No one is as busy as a soon-to-be parent preparing for a baby’s arrival. There’s a lot to do before you bring your little one earthside, and going through the list of everything you’ll need to buy can feel overwhelming. Babies, it turns out, need quite a few things, but creating a registry checklist looks different for every family. For those who live in cold climates, a wipe warmer can be a necessity and the difference between a happy baby and a miserable one. Those who live in places that are relatively warm year-round will write it off as a registry regret. So, when deciding between the items you can’t live without and the ones you don’t actually need, it all varies from family to family. It’s inevitable that you’ll end up with items that you never use, but it’s also inevitable that you’ll be without items you really wish you’d had. To avoid the latter, we’ve put together a list of all the unexpected items you might not have known you need:
When you deliver your baby, you’ll be given a scratchy, uncomfortable hospital gown that opens in the front for easy nursing. But, here’s the thing: you don’t actually have to wear it! Giving birth is no walk in the park, and you should be wearing something that’s soft and comforting. There’s something about a good lounge robe that makes putting it on feel like a form of self-care, and this one fits the bill perfectly. This robe carries you through pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum with dignity and ease.
2. All Free & Clear Laundry Detergent
This one might seem like an obvious choice, but the catch is that you absolutely do not have to use laundry detergent that’s marketed as baby detergent. While those baby detergents have that irresistible baby smell we all love, All Free & Clear is the better choice for your little one’s sensitive skin. It’s hypoallergenic and completely free of fragrances and dyes, so there’s less risk of your baby having a reaction.
We’re all familiar with those handy dandy (and, boy, are they handy!) silicone bibs that catch food. But what about a lightweight, super soft one for your baby that not only makes the cutest accessory, but also manages to efficiently absorb drool and spit up? Our bibs are made from soft, stretchy bamboo rayon, an ultra-absorbent fabric with antibacterial properties.
Babies dirty their diapers around the clock like it’s their job, and that means you’ll spend many nights changing a diaper in the late hours of the night. The problem? Trying to perform the quickest and quietest diaper change of your life without disturbing your baby is a little difficult when you can’t see a thing. This light up diaper caddy features a built-in, touch-sensitive light so you have perfect visibility of every single item you’ll need.
If your baby’s due date is during a colder season or your house is always at a cool temperature, this bundler makes the perfect sleepwear piece. Buttery soft with long sleeves, it’s cleverly constructed with a bundle that snaps open and flips back for easy access during diaper changes. When bundled back up, it’s a closed-end sleep gown that keeps your baby’s tiny toes perfectly warm.
One of the things that makes baby clothes so cute is how tiny they are. Unfortunately, those teeny tiny, adorable little socks and shirts can easily get lost in their drawers, making a giant mess of things. These drawer dividers cleverly help keep your baby’s dresser organized, so that you can find exactly what you need without blindly searching through a bundle of tiny clothes.
6. Puppy Pads
Battling your baby’s diaper rash may be an inevitable part of parenthood, but the best way to prevent it is to give your little one as much diaper-free time as possible. The fresh air is great for their skin, but the idea of leaving your very-much-not-potty-trained baby out of their diaper might seem….daunting. The solution? Puppy pads! Laying one on the floor under your little one is an effective way to give them the diaper-free time they need without all the mess.
Bottle parts, pacifiers, and pump parts consist of a million small pieces that are a huge hassle to wash. Here’s a major life hack: use the dishwasher. This clever dishwasher basket fits all those small pieces, so you don’t have to find a way to balance them or wash them by hand.
Babywearing is a win-win for any parent (seriously, there are so many benefits, we wrote a whole blog post about them). The biggest benefit is that it actually allows you to freely move about and get things done, while also keeping your baby close and calm. This ring sling is made from 100% flax linen, which gets softer with every wash for a comfortable fit.
There are tons of nasal aspirators in the market, but this one is the real winner. It might be tempting to reach for the fancy, electric ones that look sleek and much cooler than their actual function—sucking boogers out of your baby’s nose. This one is much less so, but has the gross benefit of relying on the suction of your own mouth to do the job. Sure, it’s not pretty, but it’s highly effective, and isn’t that all that matters in the end?
A soft, wearable blanket that not only keeps your baby warm at night, but also comforts them, and helps them sleep better? Sign us up! This sleep bag is a safe alternative to a loose blanket, which poses a huge risk to children under 12 months of age. It keeps your baby at the perfect temperature all night long, acts as a solid sleep cue, helps keep those little limbs from getting stuck between the crib slats, and so much more. To find out everything you need to know about using a sleep bag, read our blog post here.
Made from soft, stretchy bamboo, this car seat cover is highly breathable and also functions as a nursing cover and a shopping cart cover. No more sprinting from your car to your house on cold, windy days! This car seat cover protects your little one from light rain and biting winds, so you can stress just a little less.
12. Kyte BABY Cradle Cap Brush
By the time your baby is 3 months old, you will most likely have spotted a bit of cradle cap on their head at least once. Cradle cap is a common, harmless skin condition that causes yellow, scaly patches on your baby’s scalp. This special brush features bristles from goat hair, which effectively loosen those stubborn flakes, while still being exceedingly gentle on your baby’s head.
13. Kyte BABY Women’s Underwear
Okay, so maybe this isn’t exactly a baby item, but it’s still a necessity. After having a baby, the last thing you’ll want is anything tight against your abdomen—and even less so if you’ve had a C-section. Made from soft bamboo rayon, this underwear is soothing on sensitive skin, with a stretchy waistband that doesn’t feel restrictive.
14. Kyte BABY Women’s Leggings
The softest leggings you’ll ever own. Whoever said leggings couldn’t be pants either never heard of loungewear or never had a baby. The high waist and super stretchy waistband on these buttery leggings make them a dream to wear postpartum.
15. Kyte BABY Women’s Relaxed Fit V-Neck
If you plan to nurse your baby, you’ll want to have plenty of nursing-friendly clothes. Here’s a tip: anything that easily pulls down counts as being nursing-friendly. Because this tee is made from stretchy bamboo rayon and features an open V-neck, it makes an ideal nursing shirt. It’s soft, comfortable, stylish, and functional—perfect for everyday wear.
