Baby Registry Checklist with Explanations

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Heads up! This is a long blog post because I explain my reasons for a lot of these products. If you would like a simple checklist without the explanations then please download my free Baby Registry Checklist PDF, found under my Resources Page!

I used Myregistry.com for my online registry and loved it! Once signed up then you can add a “Bookmark Button” that is linked to your registry, so you can be on any website and click the button “Add to MyRegistry” and whichever product you are looking at is then automatically added to your registry on Myregistry.com! You can also link an existing registry to Myregistry.com as well, so I had my Babies R Us registry linked on Myregistry.com where I also had a lot of Amazon products linked, so it was all in one location.

Quick Baby Shower Tip! Ask for baby books instead of cards, this is the best and easiest way to get your baby book collection started! I still have all of the books from my daughter’s baby shower with inscriptions from family and friends, and now use these books with my twins.

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Swaddles & Sleep Sacks

For explanations, check out my blog post, “From Swaddles to Sleep Sacks to a Toddler Blanket & Pillow“

Clothing
  • Sleepers – My babies lived in sleepers for the 1st six months, two way zippers are the best!
  • Onesies – Some long sleeve & some short sleeve.
  • Pants – Cozy pants, because no one wants to put jeans on a baby… at least I didn’t.
  • Socks 
  • Warm hats – For the newborn stage, to keep their head warm. 
  • Cloth bibs – For drooling, when teething starts & also for when starting solids!
Nursery

For explanations, check out my blog post, “Nursery Checklist with Explanations“):

Bath
  • Baby Bath – We had the Fischer-Price Baby to Toddler Tub and really liked it! I had registered for a different baby bath but one of my friends “overrode” my pick and got me this one instead because it is what she had for her babies and loved it too. I am so glad she overrode my original pick because this baby bath is so much better than the other one I had picked out! I love that it has an infant mesh insert so you can confidently use it during the newborn stage. We bathed our 5lb twins in it and it worked really well. 
  • Towels
  • Wash Cloths
  • FridaBaby – DermaFrida The Skinsoother Silicone Brush
  • FridaBaby – DermaFrida The FlakeFixer – So great for getting rid of cradle cap!
  • Shampoo/Body Wash
  • Lotion – Vaseline – All 3 of my kids have sensitive skin and Vaseline has been the most recommended lotion to use by doctors, nurses, and dermatologists, and we have found it to be the most effective.
Everyday Items
  • Diapers – We were a Pampers family but then with my twins we have converted to a Huggies family because I realized the ruching at the top of the Huggies diapers do really help contain blowouts.
  • Wipes – We use Pampers Sensitive wipes and have never had an issue.
  • Bum Cream – Sudocrem – I first used Penaten with my daughter but did not find it effective, I then switched to Sudocrem and never looked back, it has worked wonders for all 3 of my kids!
  • Burp Cloths – Tip! Cloth diapers are the perfect size to use as burp cloths! They are also the perfect size to put under your baby’s bum when you change their diaper as an extra layer of absorption in case of any accidents that then can easily be thrown in the wash.
  • Pacifiers – All my babies took the MAM pacifiers and used them for the newborn stage because I found it to be a useful tool for helping to sooth them during those hard first few months when they need more soothing and the sucking reflex is soothing for babies. I did wean (cold turkey method) them all off of the pacifiers after the 1st few months because I did not want them to become an attachment item and did not want to be putting a pacifier back in their mouth all night long. 
  • Pacifier Clips – Warning! Do not clip on car seat straps. If using in their car, clip onto your baby’s clothes, not the car seat strap.
  • Diaper Bag – We love our backpack diaper bag! I have used this same one for all 3 of my babies. A backpack is key for keeping your hands free to do other things, such as carry the car seat!
  • Fold Up Portable Change Pad – Great for on-the-go diaper changes, fits easily into your diaper bag.
  • Diaper Genie & Refills – We used our Diaper Genie more with our daughter than we do with our twins. Our regular garbage gets filled so quickly anyways with 3 kids so we just use that now, pee diapers we just throw in as is, poop diapers I typically bag first in a dog poop bag and then throw in our regular garbage. I am not against Diaper Genies! But totally dependent on if you think you will use it.
Baby Care
  • Battery Operated Nail Filer – Must-have item! So amazing for filing little baby nails! No nicks!
  • Nail Scissors – Once my babies were bigger (I think about 6-9 months and up) I started using regular nail scissors more. Tip! Put on Ms. Rachel and cut your baby’s nails while they are sitting still. Showtime in our house = nail cutting time. 
  • Thermometer – Invest in a good thermometer! It is very frustrating when you have a sick baby and get a different reading each time you try to take their temperature seconds apart. We now have the Braun’s Paediatric No Touch Thermometer and love it!
  • Nair – I kept a bottle of Nair on hand during the newborn stage, just in case of a hair tourniquet (the idea is, the Nair would dissolve the tightly wrapped hair), thankfully I never had to use it but it put my mind at ease knowing I had Nair ready just in case!
  • Booger Sucker & Saline – Absolute must have during the baby stage! My twins are now over a year old and no longer let us get close to them with what we lovingly call the “Booger sucker”, but it was so helpful when our babies had colds during the baby stage. I know it can be a gross thing to do as a parent but it works wonders to get all the snot out and there is a filter! We used the HydraSense Baby Nasal Aspirator Starter Kit with our babies because it comes with the aspirator (aka booger sucker), filters, and saline. Then you can buy more filters and saline as needed. 
  • Tylenol – Technically is for babies 3 months and up, but dosage is based on weight. Infant Tylenol dosage starts at 12 lbs. For under 12 lbs then talk to your doctor about dosage. My twins are just over 1 years old and are already using Children’s Tylenol because they are over 24 lbs.
“Containers”
  • Swing – You don’t need a super fancy swing, just one that has a nice back and forth swinging motion (adjustable speed is a good feature to look for) and that keeps your baby secure and in a safe position. Babies should always be watched while in the swing!
  • Baby Bouncer – I had the Bright Starts Baby Bouncer and was happy with it. I know there are some much fancier (and expensive) bouncers but I honestly don’t know what the appeal is of the expensive bouncers, they don’t have any extra capabilities. I kept the bouncer in the bathroom for the most part, so that I had a safe spot to put the baby/babies while I had a shower, etc.  
  • Play Mat – A must-have item during the 1st 6 months of your baby’s life, before they are mobile. They need a spot to lay down to do tummy time, practice grabbing at items, etc. 
  • Summer Infant Pop ‘N Jump – Super portable and nice to have a spot to put your baby for short periods of time at home or out and about! I specifically say “short periods of time” because it is not recommended to have your baby in any kind of jumping container for a prolonged period of time, really they shouldn’t be in any kind of “container” for a prolonged period of time. Think 10-15 minutes at a time, especially for jumping containers, just enough time to have a shower, eat a meal, etc. 
  • Skip Hop Explore & More Baby’s View 3-Stage Activity Center – I love this activity center. In my opinion, it is a must have item. I have used it so much with all 3 of my kids. I love that the bottom piece that your baby stands on is adjustable to their height so it truly grows with them! I also love that it is a stationary activity center (not a jumping exersaucer).
  • Summer Infant Pop ‘N Sit – Once your baby starts solids, this is so convenient to have on hand! We keep ours in the car so that our twins have somewhere to sit to eat when we are out at other houses or places that don’t have highchairs. I have had many comments from others on how amazing these Pop ‘n Sit chairs are, they pack up nice and compact too so you can throw it in the bottom of your stroller, etc.
  • Dockatot or Snuggle Me Lounger – A nice to have item, but not necessary, I had 2 Snuggle Me Loungers for our twins but the time that we used them was so short, I did resell them afterwards for a good price though! 
Breastfeeding

