I drove myself nuts putting together our minimalist baby registry must haves. I did so much research, asked a bazillion questions, consulted mom groups and everyone I know, and spent HOURS putting things on the registry and taking them off. It was so stressful! The list of things people told us we needed were just so long and I felt so overwhelmed by it all.
I’ve put together this must haves for baby registry must haves guide to be everything I wish I knew when creating my minimalist baby registry. I truly hope it’s helpful for you and helps you cut down on some stress. I’ve included all the little details I wondered about so you can have all the answers in one place.
This is a massive post, so here’s what to expect. A section for each category of must haves for baby registry, what not to put on baby registry, FAQ about creating baby registry must haves, and baby registry etiquette.
Keep in mind, you’re shopping for a life and a little person you don’t know yet! Your baby may end up liking completely different things than what your friend’s baby likes. You don’t need everything right away. As long as you have a place for safe sleep, a way to feed, a few clothes and diapers, you will be okay! I hope this list of baby registry must haves helps you get the essentials!
While I call this a minimalist baby registry, you will find it has more items on it than other minimalist guides. I found the other guides to be lacking in things we felt made life easier. So while this is not the shortest list of baby registry must haves, it is everything we have and think makes life easier. I wanted to find a balance between being minimalistic and having all the conveniences that would make baby life easier. There’s no fluff on here. Every single item are things that we use all the time. If you want to go more minimalist, you can definitely cut down and I’ve made notes where applicable.
Minimalist Baby Registry Must Haves (And What You Don’t Need)
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Minimalist Baby Registry Must Haves:
Health and Grooming Baby Registry Must Haves:
Diapers //
You obviously know you need diapers, but a lot of people don’t realize they are a minimalist baby registry must have. You’re going to need a TON of diapers and the cost adds up, so it makes sense to register. Also people tend to love gifting diapers, so if you register they can see which brand you like. We were super particular about the kind of diapers to use as we wanted something low toxic.
Why low toxic? Most conventional diapers have dangerous chemicals such as formaldehyde, glyphosate, dioxins, toluene, and phthalates. These chemicals are terrible for your baby’s health, often the reason babies get diaper rash (Zayn got a rash when we used conventional diapers someone gifted us), and bad for the environment. Diaper brands are not required to share the ingredients in their diapers so it can take a little leg work to figure out what’s best. There are so many cleaner options out there now that work fantastic!
We recommend getting a box of newborn size and a few boxes of size 1. Your baby may need the newborn size initially so it’s good to have, but I wouldn’t get too many in case your baby grows fast.
A note about sizing. All diapers include weight considerations, but you may not always follow them exactly. A good rule of thumb is that if your baby is having frequent blowouts, it may be time to size up. We tend to go for bigger diapers than totally needed to prevent leaks and blowouts.
Diaper Recommendations for Your Minimalist Baby Registry:
Dyper – This is the brand we went with. We found it to be the cleanest of everything else we looked at, most affordable of the clean diapers, and very effective. We very rarely, if ever, have blowouts with these diapers. They look huge but they do a great job!
Honest – We used Honest for newborn size as Dyper was initially too big for Zayn. We liked them at the newborn stage, but found them to be too narrow later on. The prints are super cute! They also aren’t as clean as Dyper. Dyper does make a newborn size if you want to try it.
Other good brands (we haven’t tried these but they score well for in terms of being low toxic):
Andy Pandy – Nest – Eco by Naty – Eco Boom – Millie Moon
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Changing mat //
You’ll need a place to change your baby!
Things to consider:
- If you have a changing table, you may want a changer than goes on it. Most changers fit on standard size changing tables.
- You’ll want a changing option anywhere you think you’ll change the baby. For us, we have a changing mat on each floor. One in our room and one in the baby’s nursery (our rooms are on separate floors).
The changers we love:
Keekaroo: We love our Keekaroo on our changing table in the baby’s nursery. We chose not to get anything with fabric because it’s harder to clean up. The Keekaro is super easy to wipe down after any accidents. Trust me you’ll have lots of those! We found the vanilla color to go well in the nursery.
Travel mat: We got this travel mat for being on the go, but we actually keep it in our room. It makes it super convenient (and sanitary) to change the baby on our white bed. You can use literally anything for changing that you don’t mind getting dirty. We just like using this mat because it’s easy to wipe down if there are any messes. It’s also great for taking on the go so you don’t need to purchase another travel mat if you don’t want to. We keep a couple diapers, wipes, and diaper balm inside of it and close it up when we aren’t using it. Convenient, takes up little space, and doesn’t make our room look messy.
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Diaper balm //
You’ll want to use a diaper balm after changes to prevent rashes and keep baby’s skin soft. You don’t need to use a balm every time if you don’t want to, but we usually do. Also, if you prefer not to use a diaper balm, you can just use coconut oil. We have a big tub of coconut oil and portioned little amounts into jars each place we change baby and in our diaper bag.
We also love THIS diaper balm and THIS diaper balm. Both are super clean options and work great.
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Wipes //
This is another category we try to go as low-toxic as possible for as it spends so much time in direct contact with the baby’s skin and baby’s skin is so thin and sensitive. We try to avoid parabens, phenoxyethanol, alcohols, and formaldehyde. Preservatives are inevitable, but better choices include Potassium Sorbate and Sodium Benzoate.
We’ve found THIS brand and this THIS brand to be the most effective of the low toxic options we’ve tried so far. We are planning to try THIS brand next, which is also eco friendly.
Register for a big box of wipes! Just like with diapers, you can never have too many the cost adds up.
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Diaper trash can //
You’re going to want a diaper trash can to toss dirty diapers in without stinking up the house. We really liked THIS one because it didn’t require special trash bags, is easy to use, and held in odors well. If you have a two story home, we highly recommend having one on each floor.
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Baby bath tub //
We tried so hard to get away with not having a baby bath tub in the desire to be minimalistic, but it’s so needed. We’re really liking THIS one. It fits easily into most bathtubs or counter tops, is comfortable for infants, and can be used after they outgrow the sling part.
