Baby registry checklist
The must haves come down to a rear-facing car seat, a safe sleep space, diapers, a way to feed the baby and a few clothes. Answer five questions and this checklist adapts to your home, feeding plan and budget, with honest notes on what to skip.
Items on your list
41
32 must haves
Needed by day one
21
Register for these first
Checked off
0 of 41
Day one
Have these ready before the baby comes home.
- Must have
You need it for the first ride home from the hospital.
Safety: Babies ride rear-facing from the first ride. Install it before your due date, read both the seat and vehicle manuals, and ask a certified technician to check it. Dress the baby in thin layers and put any coat over the buckled harness. AAP rear-facing car seat guide
- Must have
The AAP recommends room-sharing for at least the first 6 months, so you need a sleep space next to your bed.
Safety: Choose one that meets CPSC standards, with a firm, flat surface and no incline. Put the baby down on their back, with only a fitted sheet. AAP safe sleep guide
- Must have
One on, one in the wash.
Safety: Fitted sheets only, made for that exact mattress. No toppers or extra padding. AAP safe sleep guide
- Must have
They keep the baby warm without any loose bedding in the crib.
Safety: Never weighted. Use one layer more than you are wearing, and no hat indoors. AAP safe sleep guide
- Nice to have
Some newborns settle better swaddled. Others hate it, so start with two.
Safety: Swaddling does not lower SIDS risk. Place the baby on their back, keep it loose enough, never weighted, and stop at the first signs of rolling, usually around 3 to 4 months. AAP safe sleep guide
- Must have
You will use more per day now than at any other time.
Honestly: Do not overdo the newborn size. Some babies outgrow it within weeks. Our diaper calculator gives you a number.
- Must have
You go through these faster than diapers.
- Must have
Have one tube ready before the first rash shows up.
- Must have
A safe, wipeable place for around ten changes a day.
Honestly: You do not need a dedicated changing table. A pad on a low dresser or the floor works.
Safety: Keep a hand on the baby on any raised surface.
- Must have
Expect more than one outfit change a day.
Honestly: Newborn size may last only weeks, so register mostly for 0 to 3 months.
- Must have
Cheap, and you will want them in every room.
- Must have
Ask your pediatrician which type they prefer and when to call about a fever.
- Must have
Newborn nails grow fast and scratch faces.
- Must have
Easy to leave off a baby registry, and you will want them in the first week.
- Must have
You will want it set up before you need it.
Honestly: Check your insurance before you register. Most health plans must cover a pump, either a rental or one you keep, though plans set rules on type and timing. HealthCare.gov breastfeeding benefits
- Must have
Sizes change in the first weeks, so start with two or three.
- Must have
Small, cheap and often needed in week one.
- Must have
Start with a small set, because babies can be picky about nipples.
- Must have
You will wash bottles several times a day.
- Must have
Have some at home before the baby arrives.
Honestly: Do not stockpile one kind. Your pediatrician may suggest a change.
- Must have
You need somewhere for pumped milk to go from the first session.
First three months
You can add these in the early weeks.
- Nice to have
Offering one at sleep time helps lower SIDS risk, even if it falls out.
Safety: If breastfeeding, wait until it is established. Never hang one around the baby's neck. AAP safe sleep guide
- Must have
It has to fit your hallway, elevator or stairs and fold with one hand.
Honestly: Measure your door and trunk before you choose. Check that it is suitable from birth.
- Must have
Often easier than a stroller on stairs and in small spaces.
Safety: Follow the maker's weight limits. If the baby falls asleep, move them to a firm, flat surface as soon as you can. AAP safe sleep guide
- Must have
Bathing a slippery newborn without one is harder than it sounds.
Honestly: A sink insert is enough, and it saves space in an apartment.
Safety: Never leave a baby alone in or near water.
- Must have
A small amount goes a long way.
- Nice to have
Pockets and a wipeable lining help.
Honestly: Any backpack does this job for free.
- Nice to have
A clean spot for awake tummy time.
Honestly: A folded blanket on the floor works when you are watching.
