Feeling totally overwhelmed by the process of setting up a baby registry? That's understandable — babies need so much stuff, and information technology can exist tough to know where to begin when compiling your list of baby registry essentials for your future parcel of joy.

But setting upward a baby registry can too be fun, and volition ultimately make your life easier in the long run. Why? A baby registry tells your eager friends and family exactly which gifts volition help y'all out the most. A registry besides provides you with a place to keep track of baby gear before your little one arrives. Babe registry must-haves range from big-ticket items (similar the crib and stroller) to everyday essentials (think diapers, wipes and burp cloths).If you lot'd prefer to let the states exercise the enquiry most where to annals and what should continue your baby registry, you can use What to Expect's Babe Registry Builder to become customized recommendations.

How does a baby registry work?

A baby registry is a list of items that parents-to-exist would similar to receive as gifts. This ensures that future moms and dads get everything they need to welcome abode their new addition. Typically, baby registries are organized by shop and tin be set up either as an online infant registry or physical one. Some registries let you to combine lists from multiple retailers.

Many popular babe registries also offer additional perks, such equally free returns, price matching, a welcome box of freebies and a completion discount on select items. Certain online features, like a gift tracker for thank-you lot notes or an app that lets you monitor your registry on the get, may as well exist helpful.

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How to choose the best baby registry

Wondering where you should register? The all-time babe registry for y'all depends on your specific needs, such as your budget, the product brands you're considering and whether you'd prefer to register online or in-store. (You can likewise take a quick quiz and permit What to Wait's Baby Registry Builder tell you the best baby registries for you.)

Here'south a list of the about popular baby registries out there, which you can start signing up for right now. Bank check out What to Look's list of the best baby registries for more detailed information nearly each.

  • Amazon Baby Registry: Amazon is known for having simply about everything, which ways the heaven's (practically) the limit for your registry. There are likewise plenty of perks, like a 15 percentage completion discount and a free welcome box with samples for Prime number members in one case the first registry purchase is made. You tin can also use a universal registry push to add items from other retailers if y'all can't find it on Amazon.
  • Babylist Baby Registry: Babylist gives you the option to add products directly from the company, along with products from other retailers. So, yous tin add in items from bigger retailers along with specialty products from smaller online stores. You also get a xv percent discount on all items that weren't purchased from your registry and a welcome box of freebies.
  • Bed Bath & Beyond Baby Registry: Bed Bath & Beyond offers upwards an piece of cake-to-admission checklist while you shop, dramatically lowering the odds you'll miss something of import. You'll get a 15 percent completion disbelieve, forth with a bag of freebies and samples. And, of course, it's helpful to have a brick and mortar store you tin can visit to check out items in person.
  • Purchase Buy Infant Registry: Purchase Buy Baby's registry gives y'all access to a consultant who can aid you choose products and answer whatsoever questions yous have as yous shop. Information technology too allows for returns up to a twelvemonth and will give y'all a 15 percentage completion discount. Buy Purchase Babe volition souvenir you with a goodie bag of free samples, too.
  • Costco Babe Registry: Costco's infant registry is hosted past MyRegistry.com, so yous can add together in items from any online shop in addition to great Costco products. And, because this is Costco, you tin can have a registry that's large on bulk items, like diapers, a slew of onesies and infant food.
  • Crate & Butt Baby Registry: Crate & Barrel is known for their quality gear, and the company's registry makes information technology easy to put all of that on your list. A "thank you manager" helps you keep track of who gave you what, while an easy-to-apply app lets yous check in on all the purchases. A grouping gifting pick lets family unit and friends get in together on larger items. You'll also go a 15 percent completion discount.
  • IKEA Baby Registry: IKEA is known for its modern, lower-cost products — and you can add them to your registry through a MyRegistry.com listing. Cruise the company's Registry Inspiration for ideas before adding them to your list, and take the make up on its free nursery design communication. There's also a generous return policy of up to a year, just in case you don't love something yous received.
  • Pottery Barn Kids Babe Registry: Pottery Barn Kids has a reputation for quality, high-finish furniture and baby gear to assist you create your dream nursery. You can return or exchange items within up to 90 days, and the brand offers an impressive completion disbelieve of 20 percent. You tin also add items from the company's family of brands, like West Elm (more on that below!) and Williams Sonoma.
  • Target Babe Registry: Target'due south baby registry is incredibly simple to employ. After you lot've logged into your business relationship, an "Add to Registry" push button appears on every production, letting y'all quickly add together in items every bit you store. You tin can return or exchange items for upwards to a yr, and you'll besides enjoy a fifteen percent off coupon for unpurchased items. Yous're besides eligible to receive a free welcome kit of products and coupons after you annals.
  • Walmart Baby Registry: Walmart's already depression prices are available on infant gear, too, assuasive you and your loved ones to save large as they shop all the brand has to offer. Walmart offers up a one-year render policy and the company has a price-lucifer guarantee to ensure you're truly getting the lowest prices possible. You lot'll likewise become a free welcome box when y'all register.
  • W Elm Infant Registry: West Elm's babe registry is through a registry collective called The 1, which gives y'all the option of registering for high quality infant gear from West Elm, Pottery Barn and Williams Sonoma all at in one case. Information technology also comes with a helpful gift tracker, special bonus gifts, private appointments for registry communication and more than.