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Body wash //
Babies don’t need soap in the first few weeks, but afterwards you’ll want a soap that’s super gentle for their sensitive skin. We went with THIS very gentle, clean, and effective soap. It can be used as hand soap, body wash, or shampoo. Multipurpose for a minimalist baby registry and safe for your baby. It’s very concentrated so you don’t need to use much and the large bottle lasts a very long time. Even though it’s super gentle, we still don’t use soap every bath time.
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Towels //
Is there anything sweeter than a freshly bathed baby wrapped up with the towel? We can’t wait for you to experience those sweet moments! You’ll want to have a few baby towels on hand. We would suggest having 4. We love THESE hooded towels. They are super soft and absorbent. They are made of bamboo. We also like THESE cotton towels but they are a bit thinner. In a pinch you can use a regular adult towel, but baby towels are softer, perfectly sized, and have a hood to keep baby’s head warm.
We also suggest having a pack of small washcloths on hand. We use these to drape over baby so he doesn’t get cold, to wash his face, and when sponge bathing. If you’re having a boy, we recommend purchasing two sets in two different colors. Keep one set by the bath and another set where you’ll be doing diaper changes. Baby boys tend to pee when you’re changing them so having these washcloths on hand will help prevent you from getting sprayed! If I notice Zayn is about to pee, I place one over him quickly. I also like to let him air dry whenever possible and I’ll lay a cloth over him just in case.
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Nose Frida //
A minimalist baby registry must have! This thing has saved our life so many times! When I first bought it, Bassam said there is no way he would use it, but now he’s our resident snot sucker. It’s just as it sounds, you literally suck your baby’s snot. But don’t worry it’s totally hygienic and nothing will go in your mouth. Perfect for when baby is stuffy as they can’t clear out their own noses. We highly recommend getting two and keeping one in the diaper bag. If the nose frida grosses you too much, there’s also an electric nose aspirator. You may want to keep saline nasal spray on hand for especially stubborn congestions.
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https://amzn.to/2WUp6ra
Nail clippers //
Baby’s nails grow fast and are super sharp, so you’ll want to trim them often! There are two camps of people here. Some like a regular baby clipper and others like an electric baby clipper. Bassam prefers the regular and I prefer the electric. This is one of those things where you’ll have to test it out and see what you prefer.
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Hair brush //
Yes baby needs their own hair brush. This is important to use to keep baby’s scalp healthy and help prevent cradle cap (crusty or oily patches that form on the scalp). We really like THIS brush and comb set. Very easy to use and soft on baby’s head.
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Gripe water //
Newborns have lots of gas and tummy trouble as their digestive systems get accustomed to being used. It’s the hardest thing watching your baby in pain and unfortunately there’s not a whole ton you can do about it. Gripe water is nice to have on hand, but we didn’t use it too much. We preferred to be minimalistic with the things we gave our baby whenever possible. Here’s a few things to try before using gripe water. If you do need to use gripe water, our pediatrician recommended THIS one. We tried quite a few and this one worked the best, but honestly, none of them worked 100%.
- Belly massage (look up baby I love you massage)
- Bicycle legs
- Push legs into belly
- Heat belly + firm pressure (we’d do this by heating our hands and putting on baby’s belly or I’d put a heat pad on me, place a blanket on it, then lay baby on me tummy down). If you prefer, you can also use a baby heating pad
- Football hold (look this up and practice it. It’s a life saving move. Once we got comfortable with it, we didn’t know how we ever lived without it!)
If none of this works, just remember it’s only a phase and this too shall pass.
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Vitamin D //
Whether you are breastfeeding or formula feeding, supplementing babies with Vitamin D is highly recommended. It’s needed for immune, thyroid, and bone health. We love THIS one as it’s really high quality. In general, we like everything from this company.
Baby doesn’t need any other supplements, but if baby or mom are given antibiotics at birth or baby born via c-section, you may want to consider using probiotics to replenish the gut microbiome.
For more information on healthy baby, we suggest taking the course Fab 4 Under 4 by Kelly Leveque.
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Sleep Baby Registry Must Haves:
Before we talk sleep baby registry must haves, let’s talk safe sleep for a second. A safe sleep location is one with a firm, flat surface that does not mold to the baby’s head. A sleep space that has passed US safety stands will be labeled as one of the following: crib, bassinet, or play pen. There are lots of products that are marketed as sleep spaces that don’t actually pass safe sleep standards, so keep an eye out for those labels. For more on safe sleep, I learned a lot in the Facebook group “Safe Infant Sleep – Evidence Based Support Group”. That being said, the group is a bit intense so if you find it overwhelming or to cause you anxiety, then leave the group. I also learned a lot about safe co sleeping from the doulas we worked with. It was good to have different sides of information to make informed decisions that worked for us. You can get more info from the La Leche League.
Now let’s talk about how many sleep locations you need. When I was trying to put together our own minimalist baby registry must haves, I felt overwhelmed by how many sleep locations it seemed the baby needed. I ended up going with quite a few which is not very minimalist of me. You’ll see three on the sleep baby registry must haves section and another in the on the go section. You do not need this many, but I’ve found it to be very convenient for us. I’ll explain what we use each one for and you may decide that you want to cut down how many you have.
In terms of how to decide how many sleep locations you’ll need, consider your lifestyle. If you’re on the go a lot, you may want something that’s easily portable. Our house is two stories, so we wanted a sleep location on each floor. In addition, we planned to room share for the first 6 months. This meant we needed something that would fit in our room and something for longer term use in the baby’s room.
Bassinet//
This is the sleep location you’ll use if you choose to room share. (Keep in mind room sharing is recommended by the AAP). A bassinet is also smaller than a crib so babies feel more secure in there when they are still newborns. Everyone’s budget and style preferences will differ here, so rather than share which one we got I’ll give you a few things to look for when making a decision.
