Your Ultimate Baby Registry Checklist

With a baby on the way, you may feel like there are a thousand to-dos. But one of the most important? Putting together your baby registry list. Friends and family members will be eager to pick out presents for you and your growing family, so you might as well direct them to a list of items you actually want and need (and trust us, you’re going to need a fair amount). But with so many baby essentials to pick out, it’s hard to know where to begin. And, heck, where should you register in the first place? Amazon? Target Or somewhere else?

I can recall this registry decision fatigue like it was yesterday. I remember wandering the aisles of a no-longer-in-existence big-box baby store when I was registering for my first child—back in (eh-hem) 2012—and feeling beyond overwhelmed. I cried actual tears when I saw the sheer amount of options before me. Glass bottles, plastic bottles, air-bubble filtration systems, nipple flows—and this was just one decision to be made. No doubt about it, creating your own registry must-haves list is incredibly daunting as a first-timer. Heck, it wasn’t much easier for the second or third go around! Fortunately, we’re here to help with full 411 from experts and real parents who’ve “been there, registered for that.” To help you get started, we’ve compiled the ultimate baby registry must-haves checklist, so you don’t forget a thing.

Key Takeaways

• A baby registry allows you to have all your wishlist items for baby’s arrival in one place. You can also share this list out to loved ones and well-wishers hoping to get you and baby a gift.
• You can start creating your baby registry at any point—and it’s better to start sooner rather than later. You want to give yourself enough time to do your research, as well as give your loved ones time to get the gift.
• There are tons of places to register, some of which also offer universal registries, including Amazon, Target, Crate & Kids and The Bump.
• There are lots of baby gear items touted as “must-haves” these days, but your true essentials will depend on your lifestyle.
• The best way to get started is to ask loved ones for recommendations, think past the newborn stage, choose items with a longer shelf life and be strategic about what you add. Remember, loved ones may send gifts after baby’s arrival, so avoid panic buying these things early.

What Is a Baby Registry?

A baby registry is a compiled and curated list of baby products to share with friends and loved ones so you can (hopefully!) accrue everything you want or need in preparation for baby’s arrival. Anything you’d like can be included on your baby registry checklist, from smaller items like onesies and thermometers to big-ticket items like cribs and strollers. Just like a wedding registry, you can then share your baby registry with family, friends and baby shower guests eager to buy gifts. It’s up to you how many stores you create registries with—or you can opt for a universal baby registry that pulls products from various stories into one master list.

When to Register for Baby

While you can create a baby registry at any time, most parents-to-be start going through their baby registry checklist when they’re about 12 weeks into the pregnancy. That may seem early, but building a baby registry can take some work—and infant care tends to call for a fair amount of stuff. “This is an exciting step, but it can also be overwhelming with so many new products to explore,” says Audra Jones, a baby gear expert with GoodBuy Gear. “That’s why I recommend expecting parents to start researching gear during their first trimester.”

If you’re waiting to find out baby’s sex, you might want to hold off on creating your baby registry until you hear the news, since it could influence which designs and color choices you go with. But don’t wait too much longer—you want to give yourself plenty of time to research the gear you’ll need and decide which items you’re going to count as top baby registry essentials. (Plus, your guests will need some time to browse through your registry and pick out the perfect gift!)

Where to Register for Baby

When it comes time to build your baby registry, you’ll have plenty of options available to you: Tons of stores offer registry set-up. But depending on your style, price range and the type of registry deals you’re after, some choices are better than others. Below are some of the best places to register for baby. (And check out this handy chart, which highlights some benefits and freebies for each.)

Amazon

The beauty of an Amazon baby registry is that it’s universal, meaning you can pick and choose must-have baby registry items from any retailer, giving you endless product options. And if you have Amazon Prime, you can have it all in two days—with additional discounts to boot, such as a free welcome box and a 15 percent completion discount. “I absolutely love Amazon and the selection there is fantastic—not to mention the ease of using that site,” shares The Bump community member haswelljme. Not to mention, Amazon allows free returns for one year in case you (or baby) decide an item isn’t quite cutting it.

Target

While Target offers a huge selection of baby products, it’s especially good for finding colorful clothing and fun nursery accents. You can also add items from other retailers via their universal feature. Plus, enjoy a free welcome box, a 15 percent discount on any of your remaining registry essentials and free returns for one year. The retailer also sends you a year of exclusive deals for even more savings during this chapter of new parenthood. SweetPeaKate, a community member on The Bump, registered at Target because she liked the in-person experience: “I’m probably going to add on a Target registry, since it’s an actual store. I figure the more options I have, the easier it is for people.”

Crate & Kids

Crate & Kids has design-forward specialty items galore. They even offer free registry consultation and nursery design services (because every baby deserves a Pinterest-worthy bedroom). And with a 15 percent registry completion discount, it takes the hassle out of deciding where to register for baby. According to The Bump community member, sept0305bride, registering with Crate & Kids was actually one of the best customer service experiences.

The Bump

Love all these retailers but want to condense your registries into one comprehensive list? Check out The Bump baby registry. We sync your registries from your favorite stores within 24 hours, making it easy to share just one registry with your shower guests. (Fun fact: 80 percent of all moms in the US host their baby registry on The Bump!)