When should you lot make a baby registry?

You should experience free to create your registry as early as y'all'd similar. In fact, many online infant registries now permit yous to set up yours to "private" way — this feature lets you discreetly starting time adding items in those get-go few months of pregnancy, before you've announced your news to friends and family. And why limit yourself to simply one baby registry? Nosotros recommend signing up for several, so you can take reward of all the freebie samples that come up in the welcome boxes provided by your become-to retailers.

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If you're having a baby shower, it'due south a good idea to complete your baby registries earlier invitations are sent out so guests have plenty of time to choose a gift. You lot can go along adding items to your registries leading up to the shower.

What to put on a baby registry

This fail-safe baby registry checklist will help keep y'all focused every bit you gear up. It includes every product you lot'll really use when your fiddling ane comes domicile — and none of the extras you'll never need. Desire more personalized recommendations for what to put on your registry? Check out What to Expect'due south Baby Registry Builder.

Bathing

  • Baby tub
  • Soft hooded towels
  • Washcloths
  • Baby-safe body wash and shampoo
  • Baby-rubber body lotion
  • Simple bath toys
  • Faucet encompass

Bedding

To follow rubber slumber practices, stick to but a fitted sheet in babe'southward crib without any crib bumpers, pillows, stuffed animals or blankets.

  • Crib mattress
  • Waterproof mattress protector
  • ii or more fitted sheets

Clothing

Register for baby clothes in a variety of sizes; most babies abound out of newborn-size clothing speedily, and others fit in size 0-3 right away. You lot'll also want to consider the flavor and how sometime babe volition exist in various types of weather.

  • 10 leggings or elastic-waist trousers
  • 10 pairs of footed pajamas
  • ten pairs of socks
  • x brusk-sleeve onesies
  • x long-sleeve onesies
  • 8 pairs of non-footed pajamas
  • 5 swaddling blankets
  • 5 burp cloths
  • 5 bibs
  • 3 light sweaters or zip-upwardly hoodies
  • 3 sleep sacks
  • 2 dominicus hats
  • 1-2 bathing suits (for a summertime baby)
  • one snowsuit with mittens and booties (for a winter baby)
  • 1 soft hat
  • 1 outfit to come home from the hospital in
  • ane pair of soft-soled baby shoes (these aren't essential, only y'all might want them for photos)
  • Babe-safe laundry detergent

Diapering

  • Diaper pail
  • Diapers, either cloth or disposable
  • Infant wipes
  • Diaper foam
  • Cotton assurance and swabs

Feeding

If yous are not breastfeeding, yous'll simply need the items with a star side by side to them.

  • Breast pump
  • Extra pump parts
  • Chest milk freezer bags
  • Nursing pillow
  • Nursing bras
  • Nipple cream
  • Nursing cover
  • Babe bottles and nipples*
  • Several canteen brushes*
  • Bottle drying rack*
  • Loftier chair*

Medical must-haves

  • Infant-safe nail trimmer
  • Thermometer
  • Rubbing booze pads
  • Saline nasal drops
  • Suction bulb

Nursery furniture and gear

  • Crib
  • Bassinet
  • Rocking chair or glider
  • Irresolute table
  • Light dimmer or night lite
  • White noise automobile
  • Baby monitor
  • Baby books
  • Baskets or bins for storage

Playtime

  • Swing, seat or bouncer
  • Activity mat
  • Soft baby book
  • Soft or wooden stacking blocks
  • Teething toy
  • Rattles or maracas
  • Organic cotton fiber stuffed animals
  • "Lovey" blanket

Travel items

  • Babe car seat
  • Stroller
  • Stroller bunting for cold or rainy weather
  • Baby carrier
  • Diaper handbag
  • Portable irresolute pad
  • Travel crib or playard

What NOT to add to your infant registry

  • Baby wipe warmer. Of course, if this is something you really want, feel free to add together information technology to your registry (it'south certainly not going to hurt baby!). But a wipe warmer is definitely not a necessity, and many parents report never using the one they registered for.
  • Crib bumpers. Your infant'southward crib or bassinet should take just a fitted sheet in it — that means no crib bumpers, pillows, blankets or blimp animals.
  • Dressy clothes. Baby wearing apparel demand to withstand daily spit-up and diaper blowouts (in other words, endless hot rinse cycles). Unless yous have an important event in baby'southward start few months, you can probably stick to cute basics.
  • Drop-down cribs. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) ended manufacturing of drop-down cribs in 2011, but you still might see them if you're gifted a hand-me-down crib or buy one secondhand. Make sure the crib y'all cull abides by these safety standards.
  • Tons of toys. Although the playtime items listed in a higher place are nice to have, don't get overboard. Your petty one has a lifetime to accumulate toys, afterward all. Plus, no matter what'due south in forepart of her, your grin face is still going to be the nearly entertaining thing in the room.