What to look for in a bassinet:
- Longevity: Even if you don’t think you’ll room share past three months, I highly recommend choosing a bassinet that will last several months just in case. We went with one that only lasts 3 months and I completely regret it.
- Rocking: The ability to rock the bassinet is SUPER helpful when getting a baby to sleep.
- Portability: If you want to skip getting a basket (which I talk about a little further down), it may be helpful to be able to easily move the bassinet around the house. A lot of people prefer having the baby nap closer to them in the first few months. I felt more comfortable leaving baby in a different room for naps around 2 or 3 months. In the beginning I would have him nap in whatever room I’m in.
- Ability to see through the sides: Our bassinet has solid sides and while that’s been fine, I do wish we had mesh or slats so that I could see the baby from the side. This way you can see the baby while you’re laying in bed and you don’t have to sit up to see them.
Can you skip getting a bassinet?
You can! A lot of people skip the bassinet and just use a pack and play in their room. I’ve included pack and plays in the “on the go” baby registry must haves section. We didn’t want to do this initially because the pack and play is low to the ground and it just felt harder for us. We personally loved having a designated bassinet.
Crib //
This will be the main sleep location for your little one ongoing. We picked a beautiful GreenGuard certified piece to keep in the nursery. We shared our shooting star baby nursery here.
If you are planning to room share, you do not need a crib immediately. We chose to set up our nursery ahead of time because I wanted to practice crib naps early on whenever possible and I didn’t want to deal with it after baby. I’m glad we set it up ahead of time because I’ve been too busy with baby to do it now, but just know you don’t need to.
Crib Mattress //
Unfortunately most cribs don’t come with a mattress, you have to purchase it separately. We suggest looking breathable, washable, organic, and Greenguard Gold certified. Newton Baby and Naturepedic both have great options. We went with THIS Naturepedic mattress. It also comes with a waterproof cover which has already been really helpful for us.
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Crib Sheets //
According to safe sleep guidelines, baby should be in bed without nothing else added. No bumpers, no blankets, pillows, etc. Besides just make the bed cozy, crib sheets also allow you to bring a little extra style to the crib. We went with a neutral solid color but I’ll also be purchasing a print that makes the nursery theme. This is another good area to look for something organic as baby will be spending a lot of time on their crib sheets. Lots of brands make great options, organic crib sheets are very easy to find. Pottery Barn Kids has really fun prints and Coyuchi’s are so soft and comfy.
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Baby Basket //
I wanted a baby basket or moses basket so badly because I just thought they looked SO cute! I totally thought this would be a very impractical purchase, but we’ve actually used ours a ton. It is super cute, but more than that, it’s very convenient. In the early days I preferred baby to be in whatever room I’m in, so I would move the basket there. Now that baby sleeps in his bassinet or crib for all naps, I’ve left the basket at my dad’s house for baby to sleep there whenever we are visiting. I recommend the baby basket as an alterative to a Dok a Tot. This is a safe sleep location, unlike baby loungers. I’ll talk more about baby loungers in the section on what not to add to your minimalist baby registry.
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Sound Machine //
I have a love hate relationship with this contraption. I hate the sound of white noise, but pretty much every sleep expert recommends it to help baby sleep. It acts as a sleep cue and helps drown out background noise. Since it helps so much, Bassam and I have just gotten over our hate for it.
When looking for a sound machine, you’ll want to look for one that provides constant noise without a shut off. White noise is supposed to work better than something like waves or rainfall because it’s a consistent sound. We personally wanted something that was portable and easy for travel as well as no EMF. We went with THIS one and it has worked really well for us.
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Swaddles //
Swaddles are another thing that are highly recommended for better baby sleep. Swaddling helps mimic the safety and security of the womb, helps with the startle reflex, and acts as a sleep cue.
I’ll warn you, my recommendation for the best swaddle is going to be very frustrating. That’s because there is no recommendation. Every baby is so different with which swaddle they prefer and unfortunately it’s a bit of trial and error here. I’ll walk you through a few good options:
Ollie – This is a velcro swaddle that’s practically foolproof to put together. It’s very popular and very hard to purchase as it’s almost always out of stock. We were able to get our hands on 3 and were SO excited, but our baby only ended up liking it for a few weeks.
Traditional muslin blankets – These are the traditional types of swaddles. We didn’t end up doing this style because we just couldn’t master the technique, but if you can, you might prefer this strategy! A stretchy bamboo option is great for this type of swaddling. The muslin blankets are good too. We actually recommend having lots of muslin blankets on hand because you’ll end up using them for EVERYTHING. We like THIS brand a lot.
Love to Dream Swaddle – After transitioning from the Ollie swaddle, our baby really liked THIS swaddle. We noticed he likes to sleep with his arms up and this swaddle allows him to do that. It’s the best to use early on because it doesn’t help mitigate the startle reflex as much as more traditional swaddles, but it was amazing for us after the first month or so. We highly recommend going organic with this swaddle as you’ll find lots of babies stick the arm part in their mouth.
Swaddle Me – Someone lent us THIS swaddle and Zayn really liked it! We also found it very easy to use.
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Sleep Sack //
Once baby displays signs of rolling, it’s time to ditch the swaddle and transition to a sleep sack. It’s good to have this on hand from the beginning because it can come on quite suddenly. This item is a little tricky because it can take some trial and error to find one you and your baby really like. We’ve been using THIS sleep sack. It’s worked well for us but I’m also going to test out a few more just to see if there’s anything we like better. I will say, the first few days were tough but he got used to it quickly and I’m glad we won’t have another big transition since he can use a simple sleep sack for the next two years.
Sleep sacks are an area that really frustrated me because a lot of the ones on the market are actually unsafe. For example, I initially purchased a weighed sleep sack thinking it would help Zayn sleep better. It did, but then I found out those are totally unsafe! Once he got used to the regular sleep sack, I found he got just as good of sleep stretches.