- Nice to have
Gives you somewhere safe to set the baby down while you shower.
Safety: Awake and watched only. If the baby falls asleep in it, move them to a firm, flat surface as soon as you can. AAP safe sleep guide
- Nice to have
Cheap, and a nice ask for guests who want to give something small.
Month four and later
No rush. Register now or buy when the time comes.
- Must have
For when the baby outgrows the bassinet's limits. Some parents use a crib from day one instead.
Honestly: In a small apartment, a full-size play yard can stand in for longer. Check its height and weight limits.
Safety: Choose a crib that meets current CPSC standards, with a tight-fitting mattress and a fitted sheet only. AAP safe sleep guide
- Must have
For when the baby reaches the weight or length limit of a rear-facing-only seat.
Safety: Keep riding rear-facing as long as the seat allows. Most convertible seats allow it for 2 years or more. AAP rear-facing car seat guide
- Must have
For when your baby starts solids. Your pediatrician will tell you when.
Honestly: In a small space, look for a chair that clips to a table or straps to a seat.
- Must have
Soft spoons and wipeable bibs are enough.
- Nice to have
Useful when your baby starts solids.
- Nice to have
Two or three is plenty.
- Must have
These sizes last much longer than the newborn size, so they are the best ones to stock up on.
- Must have
Guests love buying tiny outfits, so these fill the gap they leave.
- Must have
Do this before your baby pulls up to stand.
Safety: The CPSC urges families to anchor TVs, dressers and bookcases to the wall. CPSC Anchor It
- Must have
Get down on the floor and look at what a crawler can reach.
- Nice to have
A safe place to play while you cook.
Safety: Use one without wheels. Walkers with wheels are a different product and the AAP says to avoid them. AAP on baby walkers
Do not put these on your registry
These are safety calls, and they apply to gifts and hand-me-downs too.
Crib bumpers
Banned from sale in the US under the Safe Sleep for Babies Act, and the AAP says to keep bumpers and anything that attaches to crib slats out of the sleep area. That includes hand-me-downs. CPSC Safe Sleep for Babies Act
Inclined sleepers
Also banned under the same law. The AAP says any surface inclined more than 10 degrees is not safe for sleep. CPSC Safe Sleep for Babies Act
Quilts, pillows and loose blankets for the crib
Keep all of these out of the sleep area. Save the handmade quilt for floor play or for later. AAP safe sleep guide
Sleep positioners and wedges
The AAP says to avoid products that claim to reduce SIDS, because there is no evidence they work, and to keep nothing in the sleep space but a fitted sheet. AAP safe sleep guide
Weighted sleepers, swaddles or blankets
The AAP says not to use these on or near a sleeping baby. AAP safe sleep guide
Baby walkers with wheels
They can cause serious injuries. The AAP says to throw them away and use a stationary activity center. AAP on baby walkers
Car seat inserts or padding from another brand
Do not add padding or inserts unless the maker made them for that exact seat. AAP rear-facing car seat guide
Skip it: our honest opinion
Nothing unsafe here. We just think these are poor value.
Wipe warmer
Room-temperature wipes are fine, and this is one more thing to clean and plug in.
Shoes for a newborn
Babies do not need them until they walk outside.
Dedicated changing table
A changing pad on a low dresser does the same job and stays useful as furniture.
A full wardrobe in newborn size
Babies outgrow it quickly, and it is what everyone gives you anyway.
General guidance, not medical advice. Ask your pediatrician about your baby, and follow each product's own instructions.
Rather have the cash than the blender?
RegistryBee lets you list gifts from any store and receive the money instead. It is free for couples and parents-to-be.
How this checklist works
Most baby lists are long because they are written for everybody. This one starts with a master list of 52 items and removes what does not fit your answers. Feeding plan changes the most: a formula plan drops the nursing gear and adds bottles, while a breastfeeding plan keeps bottles to a couple for later. An apartment gets a compact stroller and a sink insert. A house adds stair gates. Daycare adds labels and spare sets. The minimalist setting keeps only the must haves.
Items are ordered by when you need them, not by room. That matters for your registry, since guests buy from the top of a list and day one items are the ones you cannot go without.