What to put on a second baby registry

Expecting baby number 2 (or three, or four)? You lot probably have some items left over from your first kid, only not everything can or should exist reused. Here'south a breakdown of items that you probably don't need to register for your second time, along with which ones you lot may demand new versions of.

What you probably don't need to register for over again

In that location's often no demand to supersede these items if you still have them from your outset child:

  • Baby tub: Many of these are fabricated with easy-to-clean plastic or material pieces that can exist tossed in the launder. If yours is still in good condition, information technology can be reused.
  • Bouncy seat: Provided your seat hasn't been recalled and still meets rubber standards (the latest changes took effect in March 2018), information technology'south okay to reuse this.
  • Changing table: Just ensure that yours is nevertheless in good working condition. Y'all may need to tighten some screws, just should exist otherwise fine to reuse it. (The about contempo prophylactic standards were canonical in July 2018.)
  • Lots of baby clothes: If your babies line up seasonally, it'south totally fine to reuse your firstborn's clothes. Of course, y'all'll probably demand to add some new clothes to your listing, like if your babies were built-in during different seasons or if some items have lots of wear and tear, simply feel free to reuse whatever you tin. Babies grow so quickly, and so information technology's a win when you lot can repurpose some of those tiny, adorable outfits!
  • High chair: High chairs are made to last and many are easily cleaned. Just double-check to brand sure yours notwithstanding meets the latest safety standards (the CPSC approved new standards in June 2018) and then requite information technology a good scrub before reusing it for your new baby.
  • Baby toys: Many of these are easy to disinfect, either with soap and water or in the washing automobile. But clean yours earlier passing them on.

What you lot may need to register for again

Every family is dissimilar, and then your 2d babe registry volition likely await a little different from others' depending on when you welcomed your first born. Here are a few infant registry ideas you might need for child number two:

  • Infant machine seat: In some cases, you might need a new auto seat — such equally if information technology was involved in a crash, has expired (although this generally doesn't happen for about six to x years) or, of course, if your first born is still using the same auto seat. (The National Highway Traffic Safety Assistants has a helpful used car seat condom checklist for more things to consider if you're not sure, and always ask your pediatrician if you take questions.)
  • Crib: As mentioned above, federal regulations changed in 2011 to prohibit manufacturers from producing drop-side cribs — so if your crib is on the older side (the CPSC says more x years old), information technology's a good idea to buy new. Ditto if your crib isn't assembled correctly or might be missing parts. And of grade, if your start kid is currently using her crib or it has since been converted into a toddler bed, you'll demand some other safety slumber space for baby.
  • Crib mattress: You'll want a firm mattress that fits snugly into your baby's new crib. You should not be able to fit more than two fingers in any gap on whatever side. It's also a good idea to get a new mattress for hygienic purposes with a new baby.
  • Double stroller: If your children are less than 4 years apart, you'll probably want the ability to transport them from place to place with ease. (Lots of parents in the What to Look community say they snagged a double stroller for their second babies.) What's more, all strollers made later September 2015 are subject to new federal safety requirements, so if you bought yours before then, shop for a newer model.
  • Soft infant carrier: Betwixt drool, spit-up and general use, these tin can take a solid beating from child to child. If you're unsure whether or non your carrier would still provide enough support for baby number ii, ask your pediatrician or add a new carrier to your registry to exist safe. (Yous'll probably rely on it a lot more now that y'all're a parent of multiple kiddos!)
  • Toiletries: Unless your other child is however young, you're probably low on things like scent-complimentary babe wash, lotion and diaper rash cream.

What you definitely need to register for again

  • Canteen nipples: It'south nice to have a fresh ready for your new kid, equally canteen nipples go worn down speedily. Experts and manufacturers generally recommend they be replaced well-nigh every ii months anyway, and then it's cardinal to become new ones for your newborn. (You might want to get some new bottles, as well — while glass bottles by and large last longer, plastic bottles tend to get scratched or cloudy later some use.) them.
  • Newborn diapers: Unless y'all have tons of diapers leftover from your first baby, it's e'er a solid bet adding these baby registry essentials to your list. Don't forget the wipes, either!
  • Annihilation else you're missing: Other assorted items What to Expect customs said they bought for baby number two include pacifiers, another baby monitor, bibs and more clothes.

Start your online baby registry

Ready to start creating your own registry? Hither's where y'all tin sign up for an online infant registry at some of the about popular retailers.

  • Amazon baby registry
  • Babylist baby registry
  • Bed Bath & Across baby registry
  • Buy Purchase Baby baby registry
  • Crate & Barrel baby registry
  • IKEA baby registry
  • Pottery Barn Kids baby registry
  • Target babe registry
  • Walmart baby registry