Last week I looked back at my first baby registry and I was shocked at how much my ideal baby registry essentials have changed after experiencing life with a baby the past year. Building your first registry is impossibly difficult because you have no idea what you will actually need, what brands are worth the splurge, and how to choose the best items in each category. So basically, you pick out things with good reviews that look useful and cute and hope for the best. Now that I’m expecting baby #2, I’m ready to swap out some of the items for what I wish I had registered for the first time. And I now have a better understanding of how to be a minimalist with baby gear. Here are the baby registry essentials I wish I had the first time, including specific brands. Every baby, mom, and family is unique, but I hope the lessons I’ve learned along the way will help you build your perfect minimalist baby registry.
Baby Gear
- Ergobaby Omni 360 All-Position Baby Carrier – I love our BabyBjorn Baby Carrier Mini, but the Ergobaby lasts much longer so I am excited to try it out with a newborn.
- Moby Baby Wrap Classic
- Snuggle Me Organic Infant Lounger
- BabyBjorn Baby Bouncer Balance Soft and Toy Bar – One of our all-time favorite baby registry essentials. I wish we hadn’t waited so long to get the toy bar. I recommend ordering both at the same time.
- Graco Simple Sway Swing – I’m sure there are many great baby swings out there. We found this one used and loved it. Some babies prefer the Mamaroo to the swing.
Travel Gear
- Infant Car Seat with Base for Each Car – I’ve heard great things about the Doona, but we had the Chicco Keyfit Infant Car Seat. It worked great, but it was heavy.
- Car Seat Mirror for Rear Facing Infant – I love being able to see my baby in her carseat while driving. We tried a few different mirrors, this one is my favorite. You’ll want one for each car.
- Car Seat Cover – Perfect for errands and restaurants to keep germs away and help baby sleep on the go.
- Stroller with Bassinet Topper Attachment – We have the Mockingbird and it has been perfect. I love the bassinet attachment and that we can easily convert it to a double stroller.
- Organizer for Stroller – Holds your coffee, water bottle, phone, pacifiers and teethers, and anything else you need on the go.
- BOB Jogging Stroller – I love our BOB jogging stroller for trail walks and uneven surfaces. It’s larger (not ideal for city life), but very easy to push and maneuver even if you don’t use it for jogging. We found ours used for under $100.
- 7 A.M. Enfant Stroller & Carseat Footmuff – Keeps baby toasty warm on winter walks and drives! I love that it grows with baby so it can be used for years.
Play
- Play Mat – I’m so excited to try out the Lovevery Play Gym. I also have this Crate and Barrel Play Mat and this Kick and Play Piano Gym (I love them both).
- Lovevery Play Kit Subscription – I did not have this subscription for my first baby and am so excited to try it out for my second. It includes all the essentials including a mirror, blocks, and more.
- Board Books – You”ll want a variety of board books. A set of Sandra Boynton books is a great place to start!
- Crinkle Books – Crinkle books are the best! And you can hook them to strollers, car seats, play gyms, and diaper bags.
- Skip Hop Baby Rattle
- Sophie The Giraffe Teether – Another baby toy I waited way too long to buy. This was by far her favorite toy and teether for months. We brought it everywhere.
- Baby Einstein Neptune’s Ocean Discovery Activity Jumper – Activity centers are great when you need to get something done. We bought the super cute Skip Hop Baby Activity Center to blend in with our house decor, but the favorite was the ocean activity jumper that we picked up used for $10 as an extra. The Baby Einstein has way more play options and sounds and is an optional jumper as well.
Nursing & Pumping
- Boppy Nursing Pillow
- Burp Cloths
- Organic Reusable Breast Pads
- Earth Mama Organic Nipple Butter
- Portable Wearable Breast Pump – Check with your insurance before you purchase a breast pump. I chose the basic model that was fully covered, but I wish I had paid extra for a portable wearable hands-free model.
- Breast Milk Freezer Storage Bags
- Breast Milk Storage Bottles – These are great to have on hand for extra milk or formula you keep in the fridge. Check to see if your pump makes corresponding storage bottles.
