Baby Registry Favorites: Must-Haves, Nice-to-Haves, Smart Swaps, and What to Skip

When you’re counting down the days to welcome your little one home, you’ll likely be browsing every baby registry checklist you can find to ensure that you’re ready. To make preparing for your new bundle of joy a little simpler, we’ve rounded up our list of favorite baby registry items for feeding, bathing, bedtime, and layette. Read on to discover what you’ll definitely want to add to your baby registry checklist, what things make a nice splurge, and what items are overhyped.

Here's a breakdown of our categories:

• Must-Have: These are infant essentials that we believe should be the foundation of your baby registry checklist.
• Nice-to-Have: These items aren’t necessary, but they can make your newborn care tasks simpler or just more beautiful. Consider these upgraded baby registry items if you’ve got the budget to splurge or if generous friends and family are asking for ideas.
• Smart Swaps: If you’re looking to stretch a budget or reduce your overall consumption, consider these baby registry items that have extended life beyond the newborn season.
• “Infant Essentials” to Skip: These baby registry items are gimmicky or unsafe, often expensive, and, unfortunately, mostly marketing. Skip them. 

Infant Essentials for Feeding 

Whether you choose to breastfeed, pump, bottle feed with formula, or a mix, the saying is true: fed is best. Stocking your nursery with smart newborn registry must-haves makes feeding baby a sweet bonding experience, no matter the method.

Breastfeeding Infant Essentials 

A little preparation and a few well-chosen infant essentials can go a long way toward making breastfeeding more comfortable. When you’re trying to perfect baby’s latch and navigate the seemingly endless cycles of cluster feeding, you’ll be so glad you purchased high-quality baby registry items that support breastfeeding. 

Newborn Registry Must-Haves for Breastfeeding

Our newborn registry must-haves for breastfeeding are unique—because most of these items are actually for Mom! Take a break from buying for baby and enjoy the chance to choose some beautiful and practical baby registry items to care for yourself in your postpartum season:

• Nursing bras: The wire-free, gentle lift of a good nursing bra is just the support you need as you begin your breastfeeding journey. Buy at least three so you have one to wash, one to wear, and a spare. 
• Nipple cream: Make sure you have a tin of nipple cream to soothe sore nipples as your postpartum hormones fluctuate and baby perfects their latch. 
• Double electric breast pump: Even if you plan to mostly breastfeed, having a pump on hand is helpful for pumping milk for others to feed. You can even get a breast pump for free through your health insurance. 
• One bottle and a small can of formula: Keep these on hand just in case you have a rough day and need a break.

Nice-to-Have Baby Registry Items for Breastfeeding

You won’t regret adding these upgraded breastfeeding support products to your baby registry checklist. Premium materials add beauty and ease to your feedings:

• Breastfeeding pillow: These circular pillows help position baby more comfortably and support your arms and back during long nursing sessions. 
• Reusable nursing pads: Ultra-soft, moisture-wicking bamboo nursing pads are a luxurious upgrade to crinkly disposable paper nursing pads.
• Manual pump: Catch your letdown and help relieve oversupply with a simple manual pump. 

Smart Registry Swaps for Breastfeeding

Whether or not to cover while breastfeeding is a highly personal choice, but moms who are more comfortable covering should consider swapping a nursing cover for a simple swaddle blanket instead. Hack your baby registry checklist with this clever two-in-one solution. 

Tie two corners of a lightweight baby blanket together and slip it over your head for extra-large, breathable coverage that you’ll also love to wrap around your little one when they need an extra layer. And, of course, these blankets are perfect if you want to try your hand at swaddling your newborn like your labor and delivery nurses.

Breastfeeding “Infant Essentials” to Skip

Avoid milk supply supplements unless you’ve consulted with a lactation consultant or doctor. These herbal remedies can contribute to oversupply (ouch!) if used improperly or when unneeded. 

Infant Essentials for Bottle Feeding 

Bottle feeding comes with a lot of moving parts—and they all have to be washed, sterilized, and stored! Double-check that your baby registry checklist covers all the basics.