You may also see a lot of people recommend a sleepsuit as a transition from a swaddle to encourage longer stretches of sleep. We decided not to go this direction because we’ve heard it’s harder to fade out and our OT told us it can be limiting for gross motor skills. It’s totally overwhelming that there’s so much to consider with all these little parenting decisions. Trust yourself that you will make the best choice for you, I just want to share what our factors of consideration are.
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Baby Monitor //
We wanted a non wifi baby monitor and we’ve been really happy with THIS one.
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Pacifiers //
This is another one of those things that you just don’t really know how it’ll go. Some babies never take to pacifiers, some love them. Every baby seems to like a different one. Zayn loves THESE and I’ve heard they are usually a hit with most babies. They a silicone and BPA free. We introduced a pacifier pretty early because Zayn seemed to love to suck and I needed a break at night from comfort feeding. We only provide a pacifier at nap and bedtime and it seems to help him drift off.
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Air Purifier //
Having an air purifier in baby’s room can help reduce chemicals in the air released from different products in the room, as well as allergens, bacteria, mold and other pollutants. We also have on in our room and one in the nursery. Here’s a great guide to picking an air purifier.
Humidifier //
Using a humidifier helps keep baby hydrated and reduce congestion. We went with THIS one which does not release mist or stream in order to prevent mold in baby’s room (and because I’m a paranoid, nervous first time mom let’s just be honest).
Feeding Baby Registry Must Haves:
This is an area that can be tricky to register for because even if you plan to breastfeed, it may not work out like you anticipated. I do suggest getting what you need to set yourself up for success. If you don’t end up needing it, you can return, donate, or save for your next baby.
Read through this section on feeding baby registry must haves even if you’re not planning on breastfeeding as I’ve included baby items you’ll need either way.
Formula //
Even if you plan on breastfeeding, I suggest getting a box of high quality formula to have on hand just in case. You never know if you’ll need it and just knowing it’s there can help take the pressure off. Also, it was really important to me to use a good quality formula and the ones I like aren’t easily available in stores, so I didn’t want to be stuck using something I wasn’t comfortable with in an emergency. We haven’t used our box, but I do think it was smart to have on hand.
If you plan on formula feeding, then you’ll want to register for several boxes. The cost can add up.
Here are the formulas I personally felt comfortable with after lots of research:
Serenity Kids – An INCREDIBLE new formula. This is what we’d use if we use formula. Keep in mind, it’s labeled Kids and not Baby because it doesn’t use the standard recipe for formula. Check with your pediatrician but from what we’ve learned, it’s totally safe to use with babies.
Byheart– Another up leveled formula. If you need one to use in the hospital, this one is approved for hospital use.
Hipp or Holle – These are European options that are more high quality than a lot of US formulas. They also have goat milk options if that’s important to you. Make sure you’re buying from a reputable source if you decide to go with a European option. (PS. You may have seen people recommend not to get a European formula. I’m personally not finding the negatives to actually be a negative, just as long as you are upgrading to the next formulations based on age).
Haakaa //
I don’t like saying you need something, but you NEED this. It’s a manual breast pump that you attach to one side while feeding on the other and it just catches the letdown. You’d be surprised how much lets down, especially in the early days when your breastmilk is still regulating. You can build up a pretty good stock just by using this! So easy and so helpful! Get THIS version with a lid because it tips over easily and you’ll definitely cry over spilled breast milk.
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Nursing pillow //
A nursing pillow is so helpful to have to make feeding easier and more comfortable. I couldn’t nurse at all without one in the early days. I resisted getting THIS one because it’s so ugly, but after trying several others I realized this one is the best. Also recommend purchasing an extra cover because feeding can be messy business sometimes and you may not be able to wait for it while it’s in the wash.
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Nipple cream //
You won’t use this forever, but it’s super helpful in the early days when your nipples will likely be cracked from breastfeeding. This will help soothe and can also help prevent cracking by keeping the are moisturized. I like THIS balm. You just need one tub.
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I resisted getting nursing bras because I figured any bra can work. Yes they can, but a nursing bra is just way more convenient. I’ve learned that as much as I want to have a minimalist baby registry, sometimes extra convenience is just really worth it, especially during an already difficult phase. I ended up buying THIS lower priced option. It’s worked great for me, but I also wish I registered for a nice one since I’m wearing my nursing bras constantly. I’ve had my eye on THIS nursing bra and THIS pumping bra. I still haven’t used a pumping bra because I learned a trick to have your nursing bra double as a pumping bra. I’ll get one eventually though. Here are a few other great options.
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Bibs and burp cloths //
Lots of bibs and burp cloths are a baby registry muyst have! I try to go as high quality with these as possible. You’ll be washing them frequently so you want them to hold up well. In addition, you’ll be wiping baby’s mouth with it and baby will put it in their mouth, so you want to get something that’s made with the best and safest material. I keep a few of THESE burp cloths all over the house and in the diaper bag. When it comes to bibs, I find the bandanna type like THIS to be the best when baby is little and it’s mainly to catch drool and spit up.
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Baby bottles //
We bought quite a few baby bottles because we were told different babies will take different ones. We ended up only using THIS one because our lactation consultant recommended it and Zayn took it just fine. I love that it’s made from glass, helps with PACE feeding (look this up, you’ll want to do pace bottle feeding if you’re breastfeeding), and helps reduce gas.
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Bottle brush //
It’s recommended you use a separate brush and sponge specifically for baby. We like THIS bottle brush.
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Milk storage bottles //
If I’m pumping milk, I store it in milk storage bottles. This helps so I don’t need to purchase tons of pumping bottles. It also helps not use up our drinking bottles and we can pour however much milk we need into the drinking bottles. (Once a baby drinks from a bottle you only have two hours to finish it, so it’s helpful not to always use a full bottle if you don’t know if baby will drink it all).
I combine all the milk from the same day. Although for awhile the advice was to only combine like temperatures, the AAP recently stated studies show it’s fine to combine temperatures. I label the bottles with the date using THIS erasable marker.