(For explanations, check out my blog post, “Postpartum Checklist with Explanations“)

Pumping/Formula
Solids
  • High Chair – We have the Ingenuity Smartclean Trio Elite 3-in-1 High Chair – Slate. The best feature is that it is all wipeable with no fabric! Whichever high chair you choose, I recommend looking for one that does not have fabric, the fabric gets gross so fast! Find one that is completely wipeable. The Ingenuity high chair has worked well for us and is very reasonably priced. 
  • Boon Pulp Silicone Baby Feeder – I loved using these to put some chopped up frozen fruit in!
  • Popsicle Mold – A must-have item! Before solids, you can put either breastmilk or formula in the mold and freeze for a teething baby to suck on. Once your baby is on solids, you can easily make fruit/veggie popsicles to help soothe sore teething gums. Tip! I just squeeze a premade fruit/veggie pouch into my popsicle mold, so quick and easy!
Carriers
Travel
  • All seasons car seat cover – Great for when out at stores or appointments and you don’t want everyone peeking in at your precious babe. Also doubles as a nursing cover if needed! ** Please do not use this cover out in direct sun as it traps the heat in the car seat and is very dangerous for your baby. If I used it outside on walks in the summer, then I always made sure to have the top hole pulled down and open so there was still lots of air flow.
  • Winter car seat cover – Perfect when travelling around outside in the winter on walks or going into stores, but please remove when putting the car seat into your vehicle ** Tip! Turn your vehicle on 5 minutes early so it will be warm for your baby.
  • Baby Car Mirror – So you can see what your baby is up to while you are driving! I suggest getting one that is soft sided so that it is not a concern if god forbid there was a collision.
Toys

There are so many toys, these are just a few suggestions to get you started!

Bigger Items that you may or may not want to include as a registry item – I often find there is a group attending your baby shower who would like to purchase a group gift and are willing to pool their money to purchase a more expensive item, so I always like to include a few bigger items for this reason.

Bigger Items
  • Car seat – We used the UppaBaby Mesa (infant car seat) for all 3 of our babies and loved it each time. Tip! You can resell it afterwards for a good price if it is in good condition (no accidents) and not expired!
  • Stroller – We have an UppaBaby Vista and have used it for all 3 of our kids. Yes it is pricey up front but we have definitely gotten our money’s worth out of it! We are going on using it for 4+ years and it has the capabilities to be used for multiple kids at one time (twins, or a baby and toddler)!
Bigger Nursery Items

(For explanations, check out my blog post, “Nursery Checklist with Explanations“)

  • Crib & Mattress 
  • Rocking chair
  • Dresser

Congratulations you made it all the way to the end!! I hope you found this information helpful!