Newborn Registry Must-Haves for Bottle Feeding

After you bring your baby home, you may quickly discover that your little one has distinct preferences. Stack your baby registry checklist with a few bottle feeding options, but know that you may have to adjust after your baby’s arrival.

• Bottles: Your baby registry checklist should include 4-oz. bottles for the newborn weeks, and larger 8-oz. bottles for later.
• Bottle nipples in the appropriate flow: Size 1 for the newborn weeks, transitioning to faster flow rates as baby grows. 
• Formula: Ask your pediatrician for a recommendation
• Bottle brush: To reach into each crevice and keep your baby bottles clean.
• Burp cloths: Choose soft, absorbent fabrics that are gentle on delicate skin and can handle a mess.  

Nice-to-Have Baby Registry Items for Bottle Feeding

Preparing, cleaning, and sterilizing bottles can be a time-consuming task. Adding these items to your baby registry checklist can make the chore a bit simpler:

• Large capacity bottle sterilizer: Sterilize and dry your bottles in one easy step.
• Bottle drying rack: A simple bottle drying rack keeps your counters tidy.
• Formula dispenser: Pre-portioned servings make on-the-go feedings easy.
  

Smart Registry Swaps for Bottle Feeding

Glass bottles are an eco-friendly swap that stands the test of time and may appeal to families trying to avoid plastic. Build a more sustainable baby registry checklist when you choose glass bottles with silicone sleeves to protect against breakage. 

Note: Some childcare centers won’t allow glass bottles, so check the rules and regulations before tossing all your plastic bottles.

Bottle Feeding “Infant Essentials” to Skip

Avoid bulk buying a complete bottle system before you know what your baby prefers. Instead, add one or two bottles each of a few different styles to your baby registry checklist to see what your little one likes best. 

Bottle warmers are often listed as newborn registry must-haves, but it’s just as easy to heat a bottle in a mug of warm water. Many babies are even happy to drink their bottles at room temperature.

Baby Registry Items for a Better Bath

Bathing your newborn is a sweet, but sometimes slippery, time of bonding and snuggles. Make bathtime more special—and safer—with a few key baby registry items that people love to gift. 

Newborn Registry Must-Haves for Bathtime

Bathing your newborn is so much easier with infant essentials you can trust to work well and be safe for your baby’s delicate newborn skin. Stock your bathroom with these bathtime favorites:

• Gentle baby wash and shampoo: Choose fragrance-free bath products for sensitive baby skin. 
• Lotion: Pamper baby’s skin with lotion to prevent dryness and irritation.
• Baby brush and cradle cap comb: Cradle cap is common; keep it at bay with gentle exfoliation and combing. 
• Hooded baby towel: The attached hood makes it easier to keep baby’s head covered, avoiding excessive heat loss. 

Nice-to-Have Baby Registry Items for Bathtime

Take your baby’s bath from good to great with luxurious upgrades to your basic infant essentials that pamper both of you:

• Soft washcloths: While you can use regular adult washcloths to bathe your newborn, smaller, softer newborn washcloths are gentler on their skin and easier to maneuver on their tiny bodies.  
• Foldable bath cradle: Save your back and use a foldable bath cradle to easily bathe your newborn in the sink.  

Smart Registry Swaps for Bathtime

We think a cuddly hooded infant bath towel is a true infant essential for regulating newborn temperature after a bath, but many parents lament that their babies outgrow these sweet towels too quickly. Adding a larger toddler hooded bath towel to your baby registry checklist instead means you can keep the same cozy comfort and get more years of use out of what is sure to become your favorite bath accessory. 

Bathing “Infant Essentials” to Skip

Large, bulky baby baths with fancy features are difficult to store and have a very short lifespan. Instead, bathe your baby in the sink or take a bath together for soothing skin-to-skin time. 

Baby Registry Items for Sweet Sleep 

One of the biggest priorities of new parents is helping their newborn sleep better and for longer. From swaddles to sleep bags, the best sleep solutions for your baby are a definite must for any baby registry checklist. 

