When I first started thinking about creating a baby registry and nursery, I felt (mainly) excitement but also A LOT of overwhelm. When you’re expecting your first baby, where do you even start? How do you know the difference between what’s cute or cool versus what you *actually* need?? I have to admit that I’m a sucker for products that claim to make life easier after baby arrives, so much so that I’ll fork over the extra cash in the hopes of less stress, more convenience and peace of mind. Looking through the sea of bright-colored toys and confusing reviews about whether this thing is better than that thing, I realized that it’s ultimately about what you feel will bring you and your family joy. As long as you put your heart into it the baby is going to be a-okay, and so will you.
I held a poll on Instagram about whether you’d like this post to be about my top 10-15 products, or if you would rather see a complete breakdown of products listed by category. So the winner by popular demand was… a complete breakdown! I still wanted to make sure not to overwhelm you with a ridiculous amount of options, so I made sure to keep each category as simple as possible. And to make everyone happy, I also did a top 10 of my most favorite items – for those of you who like to get straight to the point. Let me preface this by stating that all opinions are my own and I was not paid by anyone to promote these products. I simply am impressed by each one and can’t wait to use them with my own baby when she finally arrives! I hope this blog post brings you a little comfort and some guidance into making the right choices for your family. 🙂
So here you have it, my must-have baby registry and nursery must haves. For my top 10 picks, go ahead and scroll to the end!
Nursery:
- Keekaroo Peanut Changer – I did NOT want to even think about washing a gross fabric changing pad cover after my baby did their thing on it, so a changing pad that was easy to wipe down was a must for me. This one is impermeable to fluids and it limits bacteria growth. I used a 20% coupon at Buy Buy Baby for mine!
- Ubbi Diaper Pail – I chose this diaper pail because it doesn’t require any special bags or refills. It is made of steel which locks in the smell way better than a plastic pail. Plastic is porous and odors can escape more easily – ew! This was another no-brainer to me.
- Babyletto Crib – We chose the “Scoot” model, but really all of them are just so cute. The Scoot is a 3-in-1 convertible crib with a toddler bed conversion kit, so it’s perfect for a growing baby and continually-growing family. A big reason I chose this crib is because it’s GREENGUARD Gold Certified (screened for 360 Volatile Organic Compounds and over 10,000 chemicals), it’s lead and phthalate free, and it surpasses safety standards.
- Babyletto Pure Core Non-Toxic Mattress with Hybrid Waterproof Cover – I decided to keep it in the Babyletto family and choose a mattress I knew would fit perfectly in the crib we chose. There are several options to choose from on their website, but I picked this one because it met all of my needs, is non-toxic, hypoallergenic, there are no chemical flame retardants, and has a waterproof and quilted waterproof cover that’s easily removable and machine washable.
- Davinci Owen Glider and Storage Ottoman – Let’s get real here: gliders are stupid expensive. I wanted something that would be comfortable for sleeping on, was functional, and not ridiculously-priced. I chose this set because the ottoman actually opens up to reveal a hidden storage compartment (win!), is winged on the sides so that I can rest my head more comfortably at night, and the price was unbeatable compared to others that were similar- especially with a 20% off coupon!
- Ikea Hemnes Dresser – I’m not going to lie, I saw this dresser ALLLL over Instagram. I went for it because of the bang for its buck: a huuuge 8-drawer dresser for $200? Yes, please! Note: According to my husband, the assembly sucks big time! But ultimately, we love it so much we bought a second one for our bedroom. The only thing I’m not a fan of are the knobs, but that’s an easy fix.
Baby Gear
- 4moms mamaRoo Baby Swing – I got this during Black Friday, and yes, it’s a splurge compared to other swings. I’ve become a huge fan of the 4moms brand because of their minimal style and innovative technology. This swing has 5 unique motions and speeds (one is called car ride – how cool is that?), it’s Bluetooth enabled to control motion and sound, and has 4 built-in sounds and an MP3 plug-in. They also sell a newborn insert for when baby needs a little extra support.
- 4moms Breeze Playard – This is another 4moms product that’s seriously genius. You know those horror stories of playards being a huge headache to assemble and to pack up? Not with this one. It opens and closes in literally one step: one push to open or to pull close. When I watched the demo video, I was sold. There are less expensive options, but I chose this one because it comes with a removable changing station and bassinet, which is what I plan on having baby girl sleep in within our room until she’s big enough for her crib. This will also be her travel crib, so something that’s easy to assemble and pack up is a MUST. Also, the minimal black color is a thing of beauty… *sigh*
- Ergobaby Omni 360 Baby Carrier – There are sooo many different baby carriers out there, and I’m sure you can’t go wrong with whichever one you choose. We chose this one for Daniel because he sometimes experiences back pain, and this provides back comfort with a padded lumbar support waist belt and extra padded shoulder straps. It also adapts to your growing baby from newborn to toddler.
