Everything I’d Put On a Baby Registry Now

After one baby and another on the way, here's what I think is worth it and what's not.

Putting together a baby registry can be one of the most exciting and daunting tasks for a parent-to-be. There’s just so much stuff out there to choose from. Excited friends send spreadsheets filled with product recs. Everyone has a strong opinion—and they’re all different, sometimes contradicting one another. The stakes feel relatively high when a stroller can cost more than you ever imagined.

I shared my own baby registry list a while ago, but it was time for a refresh, given that I now have two years of parenthood and hindsight under my belt, and another baby on the way. (I shared the news on Instagram last week, in case you don’t check that channel regularly!) I’m excited to share my updated list in partnership with Babylist, the registry platform we used for our first and will use again for our second (and every other friend of ours has used it, too).

I love using Babylist for so many reasons:

• You can add products from any store. That means it’s an easy one-stop shop for your gift givers and for you. Babylist helps you compare prices across stores, too.

• You can mark that you’re “open to secondhand” gifts. This is amazing for items like gently worn infant clothes, which are only worn for a short time anyway. I especially loved receiving secondhand books that were well-loved by my friends’ babies.

• You can create cash fund options. This is great for things like meal services, doulas, a lactation consultant (highly recommend), a night nurse, or whatever your family’s needs might be.

• The user experience is easy and intuitive for both parent(s) and gift-givers. I do not say this lightly as someone who used to design interfaces for a living!! For example, it’s easy to collect addresses for thank you cards and track your gifts on Babylist.

• The group gifting feature comes in handy. If you’ve got higher-ticket items on your list (BabyBjorn Bouncer, I’m looking at you), this is useful.

Before we get into my recs, let me say this: if you’re a first-time parent-to-be, please try not to panic or stress about your registry. You will figure it out as you figure out your baby’s and your family’s needs. I say this as a mom to a child who arrived prematurely; we had many items on our registry checked off, yet we were still not fully prepared with “everything,” given the situation. It’s impossible.

Every baby is so different, and you can always buy things as needs come up (thank god for next-day shipping). This is also part of why I love Babylist’s extended 15% discount policy. You can apply the discount to anything sold in the Babylist Shop, 60 days before and up to 90 days after your baby’s expected arrival date. I’m pretty sure at least 50% of my nursing and feeding supplies were purchased after we brought the baby home.

Okay, I’m done with my chat. Onto my registry picks, below.

-Alisha

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The Top 10 Baby Registry Picks I Feel Most Passionately About

These are the MVPs of the MVPs; the products I feel strongly about that we used and relied on a lot, especially in the newborn and infant days.

1. Doona Infant Car Seat & Stroller. We were amazed at how much easier this made our lives. This compact stroller easily folds and converts into a car seat, which is especially helpful if you don’t want to wake a sleeping baby or deal with extra bulk and maneuvering. It also worked well for travel! *given the price, we bought this for ourselves, but this would be a great group gift candidate on Babylist.

2. BabyBjörn Bouncer. We used this nearly every day in the infant stages after she developed some neck strength. It’s helpful to have a safe place to put the baby down so you can get things done (like brush your teeth, wash/prep bottles). Our daughter was very content in this, and we added the googly eyes toy bar for extra entertainment. This is a popular find on FB Marketplace and secondhand, just fyi!

3. OXO Tot Perfect Pull Wipes Dispenser. It’s a weighted dispenser, which comes in so handy when you’re one-handing it and trying to be quick—which happens more often than you’d think (one hand on a squirming baby, one hand grabbing wipes).

4. SnuggleMe Infant Lounger. This is one of those “a safe place to plop the baby down” products that my husband was skeptical of at first, but ended up getting daily use from us. This allowed the baby to hang out with us on the couch while we watched TV and even on top of our dining table while we ate. (*Please note, this is not intended for infant sleep. Make sure to read all of the safety precautions.)

5. Papablic Baby Bottle Sterilizer & Dryer. Counterspace is precious, and this one is certainly a beast in terms of size, but trust me, it’s worth it. One doesn’t fully understand the grind of washing and drying bottles and pump parts multiple times per day until you have to do it. This made our lives so much easier; I liked that it thoroughly dried everything too, even smaller bottle and pump parts. It lived on our counter for the first year plus.

6. Infant Optics DXR-8 PRO Baby Monitor. The image is crystal clear, and we’ve had no issues with it two years on. We also like that it connects without Wi-Fi, and you don’t need an app to use it. You can easily add a second camera (or two) for a growing family.

