The Ultimate Registry Checklist

As of today, I am 2 weeks from my due date. I’ve started to really panic about having 3 kids. When it comes to parenting and managing little ones, I still have a lot to learn. When it comes to baby gear, clothes etc, I feel totally prepared (for the first time). Over the past few months, I’ve sorted through our old baby items, attended a few baby shows and product launches and ordered plenty from Amazon and Diapers.com. Along the way, I’ve taken notes, talked to other moms and now I’m ready to share my Ultimate Registry Checklist.  Below it, you’ll find my top suggestions per category. The checklist can be downloaded and printed or saved on your phone/iPad and you’ll have it to view and check when you need it. (Download).

When you first start a registry, I highly recommend NOT using the list the store or website you are registering on recommends. If you don’t like my list, head to Pinterest and find another one. There’s 2 reasons why I don’t recommend starting with the one provided by the store: 1. You are shopping and sending people to their site/store to shop, of course they are going to list a TON of items. They want you think buy every baby item they sell. 2. The lists are really long and overwhelming. The first time I went to register, we grabbed the registry paper at the front of the store, having no clue what we were getting into. We survived 10 more minutes in the store before my husband and I totally panicked and left the store.

A few pre-registry tips:

• Take Your Time: You don’t have to share your registry right away, so start early. Take time to read up on items online, talk to friends, and even focus on one category at a time. Don’t feel like you have to go to the store and walk around and complete your registry in one day. It’s not like registering for your wedding. You have to really think about what items are right for your life style, your growing family, and which items you feel are safest for your baby.
• Register at more than one place: Do not feel like you have to find everything on this list in one place (I did and wish I didn’t). Pick a big name store that will be easy for people to get to who like to shop in person (Babies R Us, Buy Buy Baby, or Target). Then, you can also pick a place that has the furniture and decor you like (The Land of Nod, Pottery Barn Kids, etc) and then I personally like shopping off registries from an easy online retailer with free shipping (Amazone or Diapers.com).
• Register somewhere that you like the website/ it’s easy to use: Along the lines of registering at more than one place, make sure it’s a place you find easy to read reviews, add/delete items, etc.These days, you should be able to create and edit your registry from home.
• Having a big shower?: If you are having a big shower or more than one shower, think ahead and add items you may need as the baby grows: a potty seat, the next size carseat, toys for toddlers, etc.
• Where to splurge/ where to save: Think ahead about where you’d like to splurge and where you think you can save. If you are a very active runner, splurge on a jogging stroller. If you don’t own a car, don’t splurge on a carseat. This also takes into account thinking about more than just the baby you have in your belly! When I was registering, I didn’t think I would be using many of the items I was selecting for 5 years straight. If you plan to have a few kids, you are going to want to get items that are going to last, even if they seem like they cost more than you originally wanted to spend. Otherwise, trust me, you are going to be replacing them and then spending more in the long term.

Here we go! 

Nursery & Sleep

• Crib: If you plan to have more than one baby, find a great quality crib you love. I tend to stay away from the convertible cribs because I find them more expensive and bulkier. If you are going to have more than one baby, I don’t think they make sense unless you plan to buy each kids a convertible crib and then change it into their bed.
• Mattress: Like an adult mattress, you get what you pay for. We got a pretty cheap one when I registered and it barely lasted for Maggie to use. When we had to buy a new one for Alex, we spent just a little more for a good one and it’s still in perfect condition for baby #3. My favorite mattress: Pottery Barn Kids
• Bedding: This is totally a personal choice. A complete bedding set is not necessary and is more for the style/ decor in the nursery. My favorite are the sets from The Land of Nod, and I like that you can pick and choose which items from the set you want. If you have something special in mind and you’re not finding it where you registered or at any of the other online retailers, it’s fun to head to Etsy for something more custom.
• Sheets: Register for at least 3 sheets. In addition to regular sheets, you’ll want to register for a few waterproof sheets/ mattress pads. My favorite crib sheets: Aden + Anais
• Blankets: Blankets to consider registering for are stroller blankets, thin flannel blankets, and my all time favorite blanket: the Aden + Anais Dream Blanket (a registry must!). The Dream Blanket, as well as many of the Aden + Anais items, can now be purchased in a luxurious Merino Wool. For something extra special and soft to add to the registry, check them out. 
• Bassinet or sleeper: You’ll want to register for something for the baby to sleep in while in your room. For this, I highly recommend the Fisher-Price Rock n’ Play. It’s not as pretty as a traditional looking bassinet, but I swear by it for getting infants to sleep. Very often, newborns and infants don’t sleep as well flat on their backs. This slight incline made a huge difference for my girls. They slept like champs in this thing! It’s also the perfect height to see in, comfort baby, put a pacifier in etc, without ever getting out of bed.
• Swaddles: For swaddles, I recommend the Aden + Anais swaddles. For an easy swaddle, the Summer Infant brand with the velcro are great. Another sleep blanket that worked wonders for us with both girls is the Miracle Blanket. 
• Sound Machine
• Pacifiers: If you plan to use pacifiers, or at least try to, I recommend registering for a few different types. When I registered, I picked the brand that had the cutest designs and registered for a ton of them. I sterilized them all before Maggie was born and she hated them. It was a huge waste. I tried a different brand and she loved them. I recommend having about 3 to try. I’d recommend MAM (my kids are MAM addicts and I feel like many babies love this brand), Dr. Brown’s (I’ve heard are the most orthodontic) or the Natursutten Pacifiers (they made of 100 percent natural rubber, free from any harmful chemicals).

