The Ultimate Baby Registry Guide
I originally published this blog post YEARS ago. When I had one baby who was seven months old. LOL. Times have certainly changed, and I have been through the baby stage many more times now… so I figured it was time for an update!
I am very happy to report that most of the items on the original list are still tried and true favorites of ours. Others, however, we are no longer using (RIP to the recalled boppy lounger. We loved you dearly.). I will try to make notes throughout of what has stood the test of time, and what items you can confidently pass on!
If you’re a first-time mom, I’m sure you’ve been looking at all of the many brands, products, reviews, and opinions... and it’s been overwhelming and intimidating, to say the least. When we created our original baby registry, we had no idea which items were worth splurging on and which we could go without. If I were to do it over again knowing what I know now, I would have created my registry so differently! But, I think most moms would say that exact same thing. You don’t know what you don’t know… you live and you learn, right?! ;-)
If you’re putting together a registry, I’d love to add my thoughts and opinions to the mix. ;-) Hear me say, this is what has worked for us. It is different for every family and every baby. That certainly makes it fun, doesn’t it… LOL. But if my voice is one you trust, feel free to read on!
(Disclaimer #1: Most of the links in this post are affiliate links! That means if you purchase an item using the link below, I make a little bit of money without adding any extra cost to you. I really appreciate any time you purchase through these links!)
(Disclaimer #2: Having a baby can be SO expensive. I really want to encourage you to shop with a budget in mind. It can be so tempting to purchase the most popular, brand-name items… but, if it is in your budget to purchase a $50 stroller instead of a $400 stroller, that is OK! All your baby REALLY needs is lots of love from you. I promise they won’t know the difference between the name brands! As we have shopped for our kids, we saved for a couple of “splurge” items and then tried to find the best deals for the rest. I’ll try to list items from all different price points in this post!)
If you would like to shop all of my favorites quickly, you can visit my Amazon Storefront here!
Nursery:
Crib: We purchased our very first crib on a random sale on Wayfair! In my opinion, they all work the same. If the aesthetics matter to you, absolutely splurge. But we didn’t care… so cheap crib it was. When we needed a second/third crib, this is the one we got. I have also heard excellent things about the Ikea cribs!
Crib Mattress: There are literally a million brands. We felt so overwhelmed and ended up going with this one. We have also repurchased it twice for subsequent babies! I love that the cover comes off to clean and it has held up well over the years.
Crib Sheets: Our favorites are these Burts Bees sheets and of course, the classic Target brand ones. We try to keep white and grey… but our boys have spent many nights on floral crib sheets. LOL.
Mattress Pad: If your mattress doesn’t clean easily, it may be helpful to have a set like his! Nothing fancy - any waterproof set will work. We learned quickly that spit-up soaks through sheets pretty easily…. ;-) We’ve used a few random brands for crib mattresses/twin mattresses and they all work the same.
Baby Hangers: We bought a 20-pack from Target to start, and have had to keep going back for more. I am EMBARRASSED to say we own literally hundreds of kids’ hangers… and somehow keep buying more. I wish I would have bought two of these sets and not had to purchase any more!
Diaper Pail: We have always used this one. I love that you can use regular trash bags in it instead of having to buy specific brand-name refills! It gets the job done AND saves us money on refill bags. We have since purchased a second one to use upstairs. Works great to minimize smell!
Changing Pad: With Addie, we decided to go low-budget with this one. It worked great! Since having multiple more kids, including ones who have struggled to gain weight and needed extra monitoring, we invested in this one that doubles as a scale.
Sound Machine: We LOVE our Hatch Baby Rest sound machine. We purchased one with Addie, and got a second one when Rhett came along. We even have the mini one for our room when the babies stay in here! When they start fussing, the first thing we do is turn up the sound machine from the app on our phone and it can usually calm them down. I also love that it has the option to function as a nightlight or an “Okay to Wake” light when they are a bit older. Any sound machine will do. You can find them for pretty inexpensive! This is another popular option!
