complete baby registry checklist

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There are few things as intimidating as registering for your first baby. Or your second baby for that matter… so much can change in a few, short years. I spent hours and hours creating this FREE complete baby registry checklist. I am so, so excited to share it with you!

I have divided it up into a few categories below to try to make it as simple as possible. For being so tiny, babies sure can be complicated.

Before you start reading, be sure to actually go and create your baby registry so you can easily add these items as you go through them. My two favorite places are Target and Amazon. I have used them both with all three of our babies. Both will give you a “completion coupon” to use on any items you end up purchasing yourself to finish up your registry. Target’s discount is 15% and Amazon’s is 15% for Prime members (Amazon gives 10% off if you are not an Amazon Prime member).

Target and Babylist are two “universal” registry services. That means you can add their buttons to your bookmark bar and easily add items from other sites to your registries. It’s so convenient to have everything on one registry!

Now sit back and get ready to add lots of things to those baby registries.

feeding

bottles: these Como Tomo bottles are our FAVORITE! Ben had a great latch from the beginning and he was able to start using these bottles at 5 days old without have any issues going back and forth from nursing to using a bottle. Plus they are wide which makes them easy to clean.

burp cloths: We started with 8 burp cloths… and we ended up needing more. So stock up! Copper Pearl burp cloths have been our favorite, but the Cloud Island burp cloths are definitely more budget-friendly and still work very well.

bottle warmer: Whether you’re pumping or formula feeding, you’ll need a bottle warmer. I loved this one with Ben. It was very predictable as far as the temperature of the milk every time.

drying rack / bottle brush / stem: The grass version is smaller, so go big and get the lawn! And get the twig and stem, too. They’re good for holding nipples, binkys, etc.

bottle soap: You will want to use a soap specifically formulated for bottles/children. They contain less ingredients and are safer for baby.

bibs: We usually did not worry about either of our babies wearing a bib on a day-to-day basis. Before they started eating solids, we just used cloth bibs occasionally if they were wearing an outfit we really wanted to keep from getting spit up on it. Once they started solids we used bibs with a pocket at the bottom to catch food. Bonus points if it is a bib that is easy to wipe down.

breastfeeding

breast pump: If you are returning to work outside the home then you will definitely need a pump. I had trouble getting Blaire to latch, so I actually started using a pump our first day home from the hospital. If you have your choice, the Spectra S1 was amazing for me. I had a Medela Pump in Style first (since that is what I was able to buy locally with my health insurance). The Spectra S1 has a rechargeable battery so you are not stuck near an outlet while pumping.

breast milk storage bags: If you are going to pump milk to feed right away, then you can keep them in bottles. If you are going to pump milk to store for more than a few days, you will need to freeze it. To freeze it, you will need storage bags. You can pump directly into the bags with an adapter for your pump, or you can pump into a bottle and then transfer it to the bags after.

nipple cream: Nipple cream will help soothe your nipples, especially during the first few weeks of breastfeeding. This one from Tubby Todd is my favorite. If you shop through this link, you’ll save 10%.

cooling nipple gel pads: These are made to soothe your nipples. They help relieve the pain that can come from your pump, an improper latch or just while your body is getting used to this new stage of your life.

breast therapy pads: These were a must have for me as my body was getting used to nursing. You can heat them in the microwave and the heat can help release any milk that can be stuck in your ducts.

nursing pads: You will need bra pads to help soak up any milk that may leak. You may also need them in the last few weeks of your pregnancy since some ladies start to produce colostrum even before baby is born.

nursing bra: Be sure to stock up on a few nursing bras.

pumping bandeau: This bandeau will let you pump hands-free. Definitely a must-have! You cannot eat, drink or scroll through your phone if you are not pumping hands-free.

pump parts: Depending on which pump you end up with, be sure to purchase at least one set of back up parts. You do not want to be stuck without in the middle of the night or at work. Most pumps need valves, membranes, tubes and breast shields.

nursery

changing table: With Blaire we placed the changing table pad on top of her dresser. You can buy a little square to set in top of the dresser to fit around the changing pad. With Ben we bought an actual changing table with some storage under neath. 

changing pad & covers: Babies are so messy and I cannot even count how many times I had to change the changing pad cover some days. So make sure you have a few changing pad covers. We had three and that was enough, even though some times we just went without a cover if it had been a rough few days. 

sound machine: The Hatch Sound Machine is more than just a sound machine. You can control it through an app on your phone. As your child gets older, you can do things like set a time for it to wake them. We have one in our oldest daughter’s room. We use Dohm machines in the other rooms. They do offer an app-controlled model you can control and program from you phone.

video monitor: First, we tried a plain old-fashioned baby monitor and it was not good enough for me. I needed to be able to see my baby. I like this model because you can use the screen that comes with it and you can also view it from an app on your phone. If you don’t care about a separate screen and only want to use your phone, this monitor by Lollipop has amazing quality!

binky: My kids have been binky lovers! We loved wubba nubs (binkys with animals attached) because we did not lose them as easily. If she spit it out in her car seat, the animal would sit on her chest and she would usually be able to get it back into her mouth on her own.

diaper pail: We only used a diaper pail with our first. The refills were expensive and it was a pain to constantly empty.