Bath & Diapering

• Bath Tub: There are so many great options now besides your standard baby bath tub. If you have an extra bathroom, where you can just leave the bathtub, then one of the traditional bath tubs is great, but I do think they are really bulky. My top two recommendations for bathing babies would be the Puj or the Stokke Flexi Bath. The Puj goes in the sink. We only have one bathroom, so space in the bathroom is very limited. With the Puj, it fits perfectly in our bathroom sink, so I am thinking I can have the baby in the sink & 2 kids in the tub when i’d like to get bathe done all at once. Puj makes a great bath gift set that’s perfect for a registry. The Stokke Flexi Bath, plus the infant insert, is similar to a traditional baby bathtub but much more convenient to store. It’s also great for travel.
• Towels & Wash Cloths: Register for a whole bunch of each!
• Bath Products: Our favorites are Babyganics, especially the Shampoo & Body Wash.
• Changing Pad: You can do a standard changing pad and register for a few changing pad covers. Another option is an awesome product we just got made by Boon. It’s called the Fresh and it’s much easier to clean. It has a slip resistant base and a neat little hook for toys to keep the baby occupied. This option is cool looking and seems safer and more sanitary to me!
• Diapers & Wipes: Register for a lot of diapers and wipes. This is one thing you are not going to have too many of! We love Pampers Swaddlers. They are super soft, and very popular. We used those with both of the girls. I also can’t wait to try the new Babyganics diapers and wipes. I trust the brand for so many other products and just got our first pack of diapers and wipes from them. They’re made to be very “baby friendly” and eco friendly, but they are a lot more wallet friendly then other more natural diapers.
• Diaper Ointment: I recommend registering for at least 2 types. Then you have more than one brand on hand when you need it. From my experience, there’s not one brand that works for everyone.

• Infant Carseat & Base: I’ve seen and tried out quite a few. My top recommendation is the Maxi- Cosi Mico AP. It’s known for being very safe and it’s SO light. Moms make lugging around those infant carriers look easy, but it’s not! This seat is so much easier to carry around than others. It comes in some neat colors too!
• Carseat: For a carseat that will take you from 5 lbs to 40lbs, I highly recommend the Britax Marathon or Boulevard. Now available in their incredible Click Tight system, this is the easiest carseat I’ve ever installed. This seat is going to last for a long time and goes both front and rear facing. It’s worth the money and comes with the confidence of the Britax name.

