You found out you’re pregnant. That’s wonderful news! Now you get to register for all the things your baby needs. But where to begin?
You go to Target, scanner gun in hand, look down the aisles of endless baby items, and…
You pass out.
Kidding, but it’s really daunting to even know where to start.
So, begin here. This is a list of items my husband and I registered for with our first baby, and items we still use today with our third. There are obviously a lot of fun things you can add to your list, but here are some essentials/our favorites to keep your head from spinning and popping off get you started. Happy shopping!
*Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links that are at no additional cost to you.
Diapers
Pampers Baby Dry (with 12 hour protection)
- We buy name-brand diapers for our kids until they’re two to three months old. A newborn’s skin is sensitive, so until they’re a little older, this is the diaper that worked best for us.
- Since you may not need newborn diapers, we only registered for a box or two. We registered for multiple size one and two diapers.
- After our kids were two to three months old, we began using Target brand diapers and they’ve been great for us. You could register for these, too.
Wipes
- We registered for name-brand wipes for our newborns as well. Once they hit that two- to three-month-old mark, we began using Target brand wipes, too.
Bath Soap
- We have begun switching our kids’ soaps and hair products to Arbonne products. Their products have plant-based ingredients and essential oils so they’re soft on baby’s skin.
- If I don’t have any Arbonne on hand, I like the Aquaphor brand for many items, including wash and shampoo.
Wash Cloths
- Register for 100% cotton wash cloths so they’re soft on baby’s sensitive skin.
Newborn Tub
- This is the tub we registered for and has worked great for all three kids. I like that it starts with an insert and then has two different types of seats as baby grows.
Car Seat and Base
From personal experience, I’d highly recommend a newborn car seat that you can take in and out of the car, rather than one that stays in the car where baby has to be removed to go inside. There have been plenty of times where the baby has fallen asleep in the car seat and will nap while we shop or run errands. And having a base makes getting the car seat in and out so easy and convenient. This Keyfit 30 has been great for all three of our kids. Here is a link to the base.
Stroller
- This is a spendy buy, but I cannot recommend this stroller enough. It was suggested to me by a friend, and I’m so glad we have it. We registered for the main stroller piece, and then have bought the accessories we’ve needed as our kids have grown. There were two things I really wanted out of our stroller: durable wheels and a stacking stroller rather than one where the kids sit side-by-side. I knew I’d take this stroller a lot of places, and I didn’t want it to be too wide for wherever we went. The number of configurations that allows the stroller to grow with our family really sold me on it. Right now we have it configured to fit all three kids at the same time. It’s definitely worth the money!
Baby Gate
- We had two of these gates in our home and they worked great. I especially liked how they looked a little nicer than a standard gate.
Pack ‘n Play
- When our first daughter was born, we were planning to move 6 weeks later, so we didn’t set up a nursery. Until we moved, we bought a Pack ‘n Play that included a bassinet and changing station for her to use. The bassinet is what all our kids slept in as newborns, and the Pack ‘n Play is still what we use for travel. I would suggest registering for the type of Pack ‘n Play your family needs. This one is similar and also includes a raised bed which is so nice when they’re really little.
Sleep Sacks
- The Halo Sleep Sacks were perfect for our three kids who loved to be swaddled. Once they started getting close to rolling over, we unswaddled their arms and were still able to use them.
Aden and Anais Swaddle Blanket
- I loved these large muslin blankets that were great for a quick swaddle or for being on the go. We have all summer babies, so these were lightweight enough that I could throw them on the kids for a little sun protection without being too hot, or were still warm enough in cooler temps.
Sound Machine
- Sound machines have been an essential part in training our kids to be good sleepers, and this is the one we use in all our kids’ rooms. It’s also small enough to pack up for overnight outings.
Momaroo Swing
- All of our kids enjoyed being rocked in this swing until they were about three months old. The newborn insert is also a great add-on. I will say, though, that we got this swing as a gift but probably could have done without it. The item our kids used the most was the bouncer seat I mention later.
Breast Pump
- I cannot recommend this pump enough. It’s QUIET (!!), lightweight, and doesn’t have a thousand parts. I started with the Medela, and I’m so glad I switched to this pump with our third baby. Check and see if your insurance covers it before you register for it. Since my insurance covered my pump, I opted for the blue one with battery backup. This allowed me to grab the pump quickly and use it while in the car or if we stayed somewhere overnight.
- Freemie Breast Pump: My SIL used this pump the entire time she nursed and I was always amazed at the convenience of it. You simply put the cups in your bra and clip the pump to your pants and away you go!
Gel Pads
- Throw these in the fridge. You’ll thank me later.
Lanolin
- Necessary.
Breast Milk Storage Bags
- Out of sheer terror of generic brand bags ripping, I registered for and bought name brand bags. Also, if you’re trying to build up a supply, this freezer container was great for getting the bags flat and freezing easily.
Bottles
- Dr. Brown bottles have worked great for our children, and were first recommended to me by my sister who is an OB nurse. Target has a whole kit now that seems like a great purchase for everything you need.