7. Hush Yogasleep Noise Machine. I’ve tried a few noise machines and this is my favorite. It’s helpful not only for bedtime but also when you’re out and about and want the baby to stay asleep in their stroller or carrier. We actually still use this in our daughter’s room, and we’ll be purchasing a second one for her sibling. And again: no app required! I don’t love gadgets that require an app for you to use the thing!

8. JolyWell Baby Night Light. I love this thing!!! This $29 night light is super portable, easy to use, and has all the basic functions you need. It’s especially great for middle-of-the-night feeds; the light is easily dimmable with a long tap. We still use this in our daughter’s room—I actually used this during labor & delivery, too, to create a cozier ambiance (important). An all-around MVP I feel strongly about and we’ll be buying a second one for baby #2.

9. Happiest Baby Snoo Smart Sleeper Bassinet. I know opinions are varied on this, but our daughter loved The Snoo, which we borrowed from a friend. The gentle rocking, the securely strapped-in swaddle blanket, and the built-in sound machine came in clutch for nap times. This product definitely falls into the “every baby is different; find what works for you” category. You can also rent the Snoo if you’d like to try it out first.

10. Canopy Humidifier. We used this a lot in the winter months and liked it so much we got one for our own bedroom. It’s very easy to clean and it’s dishwasher-friendly. It looks like it’s HSA & FSA eligible too, FYI. (They just released this adorable Tubby Todd x Canopy bath tub filter collab, also great for registry gifting!)

My Full List of Baby Registry Recs

Diapering

• Ubbi Steel Diaper Pail. This pail is pretty sturdy and does the job well for us.

• OXO Tot Perfect Pull Wipes Dispenser. Mentioned above in my MVPs!

• Storq Quick Change Kit Bag. This is my go-to gift for any friend who is expecting. It’s a chic, well-designed bag with a padded changing mat, lots of interior pockets for things like wipes and hand sanitizer. I pop it into whatever bag I’m using for the day. We still use ours!

• Jool Baby Contoured Changing Pad with Cover. The shape means it’s less easy for the baby to roll off, and I found the softer changing pad to be more reassuring than the hard, plastic changing pads (though I might change my tune with a boy incoming…). You can find some charming universal changing pad covers on Etsy.

• Boppy Changing Pad Liners. Rather than having to launder changing pad covers every day, we used these liners.

• WaterWipes. Nothing fancy—these are 99.9% water, and they still work fine for us.

• Desitin Daily Defense Diaper Rash Cream. I’ve tried a few diaper rash creams and found this one to be the most effective at treating and preventing diaper rashes.

• Aquaphor Baby Healing Ointment Advanced Therapy Skin Protectant. This has been and continues to be a must-have for any areas of the skin that need healing, such as after scratches (very common for babies with sharp, fast-growing nails) or diaper rashes.

• Bumco Diaper Cream Spatula. It’s a spatula…but for applying diaper cream. A pretty genius application method for minimal mess on your hands.

• Mustela Diaper Rash Sprayable Cream. What’s easier than having to get out the diaper rash cream, hold down a wriggling baby, and apply said diaper cream with the spatula mentioned above? Just spraying it on. This came in handy for the more, um, sleep-deprived days.

Feeding (Nursing, Pumping, Starting Solids)

One note before you dive in: every baby is so different, and the feeding journey looks different for all moms and parents. This is a list of things that worked for me, someone who supplemented with formula (premature birth), breastfed, then switched to a combination of pumping, breastfeeding, and eventually went on to utilizing just formula. What’s underneath this list is an emotional, daunting, and sometimes frustrating feeding journey. You’ll likely have to trial different bottles, perhaps even pumps and post-nursing ointments, to figure out what works best for you. Just make sure you have lots and lots of snacks nearby, regardless!

• Muslin Burp Cloths. These were very soft, and we went through several each week.

• Papablic Bottle Sterilizer and Dryer. Mentioned above in my MVPs!

• Comotomo Silicone Baby Bottle Bundle. We tried a few other bottle brands, and our daughter liked this brand the best. These bottles were so much easier to clean than the others, too.

• Grownsy Bottle Warmer. The buttons can be a little confusing, but once you get the hang of it, this bottle warmer works well and doesn’t take up too much real estate on the counter.

• Boppy Nursing Pillow. I used a hand-me-down and it worked like a charm. It looks like they’ve tweaked the shape since I got mine to be even more maneuverable.

