Are you an expecting mama wondering what you should put on your registry checklist?
I asked some friends, clients (who I also consider friends), influencers I follow (that I like to think we’re friends lol), and local mamas who have recently had babies if they were willing to share their Number 1 thing they felt was necessary for their new little one and why/how it helped and was so useful.
Now I might get some flack for this post, so expecting mamas- take it for what it’s worth! There are going to be things that work for some but not others, things that some like but some don’t. I’m not endorsing any of these items or saying you HAVE to have them. You’ll have to see what your preferences are and what you like and what works for YOU.
But here’s a registry checklist of things mamas told me they *actually* needed. 😊💗
.png){kind=spacer}
Jaime– Baby stuff is getting expensive, and truth is that most of it is popular because of marketing. You CAN live without the Snoo, the most expensive bottles, and let’s be honest most kids hate the mommaroo 🤣 I got myself all worked up trying to make my baby shower wish list and in hindsight I ended up with none of the things I really needed when my son showed up in this world. What I truly wish I had? A personal lactation counselor, a pelvic floor therapist, a mental health provider for my postpartum anxiety, a doula so I could get some sleep, a sleep consultant so I would stop searching for answers on the internet.
***AND I, Kristine, will throw in- a birth photographer, a newborn photographer… 😁
Jenna– Gosh to pick just 1 may be hard haha. My Brest Friend nursing pillow and the solly carrier I use to wear her.
Katherine– Dr. Brown bottle sanitizer! Being able to load in 6 bottles & their parts or breast pump parts was a game changer in terms of time and safety. It’s used multiple times a day, every day and it’s easy to use. It’s not cheap, around $80, but luckily we were gifted the item. It’s definitely worth the buy considering how often it will be used and the importance of keeping your infant safe.
Lissette– Ah what a hard question! I would say a good, reclinable nursing chair was really valuable. Even if you choose not to breastfeed, keeping baby in a comfortable and optimal position for feeding time (while making sure you too are comfortable) is super important. It’s also a chair that can serve as a space for bonding later like sitting to read books, contact naps, skin to skin time. It’s my happy place and I think every parent would benefit from one that they love! I use the Babyletto Kiwi chair 
Hope– My favorite product we got is the Newton Bassinet! We loved the bassinet because it’s easy to use and assemble, and it’s 100% breathable – it gave me so much peace of mind as a first-time momma!
Lisa– Love the sleep sack. She’s all snug in there like in the womb.
Talia- Always a must for me is my Dockatot!!!
Caitlin- Love to Dream swaddles have been used daily for my 1-month-old! She loves to have her hands near her face and this swaddle allows that while also giving her that swaddled feel! Two-way zipper makes it all the better!
Camille- nipple butter and a manual breast pump for mama is always the best way to collect milk for baby when you’re starting! But as for baby I swear I kept all my babies in pajamas always when they first came home. Two-way zippers are very helpful when changing baby at night!
Kimberly- Sound machine! We have the Hatch which is helpful for late night because it also has a light. It does lullabies or white noise. And a portable sound machine that you can bring with you for the car or wherever you go out that does white noise.
Ale- My boppy pillow for nursing! Can’t live without it! But also pumps.
Chris- An anti-flat head pillow. I used it for a few months with my second baby. I wish I knew about it with my firstborn. What an ordeal it was to fix his flathead! I had to fight with the insurance to pay for this therapy. The pillow was not expensive, it was a good investment.
Jessica- It’s all so subjective, even from one baby to the next. Not one thing listed so far is anything I wanted or needed for 5 kids. I love my wipes warmers, but most people don’t. We don’t swaddle and I hate zippers in baby clothes. There are so many lists of must haves that all have the same one size fits all approach. Maybe write about it from a different perspective like you won’t know until you figure out your preferences.
Cheyenne- I’ve used this booger/ear picker like every day since my LO was born.
Alicia- A lightweight infant car seat!!! When having a second baby knowing I needed to hold my older kiddos hand while carrying a car seat in parking lots a lightweight car seat was a MUST!
Lindsey- I couldn’t have got my kids to sleep through the night without the book ‘baby wise’ and Johnson & Johnson’s good night lavender bath and lotion set!! Must have!!
Melisa- For sleep: a heating pad for the bassinet. For mom: a neck pillow.
Valerie- Saline spray saved us while on vacation. 8-week-old had a stuffed-up nose and we used that spray and suctioned and it saved my sanity!
Katherine- Shusher machine was our saving grace.
Sam- Earplugs for sleeping. For real, this was a game changer for me. Newborns are so noisy and new moms are so sensitive. My baby slept in the room with me and even with earplugs I could hear everything. The earplugs simply allowed me to better sleep through the grunty, thumpy, active sleep but I was still attuned to every wakeup. Even now when he’s quieter sometimes the earplugs help just enough. I use the loop ones, but any comfy ones will do.
