Baby Registry Essentials You Need As A New Parent

As a new parent, creating a baby registry is overwhelming because you don’t know what you need. Here are the baby registry essentials you need to have to prepare for your new bundle of joy.

I am now over a year into parenting and there are so many things that I did not need. The essentials below are all the things I loved using during my first year as a new parent!

What is a Baby Registry?

A baby registry is a wish list of items you are asking for to support your baby and your transition to parenthood.

Usually a baby registry is made through a store like Amazon or Target, so that the guests can get exactly what you want.

How to Make a Baby Registry

Most large online retailers have easy to find registry instructions and give you discounts on items on your registry. Target has a baby registry option here, that is simple to follow along.

If you prefer Amazon, here is where you can make a baby registry.

Walmart has their registry page here.

These companies want you to use this service. They make it easy to follow along and give clear instructions.

Once you have created your account and your registry, you can share a link to the registry anywhere. People also can go to the website and there is a search feature, so that they can look up your registry by your name if they do not have the link.

Creating a registry is simple and can be fun!

Car Seat

A car seat is essential for your babies safety. If you are in the USA, the hospital will not let you leave until they see you put your baby into the car seat.

We choose a car seat for the first year that was removable from the car so that when the baby fell asleep we didn’t have to wake him up to move inside. My son fell asleep in the car often the first year and the ability to move him without waking him up was AMAZING!

We chose the car seat Chicco KeyFit 35 and we got a second base for our second car.

Baby Wraps

If I could only have 3 things for a new baby, baby wraps are one of them!

My son lived in a baby wrap for the first 5 months on his life. He wanted nothing more than to be with me at every moment of the day. Baby wraps allowed me to hold my baby while I got stuff done!

I have two different kinds of wraps. I have a fabric wrap and I have a structured back carrier.

Fabric wraps are great for front carrying small babies. I have 3 Boba Wraps that have lasted and will be used again.

Once my son could sit up I switched to a back carrier that I got from a garage sale. They do not sell the one I have anymore.

However, if I was purchasing for the first time I would get the Ergobaby Alta Hip Seat Baby Carrier. It has a hip carrier and it is a back carrier and we love both features!

Get at least one of each! They are an amazing tool for new parents.

Waterproof Pads

Whatever your sleeping situation is, you will want these Utopia Waterproof Pads! They are the unsung hero of my registry. I added them on a whim and these are the gift I give to other new parents in my life.

I place these pads onto the sleep surface and then change them out when my child wets the bed. That way I only have to wash the pads not the whole bedding.

They are great for nursing mothers too, because we leak everywhere for the first month or so.

I own this brand of waterproof pads. I cannot recommend them enough!

Big Water Bottle

Buying a 64 oz water bottle is a wonderful investment for new parents. I recommend one with a straw and a handle so that you can use it one handed.

When you are alone with your baby, you do not want to have to get up to go get more water while your baby is nursing or sleeping.

If I were to buy a new one today, I would get this water bottle.

Nipple Cream

Your nipples will sting sometimes while nursing your little one. Having one jar of nipple cream can really help you feel better quickly.

I really love the Earth Mama Brand Nipple Butter.

Nursing Station Supplies

Setting up a nursing station with all the essentials near where you will be help you be prepared.

You can get a big basket, bag, or rolling cart to store everything in. I really enjoyed having a nursing cart that I could roll to wherever I was nursing. I like a 3 tier cart like this, but remember that some of the shelves are harder to get to while you are nursing.

Station Ideas:

Big water bottle, granola bars, remote, nipple cream, book, baby nail clippers, phone charger

Sleeping Situation

How will your baby be sleeping?

Decide how your baby will be sleeping and ask for the materials for that.

Maybe you need a crib and extra sheets. Maybe you need a bassinet and want extra sheets for that.

I decided to co-sleep with my son after reading the book Sweet Sleep by La Leche League. I discuss the book in more detail in this article.

Baby Nail Clippers

Baby nail clippers are a must because you are clipping nails at least once a week. Babies fingernails are so small and they grow so fast it is important to clip them, before you get clawed by talons!

I like Safety 1st Nail Clippers. They are easy to hold while your baby wiggles and they are small enough for a newborns fingers.

Diaper Bag

Diaper Bags are essential to be able to get out the door quickly. Having everything in a grab and go bag is so helpful!

I have a Eddie Bauer Cascade Backpack and I really enjoy all the different pockets it has to keep me organized.

Diapers and Wipes

When choosing wipes, choose a wipe that has ingredients you like. Our favorite brand of wipes is Pampers Free and Gentle Wipes. Trust me and get a giant box of them. We go through wipes like water when we leave the house.

I recommend asking for multiple sizes of Pampers Diapers. You never know how many you will get and having a variety of sizes helps prevent you from doing last minute shopping when you are desperate.

Burp Cloths

I recommend about 10-15 burp cloths.

You can get away with less if you do laundry more than once a week often, and you may want more if you do laundry less than once a week.

Burp clothes become your everything wipe and the first few months with a baby everything feels wet.

The Urban Burp Cloths by KeaBabies were some of my favorites because they catch all the wetness and their shape goes around the neck.