• Silverette Silver Nursing Cups. A friend swore by these to help soothe any sore nipples after breastfeeding, and they worked like magic for me, even without the use of any balm or ointment.

• Spectra S1 Plus Electric Breast Pump. This was my main “workhorse” pump. I like that it can be charged or plugged in, so you can be somewhat mobile. I also appreciated the nightlight feature for middle-of-the-night sessions.

• Willow Go Wearable Hands-Free, Cord-Free Breast Pump. I used this when I wanted to feel less tethered to my main pump, the Spectra. It was less efficient, but the tradeoff was freedom to move around.

• Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump. This was sometimes just as efficient as my electric pump, especially handy for any time you’re skipping a nursing session in the middle of the night.

• NUM GOOtensils. A helpful design that clings to purees and is easy for the baby to hold, for when you begin solids.

• WeeSprout Suction Plates. Another good basic for when you start solids. Check out secondhand options or ask a friend; these are pretty ubiquitous. (One note from my experience: If you wash these in the dishwasher, there’s a chance the plates will make the baby’s food taste like dish soap (!!). To solve for this, either handwash, use unscented dish detergent, or run these through the sterilizer after every wash.)

• Simple Wishes Hands-Free Pumping Bra. This was my “workhorse” pumping bra that helped everything stay in place and was pretty comfortable.

• Olababy Silicone Training Cup with Straw Lid. This sippy cup was magical (to me) because it’s not possible to pull the straw out, something our daughter loved to do, lol.

• Munchkin Any Angle Sippy Cups. The weighted straw is genius, and we experienced no spills, even when the bottle is turned upside down.

• Graco Secondhand High Chair. You won’t need a high chair for a while, but I’m adding this because while we used and liked our Lalo high chair, which was minimalist and pretty to look at, I don’t believe you need anything special in the high chair department. If I were to do it all over again, I’d opt for a secondhand high chair from Graco. They’re padded, easy to clean, and I especially like that the table part is wide (good for babies who like to fling things and spread their food around).

Sleeping

• KeaBabies Soothe Swaddle Wraps. The velcro on these was less “loud” than other brands, and the material is so soft.

• Kyte Baby Sleep Bags. After we passed the newborn stage, we graduated to these and were happy with the quality.

• Two-Way Zip Sleep Onesies. The two-way is key for easy diaper changes, especially when you don’t want to wake or startle the baby. I love Hanna Andersson’s onesies, and Primary’s pointelle onesies are sweet.( I’ve got more notes on onesies and clothes in the “Clothing” section below.)

• Infant Optics DXR-8 PRO Baby Monitor. Mentioned in my MVPs above!

• Hush Yogasleep Noise Machine. Mentioned in my MVPs above!

• JolyWell Baby Night Light. Mentioned in my MVPs above!

• Happiest Baby Snoo Smart Sleeper Bassinet. Mentioned in my MVPs above!

• Newton Baby Breathable 2-Stage Crib Mattress. Excellent quality, no complaints.

• Woolino 4 Season Baby Sleep Bag. It’s on the pricier side for a sleep sack, and I was hesitant at first, but the quality held up wash after wash. You can’t go wrong with 100% wool for cooler winter nights. If you can find this secondhand, snag it!

• Nestig Wave 3-in-1 Crib. Although we never used the mini crib option because we have the Snoo, this crib has held up well for us so far, and I like the minimalist design. It transitions into a toddler bed, too.

• Canopy Humidifier. Mentioned in my MVPs at the top!

Bathing & Grooming

• Electric Baby Nail File. Easy to use and gentle on the baby’s hands and nails.

• Frida Baby NailFrida The SnipperClipper with Safety Spyhole. Now that she’s entered the squirmy toddler stage (and grown stronger, sharper nails), I prefer using this one for a cleaner cut. The “spyhole” makes it easy to know you won’t accidentally nick their fingers.

• Quince Organic Turkish Cotton Kids Hooded Towel Set 4-Pack. Soft towels with a pretty piping detail. We also like Weezie’s towels, which are fluffier and better quality, and probably what I’d put on our registry today.

• The First Years Newborn-to-Toddler Tub with Sling. We were able to use this in our kitchen sink, then later in our bathtub.

• KeaBabies Hairbrush and Comb Set. We still use this set to this day! The soft brush is especially gentle for newborns. In general, I really like this brand.

• Honest Shampoo & Body Wash. I loved the lavender scent, if you/your baby isn’t sensitive to fragrance.

