While your baby is busy growing in your womb, your friends and family are prepping for your little one’s arrival by showering you with presents. Before browsing all your favorite stores online, think about the basics to put on your baby registry. Whether you’re a first-time mom or have done the baby thing before, making a list of baby registry essentials will make life easier for you and the people who are buying you gifts.
Here are some of our baby registry must-haves for first-time moms:
Driving and Strolling
A car seat is a baby basic that you’ll need in order to take your little one home from the hospital. A rear-facing seat is necessary for your baby — the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping babies rear-facing for as long as possible (usually around 40 pounds). You can also register for a convertible car seat — one that faces the rear and is good for up to 40 pounds and also works facing front for up to 80 pounds. Baby registries can also include items for walking such as a wrap or structured carrier or a stroller. Stroller choices include combination travel strollers with car seat compatibility, strollers with bassinet attachments for infants, reclining single strollers, jogging strollers, double strollers for twins or siblings, and light-weight umbrella strollers.
Care and Cleaning
Baby care basics include soap, shampoo, lotion, and other cleansing items. Look for an all-purpose cleanser that is mild and made for infants. Continue the bath-time items list with infant-sized washcloths, hooded towels, and even bath toys. You may also want to include diapers, wipes, mild baby lotion, diaper rash cream, and a place to pitch the dirty diapers, such as a plastic diaper pail. If you have chosen to use cloth diapers, add on coverings and fasteners. Don’t forget a changing pad and changing pad liners/covers.
Feeding
If you’re planning to breastfeed, choose items such as a nursing pillow and a breast pump. Although you may plan on breastfeeding, adding bottle basics to your registry may prove helpful if you decide to pump or combination feed with formula. Parents often need to experiment with bottle type and nipple combinations to find the one that works best for their baby. With this in mind, register for a few different options along with bottle cleaning brushes and burp cloths. Look ahead and add sippy cups — which your child will start to use by 12 months — as well as bibs, toddler-sized bowls, dishes, and utensils.
Dressing and Sleeping
Add baby clothes to your registry, including onesies, socks, caps, pull-on leggings, snap-front T-shirts, and sleepers. Don’t forget non-clothing items that you will wrap your newborn in, such as swaddling blankets. You’ll also need crib/bassinet sheets, mattress covers, and blankets for when your baby is older (blankets are not recommended for newborns or infants).
Health
There are a few health products you’ll want to make sure to register for, like a baby nail clipper/file, a thermometer, a nasal aspirator, a humidifier, and infant medication. Although you won’t need it right away, a baby-proofing kit is also a great registry addition.
