I have been getting lots of questions about what baby items we have bought for baby boy/asking for suggestions on what to register for. Baby items change so much from year to year, and I know when I first found out I was pregnant with my second, I was a little overwhelmed with the research time it took to figure out what to buy for baby. So, I thought a blog post sharing what to put on your baby registry would be a needed and helpful post to any expecting parents.
Between hours of research, polling my blog followers, and personal experience from my first baby, I have put together a list of essentials that we are buying for baby number two/found super helpful with our first baby!
What to Put on Your Baby Registry:
Infant Carseat:
I opted for a different car seat than what we had with our first baby because it was SO HEAVY. I am strong, a certified personal trainer who lifts heavy…and carrying that thing around was misery. I shared our two top picks for infant car seats above. The Doona turns into a stroller with the push of a button (what we bought) so no lugging around a heavy car seat. The Nuna is incredibly light and easy to carry compared to other car seats!
Stroller:
Once again, our Doona car seat transforms into an infant stroller with just the push of a button. Since the baby is only in that car seat/stroller for so long… I couldn’t bring myself to buy a super expensive stroller. The Doona is reasonable and so convenient. When baby is big enough, we will transition him to the running stroller we still have. Something we bought with our first that we kept because we love it so much! It’s the Baby Trend Expedition Jogging Stroller and usually runs between $100-120. It is also collapsible and fits in most cars!
Baby Swing/Bouncer:
The mamaroo swing was a complete lifesaver for us with our first baby. She literally slept in only that for the first three months of her life. A friend of mine had the BABYBJORN Bouncer Seat for her baby and I loved how portable it was. She would take it to the pool, you name it. It packs flat and is so easy and convenient for the busy family! We bought both of these for our baby.
Baby Carrier:
Our first baby loved to be held. I found it so much easier to get things done with the infant by wearing/carrying them. With our first baby, I wore the Solly Baby Wrap around the house all the time. It was so comfortable and easy to use. We also love the Ergobaby Infant Carrier for hikes, family walks, etc.
Breathable Mattress:
I was adamant about getting our baby a breathable mattress and the NewtonBaby has by far the best one. It is breathable so if your infant turns on their stomach and can’t roll back to their backs they can still breathe. This one also has a washable outside liner! Best part? You can get $35 off your order of $249 with my code: KALYN35!
Changing Essentials:
We loved our Munchkin Diaper Pail with our first baby, so we are using it again for baby number two! I also love their to-go bags that make on-the-go diaper changes less…stinky…
Other changing essentials are:
- Nursery Changing Table Pad & Covers
- On-The-Go Changing Matt
- Diaper Rash Cream
- Diapers and Wipes
Infant Monitor/Video:
Another important baby item is a video monitor for baby. After doing research there was really no question which one we wanted to purchase. We went with the Owlet Smart Sock 3 and Monitor Duo. You put the Smart Sock on baby’s foot when they are asleep and it measures their oxygen levels and heart rate. If either oxygen levels or heart rate leaves the safe zone, the Owlet alerts you on your phone with an alarm. We opted to get the Monitor Duo too because you can track baby all on the same app!
Bassinet:
With my first baby, I found it hard to want to purchase a bassinet, knowing they would use it for such a short amount of time. But after learning about all of the SIDS dangers, I knew it was essential. This pregnancy, a bassinet that could be right by my side of our bed until the baby moves into their crib was a must for me. I did so much research on bassinets and came across the Baby Delight Beside Me Bassinets. They hook into the bottom of your mattress and the baby literally sleeps right next to you in the bassinet. It’s easy to reach over to give them their binky/nurse them etc instead of having to physically get up every time baby cries.
DockATot:
I love how convenient the DockATot is. It’s great for changing babies if you are elsewhere in your home, allowing them to tummy time (always with supervision), playing with them, etc. It’s a nice way to keep your baby in a safe, secure spot…and I love that it’s portable. I see us taking this on trips, etc because of how multi-functional it is. However, I will say when I mentioned this product on my Instagram stories a L&D nurse pointed out how many people misuse this product. Please make sure with every baby product you use that you follow all safety guidelines the product sets in place. I linked DockATot’s safety messages here for you.
Feeding Essentials:
If your baby is anything like my first…you will spend lots of your day feeding them. Even if you plan on exclusively nursing, I recommend buying at least one set of bottles, a bottle drying rack, and bottle cleaning brushes. I couldn’t link it for you, but I actually bought a bottle sample pack off of Babylist for this baby because when I was pregnant with my first, I bought all Dr. Brown’s bottles for my daughter and she hated them. So this time I have one of five or six different bottles and once we find out which one baby prefers, we will stock up on that brand.
Other essentials are a highchair, bibs, and burp cloths!
Baby Soothers:
Things like binkies, swaddles/sleep sacks, and noise machines that will help soothe baby are essential in the early months. I linked a few of my favorites above!
Breastfeeding Essentials:
This is for the mamas who are choosing to breastfeed. No shame one way or the other. I know from experience how hard breastfeeding can be, and even though I hope to nurse this baby, I will not beat myself up if we aren’t able to exclusively nurse. Things that are great for nursing mamas are nursing pillows like the Boppy, a good nursing cover (I love this one from Etsy that is a car seat cover and nursing cover in one), Breast Pumps: my two favorites are the Spectra S1 and the Willow Breast Pumps because of how easy they make pumping. I also have the Haaka that is a handheld expresser that is supposed to help you get your milk to come in right after delivery. Also, invest in some good nursing bras and a pumping bra. My favorite nursing bra is the Bra-llelujah! Mama Nursing Bra by Spanx!
Bath and Toiletry Essentials:
Make sure you get a small supportive bathtub for baby for the first few months. Also stock up on extra soft washcloths, and towels. Plenty of baby shampoo/wash, lotion, and diaper rash cream. I also love this baby essentials kit by Frida Baby. Another important call-out is a thermometer. We have an ear thermometer for our kids that we love!
Baby Essentials to Add to Your Registry:
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