Baby Registry Checklist: The Must-Haves You Truly Need at Every Stage

The true must-haves on a baby registry are a rear-facing car seat, a safe sleep space, diapers and wipes, a few simple clothes and your feeding supplies. Nearly everything else can wait until you know what your baby needs, so a good list is sorted by stage rather than by store aisle.

Printed baby registry checklists tend to be long, and many come from companies that sell what is on them. This guide cuts that down. Safety points follow the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). If you want a checklist that adapts to your home and feeding plans, use the baby registry checklist builder.

The whole list at a glance

Before the baby comes home

A car seat

This is the one item you cannot leave without. Hospitals require a rear-facing car seat before they discharge your baby.

You have two good options, and the AAP explains both:

• Rear-facing-only infant seat: clicks in and out of a base. It is used for travel only.
• Convertible seat: stays in the car, faces the rear and later forward, and has higher rear-facing limits.

Either way, the AAP says children should stay rear-facing as long as possible, until they reach the seat's height or weight limit. Many convertible seats allow this for two years or more.

Two rules worth knowing before anyone gifts you one:

• Do not accept a used seat unless you know its full history. Skip it if it is expired, recalled, cracked, missing parts or a label, or has been in a moderate or severe crash.
• Do not add extras such as inserts or strap covers unless they came with the seat or the manufacturer approves them.

A safe sleep space

Think simple. AAP safe sleep guidance comes down to this: baby on their back, on a firm, flat surface, with only a fitted sheet.

• You need: a crib, bassinet or play yard that meets federal safety standards, plus two or three fitted sheets.
• Room sharing: the AAP recommends sharing a room, not a bed, for at least the first 6 months. A bassinet or play yard next to your bed can be easier than a full crib for this stage.
• For warmth: a wearable blanket instead of loose blankets.
• Swaddles: optional. If you use one, stop once your baby shows signs of rolling, usually around 3 to 4 months.

Skip anything soft in the sleep space. That includes pillows, quilts, bumpers and soft toys. Newborn photos in catalogs often show those things, but they do not belong in a real crib.

Diapers and wipes

Newborns use about 8 to 12 diapers a day. Do not over-order the newborn size, though, because babies outgrow it fast. Our guide on how many diapers you need has counts by size, and a diaper fund lets you buy sizes as you need them.

Add a changing pad, diaper cream and a place to put dirty diapers.

Clothes

Babies need less than you think, and they grow fast. Six to eight sleepers and bodysuits in newborn and 0-3 month sizes will get you started, since you will also get gifts. Favor zips and snaps over anything with lots of buttons. Add a hat and a thin layer or two. Remember that puffy coats do not go under car seat straps. Use thin layers, and put the coat or blanket over the buckled harness.

Feeding basics

Your feeding plan drives this category, so leave room to change your mind.

If you plan to breastfeed: check your insurance before you register for a pump. Plans must cover the cost of a breast pump, though the type and timing vary by plan. Add nursing bras, nipple cream, burp cloths and storage bags.

If you plan to bottle feed or use formula: register for a few bottles in different styles rather than one large set, since babies can be picky. Add a bottle brush and a drying rack.

You can skip:

• A bottle warmer. The CDC says infant formula does not need to be warmed before feeding.
• A sterilizer, if you have a good dishwasher. The CDC says a dishwasher with hot water and a heated drying cycle means a separate sanitizing step is not necessary. It also explains how to sanitize by boiling or steaming, which matters most for babies under 2 months, those born prematurely and those with weakened immune systems.

The first three months

Now that you are in a routine, these things earn their keep:

• Wearable blankets in the right size
• A stack of burp cloths
• Baby nail clippers or a file
• A digital thermometer
• A carrier, if you want your hands free
• A stroller that suits your daily life. A sidewalk walker and a car-only commuter need different things.

A swing or bouncer can be a real help, for awake time only. The AAP says these are for play, not sleep. If your baby falls asleep in one, move them to their flat sleep space.

Three to six months

Babies change fast here. You will need the next size of diapers and clothes, and a play mat for floor time. Add a few simple toys and board books. If your baby started in a bassinet, check its weight and development limits, and move to a crib or play yard if needed.

Six to twelve months

These are the items people register for far too early. You can keep them on the list, but expect to use them later.

• A high chair, once your baby is ready for solid foods. The AAP says readiness varies, with some babies showing signs from around 4 months and solids added to breast milk at about 6 months. Ask your pediatrician.
• Bibs, soft spoons and a cup
• Baby gates and cabinet locks
• A convertible car seat, if you started with an infant-only seat

What to skip, for safety

This matters more than anything else in the guide. Well-meaning relatives often buy these items, so put your list out early. The AAP has a full list of baby products to avoid.

One more note: a wearable monitor might give you peace of mind, but the AAP says consumer devices have no evidence of reducing SIDS and should not replace safe sleep practices. Decide on it as a comfort purchase, not a safety one.

Easy cuts that are simply not needed

These are harmless, but they take up money and space. Wipe warmers, baby shoes before walking, fancy diaper pails, baby bathrobes and newborn outfits with lots of pieces are all easy cuts. If you want to save your budget for what matters later, take these off first.

How to use your registry well

• Put the essentials first, then add a range of prices. See how much people spend on a baby shower gift for what to expect. In Ally's 2023 survey, medians ran from $30 for an acquaintance to $100 for a family member.
• Leave space for what you cannot predict. You do not know yet if your baby will take to a swing or hate it. That is where cash helps.
• Check the perks. Target's registry offer is 15% off, issued eight weeks before your expected arrival date, so it can help with leftovers.
• Accept hand-me-downs carefully. Clothes are great. Cribs and car seats need the checks above. Second-time parents have more on this.

If you would like the money rather than a house full of boxes, a baby cash registry is one way to do it. On RegistryBee you add gifts from any store and guests buy them on your page, but the money goes to you, so you can buy the right size at the right time. It is free for parents-to-be, and guests pay 2.9% + 30 cents per transaction.

Whatever you register for, get the car seat and the sleep space right. Almost everything else is a preference.