middle of the night to get these when your child is sick. However, I recommend buying them right before delivery so their expiration date is as late as possible.
Rectal thermometer. We have used this Vick’s Rectal Thermometer with our son since he was a newborn, and it is durable, and has had very accurate readings for our family.
Kinsa thermometer. I absolutely love our Kinsa Thermometer, since it connects to my smartphone, and I have an accompanying app where I can track my son’s readings.
Vitamin D. If your child is being breastfed, your doctor may recommend that you purchase vitamin D to supplement in the form of drops. I was unaware of this and had never heard of this until I breastfed our son.
Head-to-toe Baby Wash. Instead of buying soap and shampoo separately, I like to buy both all in one container. The Head-to-toe Baby Wash by Johnson & Johnson is my favorite. You can also find generic versions in stores as well for less. I also love their Lavender lotion to use on my son after bath time at night. It’s so important to keep their skin hydrated, so I lotion my kids every night after bath time.
Gentle Babies essential oil. Essential oils have been just that – essential – for our family since our son was born. I used Fennel on my breast for milk supply issues, and I love Gentle Babies essential oil from Young Living to use on my little one and on myself during pregnancy.
Baby grooming kit. These usually come with a baby comb & brush, nail clippers, and nasal aspirators like this . These usually come in a kit like this Safety 1st Deluxe Healthcare & Grooming kit. It is much cheaper to purchase them in a kit like this instead of individually.
Clothing
Onesies. I still feel it is essential to have around twelve onesies on hand at all times for spit-up and other accidents. These are inexpensive and can be purchased in multi-packs from Target.com.
Socks. You will need a few pairs of newborn socks to keep their tooters warm.
Daytime Outfits. I love when Kohls.com has their $10 off $30 baby clothing coupons. I pair this with a great sale, and save over 75% off all of my son’s clothing. I have purchased many designer outfits that way, and the next step is our local Prime Outlets, where I always use coupons for Osh Kosh, Carters, and more. I don’t ever buy anything at full price, only during a sale with coupons. Consignment stores and yard sales again, are a great place to find clothing for much less.
Mittens. It’s nice to cover your little ones hands so they don’t scratch their face. Target has a nice selection of mittens for boys or girls. While these are nice to have, we don’t consider them a necessity.
Footed jammies. I purchase most of mine for my son at Kohls.com or in-store with a coupon during a sale. Even in the summer, our central air keeps the house pretty cool, and he wore these at night in the crib since you can’t put blankets in the crib with them.
Toys
Small blanket. In our house this is also known as a wubby. My sister purchase one for my son at Hobby Lobby. We have since found them there and bought two more to have a back-up wubbies. I love this Burt’s Bees Bee wubby.
Rubber Ducky. I love this Munchkin Rubber Ducky because it has the temperature indicator on the bottom to tell you if the bath water is too cold or too hot. We feel this is a must-have for baby’s safety.
Light-up Toys. Baby love toys that light up and make noise. These also help with brain development. We love Baby Einstein toys like this light-up guitar.
While our list is as exhaustive, we may have missed your favorite item. If you have a favorite, make sure to share it in the comments below.
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