Are you preparing for a new baby? In this exciting time, it can be overwhelming looking at lists, seeking advice on social media, and asking your mom friends what to get for the arrival of your newborn. One of the most important tasks, though, is curating your list for a baby registry. You will definitely have family and friends asking what you need or want for your baby, and it’s so much easier to keep track of it all on a registry and refer all of the requests to one site.
Friends and family will love searching through your baby registry to pick out the presents. You want to make sure you have all of the essentials on there and some novelty items either for yourself or to decorate the nursery. Below, you’ll find our five favorite things to put on your baby registry — and three things to avoid.
5 Baby Registry Must-Haves
There are more than seven items to get for your baby. However, these are some of our favorites and must-haves. It would be a bit challenging to care for your baby without them!
1. Infant Car Seat
Our top must-have item is an infant car seat. You need one if you want to take your infant anywhere and having the proper car seat for your child increases their chance of survival if you were in a car accident. There are plenty of options to choose from, ranging in price, too, so you can find one that fits your budget.
Check your state’s laws regarding infant car seats. Do your research and add a car seat to your registry that works best for you!
2. Clothing
Another thing to add to your baby registry is clothing. Proper-fitting clothing for each stage of your infant’s life will help them stay warm and protect their fragile skin. Make sure you ask for a range of sizes, too, so you have clothing that grows with your baby.
Onesies are great to have, and stocking up on them ensures you don’t have to do laundry every day. Many times, newborns will have blowout diapers, and you don’t want to be searching for a clean outfit or have to wash one.
3. Diapers and Diaper Bag
You can never have too many diapers. A great way to stock up on diapers without necessarily adding them to the registry is to have your partner host a diaper party. Your partner can invite all of their friends over for some drinks and food, and the only gift they need to bring is a pack of diapers. Ask for a variety of sizes, too.
Additionally, you’ll want a diaper bag. You don’t need anything too fancy. A bag with plenty of storage and compartments where you can stash extra diapers, wipes, clothing, pacifiers, snacks, and anything else you need for your baby works well.
4. Baby First-Aid Items
When you have a child, you want to make sure that they’re in good health. Make sure you add medical items geared towards a baby to your registry. There are plenty of great first-aid kits for babies already put together that you can choose from.
Other essential items include a baby-safe nail clipper, thermometer, and suction bulb. You can never be too cautious with medical things, so stock up on them by adding them to your registry.
5. Crib and Bedding
A crib is a great item to add to your registry early on, even before you have a baby shower or other party to welcome your baby. Cribs give your baby a safe place to sleep every day. This is a great gift to add, and you can change the settings in your registry so a group of people can contribute to purchasing the crib.
You’ll also need bedding. Pillows are a no-go for babies, so don’t bother adding those, as they can increase the chances of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Add a few fitted sheets and a mattress, as well as a mattress protector.
3 Things to Avoid
Sometimes, there are recommended items from people or websites that, in reality, you don’t really need or probably won’t use. Below are three things to avoid adding to your baby registry.
1. Teething Jewelry
Teething jewelry has become a popular item. It replaces your jewelry with “baby-safe” jewelry, and its primary goal is to offer pain relief for teething babies. However, teething jewelry is unsafe for babies. A few years ago, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a warning against teething jewelry because it can cause choking and strangulation.
Alternatives to teething jewelry to soothe your baby’s gums include a frozen wet washcloth or teething toys that are big enough so your baby can’t choke.
2. Wipe Warmer
Wipe warmers aren’t essential for your baby. If it is something you want, then you can add it to your registry! However, it’s not a necessity, and many parents report that they don’t use one.
If you’re on the go, you won’t have access to a wipe warmer. Plus, your baby’s bottom can perfectly handle a room-temperature wipe. You can use the money someone would spend on a wipe warmer for something you need!
3. Bumper Pads
Finally, avoid adding bumper pads to your registry. Anything extra in your baby’s crib adds a level of danger for SIDS.
Only add a fitted sheet to the crib. People used bumper pads to ensure the baby didn’t get their arm stuck in the railing. Now, though, bumper pads aren’t necessary because most crib railings come closer together.
Start Your Registry
Start adding these essentials to your registry today! Complete your registry before you have a baby shower, and feel free to create it as early as you like.