Tips For Putting Together a Baby Registry Checklist

While putting together a baby registry can be overwhelming, particularly for first-time parents, there are tricks for making it easier. Below, experts share their best tips for cherry-picking the baby registry must haves:

• Do your research: Look at product reviews for items you might be considering, and check community forums to see how parents talk about the item in question. How easy is it to put together, use, clean and lug around? As part of your research, ask loved ones for their best product recommendations too, suggests Rebekah Mustaleski, CPM-TN, a certified professional midwife and compression director with Motif Medical.
• Pay attention to your lifestyle: It can feel easier to go with the latest trending item or the stroller you’re seeing all over social media, but it’s better for your time, money and stress levels to look for items that can match your lifestyle. “There tends to be a ‘group think’ around certain must-have items, and some parents just default to registering for those,” says Christine Freschi, a baby gear expert with GoodBuy Gear. “However, what works for a family in the suburbs with an SUV is not going to work for the family in the city with a walk-up apartment, who take cabs and subways.”
• Think past the newborn stage: Babies grow quickly, so you’ll want to make sure you’re thinking past newborn life and into babyhood and even toddlerhood. “Before you have a baby it’s hard to understand just how short-lived that newborn phase is,” shares Freschi. “I remember being so fixated on the perfect swaddle—and then she was only in the swaddle for a matter of weeks.”
• Choose items that grow with you: Hand in hand with thinking past the newborn stage is picking items that grow with you and your child (for example, a mini crib that can become a regular crib and then a toddler bed, or an activity center that can convert into a kids’ table). Pick baby gear that can grow with your kiddo, such as convertible car seats and strollers you can use for years to come.
• Be strategic about adding items: If you feel like you don’t have as many items as you’d like, don’t default to more pacifiers, bottles and clothing, Freschi says. Instead, add items that your child will use once they’re older, such as a travel stroller, a toddler travel suitcase, a lunch box for daycare and even potty training gear.

Baby Registry Checklist

There’s a seemingly endless list of baby registry items that could potentially land on your checklist—so which products actually deserve a spot? When it comes to creating a baby registry checklist, there are no right and wrong answers—what you put on your wish list is completely up to you. Dyan Hes, MD, a pediatrician in New York, shares what those top baby registry essentials might be. With these tips and this checklist, hopefully it’s a bit easier to figure out which are the baby registry must haves. Here, your ultimate baby registry checklist for the necessities you’ll need to have on hand when baby arrives:

Wondering what products are generally safe to reuse—assuming they’re still in good condition and meet current safety standards? These include things like clothes, bedding, cloth diapers, glass bottles, strollers, baby carriers, high chairs, baby baths, bouncers, swings and toys.

What Not to Register For

There are plenty of must-haves to add to your baby registry checklist, but what are those baby items that you can actually skip? Here, a few products you can safely pass on:

• Crib bumpers. For years the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has strongly advised against the use of bumpers, saying they pose a risk of suffocation, strangulation or entrapment. They were finally banned in May 2022 with the passing of the Safe Sleep Act. “They’re a hazard, because kids can get their heads wedged between the bumpers and the bars,” Hes explains.

• Wipe warmers. In the end, baby’s bottom will be clean regardless of whether the wipe is warm or cold. What’s more, if baby gets accustomed to always having warm wipes, changing baby when you’re out of the house (and away from the warmer) will quickly become a headache. If you think the wipe is too chilly for baby’s comfort, hold the wipe between your hands for a couple seconds to heat it up (without drying it out).

• Baby shoes. It doesn’t get much cuter than baby shoes, we know. But the truth is that infants just don’t need shoes—after all, baby’s not exactly walking anywhere, and your child is pretty likely to just kick them off. Stick with inexpensive booties, baby moccasins or socks for now.

• Formula dispensers. Though they may sound great in theory, some automatic formula machines have been reported to add too much water to powdered formula while making prepared bottles, which is dangerous for babies, as it could lead to water intoxication.

• Baby walkers. As exciting as it is to see baby start to walk, baby walkers are actually very dangerous to use and could actually wind up delaying baby’s progress. Plus, they pose big safety issues, as baby could accidentally roll down stairs or—since they’re seated higher in walkers—grab dangerous things that would otherwise be out of reach (like a hot drink on a table).

• Teething gels. Teething gels that use benzocaine for pain—like Anbesol and Baby Orajel—not only lack major benefits but they also pose serious safety risks for babies. You’ll also want to avoid amber teething necklaces as they aren’t all that effective and actually pose a strangulation and choking risk. It’s best to steer clear and stick with safe teething toys instead.

• Baby loungers. Also known as inclined sleepers and positioners, baby loungers are incredibly unsafe, per the AAP. Incline sleepers—which were also banned as a part of the Safe Sleep Act passed in 2022—position babies at an angle, which can lead to suffocation. Sleep positioners can also suffocate young infants if they were to roll over and unable to roll back.

Now that you know what you need to register for—and what to skip—start to check off items from your baby registry checklist! Trust us, when it comes to baby prep, this is one thing you’ll want to do sooner rather than later. “Making a registry and bringing a new member into the family is different for every family. Embrace it and think about the things you need for your experience, whatever it may be,” Jones says. “Have fun making it and know that your friends and family are excited to support you.”

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.