Dockatot: We did not have the Dockatot with Blaire, but it was a must have with our other two children. You can save $10 off your Dockatot by purchasing through this link.

bassinet: We used this one and it was great. It didn’t take up a ton of space and was easy to move. It was perfect for the first few (maybe more like 9…) months when we wanted baby in our room.

glider & ottoman: The glider in the nursery has been the perfect place to nurse, cuddle and rock babies back to sleep when they wake up in the middle of the night. It is also the perfect place to read books before bed time. 

crib/crib mattress/crib sheets

health / on the go

baby tula explore carrier: If you are looking for a baby carrier, this is your go-to. It has more structure than a wrap, and can be easier to put on and usually has a higher weight-limit than a wrap. This carrier can hold baby inward or outward facing. I have used Baby Tula’s Explore and Free-to-Grow carriers and love the quality of their carriers. If you travel often and are looking for one that is easy to pack, consider the Tula Lite Baby Carrier.

solly baby wrap: This baby wrap is the best! It fits baby up to 25 lbs and has been my favorite wrap.

nursing cover: This nursing cover is so cool! It is a 4-in-1 nursing/car seat/shopping cart/high chair cover. The best part? This brand is the originator and of the 4-in-1 design and they have so many cute prints to choose from. 

baby bath: We loved this baby bath. It fit in our kitchen sink and the bathtub. When we was a newborn. We could place a warm towel in it to keep him toasty as we gave him the traditional newborn washcloth bath. We used this bath support once our children got a bit older.

back seat mirror and window shades: I did not even think to register for a backseat mirror, but realized as soon as I went somewhere alone with Blaire how badly I needed one. Go 10 minutes without seeing what your baby is up to back there? Nope.

digital smart thermometer: This thermometer is so cool! It links to an app on your phone to help track your child’s temps. It might seem like overkill, but when you have a sick kid and your doctor’s office is asking what their temps have been like, you will be so happy to be able to see it all documented on your phone for you. 

nose frida: Again, until you have a sick kid you might think this is weird or gross. But once you realize how effective it is to help your congested baby, you’ll be SO glad you have it.

lotion & body wash: our favorite is Tubby Todd. They have great scents but are still perfect for sensitive skin. You can save 10% when you shop through my link.

misc: diaper rash cream, grooming kit, bath towels, bath toiletries

clothing

side snap shirts/onesies: These little shirts are the best for those early days with your newborn. Since they snap on the side, you don’t have to worry about putting a onesie over that tiny little head. I didn’t even know they existed until Blaire was born and this was what they used in the hospital. 

onesies: For the first few months, you’ll be dressing your baby in an extra layer to help them stay warm, so you’ll want to stock up. 

mittens / hats & socks |You’ll want at least a few pairs of tiny mittens and socks because they go missing so easily! Although, it’s amazing when you find PJs with built in mittens, since those won’t fall off. And you’ll want at least a few hats to keep your precious tiny babe warm for the first month or so. We lose so much heat from our heads, and babies aren’t able to regulate their own body temps, which means keeping their heads covered is important.

zip up pjs: Trust me, you NEED zip up PJs. None of those snapping jammies. The Cloud Island line from Target are AMAZING. They have an inverted zipper so they zip from the bottom up, which means you don’t need to unzip the entire thing to change a diaper. They also have build in mittens to keep baby from scratching his/herself. 

baby gear

play mat: our babies have loved doing tummy time on a play mat and loved watching the toys and lights.

baby swing: This swing holds up to 19lbs. We have used swings, the mamaroo, and other bouncers and this is a favorite.

play yard: This play yard is so easy to set up and put away.

car seats: we started with an infant car seat and then moved to a convertible car seat. We preferred being able to buckle the baby into the seat while we were still inside and being able to move the seat in and out of the car without having to take the baby out of the seat. If you have more than one car, you’ll want to have an extra base.

stroller: This stroller by Mockingbird is our very favorite. It can easily convert to a double stroller, if needed. They also sell adapters for many infant seats so you can easily click your car seat directly into the stroller.

diapers / wipes

And last, but not least, do not forget the diapers and wipes! We LOVE Pampers Swaddlers and have used them on our children from the beginning. We have tried others, but always go back to Pampers because their quality really is the best. We haven’t had any problems with our children being too sensitive to their materials or any problems with leaks.

There you have it! My mama favorites for your very own baby registry. Okay, so now that you’ve gone through my complete baby registry checklist, which items are you most excited about? For me, I loved putting together her nursery. AND for some reason I was really pumped about the lawn drying rack. SO random, I know.

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