Are you a new mom who’s overwhelmed with what to include on your baby registry?
I get it. Imagine the stress of not knowing what to include for your new addition! Babies need a lot of things and it can all be overwhelming and costly.
That’s why creating a baby registry for your friends and family to help you along the journey is important.
However, you want to make sure that you put the right items on your registry so that they aren’t wasting money on unnecessary things that won’t get used.
Trust me, your friends and family will be excited to help you prepare for your baby. So make sure you give them a clear list of things that you need and want.
That’s why I’ve put together the ultimate baby registry checklist so that you don’t have to guess about it.
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What is a baby registry?
A baby registry is a list of items that you’d like to have in preparation for the baby’s arrival. Most retail stores allow you to create a list that can be shared with others who’d like to help out.
Just like a wedding registry, you can share this list with your family and friends who would like to contribute.
Typically, once an item is purchased, it will be shown as “purchased,” such that duplicates of items aren’t bought.
When should you start a baby registry?
There are a lot of things that will need to be purchased for the arrival of your new babies. That’s why you should start as soon as possible.
However, just like pregnancy announcements, most moms-to-be wait until the 12-week mark in their pregnancy to start creating a registry.
Why 12-weeks? Well, this is the end of the first trimester and the risk of a miscarriage drops drastically. After 13 weeks, the risk is less than 1 percent.
Most moms may be nervous to start preparing until they reach this milestone in their pregnancy.
When you start your registry is completely up to you. Ultimately, you don’t have to share it until you’re comfortable. Most online registries allow you to keep your list private until you’re ready to make it searchable to share the link.
If you plan on having a baby shower, you should complete your registry before invitations are sent out so that it can be included and guests have time to purchase gifts.
Where should you create your baby registry?
Where you register will depend on what you want and need, your budget, and which brands you’d like to purchase. One store may not have all of the items or brands that you’d like to have.
When registering, you should also the accessibility of the store to your friends and family. For instance, you don’t want to register with a regional store that’s unavailable to friends and family who live elsewhere.
Although most brick-and-mortar stores make your registry available to purchase online, this is still something to consider as some people don’t shop online.
And, even though you can make as many registries as you want, I recommend keeping it simple and to a select few stores and/or websites.
Here are some popular registries:
A great website that allows you to consolidate everything into one place is MyRegistry.com. You can sync up your registries from different retailers into one place and just share the central link.
Having your registry in a consolidated place makes it so much easier for your friends and family, but also for you. You can see everything that you have listed and make changes in one place.
What to put on your baby registry?
There are a few things to consider when selecting items for your registry. Depending on your situation, what you need may vary.
For example, if this isn’t your first child, you’ll likely need fewer items than a first-time parent. If you’ve planned to have more than one child, then you’ve probably saved up items over time.
If you’re having multiples, the types of items that you’ll need will also be different. For instance, you’ll want to double stroller instead of a single. Also, you may need double of some items, while other items you may not.
You should also consider what season your baby will be born in.
You’d hate to put a long sleeve newborn bodysuit on your list when your baby will be born in July.
Regardless, there are some must-have items that are necessary for your newborn(s):
- Travel gear
- Nursery items
- Feeding equipment
- Diapering items
- Health & safety
- Clothing
- Bath essentials
- Playtime toys
What not to put on your baby registry?
Though what you put on your registry is completely up to you, there are just some things that you don’t need to buy.
Some items may be provided by the hospital upon your discharge or by your insurance. For example, your insurance company may provide a breast pump for you.
However, there are some things that shouldn’t be included for safety reasons. This includes:
- Crib bumpers – These are considered unsafe due to the risk of suffocation or strangulation.
- Pillows – Similar to the bumpers, pillows also risk suffocation when placed in a crib
Baby Registry Etiquette
You also want to remember baby registry etiquette. This includes being budget-friendly and providing options.
My husband and I purposefully did not put items such as furniture on our registry, as it can be expensive and because we had our own decor ideas.
People purchasing items from your registry is a blessing, so always to remember to be mindful and considerate.
Know that everyone isn’t going to exactly follow your registry requests. Still, be grateful, but understand that it’s ok to return items that you don’t need or won’t use.
Baby Registry Checklist
Now that you know everything that you need to about baby registries, it’s time to start creating your own. Here is a list of items that you should include for your babies’ arrival!
Remember, you don’t have to include everything, but below is the ultimate baby essential checklist.
Twin Gear Essentials
I mentioned earlier that if you’re having twins, you don’t necessarily need two of each item listed below. I do include some twin version of items.
Here are the items that you’ll need two of:
- Cribs
- Crib mattresses
- Mattress cover
- Car seats
- Bouncers* (some moms recommend rotating among swing & bouncer to avoid purchasing two)
As an added bonus for having twins (or multiples), you can take advantage of some discounts. You can check out these below articles for information on how you can save on these double purchases.
- Discounts and Freebies for Twins and Multiples
- Discounts for Twins
- Twiniversity Multiple Birth Discounts
Travel Gear
- Car seat
- Stroller (Pick for twins)
- Carriers (Pick for twins)
Nursery
- Crib
- Mattress
- Waterproof mattress protector
- Fitted sheets
- Bassinet (Pick for twins)
- Baby monitor
- Changing table & changing pads
- Dresser
- Rocking chair or glider
- Night light
- White noise machine
- Cool mist humidifier
Feeding
- Bottles and nipples
- Breast pump (manual and/or electronic)
- Breast milk storage system
- Nursing cover
- Nipple cream
- Nursing pads
- Nursing bra
- Formula (if not or in addition to nursing)
- Bottle cleaners & sterilizers
- Bottle drying rack
- Pacifiers & teethers
- Bottle warmer
- Feeding pillow (Pick for twins)
- Bibs & burp cloths
- High chair & booster seat
Diapering
- Diapers (Cloth or Disposable)
- Diaper cream
- Wipes
- Wipe warmer
- Diaper bag (Pick for twins)
- Diaper pail & bags
- Portable changing mat
Health & Safety
- Baby first aid kit
- Nail clippers
- Thermometers
- Aspirator
Clothing
- Bodysuit
- Swaddle
- Baby laundry detergent
- Hats and mittens
- Socks
- Sleepwear
- Baby gates
- Outlet plugs
Bath
- Baby bathtub
- Shampoo
- Baby soap
- Washcloths
- Hood dry towel
- Baby lotion
Playtime
- Baby swing
- Bouncer
- Playards
- Books
- Toy basket
- Activity mat
- Rattles
- Teething toys
Related Baby Registry Posts:
- Pregnancy Must-Haves for New Moms
- Should You Hire a Duola?
- Best Pregnancy Tracking Apps
- Guide to Virtual Baby Showers
As Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI), she has been teaching personal finances to women & youth for over a decade.
Fo is an established writer and expert contributor on the topics of personal finance, budgeting, debt payoff, money mindset, saving, entrepreneurship, investing, motherhood, personal development, and more.