Fisher Price Baby Dome
- A few family members and friends swear by this portable indoor/outdoor dome and when I saw it in person it had to go on the list!
Onesies
- Register for all the sizes, and don’t forget a couple long sleeve. If you’re registering at Target, I preferred the Just One You brand because I thought they were softer.
Baby Bouncer
This baby bouncer has probably been a Top 5 item we’ve used with all three of our kids. It is easy to carry around the house, it fits them right when they’re newborns, and it washes great.
Infant Lounger
We didn’t have this newborn lounger with our first two kids, but I’m so glad my sister-in-law told me about it with our third. Our daughter used this multiple times a day, every day. It’s so lightweight to carry inside and outside, and you throw the whole thing in the washing machine to get clean.
Diaper Genie
- Three kids later, we still use this every day. What’s also nice is the Target brand refills are compatible.
Bottle Warmer
- After nursing was established, my husband began taking one of the night feedings and would use this to get the bottles ready. After our kids transitioned from breast milk to formula, we no longer used the bottle warmer and the kids drank their formula bottle at the temperature it came out of the drinking faucet. That was a tip a coworker friend shared with me, and definitely needs to be passed on!
My Breast Friend Pillow
- I really liked this nursing pillow. I used it with all three kids, and the thing I liked most is how firm it was so that baby wasn’t slipping anywhere after getting them all set up to nurse. The cover was also easy to slip off and wash as needed.
Backseat Mirror
- We had two different mirrors for our vehicles, and the Eddie Bauer one ended up working a lot better. I would register for the one with the best reviews (duh lol), like this one.
Fridababy
- The Nose Frida is a must, but now they have this kit with all you could need. We’ve never used the Windi, but a friend of mine did and said it worked. With our youngest I purchased the nail clippers that come in this kit, and they’re so great because they have a little cut-out so you can see baby’s nail. The clipper also more scissor-like so you’re less likely to clip their skin.
Grass Drying Rack
- This handy little thing is so convenient because it doesn’t take up a lot of counter space and can be thrown in the dishwasher for a quick cleaning.
Desitin Diaper Cream
- I’ve tried a lot of different diaper creams, and this one has worked the best for us. We also keep some maximum strength on hand for when things really get fired up.
Baby Booties
We began using these baby booties with our youngest, and I’m so glad they were introduced to us. She’s never pulled them off, despite playing with them, and they are so easy to throw in the wash quick.
Sock Ons
- Throw these on your little one when they wear socks to help keep them from falling off.
Hooded Towel
- These are nice to wrap baby up in after a bath and go for 100% cotton.
Changing Pad
- We have used the Summer Infant changing pad with all of our kids and have loved it, but with one exception: for those especially messy diaper changes, sometimes stuff gets under all the little holes in the pad and can be difficult to clean. With that said, my sister recently had a baby and she got THIS one that doesn’t have tiny holes for trapping, and it is something I’d highly consider if we were having more babies.
High Chair
- When our first child was born, we lived in a little house and I didn’t want a giant high chair taking up a lot of room in our kitchen. I have loved this high chair because it transitions as your child ages and is easy to throw in the minivan for travel. (Yeah, I said minivan. You know you want one.)
Activity Gym
- Each of our kids loved their little gym and Mama got a few minutes to get something done. My sister got this one and I like how there’s a feature for when they kick it.
Jumperoo
- Each of our kids loved hanging out in this jumperoo.
Crib Sheets
- Like the swaddle blankets, I loved the Aden and Anais crib sheets. I would also suggest registering for two so that if there’s an accident in the night you can quickly switch to new sheets while the dirty ones go in the wash and baby can get right back to sleep.
Organizer Baskets
- I used these little baskets for inside the kids’ dressers to roll up onesies, hold socks, and line up folded pants.
Bumbo
Bumbos have been around for awhile, but the one that includes a tray is a game-changer. When our kids were all four months old, we began introducing them to rice cereal so they could begin practicing eating. I used the Bumbo first because they were still too little for a high chair. I also kept this in the living room so baby could sit and play with us and have toys right in front of them.
Boon Spoon
- I know, it’s a SPOON, but the design of them make it so much easier for baby to eat and no cramping for your hand while you feed baby. They’re so good. Really anything from Boon has been outstanding.
Feeder
- Boon products are so great, and this silicone feeder is, too. I love it because it cleans so much better than the netted ones where food can get trapped even after going in the dishwasher.
Stuffed Animal Storage
- I don’t know how we got so many stuffed animals, but we have a zoo, and so I needed to figure out how to store them. This bag works great because once it’s full, kids can use it as a seat. Oh, it’s from Boon? Shocker.
Diaper Bag
- We’ve been through three diaper bags now (our first one got stolen and the zipper on the second one was inoperable), and the one we have now is definitely my favorite. Check out this post about why!
I’m always interested in hearing what products you couldn’t live without, so please comment below so I can check them out!
twss,
Kelsey