Monitor: This was one of our splurge items when we had Addie - the Infant Optics DXR-8. We decided to go with a video monitor with the best reviews in hopes that we would never have to replace or upgrade the monitor in the future! To this day, we STILL use this monitor and recommend it to everyone. We have purchased extra cameras and have the monitor connected to four at once. One time, Rhett threw the monitor down wooden stairs and it broke… and we re-purchased the same one. That says a lot!
Humidifier: We ended up purchasing this one a few months into Addie’s life. She had some lingering congestion and it helped clear it up! I would say don’t buy one of these until you need it. But you will certainly use it often during sick season!
Rocker: We bought this one from Target with Addie! This is another item that we saved for over my whole pregnancy because I loved how cute it was. It was not a necessity + you can find them at all price points. We have since gotten rid of it and opted for this one that someone donated to us that takes up much less space. They all work the same! We don’t really have a dedicated nursery anymore, so the smaller chair works better for us.
Gear:
Pack and Play: We splurged and got this pack and play. We LOVE it and HIGHLY recommend it to everyone we know. We still use it, four years later, and even purchased a second one. It is so easy to set up + tear down! The best feature is the bassinet and changing pad attachment - we kept it set up in our living room for the first 3 months of Addilyn and Rhett’s life. So convenient! This is a similar, more affordable option.
Bassinet: We purchased this bassinet for while Addie slept in our room. We traveled a lot in her first few months of life, so it was convenient + small to pack. With Rhett, we splurged on a moses basket bassinet. Not needed, but SO cute. I also love that it rocks, so when our babes are fussing, I can rock them right in their bassinet.
Swing OR Bouncer: Y’all. We have been through every baby container there is. LOL. We got this swing when Addie was a baby… two babies loved it, two hated it. Some time later we purchased this bouncer. I LOVE it because it can easily move from room to room, and fold flat to transport or store. I like that I can bounce it with my foot while working! Every baby is so different and likes different things… I would HIGHLY suggest borrowing a swing or a bouncer if you can. They use them for such a short time, and it’s such a waste if you buy it and they hate it. If you borrow something you love, go ahead and buy your own!
SnuggleMe Lounger: This is our FAVORITE product during the Newborn stage. It replaced our beloved Boppy Lounger. We use it more than the swing + bouncer combined during the first 6 weeks! It is so easy to take along when you go to a friend’s house or move from room-to-room... the babies are always so cozy in it! (Secret: We even let our babies sleep in it for the first few months. Don’t shun me. LOL.)
Play Mat: We had this one with Addie. She loved it, but we eventually got rid of it. It’s great entertainment for a first baby, but once you have bigger kids running around… they are the entertainment. LOL.
Jumper/Play Gym: We didn’t have one with Addie and were just fine without it. We got this for Rhett’s first Christmas and have used it a ton since! So helpful to entertain a bigger baby when I have to tend to the other kids. This would also be an excellent item to borrow.
Travel:
Car Seat: We read LOTS of safety reviews and ended up going with this Britax car seat. We have used it for all four babies! Once we got tired of carrying the baby in with the infant carrier, we upgraded to this convertible car seat. It is fabulous and we now own three… fits newborn through 5 years! We recently upgraded to two of these thin car seats to maximize space. They fit the kids from newborns until they don’t need a car seat anymore. When we have a fifth baby, we’ll get a third because it’s one of the few seats that can fit three across the third row of the van! We still use one of the Britax seats for Teddy, and have the other two installed in Erick’s car.
Car Mirror: Not a necessity, but we love having this to check on Addie while she is rear-facing.
Stroller: Another splurge item for us! We waited until we caught an amazing deal to purchase the Baby Jogger City Select stroller. We have this adapter so we can use our car seat with it. We decided to go ahead and get a stroller that can convert to a double because we anticipate having two little ones at the same time who will need a seat in the stroller. You can find strollers at ALL price points! Lots of people love to purchase their car seat + stroller as a set. Can confirm four years later… this was an AMAZING investment. We still use it just about every day and it’s in excellent condition. We also ended up getting this umbrella stroller when Addie was small and love using it for travel! With four under gour, we now own six strollers… but that’s a whole separate blog post, LOL.
