The Ultimate Baby Shopping Guide > Baby Registry

Baby Registry

Nursery

• Crib (read about crib safety)
• Bassinet, Moses Basket or co-sleeper
• 2 waterproof mattress pads
• 2 fitted sheets
• Bumper
• Crib Skirt
• Mobile
• Crib Toy
• Hamper for baby clothes (This can double as baby bathtub when your baby is big enough to sit up. Place it in the bathtub and you have a contained area for your little one to sit in.)
• Rocking Chair with footstool or glider with footstool
• Bookcase for baby's books
• Lamp with dimmer switch - for middle of the night diaper changes and feedings
• Monitor
• Décor - don't forget to add a little fun and color to your babies room!

 

Diapering

For more on diapering read our article on Diapering 101 .

• Changing Table
• Changing Pad
• Wipes Warmer - optional
• Newborn sized disposable diapers or for diapers that completely prevent poop-blowouts: 24 Kissaluv diapers and 6 Bummi's Super Whisper Wrap Diaper Covers.
• Stain Spray - for poop-blowouts, you wouldn't believe how they stain!
• Diaper wipes - or baby wash cloths and spray bottle for a cloth alternative
• Powder, try a cornstarch based powder as talc is shown to be harmful to little lungs.
• Diaper Rash Cream
• Diaper Pail and refills (you can use a Sterilite garbage can as an alternative to official diaper pails)
• 1 small diaper bag for short outings
• 1 large diaper bag for day long outings
• Mobile above changing table to keep wiggly babies occupied

 

Bathing

• Baby bathtub (you can also lay a handtowel in your contoured bathroom sink and place baby in that as an alternative)
• Bath toys
• Baby wash cloths
• Tear free shampoo and body wash
• Baby lotion – Eucerin is a great lotion for baby's sensitive skin
• Towels - if your everyday towels are soft enough you can use those instead of specialty baby towels

 

Baby Care

• Thermometer - ear thermometers are some of the easiest and most accurate to use on a baby
• Brush and comb
• Nail clippers
• Cool mist humidifier
• Teething Rings
• Pacifiers of various shapes - many babies are picky about the shape of their pacifier. If one type doesn't work, try another.
• Infant Tylenol and or Infant Advil
• Bulb syringe (hospital may provide when you give birth)
• Dreft laundry detergent

 

Feeding

• Breast pump - depending on how often you plan to pump you can either go with an electric pump or a hand held one. Make sure to read reviews of the ones that fit your lifestyle and price range, cheap ones can sometimes be the best and likewise expensive ones not worth the money.
• Nursing pillow, either a regular pillow, Boppy or My Breast Friend
• Breast pads - use ones that are made of cotton or of a breathable synthetic
• Nipple shields
• Lanolin cream for sore nipples
• 6 Burp clothes or folded receiving blankets
• 6 Bottles of various sizes
• Nipples in various flow stages
• Bottle sterilizer - look for one that also doubles as a toy sterilizer
• High chair and or booster seat
• 4 infant spoons
• 4 sippy cups, Nuby Cups are a great cup to transition from bottle to sippy cup
• Bottle basket for dishwasher
• 2 Bibs, Bumkin's bibs are in our opinion the best: waterproof, stain resistant, fade proof and very soft.
• Books to read before feeding baby: Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron, First Meals by Annabel Karmel,
• Snack Trap
• Baby Safe Feeder mesh bag
• Benedryl is great to have on hand in case of allergic reactions to food

 

Clothes and Layette

Clothing selections are very personal depending on your taste and lifestyle, what season you have your baby and how often you like to do laundry. Below is a barebones list of what is good to have. Make sure to have a handful of incredibly adorable outfits for baby, not only are they fun but good for the countless visitors to coo over and for the hundreds of photo sessions you are bound to have.

• 6 Sleeping Gowns - these are good for the first few weeks, easy access for diaper changes.
• 6 One Piece Sleepers - make sure to have a few that close with a zipper, all those snaps get confusing in the middle of the night diaper changes.
• 6 Daytime Outfits
• Snap extender for onesies - great for tall babies and for cloth diapered babies
• 3-4 Hats - a mix of simple beanies and warm outdoor hats
• 6 pair of socks - check to make sure socks have good elastic, socks are notorious for falling off babies
• 2 pair of Robeez - My favorite shoe for baby because they actually stay on.
• 2 Buntings - if you are having a winter baby
• 6 Cloth Bibs - to catch spit ups and drool
• 6 Receiving Blankets   - Flannel are preferred. These are fantastic to use folded as burp clothes, as swaddle blankets, changing pads while you are out, cover ups while nursing etc. You'll find endless uses for them.
• 1 Swaddle Blanket
• Home Shoe Sizer - fantastic for those who order their babies shoes on-line.

 

Toys

Shopping for toys is one of the most fun aspects of being a parent. Babies typically start to get interested in toys around 3-4 months of age. Look for toys that have bright colors, ones that would be easy for baby to grab and that make interesting noises. Since each parent will want something different for their babies to play with, we won't suggest anything specific except for have fun shopping!

 

Books

Books for Parents:

• First Aid for Babies and Children by DK Publishing
• 'What to Expect the First Year' by Heidi Murkoff, Sandee Hathaway, and Arlene Eisnberg
• The Happiest Baby on the Block: The New Way to Calm Crying and Help Your Newborn Baby Sleep Longer by Harvey Karp Md
• The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night' by Elizabeth Pantley, William Sears

Books for Baby:

It's so important to start the habit of reading to your baby early. Babies enjoy colorful books and books with texture. This list of books is a fantastic start to your library:

• Miss Spider Books by David Kirk
• Touch and Feel Animal Books by DK Publishing
• 'Goodnight Moon' by Margaret Wise Brown
• Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See by Bill Martin Jr.
• Ten Little Ladybugs by Melanie Gerth, Tony Griego, and Laura Huliska-Beith
• The Very Hungry Caterpiller by Eric Carle

 

Gear

Many baby gear items are used for such short periods of time, if you are able, try and borrow from friends or shop for gently used items.

• Infant Car Seat – have your local police department inspect that it's installed correctly
• Infant Support Pillow for car seat
• Backseat Mirror to see baby while he's sitting backwards in car
• Sun Shade for the car
• Stroller – check out our stroller buying guide
• Extended sunshade for stroller
• Rain cover for stroller
• Shopping cart cover
• Baby carrier – read up on the best way to carry your baby
• Bouncy Chair – keep this in the bathroom so you can get your showers in the morning
• Swing – string colorful Christmas lights around the swing for your baby to enjoy.
• Play Mat / Tummy Time Mat
• Travel play yard – choose one that includes a bassinette and changing table to make it more functional. Depending on your lifestyle, this may be a seldom used piece of gear and you may consider sharing one with a friend.