Our 29 Favorite Baby Registry Must-Haves

Choosing items for your baby registry is one of the most exciting, but also slightly overwhelming, parts of preparing for a new baby. There’s so many different products out there for mamas and babes, some absolutely necessary, and others just nice to have. When I was building my baby registry I spent an embarrassing amount of hours reading “top lists” and looking at YouTube reviews for baby products I wanted. But I did it so you wouldn’t have to! Truthfully, you’ll probably do it anyway if you’re a new mama! But I created this list for new soon-to-be parents, and friends and families of soon-to-be parents to hopefully take some of the stress out of deciding what to put on your baby registry.

When building your baby registry, here’s a few things to keep in mind:

Think about needs vs. wants. It is extremely easy to fall into the mindframe of “needing” all the latest gadgets for babies, but aside from diapers and a safe place to sleep, babies really couldn’t care less about many of the other things. I chose a mix of a few splurge items that would have some longevity like my car seat and stroller system, and opted for more affordable options for things Lowe would grow out of quickly, like a baby swing.
Break your items down by categories. I made a spreadsheet ( I know, I know) of categories (e.g. Nursery, Feeding, Sleeping, etc.) , and then added items based on the categories. This helped me to focus on the things I actually needed.
You can never have too many diapers or baby wipes. We had an amazing village that ended up supplying us with enough diapers for about 13 months! This was such a huge blessing. I always encourage mamas-to-be to over register for diapers. It’s hard to predict the sizes you’ll need but most stores like Target and Walmart will allow you to exchange unopened diapers for a different size if needed.
Finally, make sure to add some nonconventional things to your list…think UberEats or DoorDash Giftcards, House Cleaning Certificates, meal trains, a postnatal massage, etc. I didn’t think to add these things to our registry the first time, but these are things I really could have used once the baby was here. They’re definitely going on the registry for the new baby!

Now, here are the 29 things we absolutely loved (and a couple of things I wish we would’ve added) from our Baby Registry.

Nursery

A simple pack-n-play. Some people use these as a the primary bed for small babies, but we solely use ours for travel. We left one at both sets of grandparents’ houses as well and it has definitely come in handy! I have the one pictured - Graco Pack N Play and it has been the perfect transitional sleep option when we’re away from home.
A wifi baby monitor. Some people are leery about these, but I personally wanted a monitor that had the option for me to see what’s going on, even when I’m away from home. The Motorola 4.3 Baby Monitor has worked so well for us. It even has the option to play music and read stories.
Diaper Pail- If you’re planning to use disposable diapers, a sturdy diaper pail is a must. We chose the Dekor Diaper Pail because it was compact and has a unique bag system that allows you to maximize usage. For masking the odor, I’ve dropped a mixture of baking soda and lavender essential oils at the bottom of the pail and it definitely helps!
Bassinet- I knew I wanted our baby to sleep as close to me as possible, without actually being in the bed with us. The Baby Delight Bedside Bassinet was so convenient. I was able to easily pick up Lowe for nursing and feeding at night, without having to get up.
Rocker/Glider- Sitting in the rocker while feeding or singing Lowe to sleep was one of my favorite things to do. We got this DaVinci one and it has held up beautifully.
Sound Machines- A lot of people ask what our secret is for getting Lowe to bed and staying in bed. I credit it us creating a good sleep routine and being consistent with it, AND to both of these sound machines. The Hatch Baby is one of my favorites because it also can serve as a nightlight with different colors and multiple sounds to choose from.
But, the one Lowe sleeps with every night is the Hushh Portable White Noise Machine. I love that we can take this anywhere and it helps Lowe to feel like she’s at home.
Closet Organizers aren’t a necessity, but it really does help to make things easier to find and put away. I love this Minnebaby set. It comes with everything you' need to organize a baby closet.
Humidifier. We looked at a number of different humidifiers, but eventually decided on the FridayBaby 3-in-1 because of the size and option to use it to diffuse essential oils.

