Most registry lists run to 100 items or more. You don't need most of them, and many of the ones you do need, you won't need until your baby is weeks or months old. This list keeps only what most families use, tells you how many to ask for, and marks when you'll need each one with the same four labels as our Due-Date Plan:
- Buy before birth needed in the first days home
- Buy at 6 weeks wait until you know your baby's size and habits
- Wait until 4 months not needed for a while
- Skip most families never miss it
Three rules for a short registry
- Ask for the right number. Quantities below are planning numbers with the reasoning shown. Adjust them for your laundry and space.
- Ask for later sizes as gift cards. Clothes and diapers in bigger sizes are easier to buy once you know how your baby grows.
- Check anything secondhand. Borrowing saves money, but check cribs, sleepers and car seats against CPSC recalls first.
The checklist
Sleep
4 itemsCrib, bassinet or play yard1
Firm, flat, and meeting CPSC standards. The AAP advises room-sharing, not bed-sharing, for at least 6 months.
Fitted sheets2 to 3
One on, one in the wash, one spare. A fitted sheet is the only bedding.
Swaddles or sleep sacks2 to 3
Stop swaddling at the first signs of rolling.
Arms-free sleep sacks2
For after swaddling, which can end as early as 2 months.
Getting around
2 itemsInfant car seat1, rear-facing
Needed to drive home from the hospital. Have the installation checked by a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician. Avoid a used seat unless you know its history.
Stroller1
If you want to click the car seat into it, check that the two are compatible before you add both.
Diapering
5 itemsNewborn diapersAbout 120 to start
About half of what an average baby uses in newborn size. Some babies skip the size entirely.
Size 1 diapersA box at a time
Wait until you know which brand fits.
WipesA few packs
Wipes have no sizes, so these are safe to stock up on once your baby’s skin is happy with them.
Changing pad1
On a dresser top or the floor. A separate changing table is optional.
Diaper cream1 tube
Small to start. Ask your pediatrician if a rash worries you.
Feeding
4 itemsBreast pump1
Not a registry item for most families: most US health plans must cover one.
Bottles, if you plan to use them2 to 4 to start
Babies can be picky about nipples. Try one kind before buying a full set.
Burp cloths6 to 8
A few a day, assuming laundry every 2 to 3 days.
High chair1
Ready ahead of solid foods, which the AAP recommends starting at about 6 months.
Clothes
5 itemsBodysuits, 0–3 months5 to 7
Assumes laundry every 2 to 3 days. Gifts often arrive in this size, so add only a few.
Sleepers, 0–3 months5 to 7
Zips are quicker than snaps at 3 a.m.
Socks4 to 6 pairs
They will go missing. That is normal.
Hats1 to 2
A soft knit hat for cool weather; a sun hat if you are due in summer.
Clothes in 3–6 months5 to 7 of each
Wait and see how fast your baby grows. Gift cards work well here.
Bath and care
5 itemsSoft washcloths4 to 6
Any soft cloth works; baby ones are just smaller.
Hooded towels2
Optional. A regular soft towel does the same job.
Mild baby wash1
One bottle lasts a long time.
Nail clippers or a file1
Baby nails grow fast and scratch.
Digital thermometer1
The AAP says a digital thermometer is best and not to use a mercury one.
Play
2 itemsPlay mat1
A clean blanket on the floor works too. Tummy time is always supervised and awake.
A few board books3 to 5
Family love to give these. Add a couple and let the rest come.
What to leave off
Crib bumpers, pillows and inclined sleepers
Not safe for sleep. The AAP says keep the sleep space bare, and any surface inclined more than 10 degrees is unsafe.
Wipe warmer
Most families never miss it.
A special diaper pail
A lidded trash can you empty often does the job.
Newborn shoes
They slip off, and your baby won’t walk for months.
A big stock of newborn diapers
Start with about 120 and buy more once you know the size and brand.
Keep it handy
Want the dates, not just the list? Enter your due date in the Due-Date Plan and every item gets its own week, or see what to buy now and what can wait. For diapers, the diaper calculator works out your number by size.
This list is for planning and shopping. For anything about your baby's health, ask your pediatrician.