First Time Mom’s Guide To Building Your Baby Registry

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It’s time to build your baby registry! Yay. You’ve probably never given much thought to what goes on this list until recently and building your baby registry can feel so overwhelming for some of us. There’s so much baby stuff out there, where do you even begin?

Creating your baby registry list should be fun! You should be getting excited picking out what kind of highchair you like or looking through cute little tiny baby clothes (that’s my favorite part).

During my first pregnancy I remember having no clue what to put on my baby registry. I mean obviously, we need a crib and diapers but what else do I really need?

So if you’re like most new moms you’ll probably have no idea what you need and don’t need. 

This baby registry list was made to make sure you can skip the guessing and confusion so that you know exactly what to put on your baby registry list so that you can have fun and get excited about having a baby.

To make getting started on your baby registry easy, we’re going to break things down into categories. OK! Let’s get into the baby essentials you need to build your baby registry! 

Baby Clothes

I think this is the first thing that comes to mind for most first time Mamas! It definitely was for me. I was so excited to start looking a little tiny clothes. 

The main thing to remember about newborn clothes is that they won’t fit for very long at all. So you don’t need a whole wardrobe of them (even though I know it’s easy to get carried away).

Baby onesies and sleepers are pretty much the main thing you need for your new baby. They will live in sleepers and onesies, you really don’t need to buy full outfits. 

I recommend zip up sleepers and gowns as well. Skip anything with more than three buttons.You’ll be changing so many diapers, buttons won’t be worth your time (especially at 3am). 

Because of the short amount of time your baby will be in newborn clothing I recommend buying in packs of 3-6 of everything.

Recommendations:

Gowns: Touched by Nature Unisex Baby Organic Cotton Gowns

Sleepers: Baby 3-pack Organic Sleep ‘N Play Footie Sleepers

Onesies: Simple Joys By Carters Onesies 6pk

Pants: Simple Joys By Carters Baby Pants 4-pk

Hats: Baby Mittens Newborn No Scratch Gloves

Mittens: Burts’s Bees Organic Baby Mittens

Socks: Touched by Nature Unisex Organic Cotton Socks

Sleep

Helping baby get the best sleep they can is so important. Keeping baby calm and cozy is essential.

The first thing that comes to mind is where baby will be sleeping. The only two places a baby will sleep is a crib and a bassinet. 

I recommend getting a bassinet to put in your room for the first 4-6 months of baby’s life. Keeping baby close will make, night feedings and diaper changes easier. 

Having a bassinet in your room will also help give you peace of mind because you’ll have the ability to lean over and check on baby at any time of the night. 

A convertible crib is the best way to invest in a crib. It’ll go from a crib to a toddler bed to a full bed frame. 

We obviously you’ll need to get a mattress for the crib. Which is why I recommend the Graco Premium Crib & Toddler Mattress It’s a convertible crib that comes with a mattress.

You’ll also absolutely need 1-2 waterproof fitted sheets in case of accidents to go under fitted sheets. Get a pack of 2-4 sheets so that there is always a clean one to throw on.

OTHER THINGS YOU'LL NEED:

When it comes to sleep comfort for you little one blankets are a no-no. But babies love to feel snuggled up and warm (like the womb) when they sleep. 

Swaddling and sleep sacks really help a baby sleep for long stretches of time which is a win-win for both babies and parents. 

For swaddling you’ll need muslin blankets. The Amazing Baby Transitional Swaddle Sack is another great swaddle/sleep sack option for babies who love to sleep with their arms up. My first born always got out of the swaddle to put his arms up.

The number one sleep essential I tell every first time Mom to add on their baby registry is an Owlet Smart Sock.  

I can’t recommend this enough! It’s a sock monitor that tracks baby’s heart rate and oxygen levels. If anything changes out of the normal range it alerts you with an alarm. 

As a Mom I don’t think there’s anything more terrifying then SIDS, this monitor will help you sleep at night knowing your little one is safe. I don’t think I would have ever slept after having my first baby without it. 

The three other teach items you should add to your registry is a sound machine/night light and a non-WiFi video monitor.

Feeding

Babies go from bottles to starting food within the first six months! Time goes by so quickly in the first year.

First thing we absolutely need is bottles. Newborn bottles need slow flow nipples. Yes, bottle have nipples that have different flows based on your baby’s age. 

For the newborn stage, Comotomo bottles are perfect! They mimic the breast. Make sure to add different nipples to your registry as well. 