- Formula – This is entirely personal preference. If you are using formula or want to have some on hand just in case, I personally liked Earth’s Best Organic Formula (easy to find) and Bobbie Baby Organic Formula.
- Dr. Browns 4 oz Bottles – This was our favorite of all the bottles we tried, even the bottles designed specifically for reflux. We didn’t need the 8oz bottles until later.
- Bottle Warmer – I didn’t think we would need a bottle warmer but it made life so much easier.
- Microwave Sterilizer Bags – Essential for quickly sterilizing bottles, pacifiers, and other baby items in the microwave.
Feeding
- Stokke Tripp Trapp High Chair – We tried a few different high chairs before we finally invested in a Stokke. This high chair is amazing. The adjustable seat depth and foot rest make it very supportive for beginning eaters and I love that it grows with your baby through stages.
- Loulou Lollipop Soft, Waterproof Silicone Feeding Bib – We only need one because it can be washed throughout the day and put in the dishwasher at night. This was the only silicone bib we tried that actually stayed open to catch food.
- Pehr Terry Cloth Bibs – My favorite cloth bibs. So soft and absorbent.
- haakaa Silicone Drop-Proof Training Cup – We use this cup all day every day. It is so easy for a baby to hold and drink from.
- Silicone Baby Training Spoons – My little girl loved these spoons when she was learning to eat solids. Easy to use and fun to chew on.
Diapering
- Munchkin Step Diaper Pail – Originally we chose a diaper pail that uses universal trash bags. After a year, it was really stinky (even when we washed it out). So now we are trying the Munchkin diaper pail and hoping it keeps the nursery smelling better!
- OXO Tot Perfect Pull Wipes Dispenser
- Baby Diaper Changing Pad for Dresser
- Pehr Changing Pad Covers (2) – I love design options of the soft Pehr changing pad covers. You’ll want two in case one gets dirty.
- Waterproof Changing Pad Reusable Liners
Sleep
- Hatch Rest+ Sound Machine
- Pehr Organic Cotton Swaddle
- Pottery Barn Kids Luxe Solid Chamois Crib Fitted Sheets (2) – We received these super soft Pottery Barn Kids sheets as a gift and we can’t use the other sheets I originally bought anymore. They are that soft. I wish I had chosen these sheets from the beginning!
Baby Care
- haakaa Battery-Powered Nail Buffer – I started off with nail clippers, which I immediately threw away and replaced with a nail buffer as soon as I cut a little too close and got her skin. Skip the nail clippers, trust me.
- Frida Baby Nasal Aspirator NoseFrida with All-Natural Saline Nasal Spray – I still use this all the time and it is far more effective than the bulb aspirators. I’ve also heard positive things about the electric version of the NoseFrida.
- Weleda Baby Calendula Nourishing Body Cream – Soothes baby’s skin with the best natural ingredients.
Bath Time
- Baby Bath Support Bather – I loved that with this bathtub insert, my baby could get used to the bigger tub and play by splashing and kicking her feet.
- Aveeno Baby Wash and Shampoo – After trying out a few other brands, I found this to be the only baby wash and shampoo that didn’t dry out my baby’s skin.
- Lavender Bubble Bath
- Baby Washcloths
- Baby Towels – I love the adorable animal options for this towel. It’s so soft and absorbent and it works for the newborn through toddler stage.
- Barnyard Bath! Book – You’ll want a few bath books. This one is our favorite.
- Stacking Cups – So fun for water play at all stages. Also fun to play with outside of the bath.
- Non-Slip Baby Bath Mat
What are your baby registry essentials? Share any baby products or brands you love in comments!
P.S. Tips for creating your first baby registry, my favorite bedtime stories for newborns, and my 15 favorite newborn essentials.
Note: If you buy something through the links on this page, I may earn an affiliate commission (at no cost to you). I only share products I genuinely like and use in my own life. I try to keep the details on this page updated, but please check all information before making your plans as the information may have changed. Thank you so much for your support.
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