When I was pregnant, I searched high and low for a simple list of the essentials. I went on Pinterest, The Bump, Babylist – you name it, I likely read it. The reason I had to keep going to many lists is because there was conflicting advice about what you absolutely need and when. I’m writing this post when my baby is 4 months old, so I can confidently say what you * actually * need if you’re trying to be as minimal as possible with your baby registry for the newborn days.
In terms of the registry service itself, I really liked Babylist because you can add items from a variety of stores, you can keep your registry private, and they show the price of each item across the internet so anyone making a purchase for you can shop smart.
This post is formatted with categories of items, followed by my thoughts on what you don’t need, followed by what was actually helpful. Let’s dive in!
Feeding
Context: we decided to formula feed from day one. I can’t speak to what you need if you elect to breastfeed, but there are many other resources you can cross reference!
What you don’t need
Burp cloths, formula dispenser, bottle warmer, drying rack. I found that simply putting a cloth diaper under your baby’s chin while they eat is enough. We also find it very easy to make up bottles quickly when the baby is hungry and we use a dishtowel as a mat for drying after washing the bottles.
What you do need
Newborn days
- Bottle brush
- Dishwasher basket
- Bottles – we registered for a variety box and then quickly found our baby likes Dr. Brown’s bottles. We just remove the anti-colic insert as that was unnecessary for us. 6 bottles has been the perfect number for us.
Beyond – this is what I registered for, but I’m not sure what we’ll use just yet!
- Highchair that attaches to the table (it takes up less room and is portable!)
- Bibs (for eating solids and drool)
- Spoons, plate, sippy cup variety box
Diapering
What you don’t need
Wipe warmer or dispenser, diaper bags are debatable – at a minimum you’d need a changing pad that you can easily bring with you on the go, changing table – any dresser will do with a changing pad on top.
What you do need
- Diaper pail
- Wet bag (for on the go)
- Diaper cream
- Diaper bag (see note above)
- Wipes
- Diapers – you likely don’t need to register for this unless you have specific preferences
- Changing pad
Baby Gear
What you don’t need
Travel system. Wagon. Car seat accessories.
What you do need
- Stroller and car seat – I got this add on for our stroller. We also registered for a car seat for when the baby is bigger that can grow with him.
- Pack n Play – getting one with a bassinet was great for us when we wanted the baby to sleep somewhere other than his crib in our home. He did end up outgrowing the bassinet at 3.5 months old, so that is something to consider.
- Baby carrier
Bathing
What you do need
I don’t think that this is an overhyped category, generally speaking, so I am not sure what to put in a “not needed” category.
- Nail clippers
- Soap
- Lotion (having Vaseline or Aquaphor is also very helpful)
- Towels and wash cloths
- Tub
- Hair dryer (I don’t use any heat on my hair so I didn’t own a hair dryer. It turns out that the baby LOVES having warm air blown on him when he gets out of the bath and we’re putting on his lotion!)
Nursery
What you don’t need
A large hamper (we use a basket we received a gift in), a special changing table, a mobile, storage containers (you’ll likely receive many gifts in baskets you can reuse!), and blankets (again, this is a favorite gifting item).
What you do need
- Mattress
- Crib (bonus if it converts into a toddler bed)
- Crib sheets
- Sound machine (consider getting a portable one as well)
- Glider
Clothing
What you don’t need
You likely don’t need to register for outfits, as people love to pick them out as gifts. You also don’t need shoes for newborns.
What you do need
- Socks
- Onesies
- Pants
- Soft booties
- Footie pjs – with a zipper in both directions. This was an area where I was woefully unprepared. My son lived in these for the first two months
- Swaddle – I recommend getting two in case there are any accidents. We really liked these combination swaddle and sleep sacks
Playing
What you don’t need
Just like with outfits, people love to gift books. You don’t need a swing. You don’t need a walker. You don’t need to register for soft toys (another favorite gifting item). You don’t need a play yard for the newborn stage or a special mat.
What you do need
- Play gym – I have a post coming with details on our favorite resources and toys for the newborn stage, which includes a review of the Lovevery play kits and this gym. Spoiler: we love them
- Bouncer
- Activity center – this is for when the baby gets older, so the jury is out on this one
Miscellaneous
What you Don’t need
A humidifier, teethers (these often come in play kits), pacifiers (you’ll get some in the hospital – see if your baby likes it and get more after), special first aid kits.
What you do need
There you have it! Less than 40 items to register for.
While it seems like babies need a lot, the reality is that you can keep things simple and add to your collection if something becomes absolutely necessary rather than starting with too much stuff to begin with.
Check out my trying to conceive, pregnancy, and postpartum check list!
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