Published May 24, 2025

Baby Registry Essentials: Must-Have Items for New Parents

Creating a baby registry can feel like peering into your future parenting experience through the holes of a shopping cart. It’s fun — and completely overwhelming. Between fielding advice from well-meaning relatives, wandering endless aisles of baby gear and trying to pin down a practical baby registry checklist, it’s hard to know which items will become hardworking essentials and which will gather dust.

The reality is, no checklist can predict what you’ll come to rely on as a family. Each baby is different, and you won’t really know what your tried-and-true essentials are until you’ve hit your stride in new parenthood.

But a little registry prep goes a long way to helping you feel prepared and confident stepping into the newborn unknown. We’ve gathered product recommendations from Bobbie moms to help you assemble a functional, flexible registry of high-quality products for sleep, feeding, diaper duty, travel and more.

How a Baby Registry Eases Your Parenthood Journey

A baby registry is a curated wish list that prevents gifting guesswork and lets your friends and family purchase items you genuinely need and want. It truly takes a village to raise a baby — and a well-built registry gives that village clear, practical ideas for how to pitch in right from the start.

You can create and host a baby registry via sites like Babylist or retailers like Amazon and Target. An online registry builder typically comes with built-in checklists to help you stay organized and avoid forgetting a necessary baby item like a high chair or crib mattress. Many registry sites also allow group gifting, allowing folks to chip in on big-ticket items like a car seat and stroller combo.

If you love how organized building a registry makes you feel, check out the best apps for new and expecting moms for additional tools and resources that help make life with a newborn smoother.

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Must-Have Baby Registry Items: Top Picks From Bobbie Moms

Below are some tried-and-true baby registry essentials the Bobbie community reaches for time and again. Each baby registry item earned its spot here because it solves a real-life problem, stands up to daily use and delivers long-term value.

Sleep and Nursery

These family-favorites can help create a soothing sleep haven that adapts as your little one grows:

Nanit Pro Baby Monitor: A high-definition monitor that tracks breathing motion and sleep analytics, so you can peek at your little one without tiptoeing into the nursery.

Hatch Rest Sound Machine: Combines white-noise, night-light and wake-up features in one sleek device that comes in handy from newborn naps to preschool bedtimes.

You may want to start with a bedside bassinet for the first several months. These call for smaller, bassinet-sized fitted sheets. Then, it’s typical to transition to a full-size crib as your little one grows bigger and starts rolling. Pair the crib with a firm, breathable mattress — ideally with a waterproof mattress cover for longevity — and keep at least two crib-sized fitted sheets on hand.

Finish the bedtime category with wearable layers like footed pajamas and a soft, supple swaddle blanket or sleep sack that provides just enough warmth for the season.

Feeding

Whether you breastfeed, bottle-feed, or combo-feed, having the right gear keeps mealtimes smooth. Start with these and add extras as you discover your family’s preferences:

Bobbie Organic Whole Milk Infant Formula: Clean, European-style nutrition that’s easy for your little one to digest — and easy to keep in stock with a subscription delivery.

Dr. Brown’s Formula Mixing Pitcher: Whisks multiple bottles at once, eliminating lumps, bubbles and tiresome shaking in the middle of the night.

Haakaa Silicone Manual Breast Pump: No cords, no noise — just a simple, hands-free suction cup designed to collect excess breastmilk so not a drop goes to waste.

Parents who bottle-feed also love insulated bottle carriers for outings, microwave steam-sterilizer bags for fast sanitizing. Mothers who plan to breastfeed often register for a nursing pillow. And all families can benefit from items to gear up for the solid food stage, too: soft muslin bibs or wipe-clean silicone bibs, plus little bowls and tiny silicone utensils.

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Diapering

A well-planned diaper change setup helps keep you sane in the wee hours and on the go. At home, plan for all the action to happen around a sturdy changing table or a dresser-top station with a washable or wipeable pad. Make sure you have a stash of diapers and fragrance-free wipes within arm’s reach and reliable diaper rash ointment. These picks will become your new best friends:

Ubbi Steel Diaper Pail: With a sleek-looking, sturdy steel construction, it’s shockingly good at locking in odors. Plus, this pail fits regular-sized trash bags for fuss-free diaper disposal.

Wipe-Clean Silicone Changing Pad: With one hand, you can easily unfold, clean and repack this extra layer of cushioning at public changing tables. A diaper bag must-have for its convenience and cleanliness.

Consider asking for diapers in a variety of brands and sizes to get a feel for what works best. A diaper raffle is a fun way to stock up!

Personal Care

Frequent outfit changes are inevitable, so don’t hesitate to ask for several packs of onesies and seasonally appropriate layers in multiple sizes — newborn, 0-3 months and 3-6 months — to keep up with your baby’s growth spurts.

You’ll want a small drawer or basket filled with soft washcloths, gentle baby wash, nail clippers or an emery board, a baby thermometer and saline drops to loosen congestion. Don’t forget to add these essentials:

FridaBaby NoseFrida Nasal Aspirator: A highly effective, non-gross (we promise!) way to clear that button nose when it gets stuffy — an important job considering babies don’t breathe through their mouths for the first few months.

Muslin Burp Cloths: Like a parent’s multitool, a soft cotton burp cloth can catch every spit-up and dribble while doubling as a quick-dry washcloth, changing mat or sun shade in a pinch.