Clothes

Ask for clothes in different sizes too. I would ask for clothes of any size. My son is large for his age and so we needed size 18 month clothes as soon as he turned one.

Keep an eye on garage sales and Facebook market place. I found a garage sale when my son was 3 months old that had clothes all the way to 4T for a dollar each! We stocked up and did not have to buy clothes for a long time.

Check clearance isles for deals. Each season stores put clothes on clearance that you will probably need in a year, because seasons go around. I found some really nice long sleeve shirts that we will use when fall comes for just a few dollars.

Brestfriend Pillow with Extra Cover

These pillows are AMAZING for people who nurse!

My husband got me 2 of these pillows after talking to a coworker and I am so glad he got more than one!

Everything about new babies are messy. They have diaper leaks, spit ups, tears, and drool everywhere. Having a second pillow to use when the first was in the wash was so helpful!

If you only want to get one pillow, I do stress getting a second cover at least so that you can change the cover out when the pillow gets messy. It happens A LOT.

This pillow elevates the baby, so that you don’t have to lean down to nurse them. This pillow made nursing my baby constantly more relaxing.

The pocket on the pillow is also big enough to hold a few nursing essentials, like nipple cream, nail clippers, Vitamin D Bottle, and an emergency granola bar.

Please get one for anyone in your life who plans to nurse!

Feeding Supplies

How do you plan to feed your baby?

If you plan to nurse I have items listed that will be helpful.

If you plan to pump, you will want to talk to the hospital about getting a pump because they can supply one for you.

Please read this article by Mommy Labor Nurse all about the tools needed for pumping.

Nursing Pads

It is very common for women to leak milk for about the first month or two. During the first 6 weeks, your body is regulating your milk supply to your baby. So while it is figuring that out, you will leak milk through your clothing.

I would ask for about 2 boxes of Frida Nursing Pads to get you through the first 2 months. If you can get washable ones like these ones by Kindred Bravely that will save you money too. I would have a box of disposable ones too for outings.

Nursing or Pumping Bras

I recommend having 3 bras. That way one can be in the wash, one is on you, and one is clean.

Having a bra that helps you feed your baby makes your life simpler. When your bundle of joy gets fussy, being able to get them food faster is great!

I really like Kindred Bravely Nursing Bras.

C Shaped Pillow

We were given a boppy pillow and loved it! I could set my son in it for a few minutes and he wasn’t all the way flat. He liked to look around and eventually we used the boppy for tummy time practice too.

This Boppy Pilllow on Amazon is nice because it has toys the baby can play with for tummy time too.

Baby Jungle Gym

In your first year the only toy you need for your baby is a baby jungle gym. This baby jungle gym on amazon has toys that make noise, are different textures, and has a mirror too.

I loved having a jungle gym for my son, because it was the only place he would be happy for more that 5 minutes. He loved hitting the items and once he started rolling he loved the gym even more. He could move to his favorite toys.

Toys to Chew On

Having toys for babies to chew on while they are very young gives them a new experience.

When they are less than 6 months old, it helps them get accustomed to having something inside their mouths that isn’t for food. It strengthens their jaw and helps entertain them too.

While a baby is teething it is helpful to have cold teething options. I would buy these Frida cold teething options. It is nice to have more than one so that the child can switch between them.

The mesh bag Munchkin Baby Feeder is my sons favorite teething tool. We put ice cubes in it and my son chews away on them when he is teething.

Baby Blankets

Warm baby blankets are great to have multiple of. We keep one blanket in each car and in the diaper bag. That way if the weather turns cold or we want to lay our son on the ground we have a nice soft place to put him.

They also make great burp cloths in a pinch.

We didn’t buy my son a winter jacket for his first winter because he was so small. We used sweaters and baby blankets to move him places.

Most of the blankets we received as handmade gifts from our family. If you want to add blankets to your registry here is a blanket by Burt’s Bees. It is organic cotton, and is responsibly made. I would buy this one, if we needed to replace a blanket.

Baby Spoons and Forks that Work

I have two sets of these Cloud Island forks and spoons.

Baby spoons and forks are teaching tools for your baby to learn how to get food into their mouth.

Please get them teaching tools that are sturdy enough to actually get the food to their mouth! Please don’t give them forks that are bendy. I know you are worried about their safety, but imagine how frustrated they get with utensils that don’t work!

My baby was able to use forks and spoons responsibly earlier than some of his peers because his utensils actually work.

Sippy Cups

I introduced a sippy cup at the same time we introduced food at about 6 months. We added two more cups with straws after he was a year old.

I recommend using straw like openings in cups, because your baby will figure out how to use straws in their first year.

We own one sippy cup, one metal cup, and one plastic cup with a lid.

High Chair

Having a high chair where you can contain your babies mess during meals is an essential.

Once your child want to be in charge of their own food then having a space that is easy to clean after they explore their food is important.

We really love the Trio 3 in 1 High chair by Ingenuity. It has grown with our baby and I don’t feel like we will ever need to purchase another

What Baby Registry Items do you Recommend?

Let us know in the comments below about your favorite items!

Other Articles You May Enjoy

Simple, Safe, and Healthy First Foods for Babies

The Best Parenting Books to Read While Pregnant

Pin For Later