Feeding/Breastfeeding

A good breast pump- If you’re planning to breastfeed, a good breast pump is essential. Most insurance plans will offer some free options for you. I chose to upgrade my breast pump and get the Spectra S1 because of this portability and strength.
This time around, I’m also adding the Haaka manual pump to my rotation. Many mamas swear by this one and boast about how easy and efficient it is with getting out milk.
Slow Flow Bottles. We tried a number of bottles, but my absolute favorites were the MAM Anti-Colic Slow Flow Bottles. We were a bit late to the game trying these, but they helped tremendously with reducing the amount of gas Lowe had.
Bottle Warmer- While some people may think it’s unnecessary, we LOVED having a bottle warmer. This Philips Avent Fast Warmer is an upgrade to the one we initially had, and has a smart temperature control and automatic shut off.
A flexible breastfeeding support pillow can be super helpful when trying to get your baby in an optimal feeding position. I didn’t use this one last time, but many mamas have recommended the My Brest Friend pillow to me, so it’s now on my registry!
Nursing/Pumping Bras- I recently ordered some of the Kindred Bravely nursing/pumping bras and I’m a huge fan. I’m particularly excited about the Sublime Hands-Free Nursing/Pumping Bra. I love that it serves a dual function and will allow me to nurse and pump at the same time.
On The Go

A functional diaper bag. - We wanted a unisex bag that would be easy to carry and still hold all the things we needed when leaving the house. I recently purchased this one from Amazon, and it’s been so useful thus far. I love that it has a built in changing station so when we’re out and about it’s easy to get the baby changed in a clean area.
Convertible Stroller- If you are even considering the possibility of having multiple children close together, I strongly recommend getting a stroller than can convert from single to double use. Speaking from experience! We recently ordered the Mockingbird Single-to-Double Stroller and I cannot wait for it to arrive. It has all the luxe features and design as the Uppababy stroller, but at a fraction of the cost. It is on back order so if you’re expecting soon, I’d order sooner than later!
Changing Pad- This comes in handy when you’re out and about and need a quick solution for changing your baby. We use ours often! I have the SkipHop Pronto Changing Station and love that it has a designated place to store diapers and wipes. It also fits conveniently in our diaper bag.
Baby Carrier- I chose two options for baby carriers- one that would be perfect for newborn/infancy and was comfy for me to wear around the house, and one that would have a bit more longevity and be more useful outside of the house. These are my picks: Newborn/Inside Home- Baby K’tan Original Wrap | On The Go- LilleBaby 6 Position Carrier

Baby Gear

Baby Swing- Having a place to set Lowe when I needed to get something done, or just needed a break from holding her, was so helpful. I love this Munchkin Bluetooth Enabled Swing because it’s portable, folds easily for storage and can be operated via phone.
Play Mat- One of my best friends gifted Lowe with the Lovevery Play Gym and we all absolutely love it. From the modern design to the functional age-appropriate areas of the mat, this can (and will) be used for quite some time.
Activity Center- Once Lowe was old enough, she enjoyed exploring in her activity center. It was great to have a safe space to contain her for short periods of time. We loved our SkipHop Explore and More Activity Center, and so did Lowe!
Baby Lounger- A baby lounger was also heaven-sent for when my arms needed a break. People love the Dock-A-Tot, but I couldn’t fathom spending that amount of money on it. A great alternative is the Snuggle Me Organic lounger.

Miscellaneous

Baby Bathtub- We have a standard baby tub, but I’m loving this OXO Tot Splash and Store tub for its versatility and ease of storage.
Wipes- This is a no-brainer, but as a I mentioned before, you can never have enough diapers and wipes. My absolute favorite wipes have been the Pampers Aqua Pure wipes. They don’t dry out like some other options and they’re super affordable.
Grooming Kit- I love FridaBaby and FridaMom and their grooming kit has been a staple in our house. The nail clippers have been the easiest to use, the infamous Snot Sucker has saved us many nights of stopped up noses, and the Windi, while gross, did a great job of helping Lowe relieve gas.
The Best Diaper Rash Cream- Boudreauxs Butt Paste has cleared up any diaper rash Lowe had within 24 hours. I’m still on the original tube because you don’t need a lot, but it gets the job done.
Double Zip SleepNPlays- This also may be a no-brainer but say NO to snap up sleepers. The last thing you want to be doing during middle of the night diaper changes is fumbling around with buttons or snaps. Someone gave me this advice and I made sure we stocked up on zippered sleepers. I love these ones with a double zip so you don’t have to fully undress the baby to change their diaper.

Parents, what were some of your favorite registry items? We’d love to hear and add to our list!

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