- Solly Baby Wrap – There are a lot of different wraps out there, and I really don’t have a good reason for why I chose this one other than the colors are beautiful and I know other mamas who love Solly. This wrap will be for me and I plan on baby wearing for the benefits: it promotes bonding, reduces infant crying, helps reduce postpartum depression, calms gas and reflux, and the best of all… hands freeee!
- Snuggle Me Organic – I debated between this or the DockATot because they are both baby loungers. The reason why I went with the Snuggle Me is because of it’s patented design that “hugs” your baby (calming them), and the tight torso fit keeps baby safely on their back while lounging. If you do go with this option, be sure to get a second cover just in case nature calls.
- Fawn Design Original Diaper Bag – This is another thing where there are tons and tons of options out there to choose from. You don’t need to spend much on a diaper bag that gets the job done. For me, I wanted something that wouldn’t make me feel frumpy and lacking style, so I knew I wanted something sleek and fashionable. I love that this doubles as a diaper bag, travel bag, and work bag so I don’t have to worry about switching back and forth. It’s made of faux leather, has interior and exterior pockets, a half-round zipper top for easy access, and the thing that sold me is that it can be worn as a backpack or messenger bag. It doesn’t come with stroller hooks, so if that’s something you’re interested in you’ll want to add those to your registry too.
- HSD Diaper Bag Backpack (for dad) – Daniel didn’t waste any time registering for this diaper backpack after our friend Morgan showed us his. “For the tactical dad”, this backpack comes with a changing pad, insulated pockets, stroller straps, and the main compartment is large enough to fit plenty of stuff for TWO kids. This company is veteran owned and operated and you can use it for hiking, for work, and doing all the manly things… including the manliest of all: changing stinky diapers. 😉
Transportation
- UPPAbaby Vista Stroller – Wow, and I mean WOWWW there are a freakish amount of strollers on the market and it made my head spin – all. the way. around. I gave in to the rants and raves about this brand and model on the internet, but also because it made absolute sense since we plan to have more kids not too far apart in age. The shock-absorbing front and rear suspension felt sooo good when we tested it out at Buy Buy Baby. Talk about SMOOTH. Their “RumbleSeat” can be used forward-facing, parent-facing and reclined. While one child is enjoying a snack, the other can be enjoying a catnap, and you can add their PiggyBack ride along board to fit a third kiddo! This stroller also includes a bassinet with sunshade to switch out for naps on the go. UPPAbaby has a travel system with a compatible car seat, which brings me to my next item…
- UPPAbaby Mesa Car Seat – Car seats are another thing that made my head spin into 360 degrees of oblivion. This model makes installation super easy, has a NHTSA 5-star rating, has side impact protection, and when paired with the UPPAbaby Vista it’s a BREEZE switching from car seat base to stroller (the car seat base is sold separately). Daniel and I had a blast practicing installing the car seat to the base, then to the stroller and back to the base over and over again. It’s literally the simplest process everrr.
Sleep & Swaddles
- Baby Shusher: The Sleep Miracle – I’m going to let the product description speak for itself. “The revolutionary Baby Shusher can help soothe your fussy baby by engaging their natural calming reflex. Utilizing an ancient but doctor tested technique, it makes a rhythmic shushing sound that mimics in utero noises and soothes your little one.” It also has 2 timing options for 15 or 30 minutes, volume control, and an adjustable strap to take it with you on the go. I’ll take 10, please.
- Hatch Baby Rest Sound Machine with Night Light -I’ll be keeping this one in the baby’s room. This sound machine is controlled from your smartphone to adjust hue, brightness, and sound. Another pretty neat feature about it is you can create custom programs to cue toddlers for bedtime and bathtime. Technology, you are so cool.
Honestly, swaddling with a blanket seems like an art form people spend time trying to perfect but babies still manage to burst out of them. This is why I chose sleep swaddles. I couldn’t decide which one to get and I won’t possibly know which one my baby will prefer, so I registered for a few different options:
- HALO SleepSack – It’s a multi-way adjustable swaddle that allows for swaddling arms in, hands-to-face and one or both arms out for baby’s comfort. It also zips from the bottom for quick diaper changes.
- Love to Dream Swaddle UP – This one allows your baby to sleep in a more natural position with their arms up and is designed to promote self-soothing and more restful sleep.
- Summer Infant SwaddleMe Original Swaddle – This design creates a cozy, womb-like feeling for baby and prevents startle reflex that can wake your baby. I mainly liked this one because it comes in a 3-pack for a great price, so you have extra backups just in case.
- Miracle Blanket Swaddle – This swaddle is unique because it has no velcro to scratch or wake baby.
- The Ollie Swaddle – This swaddle is made from moisture-wicking material to reduce the risk of overheating, has easy access diaper changes through an accessible opening at the bottom, and its one-size-fits-all design will last as long as you need to swaddle your baby.