I love THESE bottles. They are glass, fit a good amount, and can be frozen if you prefer to stick the bottle directly in the freezer. I have a pack of 4 and that’s enough for me. If you’ll be exclusively pumping, I’d suggest getting 2 or 3 packs or using any pitcher or mason jar if you don’t mind not having the oz markings.
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If we haven’t used our milk in the fridge after 3-4 days, I freeze it. Milk can last longer in the fridge, but that’s just been a good system for me. I use THESE storage bags. They’ve worked great for me, but I don’t love that they are plastic. If you prefer to use silicone, here’s an option. It just gets a bit too pricey if you’re planning on creating a freezer stash. (PS. contrary to popular belief, you don’t need a huge freezer stash! I’m personally building one so I can continue giving a bottle a day when I stop breastfeeding or just in case my supply drops at some point. It’s also nice to have a bit in case you last minute need to leave baby and don’t have any freshly pumped milk.)
To mitigate the negative effects of using plastic storage bags, we defrost in the fridge overnight whenever possible. If we need it immediately, we’ll place the bag in a jar of room temperature water, NEVER hot water. Using hot water can cause the chemicals in the plastic to leach into the milk.
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Pump //
If you’re planning on doing any pumping, you’ll need a pump. Check with your insurance, they will usually offer one a hospital grade pump. I hated the one I got through insurance. I didn’t realize I could ask for a different brand and just got whatever they offered me. Next time I will ask for a Spectra pump. Keep in mind, some people love Medela and some people love Spectra. If you can chat with a lactation consultant about what will work best for you, that would be ideal! If not, just get whatever is the best option you can get through your insurance.
If you don’t get very much milk when you pump, don’t panic about your supply! It’s quite possible the pump just isn’t working for you. That’s what happened to me. I purchased THIS much cheaper, not hospital grade pump and it has actually worked way better for me. Also, keep in mind, baby gets more milk out than a pump. So never judge your milk supply based on how much you pump. Breastfeeding is such an act of faith! If your baby is growing and having enough dirty diapers, they are getting enough milk!
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You won’t use a high chair for a while, but it’s still a great idea to register for it. We had our eye on THIS high chair. It’s a little pricey, but. it’s the high chair that’s most recommended by physical therapists and occupational therapists. Anyone we know who has it is OBSESSED with it! It’s fantastic quality, ergonomic, and has longevity as it can be used as a regular chair.
If you decide to go with a different high chair, here are a few things we recommend looking for:
- Footrest. This is the most ergonomic way to eat and highly recommended by PT, OT, and feeding experts
- Ability to remove the tray and bring baby up to the table. This helps baby be part of the family when eating
- Easy to clean
- Non plastic or at least BPA free tray
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Clothing Baby Registry Must Haves:
When figuring our our baby registry must haves, I had the HARDEST time with clothes. I was just so confused by what a baby actually needs, how to get what I need without getting too much, finding good quality products while not overspending, things that were cute but also practical, and on and on. Everyone told me not to overbuy and I actually ended up under buying. I also had no idea what was going to be the easiest system for me, it seemed like everyone had something different to say.
Another thing that drove me crazy was sizing. I had no idea what sizes to get. I didn’t want to waste money on newborn if he was going to outgrow it quick (he ended up wearing newborn for 2 months!). I was just SO confused.
Here’s what I learned:
- Don’t buy too many outfits that are just cute but not practical. Have a few if they are really special to you, because this is an amazing time of life and why not enjoy. That being said, focus on the basics. That’s what baby will wear most. Get cute ones so you like them, but honestly, a teeny tiny baby looks cute in anything! I loved the look of sweaters and pants, but we didn’t end up using them because they were too annoying
- It’s easiest to dress baby in things that can be put on from the bottom. Getting things over a baby’s head is SO hard
- Get zippers over snaps whenever possible
- Get enough clothes so that you can do less laundry. We try to do laundry 2x a week and usually meet this goal with the amount of clothes we have. If it’s a week with more blowouts than usual, we add another laundry sesh (PS. most people do laundry daily when it comes to babies! We just really don’t want to, haha)
- The higher quality stuff can withstand tons of washing so go high quality when possible. Baby’s skin is so sensitive and they put everything in their mouths so I look for organic, standard 100 by OEKO TEK, or 100% cotton when possible
- Get a few newborn sizes even if your doctor thinks baby is going to be big. Most of the time, they are wrong! Get some newborn, some 0-3 months, and some 3-6 months. This way you will always be prepared for what you’ll need. I chose to spend less on the newborn stuff and go higher quality with the larger sizes
- Every brand fits differently. Don’t buy too much from any one brand. See how you like it, then you can purchase more of what you like
Below I’ve included all the categories I suggest adding to your minimalist baby registry, as well as how many of each item to have.
Onesies //
Onesies are popular for a reason. They are super useful and super easy. Regardless of the weather, I suggest having both short sleeve and long sleeve options. We have a summer baby in Southern California and even still, our long sleeve gets use. 4-6 short sleeve and 4-6 long sleeve in each size should be enough.
We love these (short sleeve) (long sleeve).
If you find the white onesies ugly (I hear you, I felt the same, but trust me, it’s cute on YOUR baby), you may want to get a pack that fits your color preferences. I got a pack of THESE in a neutral color scheme. They helped me feel like he was in more of a cute outfit even when going super simple. Also, how cute are THESE ribbed ones? See what I mean, get the basics in a cute way. Practical and fun!
Some people suggest getting a wrap style so you don’t need to get the onesie over the baby’s head. We pull all them on from the bottom so we didn’t have that issue and found the basic ones to be way easier (less snaps!)
Shop it here:
Pants //
We suggest having 4-6 pants in each size. For the newborn stage, you may want to get pants with feet to keep baby warm without having to deal with socks. Starting at the 0-3 month size we chose to get footless pants. This was for two reasons. 1. Our chiropractor and OT said that having baby barefoot whenever possible helps them with body awareness. 2. Zayn is tall and outgrows footed pants faster.
For an upleveled basic, I found THESE joggers to be so cute!