• NoseFrida The Snotsucker Nasal Aspirator. This contraption was gross until it became a lifesaver!! Anything to help alleviate stuffy little noses that don’t know how to blow out snot yet. One of my friends made a good point that this is one of those “wait to order ‘til you need it” products, so don’t stress if you don’t have it as soon as baby gets home.

• OCCObaby Digital Baby Thermometer. A must for your first aid kit. We found this to have the most accurate readings compared to the forehead thermometers. This could also wait until you truly need it.

Playing

Newborns don’t need much to be entertained and stimulated—they’re just getting the hang of seeing things, lifting their heads, etc. and your face is probably the coolest thing they’ve ever seen, so I don’t think you need to go overboard in this arena, but here were the standouts for us.

• Lovevery The Play Gym. This was our go-to play spot for tummy time and beyond. You really do need a safe, visually interesting place for a baby to roll around and bat at dangling, jingling objects during their wake windows, and this one checked every box. We used it well into my daughter’s second year — the tent cover became a key prop in countless games of hide-and-seek. It’s one of those things nearly every parent seems to have at some point, so it’s worth checking secondhand sites for a gently used version.

• Fisher-Price Baby Playmat Deluxe Kick & Play Piano Gym. I don’t know what Fisher-Price put in this thing, but it’s baby catnip. Starting around two months old, my daughter would happily kick away on this playmat for long enough stretches that I could actually drink my coffee while it was still hot. It’s great for tummy time, helps build neck strength, and features music so catchy that the “purple monkey in the bubblegum tree” has permanently set up residence in my brain. (Max Martin could never.) Highly recommend looking for it secondhand — I swear every parent I know has owned one of these at some point, which feels like evidence enough of its powers.

• Melissa & Doug Flip Fish Baby Toy. This soft and stimulating toy got a lot of play during her playmat tummy time sessions.

• Jellycat Dolls. And really, anything and all things Jellycat. I’m not sure what it is about the Jellycats, but our kid developed a deep emotional attachment to almost all of them, especially the dog and panda.

• Miffy Doll. This is absolutely not an essential, but this adorable doll remains one of my favorite things she owns. I’m hoping Hello Kitty will forgive me.

• “First 100 Words” Book. There’s something about having real photos of animals, objects, and other babies that fascinated our daughter. To this day, this is one of her favorite books to read with us.

• “Dear Zoo” Lift-the-Flap Book. A classic that was a hit! We love imitating the different noises the animals make (she loves doing the lion’s roar).

• “Llama Llama Hide & Seek” Lift-the-Flap Book. I love a baby book that’s not only fun for the kid, but also fun for the parent to read. I love the rhyming cadence of the Llama Llama books, and this interactive one is great for the littlest babies.

Baby Containers, Baby Gear, & Strollers

• Doona Car Seat and Stroller. Mentioned in my MVPs above!

• Joolz Aer+ Stroller. By now, I’ve used the Uppababy Vista V2, Doona, and the Joolz. If I were advising a friend on strollers, I’d tell her to skip the Uppababy and get the Doona for the newborn/infant stage and the Joolz for everyday and travel. We found the Uppababy to be quite bulky and confusing to collapse, so we don’t use it anymore. (Downtime readers recommended the Joolz, thank you!)

• Artipoppe Carrier. The brand generously gifted me this luxe carrier, which became my #1 go-to, especially for adventures outside the house, due to its ease of use. I preferred the clip-in buckles on the sides over other carriers that would clip in at my neck and/or behind my back, which I found challenging when I was in a hurry to get out the door. The thick padding and quality of the fabric used are excellent, not to mention the chic design options. For what it’s worth, my husband preferred the Ergobaby Aerloom Carrier. There are now similar, lower-priced options than the Artipoppe available on the market, like MABE and Wildbird.

  

  Pictured: The Artipoppe and a sleeping baby.

• Pacifier clips. These came in handy when we were out and about and wanted to make sure pacifiers didn’t hit the dirty floor. I’d usually clip mine to my baby carrier or to her clothes.

• Solly Baby Flax Wrap. Once I got the hang of tying this, it became my go-to when I needed something less bulky and protective than the Artipoppe carrier, especially for hanging out at home. A carrier like this is so helpful when you want the baby to nap, but you also want to get a few chores done, like the dishes or laundry.

• Baby Car Mirror. This simply does what it says it does!

Nursery Furniture and Decor

• Pottery Barn Kids Comfort Small Spaces Swivel Manual Recliner. I didn’t expect to love a recliner this much, but here we are. It’s genuinely so comfortable that I still sit in it during the day to answer emails or work on my laptop. We have it in the ivory performance fabric, which has held up remarkably well—stains wipe off with minimal effort (a true parenting miracle).