Feeding
- Boppy Nursing Pillow – The OG of nursing pillows. I love that this can be used not only for nursing or bottle feeding, but also for propping baby up, tummy time, and sitting as they grow older. Be sure to get extra covers just in case – they’re machine washable!
- Kiinde Breast Milk Storage Twist Gift Set – The entire concept of breastfeeding is overwhelming to me. This set comes with everything you need and is a genius system that lets you pump directly into their pouches (that attach to any major breast pump), store the bag in the fridge/freezer, warm it up, and then finally connect it to their bottle. I also liked that their bottles have a natural nipple designed to train baby for a *hopefully easy* transition between bottle and breast.
- Spectra Breast Pump – The Spectra S1 is a Hospital grade double/single breast pump with a rechargable battery and it comes with everything you need to pump. It’s quiet and discreet and has a night light for those late-night sessions.
- Bumbo Multi Seat – This seat can be used as a baby floor seat, strapped to an adult chair for feeding in place of a highchair, or as a booster – ’nuff said. I’ll get a highchair for her later to keep at home, but this is great for traveling.
Bath Time
- SKIP*HOP* Moby Smart Sling 3-Stage Tub – This is my tub of choice because it grows with your child from newborn to infant and beyond with each of its 3 stages. And, the whale design is pretty cute too.
Health & Safety
- babySTAT Hospital-Grade Baby Kit – I don’t even know where to begin with what I may or may not need when it comes to putting a baby first-aid kit together on my own. This kit contains 41 full-sized, hospital-grade items carefully selected my Emergency Physicians. The thing that sold me is that it includes doctor-written, step-by-step instructions with red flags that tell you when you need to go to the ER. Yes please, I’ll take all the help I can get!
- Buzz B Electric Nail Trimmer – This might seem like a funny must-have, but there is no way in heck n’ bob that I’m going to use a nail clipper to trim this newborn baby’s nails – at least not until I have to. I like that this has a smooth oscillating motion instead. Call me a sissy!
- Owlet Smart Sock 2 Baby Monitor – Okay okay, I have to admit, this is a crazy expensive splurge. Luckily I also got this new during Black Friday, but I’ve also heard that you can get them refurbished too. I went for it because I’m really nervous since this is our first child, and anything that helps give me peace of mind about the health of my baby is worth the price for me. The sock goes on your baby’s foot and uses clinically-proven technology to track their heart rate and oxygen levels. The Smart Sock sends this information to a base station which is designed to notify you with lights and sounds if something appears to be wrong. Using Owlet’s app, you can view real-time wellness data and receive direct notifications on your phone. Worth it or totally unnecessary? That’s completely up to you.
- Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor – For whatever reason, this was one of the hardest things to choose. There are a crap-ton of options out there and it’s hard to know what is actually important when it comes to the functions of a baby monitor. This one has an interchangeable optical lens so you can switch out lenses for different angles and zoom (I was told to get the Zoom lens too), and it has a gazillion great reviews on Amazon. But what I really like is that you have 100% digital privacy, meaning it doesn’t use the internet and hackers can’t get into your stuff. I read a scary story about that happening to a family and their Nest camera, so I’m definitely okay without the internet component.
Clothing & Accessories Shops
- Quincy Mae – Certified organic cotton clothing available in beautiful color palettes and minimal print patterns. All of the colors and sets are just sooo pretty.
- Loulou LOLLIPOP – I love this company because they offer such fun and quirky products – anything from boba tea or llama teethers, to sushi or taco-print bibs and more!
- Copper Pearl – Premium, trendy, and unique baby accessories and clothing. There are tons of patterns and colors to choose from.
- Baby Bling Bows – If you’re having a girl, good luck trying not to buy every single bow they have in stock. Give me allllll the bows.
- Chewable Charm – The color palette they offer for their pacifier clips and teethers are right up my alley. I’ll take one in every color, please!
- cuddle + kind – Each doll comes in two different sizes and is made with natural, high-quality cotton. They are handcrafted by women artisans in Peru to provide them with a sustainable, fair-trade income. The awesome part? For every doll they sell, they give 10 meals to children in need.
- Ryan & Rose – Created by an awesome boss mama, her “Cutie Pat” 2-in-1 pacifier and teether patent-pending design helps with baby’s different stages of growth and is safe, non-toxic, BPA free, PVC free, phthalates free, and latex free. She also sells tons of cute pacifier clips and more.
- Spearmint LOVE – Your one-stop shop for super cute clothes/products that are also offered at most of the above shops I’ve mentioned.
And finally… here are My Top 10 Must-Haves (in no particular order):
1. Owlet Smart Sock 2 Baby Monitor
2. 4moms Breeze Playard
3. 4moms mamaROO Baby Swing
4. UPPA Baby Vista Stroller
5. Snuggle Me Organic
6. Babyletto “Scoot” Crib
7. Ubbi Diaper Pail
8. Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor
9. Keekaroo Peanut Changer
10. UPPAbaby Mesa Car Seat
