A Guide to Building Your Baby Registry: My Top Recommendations for the First Year

Creating a baby registry can be really exciting and fun, but it can also be so overwhelming. What do you actually need? What will you actually use? You want to cover your bases but make sure you don’t miss anything important!

With conflicting information and opinions, and let’s be honest, a ridiculous amount of baby products on the market and every brand telling you theirs is the best, it’s common for expecting moms to suffer from analysis paralysis when it comes to building their registry.

I’ve been there myself! Looking for the safest, top-rated, economical, and minimally toxic products when I was pregnant (and even after my son was born) took so much time and energy, and I’ve learned a lot over the first year as a mom.

So below you’ll find categorized lists (and links) of my favorite items we registered for and/or received or bought through the first year- the things we got the most use out of and time and time again through and even said out loud, “Wow, this was so worth getting.”

I know there are products you may like/need that aren’t listed here, and likely many we’ve used that I missed, but I did my best to keep this simple so as to not overwhelm you!


Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

My top 3 pieces of advice when it comes to building a registry:

  1. Babies- especially new ones- really don’t need much. Food (breastmilk/formula), diapers, warmth (clothing/blankets plus caregivers’ bodies), a safe place to sleep, and lots of love are the basics, so don’t get wrapped up in all the gadgets and excess clothes (although cute and fun for pictures, early on, onesies and receiving blankets/swaddles do just fine).


  2. Your baby will have his or her own preferences. I know, it sounds crazy, but it’s true. Particularly when it comes to swings and other containers as well as sleep. For example, we registered for a really great swing, but my son just hated being in it! I’ve heard the same from so many parents! So when it comes to swings and containers, especially the pricier ones, see if you can borrow any from friends or family to “try” before you commit. And in regards to sleep, there are a ton of different bassinet and crib options and even swaddles and sleep sacks and suits out there. Do your research about where your baby will sleep (including familiarizing yourself with the AAP’s safe sleep recommendations as well as different sleep options including co-sleeping and bed-sharing- like the Safe Sleep Seven or the book Safe Infant Sleep if you choose). And when it comes to sleep "gear” like swaddles and sacks, it may be worth registering for a few and just returning what you don’t use.


  3. Don’t forget yourself! It’s not selfish at all to register for items you’ll need, especially things you’ll need to fully heal and recover after birth. Remember, you and your newborn are viewed as one being for the first few months. Your health and care matter (and not just for you). But we tend to get so focused on the baby that we can forget about ourselves as moms.

    If you need more information on what to expect after birth and how to best support your healing (including a comprehensive list of recommended products and even supportive foods), you’ll want to grab a copy of The Root & Branch Guide to a Nourished Fourth Trimester!

Building Your Baby Registry:

Carriers:

Sleep:


Clothing & Accessories:


Teethers & Toys:


Baby containers*:

*A note on baby containers: There are hundreds of gadgets ranging from swings to gliders to vibrating seats to bouncers and more to contain (and even entertain) your baby- some upwards of $250+, too. I can assure you that everyone will have their own opinion on which one you “totally should get” and “won’t be able to live without”. I can also assure you that you probably could get by just fine without any, especially if you’re open to baby wearing (see my favorite carriers above) and simply playing with baby on the floor (tummy time is super important).

One other thing I learned is that baby containers- especially those that prop baby into a position that he or she cannot developmentally sustain on her own yet (i.e. seats for a baby that doesn’t sit up without support, walkers for babies who can’t yet walk, etc.)- can actually be problematic for their little bodies and force them to recruit other muscles to stay propped.

But, real life: sometimes, you need to contain your baby, and sometimes, a wrap/carrier doesn’t work (or you may not like using one)! What I personally did was before my son was mobile (i.e. he stayed where you put him!), he spent most of his wake hours on a blanket or play mat on the floor. We used the bouncer to soothe him/have him “sit with us” when eating. Then, once he started crawling, we just tried to minimize “container time” and balance it with more floor time. We used some of the above containers in moderation/when absolutely necessary, and also got a lot of use out of this Costzon Baby Playpen. This way, he could move around freely and “play,” but still be contained!


Baby Care:


Feeding:


Furniture & Equipment:


For mama:

For more of my recommended items for mama (especially for immediate postpartum healing, nutrition, and breastfeeding and pumping support), check out my Ultimate Guide to Fourth Trimester Healing & Nourishment)

Psst…Even more resources from me are linked below!!

Disclaimer: Due to the dynamic nature of the internet, certain links and website information contained in this article may have changed. I’ll do my best to keep them updated, but if you find any link to be incorrect, simply contact me.

My resources for the Fourth Trimester:

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