On-the-Go Gear

From a snug car seat and backseat mirror to a convenient stroller and carrier, durable baby gear makes every outing safer and smoother. A few favorites to consider:

Doona Infant Car Seat and Stroller: Pops from secure car seat to on-the-go stroller in seconds, making it perfect for taxis, travel and tight storage at home.

BabyBjörn Carrier: Lightweight baby carrier that keeps your hands free from infancy through toddlerhood. Opt for one with a wide seat base and waist straps for the best ergonomic support for you and your little one.

Plus, pick out a diaper bag or backpack that will be comfortable and convenient for the long haul: It should accommodate diapers, bottles and extra onesies early on, then snacks, toys and books into toddlerhood.

Additional Baby Registry Tips for Expecting Parents

It’s fun to start browsing right away, wait to make your registry public in the second trimester or about when your shower invites go out. By that time, you’ll have done your research and ruled out unnecessary adds.

Organize your list with clear categories like sleep, feeding, clothes, diapering, play and so on. This lets your friends skim and shop quickly, and lets you use the registry dashboard to rearrange priorities and mark off each baby product from your checklist.

If you like shopping sustainably, mix in eco-friendly picks such as organic cotton crib sheets, cloth diapers or reusable silicone storage bags. And if you’re more of a minimalist, opt for versatile staples offering longevity, like a dresser that doubles as a changing station, a convertible crib or neutral storage baskets that will prove useful and beautiful even as your kiddo grows up.

Why Bobbie Organic Whole Milk Formula Belongs on Your Baby Registry

No matter how you plan to feed your little one, adding formula to your list provides peace of mind for combo feeding, growth spurts, travel or even bottle feeding from day one. Bobbie Organic Infant Formula checks every box, with its European-style recipe and organic ingredients. No corn syrup, palm oil, or maltodextrin—just high-quality lactose like what you’d find in breast milk.

Let friends cover a few cans or an introductory subscription so you’re stocked up from the start.

5 Ways to Share Your Baby Registry With Friends and Family

Once your registry is ready to go, you’ll want to give your “village” an easy, tactful way to access and shop from it, without feeling like you’re blasting out a wish list.

First, be sure to update your registry settings so that anyone with the link can view it. Consider making it searchable under your full name(s), too. That will ensure friends who Google you will find the right happy family’s list. You can always switch your registry to private later.

When it comes time to share, provide direct links, gentle reminders and a mix of online and offline options. Here are four common ways to get your registry out into the world:

Baby shower invitations: Whether you send your invites digitally or via snail mail, include the registry URL or a QR code within the invite. Consider adding a short note to keep the tone gracious, like this: “Having you celebrate with us is the greatest gift of all. Here’s our registry for optional inspiration.”

Group email or text: Send a friendly update as your due date approaches: “Several folks asked — here’s our registry if you’d like to browse.” Paste in a direct link and thank everyone in advance for their support.

Social media link: Post and pin the registry link in a private Facebook event or include the registry link in your Instagram bio.

Holiday cards: If you’re expecting around the holidays, announcing your pregnancy and including a tiny footer with your registry info lets extended family members know there’s a reason to celebrate and a way to contribute.

Registry announcement buddy: Ask a trusted friend, coworker, family member or shower host to discreetly share the details with those who want to participate.

Once gifts start materializing — whether in packages on your doorstep or gift bags at a shower — jot down the details of “who” and “what.” This way, you can follow up with a thoughtful thank-you text or handwritten note to show your appreciation.

Baby Registry FAQs

Building out a baby registry can feel confusing at first. But we’ve got you covered with no-nonsense answers to some of the biggest questions you might have:

How many items should I have on my baby registry?
Typical baby registries can range anywhere from 50 to 120 items. If you’re having one small shower, aim for a lower item count, but if you’re prepping for several showers with lots of guests, add more. Not everything will get purchased, and that’s okay.

How much formula should I register for?
A two-week supply — about 4 cans — will be enough to cover early cluster feeds without leaving you over-stocked in case your baby has sensitivities and needs a different option.

What shouldn’t I put on my baby registry?
Skip plush blankets (you’ll likely receive plenty), wipe warmers (they’ll only collect dust) and newborn shoes (darling but impractical).

Should I create multiple baby registries?
One universal list is easier to manage, but setting up one online option and one in-store option can give people shopping flexibility.

How do I update my baby registry?
You can edit an online registry at any time. Items that are directly removed, ordered or marked as out of stock will update automatically. After your shower, mark items as “already purchased” to avoid receiving duplicates.

Can I return items purchased from my registry?
Yes — most retailers offer extended return windows for registry items, such as 90 days or even longer after your due date.

Should I register for items I can’t afford myself?
Go for it! Big-ticket items like high chairs, strollers and bassinets make great group-gift opportunities.

Wrapping Up Your Baby Registry

Creating a thoughtful baby registry isn’t about stockpiling everything you’ll ever need as a new parent. When in doubt, hone in on the true baby essentials you’ll need from birth: safe sleep setups, reliable feeding options (hello, Bobbie!), sanitary diaper solutions, durable travel systems and personal care basics.

Ready to check “infant formula” off your list? Shop Bobbie today.

The content on this site is for informational purposes only and not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Discuss any health or feeding concerns with your infant’s pediatrician. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay it based on the content on this page.