The safety rules we followed
Every sleep item on this list follows the American Academy of Pediatrics. The AAP's parent guide to safe sleep calls for a firm, flat surface with only a fitted sheet, and says any surface inclined more than 10 degrees is not safe for sleep. It recommends sharing a room, not a bed, for at least the first 6 months. The full reasoning is in the 2022 policy statement. So this list will never suggest crib bumpers, loose bedding or an inclined sleeper. Crib bumpers and inclined sleepers are also banned from sale under the Safe Sleep for Babies Act.
For the car seat, the AAP says babies ride rear-facing from the first trip home and stay that way as long as the seat's limits allow. Read both manuals, and get the fit checked by a certified child passenger safety technician. The AAP's checkup page links to the search for one near you. Our own advice: install the seat before your due date, so the first try is not at the hospital door.
A worked example
Take a first baby in an apartment, with feeding undecided and care at home, on a standard budget. The checklist gives 41 items: 21 for day one, 9 for the first three months and 11 for later. 32 are must haves.
Change that to a minimalist budget and a formula plan, and the list drops to 28 items, with 16 for day one. The difference is the extras: a bouncer, a diaper bag, a play mat and the nursing supplies.
Edge cases
Not sure about feeding? Pick the mix option. You get both sets, and you can return or skip what you do not end up using. Check your insurance coverage for a pump before you spend anything.
Second baby. Reuse is fine for most things. The exceptions are car seats, which expire, and older cribs. Check both before anything else.
Premature baby. The AAP says preterm babies should be screened in the hospital for sitting safely semi-reclined. Your care team will guide you on the car seat, and you may need different sizes of clothes and diapers.
Twins. Each baby needs their own safe sleep space and car seat. Double the consumables, then use the diaper calculator for each baby.
When cash makes more sense
Much of the later list depends on a baby you have not met yet. You will not know which stroller, bottle or size you need until you are there. RegistryBee lets you list gifts from any store and receive the money instead, so you can buy what turns out to be right. It is free for parents-to-be.
Frequently asked questions
- What do I actually need on a baby registry?
- Start with the things you need on day one: a rear-facing car seat, a safe sleep space with a fitted sheet, diapers and wipes, a way to feed the baby, and basic clothes. Everything else can wait, and much of it is optional.
- How many items should be on a baby registry?
- There is no fixed number. This checklist gives 41 items for a first baby with the default answers, and 28 on a minimalist, formula-feeding plan. Add a mix of small and large items so every guest can find something.
- Is it safe to put crib bumpers or a baby blanket on my registry?
- No. Crib bumpers are banned from sale in the US and the AAP says to keep them, along with quilts, pillows and loose blankets, out of the sleep area. Use a wearable blanket that is not weighted to keep the baby warm.
- Can I use a second-hand car seat or crib?
- Only with care. The AAP says not to use a car seat if you do not know its history, if it has been in a crash, if it has been recalled or if it is too old. For cribs, traditional drop-side models do not meet the current CPSC standard.
- Should I register for a breast pump?
- Check your insurance first. HealthCare.gov says plans must cover a pump, either a rental or one you keep, though each plan sets rules on the type and timing. Use your registry for the extras your plan does not cover.
- What is different on a registry for a second baby?
- Choose "Done this before" and the checklist adds notes on what to check before you reuse it. Car seats expire, and older cribs may not meet current standards. Most of the rest can be reused, so the list can focus on consumables and anything worn out.
- How do I save or share my baby registry checklist?
- Your answers and ticks are saved in the page link. Press Share link to send it to your partner, or Print for a paper copy. No account is needed.
Keep reading
- Baby registry essentials: what you actually need
- How many diapers do you really need?
- How a diaper fund works
More free tools
Wedding Registry Checklist Builder
Build a registry sized to your guest list, with the right mix of price points.
Cash Registry Fee Calculator
See what your guests pay and what you keep on the popular cash registries.
Wedding Gift Calculator
How much should you give? Get a fair number for your relationship, your budget and the wedding.