Carrier: Over the years, we have used a TON of different baby carriers. I could do a whole separate blog post on this, but I’ll share my top favs. For the newborn phase, the Solly wrap is my absolute favorite. We use it for the first 6 months and they are SO cozy in there. Once they age out of that, we love the Sakura Bloom Scout. This works great for newborns, too, but just not as cozy as the Solly. ;-)
Travel Sound Machine: This is a MUST. We own three and gift it to just about every new parent friend. It is a lifesaver for travel, naps on the go, and even just to soothe while we’re out and about!
Diaper Bag: I have had the Fawn Design bag since Addie and still love it. We have since purchased a diaper bag for Erick, too, and he uses this one! I’ll have to do a whole post on what we keep in our diaper bag, but these diaper trash bags and this wet bag for dirty clothes are definite go-to’s of ours. We have been using that brand wet bag since Addie and own four now!
Feeding:
Bottles: We worked with a lactation consultant with Addie who recommended this bottle set! She said for breastfed babies, it is important to have the slowest flow nipple (these are preemie!) so they don’t develop a preference for the faster flow of the bottle. We used them for both Rhett and Teddy. Since Teddy was exclusively bottle-fed, we own eight of the glass ones! Nora still refuses all bottles… but here’s to hoping she’ll come around one day.
Bottle Warmer: We used this one until it broke after three years (I think you’re supposed to clean them… we didn’t. Whoops.) We ordered this one to finish Teddy’s bottle journey and to use with Nora. It works fabulously, but we don’t use it much because Nora hates bottles. (Can you tell we’re in the thick of that battle? Lol.)
Bottle Brush/Basin: I am a bit of a freak when it comes to cleaning our baby bottles… I bought this brush to keep the brush/sponge we use for dirty food dishes separate from our baby items. We also use this wash basin specifically for bottle/pump parts. The thought of throwing them in our sink with the other dirty dishes just grosses me out.
Drying Rack: This is the one we used with Addie! Once Teddy came and we used a ton of bottles, we got this one too. Definitely not a necessity… a dish towel works just the same! But for alllllll the bottle and pump parts, it lived on our counter.
Baby Dish Soap: We use this kind! We have used it since Addie and it truly works 10000x better than regular dish soap in removing that milk film from bottles and pump parts.
Laundry + Bath:
Puracy Stain Remover: We tried regular stain remover and for baby stains, it just didn’t cut it. We use this one and it worked super well on spit up, poop etc. etc. ;-) We found it with Addie and have never turned back. We order the refills in bulk!
Free + Clear Detergent: We started with Dreft, and then realized it is NOT non-toxic. We personally try our best to find the cleanest, most natural products… and Dreft was not it. Also, we found no reason to use a different detergent for baby clothes than our clothes. We use Molly Suds detergent for the whole fam! We do wash kids clothes separately on cool / gentle to help keep them from wearing out quickly.
Baby Bath: We started with this one! We ended up switching to this one. Both are great — the Angelcare bath is better for us because our kids bathe at the same time and it fits better. You can also flip it upside down when they are almost sitting independently to help steady them in the bath!
Wash Cloths + Towels: We originally used Burts Bees hooded baby towels and washcloths. We have moved on and just use regular towels and washcloths for everyone. So much easier!
Gentle Soap + Lotion: I could write a whole blog post on baby products… but I’ll keep it simple. In the first few months, we bathe our babies with just water. Then, we use this baby oil to keep their skin moisturized! Once they need soap, we use this line for soap and lotion. When they are around a year and aren’t so sensitive anymore, we start using this line for both soap and lotion.
Diapering + Care:
Diaper Caddy: This was our favorite baby shower gift we got! We got it before Addie was born and bought a second. I’ll do a whole post on what we keep in our diaper caddy… but it was so easy to carry this from room to room and know we had everything we needed close by!
Butt Cream: We have always used and loved this brand. It is gentle on their bums and works great!