• Nestig Rug. One of my favorite nursery purchases. It’s soft underfoot, feels genuinely high-quality, and (crucially) is machine washable, which you’ll appreciate the first time something unmentionable lands on it.

• Pehr Pom Pom Bins. We use these as laundry hampers, and I love how they look. Not a registry necessity, but in general this brand makes high quality, well-designed items.

• Dresser Drawer Dividers. It’s surprising how, uh, chaotic a baby’s dresser can get rather quickly. These help me organize all those onesies and burp cloths.

Postpartum Care

Those first few days and weeks after giving birth are… something else. These were the things that helped me most with pain and recovery, though of course everyone’s experience will vary depending on how they delivered. Be gentle with yourself. 💗 I didn’t feel comfortable putting this category on our public registry, so I used Babylist’s private list feature to keep track of everything instead.

• Frida Mom Upside Down Peri Bottle. I bought two, one for each floor of our home.

• Frida Mom Disposable Underwear. These were my go-to’s for a week or two. (Be sure to stock up on the ones provided by the hospital, too.)

• Frida Mom Instant Ice Maxi Pad. God bless whoever at Frida Mom invented this.

• Frida Mom Perineal Witch Hazel Healing Foam. Same thing with this. Any witch hazel product was especially soothing.

• Lansinoh Sitz Bath Salts for Postpartum Recovery. Very calming for a self-care moment in fifteen-minute increments. You can buy a sitz bath from Amazon; I asked my OB for mine.

• You know what… buy this whole postpartum recovery kit. I used everything!

My Favorite Brands for Baby Clothes

I’ve learned that in the newborn to 3 months-ish stage, you really just need a pack of these basic onesies and secondhand items. You’re most likely not going anywhere exciting for photo ops, anyway! After that, you can go a bit more wild with more exciting and adorable options. Here are my favorites for infants:

• Kissy Kissy for soft, pima cotton baby onesies. They have sweet options for “coming home outfits,” if that’s your vibe.

• Hanna Andersson for the best sleeping onesies that will keep their quality and colors wash after wash. I’ve gotten many of these handed down from my SIL, and they’re still some of my favorites.

• Pehr for well-designed, minimalist clothing and accessories in muted colors. Great if you’re mapping out a “capsule wardrobe” of sorts for babies/toddlers.

• Woolino for sleep onesies and clothes made of 100% wool.

• Oso & Me, a small brand making quality pieces, many of which are unisex and are also monogrammable/can be embroidered.

• Angel Dear for soft, stretchy, bamboo onesies in more vibrant prints. The stretch is helpful for extending the use of the onesies for quickly-growing babies!

• Petite Plume for nicer onesies and playsuits that feel quite classic (I love their ruffled onesies for girls). Their piped pajamas are just so adorable. 🥺 They also offer monogramming, great for gifts.

• Minnow for adorable swimsuits and gear, more for the 1+ year olds.

• Maisonette is a retailer that has a good curation of fancier brands for special occasion looks (holidays and such). I love to browse their toys section, too.

• The Blueberry Hill is a small indie brand that makes the best cardigans. Another great brand to browse for gifting!

• Primary for daycare-friendly clothes that hold up well. (We also purchase a lot of Old Navy and Target pieces, both new and secondhand, for this purpose, but Primary’s quality is just a notch above.)

To wrap this up, here’s a short list of things that just weren’t worth it for us:

• A diaper bag. I used a backpack we already owned and dropped in my Storq diaper changing kit whenever we headed out with the baby.

• A wipes warmer. It dried out the wipes and was weirdly high-maintenance for something that’s supposed to make life easier.

• Teething toys. Sofie the Giraffe was one of the first things I bought when I was pregnant (I thought every baby loved her??), but my daughter could not have cared less. I’d hold off on buying these until you know what kind of teether—if any—your baby actually likes.

• [If breastfeeding] Any storage for extra breastmilk. I bought freezing trays and bags before I’d even given birth, only to realize I had no idea what my feeding situation or supply would look like. I’d wait to see how things unfold, and just order what you need for next-day delivery if it turns out you need it.

💬 Thanks for reading. I hope this was helpful! I’d love to hear about your experience, too.

• What were your baby registry MVPs?

• And which so-called “essentials” turned out to be totally unnecessary?

Tell us everything in the comments 👇

Thank you to Babylist for sponsoring this letter.