Originally, I wasn’t planning on doing a registry post. I feel like there are lots out there with lots of good information. However, when I posted the question box on Instagram asking if you had questions about pregnancy, many of you asked about registry specifics. So, I changed my mind and decided to create my own post.
If you want to check out the 2nd trimester pregnancy update with other questions, click here.
Now, I am a baby dummy. I have no idea what I am doing, but I have taken classes and consulted my friends. Almost all the the things on this list were recommended to me. My baby also isn’t here yet. So I will probably do an updated registry list with what we like the best after we really get to know our little one.
One more thing to note before we get started. I am not recommending the most expensive things out there. I know there are great baby items in the high dollar range that have all the bells and whistles, but some of those are kind of shocking if you ask me. Also, the price of daycare and adding a baby to your health insurance almost gave me a heart attack, so we are keeping our price points in the reasonable to middle range. I’ve done a lot of research on the things that are listed here, even if they were recommended by others, and they will work just fine.
Ok, here we go, these are some of the items we have on Baby Bailey’s registry. Remember, we aren’t finding out the gender until birth, so these are also gender-neutral.
Pack n’ Play with Diaper Changing Station – Almost every single friend I have asked for recommendations has said to have a station downstairs where you can change diapers. Apparently walking up and down the stairs every time you need to change a diaper is a real pain in the peach. So we registered for this Pack n’ Play with a diaper changing station. That way the baby will be safe in the Pack n’ Play and we will also have a place to change diapers downstairs.
Chicco Bravo Travel System – I was overwhelmed by the stroller suggestions, so when a friend I really trust said this is what she used for both her babies, we went to the store, rolled it around for awhile and added to our registry. We like that we can both collapse the stroller easily and that it comes with a car seat/carrier and base.
Extra Car Seat Base – Because the travel system only comes with one base, we needed to register for a second for the other car. This way Stephen and I both have a base in the car, and then whoever has the baby and the car seat/carrier can just pop it into the base in their car.
SpaceSaver high chair – We definitely knew we didn’t want a big bulky high chair taking over our dining area. This was recommended by the same amazing friend who gave us many of the other suggestions on this list. This high chair just attaches to one of your kitchen chairs. It can alter to fit your baby at whatever stage and won’t be a large extra chair chillin at your table. We also registered for the fast table chair so we can take the baby to restaurants (maybe one day post-COVID) and have them at our kitchen island.
Haakaa Manual Breast Pump – So many people recommended this! While you are feeding the baby, you can use this to catch extra milk from the side you aren’t feeding. You can then refrigerate this bottle and have it ready to go.
Vitamin D Drops – These were recommended during our Baby Academy class. Apparently your baby will need help with vitamin D and these will help!
Bokee – This is one of those inventions I wish I had thought of. While you are holding a baby with one hand and trying to mix a bottle with another, the bokee can help you. It suctions to your counter and you can place your bottle inside to keep it steady and upright. Then you can easily pour and mix your bottle and close your lid, while having to juggle a baby.
Newton Mattress – This is one of the more expensive things on our list. The Newton Mattress is 100% breathable and 100% washable. Babies can breathe right through the mattress and eases my anxiety that they will suffocate. Also, the whole mattress is washable which was the biggest selling factor for us. You can hose off the core in the shower and put the cover directly in the washing machine.
Sterilizer – This is a little expensive too, but seems like a good idea during a COVID year. This countertop sterilizer will sterilize more than just bottles. So you can put pacifiers and small toys and things, but also keys, cellphones, etc.
Baby gowns and sleep sacks – Everyone says don’t bother with snaps or zippers at the beginning. We will be changing so many diapers, the baby can just chill in a sleep sack for easy access to the diaper.
Hatch sound machine – Lots and lots of people swear by this too. I like that it can grow with your child.
Velcro swaddles – Apparently nobody has time to mess with the manual swaddles. Just velcro them up haha!
Dr. Browns Bottles and Bottle Brushes – These bottles also came highly recommended. They don’t allow your baby to suck air bubbles so they don’t get as gassy and burpy.
Line & Co – My friend Caroline started the cutest, gender-neutral, baby boutique. I didn’t add a lot of clothes to our registry, but the ones I did came from her boutique. I love everything in her store.
Cloth diapers – We won’t be using actual cloth diapers for diapering, however, my friends say to get cloth diapers and cheap burping cloths and use them post-bottles for burping!
Books – We have registered for some books, but we also are asking people to share their favorite books. We want Baby Bailey to be well-read. So for Christmas, we asked our family to give us their favorite children’s book with a note to Baby B so we can always tell them it is “so-and-so’s favorite.” If we get to have some kind of a shower, we will ask for this too.
I know there are some key things missing here, and that’s partially because we already have them. I have some great friends who gave us some of their bigger items now that they are done having kids. I love when other people have already done the research and said this is what worked for them. I love it even more when they drop off the items they are finished with for Baby Bailey.
Baby Dome – This has an SPF of 50. Since you can’t put sunscreen on newborns, this baby dome is a huge help during the summer. Now we will still be majorly covering up our little one under the shade, but you can never be too careful when it comes to sun care. Plus this dome is really cute!
Soothing motions bassinet – My friend said she tried two bassinets and her baby hated the first one and really liked this one. Her second baby also liked it. So now it is upstairs in our room waiting on the baby to get here. Either you or the baby can make the bassinet gently rock. It has a feature for soft vibrations and also has a nightlight, music and a mobile.
Boppy – We’re pretty excited to already have a boppy lounger. It will be nice to put the baby down in a spot we can watch him/her. We also registered for this boppy for feeding and as they get a little bigger. It matches our nursery very well.
Cradle Swing – Another friend was moving and gave us her cradle swing! She said she tried a few swings as well, and this was the one her baby liked the best. It has multiple positions for swinging like side-to-side or forward and backwards. It also plays music and has a mobile. We’re really excited to have this too for our little one to swing and soothe.
This is a weird time for babies. I don’t know what baby showers are going to look like or if we are even having one, but I do recommend making a registry if you are expecting. Even if you don’t share it with others, it’s a good way to keep track of the items on your wishlist as you purchase them. Also, even if you just make a registry without sharing it, you get free gifts on a lot of sites. So it’s worth it to get a free item here and there.
If you are expecting during COVID times, I know how hard it is. It’s really hard to not be able to celebrate this fun time with the people you love and who will love your baby. Try to keep your chin up, and congratulations!
If you’re a mom or expecting a baby, what’s your number one registry item??