–Slow for 0-3 months

–Medium for 3-6 months

–Fast for 6+ months

Cleaning bottles is just has important as feeding your baby, you’ll need a bottle brush, drying rack and bottle sanitizer. If you decide to formula feed adding this formula mixer to your registry will make life so much easier! It mixes and warms the bottle for you. 

Because baby will start eating and drinking around 6+ months add baby spoons, forks and sippy cups to your list. 

You’ll definitely need a high chair for feedings and bibs to avoid mess. 

If you plan on making your own baby food, getting a baby food maker will make the process so much easier! This one, blends, steams and mixes the food for you. It also comes with 6 baby squeeze pouches so you can take food on the go with you.

You can find Most popular Baby Food Maker with Steam Basket here.

Baby Gear

Baby gear is all the baby “stuff” that you need.

Some baby gear will be the bigger ticket items that you add to your list but the best part about putting pricey items on a baby registry is that hopefully someone will get it for you!

The first piece of baby gear that you absolutely need is a car seat. There are so many options for car seats. We use the Graco 2-in-1 Convertible Car Seat. 

Kids need a different car seat based on their weight. For example newborns are rear-facing and 2 years are front facing. 

Which is why I recommend getting a convertible carseat.

But you could also get a carseat-stroller combo. This one is my favorite budget-friendly carseat stroller combo.

Which brings us to strollers. Depending on what you’re looking for theres a on of options. Lightweight, heavy duty, jogger-friendly, double stroller etc. 

For a full sized stroller option the Graco Modes Click Connect is both budget friendly and functional.

For a jogging option the Baby Trend Expedition Jogger

And for the light weight option the Kolcraft Cloud Plus Lightweight is perfect.

Getting a baby carrier is something you should add to your registry for convenience. You’ll have free hands to do things while keeping baby with you at all times. I really can’t recommend getting one enough. I love the this one.

OTHER THINGS YOU'LL NEED:

Glider: Korser Recliner Chair, Swivel Rocker Recliner Chair

Bouncer: Babybjorn Bouncer Balance

Swing: Fisher Price Dreams Cradle N’ Swing

Play Gym/Tummy Time Mat: 4-in-1 Kickin' Tunes Music and Language Play Gym and Piano Tummy Time Activity Mat

Boppy pillow: Boppy Nursing Pillow

Baby Walker: VTech Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker

Teethers: Teether Keys

Pacifiers: Philips Avent Soothie Baby Pacifiers

Diaper Bag: Baby Diaper Bag with Changing Station

Baby Bathing

There are a few things you’ll need to register for when it comes to bathing supplies. The main things you’ll need are a tub, some wash cloths, hooded towels, spout cover and baby shampoo.

When baby is still really little sink baths might be the easiest option so this blooming bath lotus might be a great option for that.

OTHER THINGS YOU'LL NEED:

Bath Toys: Munchkin Ocean Toys

Bath Thermometer: Baby Floating Thermometer

Baby Lotion: Aveeno Baby Calming Comfort

Silicone Brush (for cradle cap): DermaFrida Baby Silicone Brush

Bath Mat: No Slip Bath Mat For Kids

Diapering

When it comes to diapering, it’s pretty self explanatory. The main thing you need to do is load up on a collection of diapers of different sizes. Don’t fill your closet with newborn sized diapers because they probably won’t fit in them for very long. So add size 1 & 2 to your stockpile.

I’d suggest you get a diaper caddy to put in your room to make night time diaper changes easy peasy. 

You could also get a changing table but I recommend getting a changing pad to fit on your dresser, like this one.

You’ll also need wipes, diaper cream, a diaper cream applicator, a diaper pail and diaper pail bag refills.

A diaper pail will save you from having to run a dirty diaper outside at all hours of the day and night. It’s will go perfectly in your room for the newborn days!

Medical Kit

There are a few things you’ll want to add to your registry to have on hand to help comfort your baby, as well as give you peace of mind.

You’ll need a thermometer (a rectal thermometer is the most accurate way to check if baby has a fever), a nose aspirator (nose frida is the best of the best!), something for gas relief and a humidifier. 

Baby Proofing

Baby proofing may seem like something you won’t have to worry about for a while but baby will start crawling and getting into things from anywhere between 6-9 months.

It’ll go by so fast! It’s best to add baby safety item toy your registry to be prepared for those times.

The basic things you’ll need for baby safety will be outlet covers, toilet lock, knob covers, cabinet locks and a baby gate.

I hope you enjoyed building your baby registry with me!