10 Things I Wished I Had Put On My Baby Registry

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Building a baby registry can be intimidating for first-time parents. How are you supposed to know what you need when this whole phase is new? 

I was lucky with my first: my sister-in-law volunteered to set up a registry for me, and filled it with all the things she’d learned were essentials with her two kids. But even with her help, there were a few things I ended up buying later that I wish I’d registered for. With that in mind, here are 10 categories not to forget when you’re setting up a baby registry.

All babies are different, and all parents are, too. What worked for my sister’s kids didn’t always work for mine. 

“We suggest people think about their lifestyle and what kind of person they are when they register,” says Karen Reardanz, editorial director of Babylist. “Whether you live in the city or suburbs, if you like to travel or are active — all that can guide what you register for.” 

Reardanz has found that there are two ways to dip your toe into the registry. “If you’re a researcher, start with the items that take the heaviest consideration, like the stroller, car seat, or baby monitors,” she says. “But if you’re more of an emotional shopper, you might ease your way in with the fun stuff, like toys and books.” Ultimately, she says, as long as you’ve got the basics — a safe place for baby to sleep, a car seat, diapers, and something to carry them around in — you can build from there.

Reardanz also finds that people tend to think about what the baby needs, and less on what they might need. And in fact, when I polled my friends, the most common items they wished they’d registered for were various kinds of breastfeeding accessories. So, it’s good to remember: while you’re putting together the baby registry to gear up for the newest member of your family, anything that can help you care for them is a good addition, too. 

Designing a nursery is fun, but once you pick a crib, don’t forget to register for the things that go along with it, including a mattress, waterproof mattress protectors, and crib sheets. Need crib recommendations? Check out the cribs that designer parents swear by.

Especially in those early weeks, a baby’s needs are pretty basic: to sleep and to eat. To help the feeding go smoothly, register for gadgets to support both breast and bottle feeding so you’re prepared either way. 

“These aren’t the sexy things, but for breastfeeding, nipple creams, nursing pads, and a hand pump definitely should be on the list,” says Reardanz. “I would have loved to have had extra pump parts at the ready,” agrees Maya, a mom of two in Austin. Alayna, a mom of two in Washington, DC, says the Haakaa has been key in capturing extra breast milk when she’s nursing, and Lisa, a mom of three in Birmingham, says she wishes she’d registered for a cordless breast pump.

For formula feeding, consider putting a couple different brands on your registry as you figure out which one you and your baby prefer. A gadget like the Baby Brezza Formula Pro Advanced Baby Formula Dispenser can make getting bottles mixed and warmed easier for those bleary late-night feeds.

If you find you’re doing one or the other exclusively, you can donate your unused items to a local women’s shelter, as baby supplies are often on the high-needs list.

Some babies are picky when it comes time for a bottle, and if you’ve gone all-in on one bottling system, you may find yourself buying more. Instead, register for a few different types. Babylist actually offers a Bottle Box with five different brands, so you can try them out.  P.S. Same goes for items like pacifiers or swaddles — consider registering for a few types instead of just one.

A baby thermometer, snot sucker, humidifier, or fever reducing medicine might not be on the list, but they urgently become necessary with the baby’s first runny nose. “These aren’t really cute or fun, but you’ll definitely need them!” says Reardanz.

A white noise machine is key as your baby gets more alert, but not always top of mind when you register. “Something I received for my third that I wish I’d for the first two was the Shusher,” says Jill in Raleigh. “It was nice having one less thing to do in the middle of the night!” 

Reardanz finds that their registry folks are loving the Hatch Rest Sound Machine, and we bought two of the old-school Dohm sound machines after our first — that we still use, nearly 10 years later. So does Kiernan, a parent of three in Raleigh: “We have one in every bedroom now, including our own. Sleep is precious!”

It’s ok to register for big-ticket items — you may have a family member who’s feeling generous, or a group of friends that can go in on something together.  “Some people worry that they’ll seem greedy or that Grandma will judge you for registering for the $1,200 stroller, but it’s ok if you know that’s what you want,” says Reardanz. 

When I was registering it was the MamaRoo — today, it’s the Snoo. Responsive bassinets are a big-ticket item, but worth adding to a registry. “It’s an interesting category that’s been wildly successful,” says Reardanz, who notes that there are also rental programs for this gadget. “I assumed the Snoo was extravagant, but I wish I’d tried it at least,” says Amanda, a mom of two in Brooklyn. “My second was such a bad night sleeper that it would have been a lifesaver.”

As airplane travel and road trips start to feel feasible again, consider gadgets that will help make travel with your baby go smoother. “Consider items like a portable high chair or lightweight travel stroller, stuff that’ll help you get around or get outside,” says Reardanz. In that vein, my outdoorsy friend Kate, a parent of two in Tahoe, recommends registering for Patagonia jackets in every size.

“I wish I’d registered for a cleaning or laundry service, that would have helped us especially now that we have a toddler and an infant,” says Alayna, a mom of two in Washington, DC. Similarly, Reardanz is finding more people registering for things like grocery or meal delivery or vouchers for services like Door Dash or Uber Eats.

No, they’re not as much fun as adorable pajamas, but gift cards are a great way for your friends and family to get you exactly what you learn need after the baby comes. “It’s nice to have them because you don’t have to make all your decisions before the baby is born,” says Reardanz. “It also means you can just focus on making the other items on the registry just what you need for the first six months or so.”