Vanessa- These Swaddle Mes were a lifesaver, easy to zip and unzip and my daughter felt soothed and snug.
Alyssa- Peanut! Way easier to wipe down/clean after diaper changes vs having to take cover off and wash in washing machine, wait to dry, put back on…
Jacqui- The Fisher-Price baby dome is perfect for moms who are able to be out and about. I have a toddler and we’ve been to the beach, pool, etc. Having this makes bringing baby along much easier.
Also, I used this BabyBjörn Bouncer as a nanny, I used it with my first and now my second. It’s wonderful for when I need to cook dinner, but baby wants to be close. I just cook while using my foot to bounce him. Or if I need to shower, but baby is in a mood, I bring it into the bathroom.
Linda- UPSIDE DOWN PERI BOTTLES!!! The ones from the hospital suck and it was super awkward trying to use it at different angles. Super life saver for someone who had a 4th degree tear. I know this isn’t a need for the baby. But it’s a need for mom.
Crystal- The sleepers with open bottoms without snaps (easy diaper changes in the mental fog) … the old school cloth diapers… good for anything, absorbs well and cheap so if you lose it nothing to worry about (no wipes, use one and keep or toss).
Danielle- Gerber cloth diapers as burp rags. Super absorbent especially for babies with spit up. Graco Click Connect stroller or any stroller that lets you attach the infant seat to it. Multiple car seat bases-one for every car baby rides in. Perfect for infant seats and much quicker to snap in, especially in bad weather.
Megan- Hatch sound machine! Still using it at 3 (also got one for our bedroom haha) but we use the light on the hatch to signal when it’s time to get up.
Kristin- Zipper swaddles!! Magnetic me pjs or double zippered pjs. Lots of burp cloths! Bumco spatula for diaper changes. Once they start really moving some kind of play gym they can lay on. A bouncer seat for them to sit in like when you want to sit and attempt to have a meal or get ready haha. Stroller fans for this heat!!
Yulie- Ear buds. Not headphones, buds. They are fantastic for when you are pumping at night and want some entertainment but don’t want to make noise. I also use them when I want to watch something or feel kind of bored but don’t want to turn the TV on in front of my little one. It’s small and discreet enough that they don’t notice and it’s easy to use. Price range is also very flexible – amazon has a pair for around $50 and there are even cheaper ones. I would honestly invest in a nicer pair because it really makes a difference in sound quality.
Jenn- This is for the mom: Make some ice pack maxi pads with witch hazel and aloe on them and put them in a ziplock bag in the freezer for post-vaginal birth (Pinterest has tons of instructional posts)… take home all the disposable underwear that you can from the hospital, too!
Baby stuff: Don’t load up on newborn outfits, many babies outgrow that size immediately, or never wear it at all. Baby bouncer (doesn’t have to be expensive) and the ones attached to swings kill 2 birds with 1 stone, white burp cloths, plain white onesies for multiple changes during the day, don’t buy the pee pee tee pees for boys because they’re useless, sleepers that zip from the bottom or Magnetic Me will make your life easier, Baby Brezza if you formula feed, Magic Merlin Sleep Suits are magic, and for our home the Snoo was the best purchase (second hand) that we made for our sanity and sleep!
Monica- I survived off of: Hatch (wall and portable one), snuggle me (couch naps), graco puppy swing (helped in witching hour), baby bjorn (so mom can eat, shower, etc) , lovevery subscription (worth every penny, ftm can know what to do for tummy time), Little Sleepies or any double zip bamboo pjs (cooling & easy to zip from bottom), Ollie or any velcro swaddle (easy to use) , sleep sack (ready for when they roll), bamboo crib sheets (cooling & soft) , Copper Pearl burp cloths (extra absorbent & great for baths to keep baby warm), bibs (for that 4m drool), car seat that clicks into stroller (easy transfer), Vaseline & Bumco spatula, newborn sizes!!! (I had none in clothes or diapers), and bottles (baby list has a great trial pack!) Lots I ordered after baby was here. Hope this helps!
Sarah- Lansinoh nipple cream and gripe water are two things I wish I knew existed BEFORE I needed them.
Katie- Velcro swaddles. Breast ice packs. Soft wash cloths for spit up. Button, full collar bibs. All things had to panic buy. Oh also any newborn-sized clothes bee only to be the footies with folding hands. No tank tops and shorts, save those for size 6mo+.
Lauren- This Infantino carrier was a lifesaver. They say the baby doesn’t realize they are not a part of you until after 3 months. This was so helpful to get things done. Also the best highchair I’ve ever encountered! The cloth ones get so dirty and a pain to pull apart to clean. Quick wipe down!
Well, there you have it mamas. A registry checklist of things you ACTUALLY need from mamas just like you.
Now remember- take it or leave it- find what works for you, your baby and your family. Consider the service industry helpers for mamas! And most importantly… go be the amazing mama you are!!