Newborn Registry Must-Haves for Bedtime

Prioritize safety over everything else when you’re identifying newborn registry must-have sleep solutions for your baby. A safe sleeping space and cozy, American Academy of Pediatrics-approved sleep sacks are a great place to start when choosing infant essentials for bedtime.

• Crib or bassinet: Your baby should sleep on their own separate, firm sleeping surface.
• Crib sheets: Make sure they fit snugly over your chosen mattress.
• Sleep sacks in the appropriate TOG rating: Choose the right warmth for comfort and safety.
• Swaddle or swaddle blanket: A swaddle mimics the womb and minimizes the Moro reflex.

Nice-to-Have Baby Registry Items for Bedtime

Anxiety can creep up at bedtime. Help yourself rest easier with upgraded infant essentials that help give you peace of mind. A baby monitor that works without Wi-Fi protects your family’s privacy and helps you keep an eye on your little one when they’re snoozing in another room. 

Smart Registry Swaps for Bedtime

Many of us sleep better with white noise, but you can achieve that lulling hum without a new gadget. Add a small fan to your baby registry checklist instead of a sound machine to provide white noise as well as beneficial air circulation. 

Bedtime “Infant Essentials” to Skip

The American Academy of Pediatrics is clear: avoid weighted products for sleep, like weighted sleep sacks, toys, or blankets. These items do not meet safe sleep guidelines and should be avoided when developing your newborn registry must-have list.

Layette Infant Essentials

Safe, functional, cozy, and cute are the words that should define your baby registry items for your little one’s layette. Include plenty of clothing basics as well as some fun extras on your baby registry checklist.

Newborn Registry Must-Haves for Your Newborn’s Wardrobe

• Infant pajamas: Footie pajamas and rompers work equally well as infant sleepers. You’ll want between four and six sets.
• Infant gowns: Gowns are an infant essential that simplifies nighttime diaper changes. Plan for four to six. 
• Newborn bodysuits: Stack your baby registry checklist with at least seven baby onesies in both newborn and 0-3 month sizes. 
• Coming home outfit: We love our matching mommy and me hospital sets to pamper both Mom and baby. 
• A warm hat: Aid your baby’s temperature regulation and add fun style with this popular baby registry item. 
• Infant socks: Don’t forget this newborn registry must-have; around five to ten pairs are enough. 

Nice-to-Have Layette Baby Registry Items

Special occasion outfits, like matching Christmas pajamas, a flouncy dress to meet the Easter bunny, or special mommy-and-me matching outfits for family photos, are the perfect extras to add to your baby registry checklist. Think about the holidays and occasions that your baby will experience in their first few months and add darling outfits to your newborn registry must-haves list.

Smart Registry Swaps for Your Baby’s Wardrobe

Avoid itchy polyester and instead invest in quality, skin-soothing fabrics like our rayon made from 97% bamboo. Choosing Kyte Baby’s OEKO-TEX-certified fabrics for your newborn registry must-have items is a simple way to ensure that the clothing that rests closest to your baby’s delicate skin is truly safe and gentle. 

Layette “Infant Essentials” to Skip

It’s tempting to stack your baby registry checklist with layette items in lots of sizes so you know you’ll be prepared for those always-surprising growth spurts. Babies grow at their own pace, and often the most well-intentioned buy-ahead strategy leaves you with lots of layette infant essentials that fit at the wrong season.  

Avoid this pitfall by keeping most of your baby registry items in predictable newborn, 0-3 month, and 3-6 month sizes. If you do include larger sizes on your baby registry checklist, opt for seasonless styles like infant onesies or size-flexible designs like footless pajamas or gowns, where the sizing is a bit more forgiving.

Discover Your Own Newborn Registry Must-Haves

While we have our own list of newborn registry must-haves and opinions about what makes a baby product a true infant essential, ultimately, you’ll know better than anyone what products are right for your family and your baby. Start with our checklist and add and remove products to craft your own personal list of newborn registry must-haves.