Diapers and Wipes: This is so different for everyone. As far as non-toxic diapers and wipes go, the best brand and price we found was Millie Moon from Target. And we tried a TON. Now, with so many babies in diapers, we use Costco-brand diapers and wipes. The very best price you can get.
Nose Frida: It’s super gross. But it works. Must have!
Thermometer: Get cheap ones like these. You have to use a rectal thermometer until they’re like 2!
Nail Files: We prefer files to clippers for our tiny babies. Any gentle nail file will do but after a handful of babies, we upgraded to this electric nail file.
Breastfeeding:
After having breastfed and pumped for four babies, I have a lot of thoughts in this area. Along the way, I’ve discovered lots of helpful tools and resources to help me! I have tried and loved lots of pumps… used lots of accessories… all the things. I am going to keep it simple here, but if you ever want to know more about my favorite things for nursing or pumping, just shoot me a message! I highly, highly, highly recommend connecting with a lactation consultant to help you through your journey. Out of everything, my LC was my most valuable asset.
Breast Pump: I got this Spectra pump when Addie was born and it has served me well for years. These are the replacement pieces I order to use with it. As time went on, I decided I wanted a wearable pump to use here and there and I got this one. Head to this website to see if you can qualify for one for free through insurance! With Nora, I picked the Motif Luna and it worked about the same as the Spectra.
Milk Bags: I always use these bags. I’ve tried other ones and they either break or don’t stack well in the freezer!
Hakaa: This little guy is so nifty for catching extra milk and building up a little freezer stash. It’s also so helpful to me to relieve engorgement in the middle of the night! It is encouraged to replace everything silicone between babies, and I’ve repurchased this every time.
Nursing Pads: Just go ahead and go for the reusable ones. I have two sets of these.
Nipple Cream: This is a MUST for the early days of nursing. As you figure out how to do it, your nipples can get really beat up.
Nursing Bras: I loooove everything Kindred Bravely, but this is my go-to. I also love their pumping bra, sleep pumping bra, and terry nursing bra.
Other:
Gowns/Sleepers: My husband will tell you anything that zips or buttons is a waste of your time. In the first month or so, you are changing 10-15 diapers A DAY. It is SO helpful to have gowns like these ones to make the diaper-changing process just a little bit easier. We LOVE this company for gowns. We own way too many… they’ve held up great through the years, and fit our babies until close to 6 months!
Burp Cloths: We grossly underestimated how many burp cloths we would need. In the first week of her life, we did a Target pick-up order just to buy more! These are our absolute favorites. We also love these basic ones from Amazon.
Swaddles: We loved these zip + velcro swaddles! They are great for babies of all sizes, and super helpful to transition their arms out when they are ready. If you want to splurge, the Ollie swaddle is AMAZING. We also always recommend stretchy swaddle blankets like these to everyone we know because they can wrap your babe up nice and tight. Don’t waste your time with the muslin or cotton ones.
Books + Apps:
On Becoming Babywise by Gary Ezzo: Everyone has differing opinions on baby sleep, but we’ve discovered the most helpful thing for us is having a schedule. Babies sleep and wake needs change so rapidly in the first year, this book was super helpful to us in creating schedules for our kiddos that help them sleep successfully.
Parenting by Paul David Tripp: A MUST read for Christian parents. We reference back to it all the time.
Baby Tracker App: This is the best app we found for the newborn stage. It would sync between our phones and was SO helpful in keeping track of a feeding schedule. Especially in the early days when it’s important not to go too long without feeding.
Wonder Weeks App: Wonder Weeks is an excellent introduction to baby development… and a great resource for learning about when your baby might be fussier!
WHEW! That was a lot. Are you overwhelmed?! Don’t stress too much about it… there is no piece of baby gear that will make or break your parenting journey, I promise. If you have any questions, always feel free to email or message me. At this point, we’ve tried just about everything and would love to share what has worked and what hasn’t!
Should I make a post for must haves with two under two? Three under three? Four under four? Too niche? Lol.