Shop it here:
Gowns //
Another thing I’ll say you need. You NEED gowns for the newborn stage. Gowns made middle of the night diaper changes so much easier during those early sleepless nights. Highly recommend gowns and only gowns for sleep. Get 4 of them. We used THESE but I’ll link a bunch of good options.
Shop it here (each one is a different brand):
Sleepers //
I’m not sure exactly what these are called, every brand calls them something different, but I’ll just call these sleepers. We use them for Zayn to sleep in and to hang out in if it’s cooler out. We try not to keep them on all day because his feet are not exposed in them, but they are so versatile, cozy, and easy for diaper changes.
We got THESE inexpensive ones for newborn size (read the description with this brand, not all of them are 100% cotton and OEKO TEX certified) and THESE high quality sleepers for the 0-3 and 3-6 month sizes. We are OBSESSED with our high quality ones. They hold up really well and are so cozy. Our inexpensive ones won’t last for another baby, but our high quality ones will.
For colder weather, you might also want 1-2 warm jumpsuits like THIS one for daytime wear (too warm for sleep).
Shop Budget Options:
Shop Higher Quality Options (each one is a different brand):
Socks and Hats //
You’ll want to have about 4-6 pairs of socks and a few hats. We haven’t found a hat yet that we liked the look and feel of and that would stay on Zayn’s head, so I won’t recommend a brand. In terms of socks, we have a few different kinds but the only ones we end up putting on Zayn are THESE we got as a gift. They are pricey but we just love them so much! They are so cozy and stay on really well.
Rompers //
I know I said get all practical clothes and not cute clothes, but if you have a summertime baby, definitely get baby some rompers! Rompers are just as easy as onesies, but SO much cuter! We like these. If I had more of them, Zayn would’ve LIVED in them. They are just so cute, easy, and comfy. I would suggest having 3-4 rompers. Here are a few other options.
Shop it Here:
On the Go Baby Registry Must Haves:
Stroller //
We spent SO much time doing stroller research! This was probably the hardest baby item decision. We ended up going with THIS one. We are absolutely obsessed with it! We love that it’s so sleek and pretty, a smooth and easy ride, and has tons of storage space below. One of our biggest reasons for going with this stroller is that we want more kids and we really liked that there is the option to add on more kids plus a kickboard. We also really love the bassinet option that it comes with. It’s the BEST! We are still using it at almost 4 months in and I’m so sad for the day we’ll need to retire it.
We were debating getting a jogging or hiking and travel stroller, but we haven’t needed those yet. We’ll probably get an inexpensive travel stroller in the future. We just use a baby carrier for hikes and neither of us jog, so haven’t needed a stroller like that. The stroller we use is heavy duty enough to handle rocky terrain on walks.
Shop it Here:
Car seat //
We went with THIS car seat. We loved that the material is naturally flame retardant (this is not easy to find), it’s easy to use, and it fits right into our stroller. We don’t really use it with the stroller, so we could’ve gone with a different option. We don’t use it with the stroller because it’s unsafe to keep babies in the car seat for extended periods of time and isn’t recommended outside of car rides. We love the bassinet feature of our stroller so we just use that when outside of the car!
Full transparency, our car seat tech feels there are better options out there.
Shop it Here:
Pack ‘n’ Play //
We know we want to travel with our baby and we are often at family members’ homes, so we got a Pack ‘n’ Play. You can also use it in place of bassinet, as a play space, etc. We like THIS one because of the low toxin material, the size, and the stability compared to others.
Baby carrier //
Baby carriers are such a life saver so that you can do things hands free. A soft wrap is usually best in the beginning and a more structured carrier well starting at around 4 months.
In terms of a soft wrap, some are pre wrapped and some are not. We first started with the Solly, which is really popular, but we could never really get it to be very secure. We might prefer THIS soft carrier. You wrap it yourself like the Solly, but the material is thicker and just feels way more secure to us. If you prefer pre wrapped, we like THIS one the only downside is we can’t share it because it based on each person’s build.
In terms of a structured carrier, we like THIS one. We haven’t perfected using it yet, but I think it’s mainly because we started too early and our baby is still getting used to it. It’s more ergonomic than a lot of others because you can criss cross the straps in the back. The mesh is helpful for hot days. And it’s a high quality ethical company.
Shop it Here:
Muslin Blankets //
I placed these in the on the go section, but really muslin blankets are just a general must have. When I was prepping my baby registry, everyone told me I would need lots of muslin blankets. I asked for what and they said for everything but couldn’t give me specifics. Now I understand, they really are used for EVERYTHING. To keep a baby warm, as a stroller cover, breastfeeding cover, to lay baby down, burp cloth, and on and on. I always make sure to have two clean ones in the diaper bag and have a few in baskets all around the house. We get SO much use out of them.
We’ve tried many brands but our hands down favorites are THESE. They are fantastic quality and wash really well. They also have nice designs and the size is perfect. We recommend starting with 8 then seeing if you need more.
Shop it Here:
Playtime Baby Registry Must Haves:
In terms of playtime baby registry must haves, you don’t need any of this right away. In the very beginning, your face, your voice, and the environment is more than enough for baby. I know there is so much pressure to get all the right things for your baby’s development, but truly less is more and baby will develop just perfectly. Get what will be useful and fun for you, but don’t stress. I really enjoyed THIS book to learn more about development from a Montessori standpoint and easing stress about getting lots of stuff. You can also make a lot of your own mobiles and toys.
Play mat //
A play mat is a must. Most of them are so ugly but we really love the aesthetic appeal of THIS one. Not only is it pretty, but it’s especially designed with development in mind, is Montessori inspired, and comes with a play guide on how to use it to facilitate what your baby is learning that month. It comes with a bunch of toys so you won’t need much else for a long time. Once baby outgrows it, it can be converted into a tent. We’ve been SO happy with it and love THIS add on for helping teach baby to reach for objects. If you’re only going to get one toy, this is it.
You can read about everything the play gym includes HERE.