• Stroller: This category probably needs it’s own post, as I love chatting about strollers. For now, here are my top recommendations per category:
  • Stroller: My top pick is the Stokke Scoot or Crusi (go with Crusi if you want to be able to add a 2nd seat later on). I’ve tried a lot of strollers, but the Stokke strollers are the easiest to use and so well made. These strollers are going to last you a long time. You can put the baby in it when they are a newborn and then use it for years. My kids still fit in it! It’s easy to fold, light weight and I love how easy it is to switch it from forward to outward facing.
  • Jogging Stroller: If you want to register for a jogging stroller, this is not a place to “save money”. I’ve tried a few less expensive joggers and nothing compares to the BOB strollers. They are well made and easy to use. At 9 months pregnant, thanks to the BOB Dualie, I can still easily push both kids (combined 75 lbs) around town. I like a jogger for running, but also for how easy they are to push and how comfortable the kids are in them. In addition to registering for one, this is a great item to keep an eye on over at Amazon. There are always great deals to be had. Right now many of the BOB jogging strollers are 20-30% off!
  • Umbrella Stroller: The Joovy Groove Ultralight. This stroller weighs less than 13 lbs and is wonderful for travel or strolling around town. It’s easy to carry with it’s built in strap. For a compact, lightweight stroller, it has a lot of features that umbrella strollers often do not: a zippered pocket and cup holder directly on the back, a large storage area underneath, and 2 mesh storage areas on the side. The side pouches might not seem like a big deal, but wait until your little one wants a spot for their sippy cup and favorite toys – then it becomes a game changer for getting them to sit in the stroller! You can also attach Joovy’s Bumprider to it when another child comes along and easily push two little ones along.
• Carrier: I wish I knew how much more I’d use a carrier when I was registering. I really didn’t know much about them. Since then, they’ve been how we were able to travel around Europe with babies, how I’ve been able to cook dinner during the “witching hour” and chase a toddler around the park with an infant in tow. A friend recently asked if registering for more than one carrier is silly, and I certainly don’t think so. Some may work better than other for you, so it might be worth it to try them with your baby before you rip the tags off and throw out the box. I also recommend trying them on in the store or at a friends house. Here are my top choices for carriers: ERGObaby Original, Stokke MyCarrier, and the basic BABYBJORN Original Carrier. For a wrap, I’d recommend the Baby K’tan. It’s soft and really easy to use (especially if you are not used to using wraps).
• Bouncer or Seat: Two I’d highly recommend are the Fisher-Price Snugapuppy (or something like it) or the  Maclaren Universal Rocker. We had the 1st version and looks like a new version is “coming soon”.
• Highchair or booster: I have had more highchairs and boosters than I should admit. I don’t like how hard most are to clean or how bulky they can be. After much trial and error, our favorite booster is the Fisher Price Healthy Care Booster. Our favorite highchair is the Stokke Tripp Trapp. At 3 and 4, my kids are still sitting in their Tripp Trapp chairs. The baby attachment will go back on once the new baby is ready to join us at the table. I have nothing but great things to say about the Tripp Trapp, we love them.
• Play Mat: We enjoyed the Skip Hop Activity Gym with both girls. There are plenty of fun toys and it’s easy to clean. Another cool option is the new Baby Mushroom. We just got one and it’s super soft. It covers more space, which I was looking for. Now all three kids can cozy up and play.
• Swing: Swings can be bulky and take up way too much space, but they can also be a lifesaver for an infant that likes to keep moving while sleeping.  I’d recommend the new 4moms rockaRoo. Head to their site to watch the video. This “swing” is awesome. It’s also really easy to put together and use. It takes up much less space and even plays music from your iPhone, iPad, etc. The rockaRoo could be my favorite new piece of “gear”!
• Travel bed: For an extra space for baby (we keep one in the dinning room to have a spot to sleep/ get changed downstairs), I’d recommend a Graco Pack n’ Play. They are really bulky and heavy and not great to actually travel with though. For something easy and light to travel in, i’d recommend the BABYBJORN Travel Light Crib. 
• Walker: I didn’t register for a walker because when I walked around the baby store, they looked outdated to me. I guess that’s because walkers were about the only baby gear I remember being in my house growing up. I picked out some big fancy activity center with all kinds of bells and whistles. Looking back I realize I should have thought “walkers are still around for a reason”! They are so compact, basic and perfect for both activity and as another place for your little one to have a snack. We got a walker for Alex for her 1st Christmas and she lived in it. If you have limited space for baby gear in your home, a walker is great because you can fold them and slide them under the couch (which you can’t do with a big activity bouncer/ play center). For a walker, I recommend the Joovy Spoon. The Spoon is designed to act as a walker and highchair (so you are getting 2 essentials for under $100). With the spoon, it’s really easy to adjust the height and also to fold very flat for storage. The seat is removable for washing and there’s also a removable tray.