Shop it Here:
Mobiles //
We personally really love the Montessori style of development (THIS is a great book if you want to learn more on the Montessori method and how and when to introduce the mobiles). We chose to purchase THIS set of the 4 classic Montessori mobiles. Our baby loved every single mobile in the set!
Shop it Here:
Books //
We personally feel you can never have too many baby books, even on a minimalist baby registry! I love THIS book to learn how to teach your child to be a life long reader. You can really read any book to a baby, but we’ve found our baby especially likes books with images of people. Lift the flap and touch and feel books are always great. Here are some of our favorites.
Shop it Here:
Play Kit Subscription //
We wanted to try to be as minimalist as possible with toys and only get what is absolutely needed. I really love THESE Montessori inspired play kit subscription boxes. They ship every two months and have exactly what you need to facilitate baby’s learning for that time period. I tried to put together the kits on my own to save money and it was so time consuming and ended up being the same cost, so I just got the kits. I also love that they are made with safe materials and are high quality and will last for the next baby. It’s also nice to know I have exactly what baby needs and don’t need to get anything else.
You can register for the boxes separately so that it isn’t a reoccurring investment for the gifter. I’d suggest registering for boxes starting at the 3/4 month box. We skipped months 1/2 because the play mat had what we needed.
Shop it Here:
Montessori Toy Shelf //
Now that I’ve done so much learning about the Montessori method, I wish I registered for a Montessori Play shelf! The shelf is a great way to display toys in a beautiful, non overwhelming way and to encourage independence for baby and tolddler. I wish I had THIS one, but it’s definitely the priciest option. I’ve linked ones at different price points.
Shop it Here:
Teethers //
You’d be surprise at how early babies start pre teething, so it’s good to have some silicone teethers on hand. We’ve loved THIS set. Comes with a great variety and is easy for baby to grasp and maneuver.
Shop it Here:
For the parents Baby Registry Must Haves:
Diaper bag //
We like using a backpack as a diaper bag, it’s so much easier to port around. We keep it fully stocked at all times so it’s easy to out of the house. I’ve really enjoyed THIS bag, it’s functional and stylish. It comes in lots of colors to match your style. While it’s a bit on the feminine side, both Bassam and I use it.
Shop it Here:
I’ve heard several pelvic floor therapists recommend to skip the belly bands as they can cause more harm than good and do a post partum legging instead. You can learn more about this by listening to this podcast episode:
Be Well By Kelly Podcast, Episode 72: Taking Care of Your Pelvic Floor with Allison Oswald
I chose to do belly binding services and wear THESE postpartum leggings. I’ve also see THIS brand be highly recommended.
Recovery Essentials //
I’m going to do a whole post on post partum recovery, but THIS set has the basics of what you’ll need.
If you prefer to purchase the items individually because you don’t think you’ll use all of it, here’s what I used:
Peri bottle , witch hazel liners , ice packs , peri spray
Shop it Here:
Services and Baby Education Baby Registry Must Haves:
There’s a lot of “stuff” on this baby registry list, but honestly, services are much more invaluable than stuff. Here are some services to consider adding to your registry.
Post partum doula //
We did not get a post partum doula and I so wish we did. A post partum doula is like a post partum fairy godmother. They can help with anything you need, from taking care of you to helping you take care of baby and teach you the best ways to do things. I initially thought we could make it work between the two of us and help with meals and housekeeping, but I now see why a post partum doula would’ve been such a blessing. If you have lots of family help, this may not be needed. If you don’t, I strongly encourage you to consider it.
Lactation Consultant //
This is the number 1 service I recommend adding to your baby registry or getting for yourself! A lactation consultant is a game changer when it comes to successful breastfeeding. There’s a of well meaning noise out there that’s not helpful at all, but a lactation consultant can cut through all that for you and give you the best strategies that you need to be successful. I can say with certainty we would not have made it past the first few weeks without our lactation consultant. Not only did she help us figure out Zayn had a tongueand lip tie, she helped us get good feedings that wouldn’t ruin my milk supply, a better latch, and just overall confidence.
Meal train //
I’m going to talk more about the first 40 days in another post, but I highly recommend post partum mama not doing any cooking in the beginning. Post partum dad is going to be busy and sleep deprived too, so this is the area you want to ask for support. Add a meal train to your baby registry or ask for it separately. Let your community help you! I can’t tell you how relieving it is to have meals taken off your plate during the initial newborn stage. Here’s a website that makes it a breeze to set up.
House keeping service //
Similar to above, mama really shouldn’t be doing any housework for the first 40 days. Let friends and family help you. Even better, register for weekly housekeeping services.
Mama self care //
Mom goes through SO much post partum and really isn’t well cared for. Consider adding some self care sessions to your registry. Things like belly binding services, massages, or even at home mani/pedis or blowouts if that helps you feel the most like you. In cultures other than Western culture, moms are much more taken care of and it makes a huge difference in recovery.
Med School for Moms Course //
Feeling knowledgeable helps me feel my most confident and I wanted to feel confident when it came to the health of my kids. This course is AMAZING. Created by a naturopathic pediatrician, the course teaches you how to navigate your child’s health. The full bundle is very expensive, but they have a 50% off sale twice a year.
Baby and Toddler Nutrition Course //
THIS is an amazing course to teach you everything you need to know for optimal nutrition. It’s super research based and teaches you what a child truly needs and how to prevent picky eating. There’s also a 6 week meal plan for when you start to introduce solids.
Newborn Sleep Course //
It’s super helpful to know the basics of baby sleep and how to set a good sleep foundation. We learned so much from THIS course and I loved following Hey Sleepy Baby on Instagram for a counter balance.
What Not to Put On Baby Registry:
As you can see, even though we tried to be minimalist, there’s just so much stuff that’s nice to have for a baby. Here are the baby items you don’t need. Please keep in mind, every parent is going to have different preferences. If you feel these items are needed, that’s totally fine! This is judgement free zone and I hate how every little parenting thing gets controversial. Every family will have different thoughts on this, this is just our perspective.
Blankets //
You will need lots of blankets. You do not need to register for them because people LOVE gifting blankets and you will get tons of them whether you add them to your baby registry or not!
“Containers” //
Okay this is going to be super controversial because most people will tell you this is the number one thing you need. This is going to be a personal preference, but we personally chose to go “container” free. These are things like bouncers, swings, etc. First off, pretty much every occupational therapist will tell you they hinder body movement and can slow gross motor skills. Babies gain so much benefit from being free to move around without restrictions on the floor.
We did register for the top rated bouncer, because everyone told us we would need it, but it has sat unused in the closet. We just put out a blanket, play mat, yoga mat, muslin blanket, literally whatever we have on hand and lay our baby on it. Sometimes with toys, sometimes without. In the beginning he didn’t stay entertained super long, but over time he’s been able to entertain himself longer and longer. There’s a lot of research to suggest that not only is this great for baby’s motor development but also their cognition. If you’re struggling with getting baby to play on the floor, I found this podcast episode super helpful:
Respectful Parenting: Janet Lansbury, Episode Encouraging Your Baby’s Independent Play from July 7, 2016.
There is a way to use containers safely. The recommendation we we usually hear is 15 minutes and then do double the tummy time. I don’t know about other people, but just doing the minimum amount of tummy time was hard enough for us. I’m so glad we decided to go container free because Zayn has learned how to entertain himself, which I hope only continues as he gets older. In addition, we found he has some body tension and restrictions. Had we used containers, the problem would’ve been much worse. Keep in mind, you can’t speed up milestone development, but you can hinder it.
To learn more on this topic, check out Milestones.And.Motherhood on Instagram.
Wipe warmer //
We chose to skip using a wipe warmer because our lifestyle involves going places frequently. We didn’t want baby to be accustomed to it at home and struggle when we didn’t have it outside the house. Diaper changes are tough no matter what for newborns, but it does get easier. Now our baby is totally fine with regular cool wipes and it’s one less thing to juggle. Plus, it’s good for babies to feel different sensations including cool temperatures.
Bottle warmer //
Some babies don’t really care what temperature their milk is. Ours doesn’t care. However, even in the newborn stage when we did warm his milk, it was super easy to just stick the bottle in a jar of warm water. So quick and easy, no additional gadgets needed.
Bottle sterilizer //
I order one, then promptly returned it. You only need to sterilize bottle every so often (we do upon purchase and every few weeks). It’s super easy to do so without a sterilizer, just boil a pot of water and stick the items in for about 5 minutes. This is truly a baby item you don’t need.
Baby loungers //
This is another controversial one as everyone will tell you that you need a baby lounger. We decided not to get one because they are completely unsafe for sleep (even supervised naps), but babies love to sleep in them so parents end up using them. I knew in a hard moment after several sleepless nights it would be really hard not to use something that works for sleep, even if it’s unsafe. It was easier to just not get it and not establish that habit from the get go. Plus, not having one helped us encourage floor play during awake time.
Specialized baby soaps, lotions, etc //
There’s a whole market of baby skincare and we just felt it’s unnecessary. We use a very gentle all in one cleanser for everything and have a big tub of coconut oil on hand.
Owlett //
Another controversial one, but we just felt like this is so not needed. First off, it’s not recommended by the AAP and has not been shown to actually prevent dangerous situations from occurring. Because of this, we just feel the cons are greater than the benefits. I’m not comfortable with giving my baby wearable tech, that’s just more EMF than I’m comfortable with. I’m also working on not having so much anxiety in motherhood and I feel a device like this would hinder that goal rather than help it.
Shoes and cute clothes //
People will gift you shoes and cute clothes anyway, so don’t put them on your registry. You’ll barely use them and even if you don’t get gifted any, you can pick out a few special outfits later.
Stuffed Animals //
This is another thing you’ll get gifted anyway and baby won’t be interested in them for awhile.
Baby Registry Must Haves FAQ and Baby Registry Etiquette
When should your baby registry must haves be completed by and when to share baby registry?
I would say at the latest by when you send out your baby shower invites, but it might be helpful to have it done earlier than that. People may be eager to give you gifts and may ask for your registry link.
Is it okay to add expensive items to your minimalist baby registry must haves?
Definitely! You never know how much people will want to spend and most registries include an option for different people to pool in on one item. As long as you include varied price points, it’s totally okay baby registry etiquette to include big ticket items.
What’s the best baby registry service to use?
We really liked using Babylist. You can link to any website you like, making it super easy and convenient to set up your baby registry. They also offer a completion discount but it’s only on items sold in their shop that are on your registry.
We also created a secondary Amazon registry because Amazon offers an awesome completion discount on select items that you can take advantage of 2x.
Is it okay to ask for cash and how?
This is probably the most asked baby registry etiquette question. It’s totally fine to ask for cash! Babylist allows you to set up a cash fund and specify where it’ll be going, such as “college fund”. People can add to the fund via bank transfer, Paypal, or cash/check.
If you don’t want any baby items at all and prefer to get only cash, you can politely ask for this too. On your baby shower invitations just include a polite line about it instead of a baby registry link. Here are a few examples:
- Your presence at our baby shower is the greatest gift of all. However, if you wish to honor baby with a gift, a cash gift would be very welcome
- Your presence at our baby shower is gift enough. Should you wish to give a gift as well, a contribution toward (baby’s name) college fund would be most appreciated
What to do with gifts you don’t want?
Getting unwanted gifts is a big baby registry etiquette dilemma. No matter how widely you spread your baby registry, people will still gift you items that aren’t on it. Some might be sweet and personal, but others can just be baby items you don’t need. If you prefer not to collect clutter, thank the person profusely and then donate the items. We set out a big box to put any unwanted gifts in and gave it all to a woman’s shelter. We are hoping they will be put to better use than keeping it ourselves.
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Whew there you go! All the baby registry must haves! We truly hope this helps streamline your minimalist baby registry planning process. Feel free to reach out with any questions or let us know if we missed anything you feel is a baby registry must have!
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