Feeding

• Breast Pump & Accessories: Before you register for a pump, check with your insurance to see if the pump you’d like is covered. I have always used a Medela pump, and just found out that my insurance covers Medela 100%. You may be able to get a pump from insurance and just register for the accessories. The three pumps I would recommend (all easy to use): Medela Pump in Style, Medela Freestyle, or the Evenflo Feeding Deluxe Advanced Double Electric Breast Pump (great price).
• Breast feeding supplies: Many of the extra supplies in the breast feeding department might be confusing/ seem overwhelming when you go to register. You can always head out to get based on need (not everyone needs a nipple support) after the baby arrives and you have started breast feeding. I would get some Lanolin and a large pack of disposable breast pads though.
• Bottles: Same as with the pacifier (see above), I would recommend registering for a few to try vs a ton of one type of bottle. Another option is select a brand, register for 1 bottle and the starter set. Open and sterilize the 1 bottle, but leave the big starter set alone in case you need to return it. Do that for at least 2 brands. Maggie would drink out of any bottle I gave her, but we mainly used Dr. Brown’s. When Alex came along, she refused all of the Dr. Brown’s bottles we had. I thought she just wouldn’t take a bottle, until I tried 3 more brands, and finally found one she loved. Here’s a list of bottles I would recommend:
  • Dr. Brown’s
  • MAM makes a great anti-colic bottle 
  • Evenflo: Has a wide range of bottles at a great price. There is an Evenflo Advanced line and also the Classic bottles. The bottles with all the pieces/ prevent colic, gas etc are usually more necessary when they are very young. Using a basic Evenflo bottle is much easier once they are older.
  • For a cool new bottle, check out the Mixie! The Mixie is the first bottle that can be fixed now and mixed later. This is great for feeding on the go!
• Bottle drying rack
• Burp cloths 
• Bibs: I’d recommend registering for a few that are easy to wipe off, like the Green Sprouts Waterproof bibs, for once baby food comes along. Then register for some soft ones, like Aden + Anais for when they are tiny and also to wear around when they are drooling like crazy.
• Nursing Pillow: Boppy makes the most popular pillow and you’ll find plenty of great covers for them too.
• Nursing Bras: If you feel weird registering for bras (I did) just make sure you buy some! Bravado Design’s site is great for figuring out which bras are right for you and how to size yourself. Then you can add to most registries or find plenty on Amazon or Diapers.com.
• Bowl and Spoons
• Extras: Sippy Cups, Snack cups, Toddler utensils and plates: Dr. Brown’s has great choices for all of these. Another great feeding item is Little Green Pouch. These are great for on the go and making your own baby food.

Baby Care

• Healthcare set: find a set that includes items like emery boards, brush, comb, nail clipper, nasal aspirator, etc. If you don’t see a set you like, then you can register for each item on it’s own. My favorite healthcare items are from the Green Sprouts line. They make a good set of healthcare products. The Green Sprouts wooden bush and comb set is great and their nail clipper is really easy to use on tiny fingers.

• Monitor
• Humidifier
• Thermometer: I prefer the one that you rub on their forehead. They are great when you want to check a temp in the middle of the night. Also, the only time my kids typically get a fever is with an ear infection. They would go nuts if I tried to put something in their ear while their ear was in pain!
• Cleaning Products: It’s good to have more “baby safe” cleaning products when you have a tiny new member of the family. Also, for items that the baby is directly using (bottles, toys, etc) I think it’s really important. Our favorites are the Babyganics products. A few i’d recommend registering for are the Foaming Dish & Bottle Soap, 3X Laundry Detergent , Toy & Highchair Cleaner and the All Purpose Surface Wipes. 

Clothing

Both at a baby shower and when a baby arrives, people love to give baby clothes. They are also a fun thing to buy yourself. It’s really not necessary to register for clothes, except maybe for a few basics. Also, you’ll read that you should wash all of the clothes before the baby arrives, also not necessary. Before Maggie, I washed and folded clothes all the way up to 9 months I think. There were so many we ended up not using. Sometimes babies skip sizes all together or by the time they grow into something, that season has passed. Many babies skip newborn clothes all together. There were so many newborn onesies that I registered for, washed and never used. You’ll have plenty of shirts in the hospital and then you’ll be doing laundry around the clock when you get home (more than you can imagine). So, wash a couple of things, like the swaddles, blankets and clothes to wear home from the hospital, but wait on the rest! Here are a few clothing items I would register for:

• White Onesies
• Mittens 
• Socks 

Extras

These are things that are not totally necessary to register for, but you might want to:

• Toys: My favorites are Sofie and Lamaze toys. Both can be found at most places you would register. The Lamaze Pippin’ the Push Along Pup is one of my favorite baby toys!
• Diapers Bag: I have yet to find the perfect diaper bag, so no recommendation here!
• Teething Supplies: I’d recommend the MAM teething rings  Both of my kids went crazy for the MAM Bite & Brush when they were teething.

Amazon.com Widgets