Your dates
- Buy before birthby
- Buy at 6 weeksfrom
- Wait until 4 monthsfrom
Dates after birth assume your baby arrives on the due date. Your date stays on your device.
Why waiting saves money
- Sizes go by weight, not age. A baby born at 9 lb can skip newborn diapers and clothes entirely. You can't know that until they arrive.
- Babies have opinions. A diaper brand may leak on your baby, or a bottle nipple may be refused. Buying one pack first, then more, avoids a cupboard of the wrong thing.
- Gifts arrive. Friends and family often give newborn clothes. Waiting a few weeks shows what you still need.
Buy before your baby arrives
Buy before birthBy week 36
The things you need in the first days home. We aim for week 36, so they are ready if your baby comes early.
Crib, bassinet or play yard1
Firm, flat, and meeting CPSC standards. The AAP advises room-sharing, not bed-sharing, for at least 6 months.
AAP safe sleep guideFitted sheets2 to 3
One on, one in the wash, one spare. A fitted sheet is the only bedding.
AAP safe sleep guideSwaddles or sleep sacks2 to 3
Stop swaddling at the first signs of rolling.
AAP on swaddlingInfant 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.
AAP car seat guideStroller1
If you want to click the car seat into it, check that the two are compatible before you add both.
Newborn diapersAbout 120 to start
About half of what an average baby uses in newborn size. Some babies skip the size entirely.
Work out your numberWipesA 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.
Breast pump1
Not a registry item for most families: most US health plans must cover one.
Get yours through insuranceBottles, if you plan to use them2 to 4 to start
Babies can be picky about nipples. Try one kind before buying a full set.
Work out your numberBurp cloths6 to 8
A few a day, assuming laundry every 2 to 3 days.
Bodysuits, 0–3 months5 to 7
Assumes laundry every 2 to 3 days. Gifts often arrive in this size, so add only a few.
Work out yours by seasonSleepers, 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.
Soft 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.
AAP on thermometers
Wait until about 6 weeks
Buy at 6 weeksFrom 6 weeks old
By now you know your baby’s size, which diapers fit, and how fast they are growing. Buy these once, in the right size.
Arms-free sleep sacks2
For after swaddling, which can end as early as 2 months.
AAP on swaddlingSize 1 diapersA box at a time
Wait until you know which brand fits.
Work out your numberClothes in 3–6 months5 to 7 of each
Wait and see how fast your baby grows. Gift cards work well here.
Play mat1
A clean blanket on the floor works too. Tummy time is always supervised and awake.
AAP on tummy timeA few board books3 to 5
Family love to give these. Add a couple and let the rest come.
Wait until about 4 months
Wait until 4 monthsFrom 4 months old
Not needed for a while. Buying early often means buying twice, or storing a box for months.
High chair1
Ready ahead of solid foods, which the AAP recommends starting at about 6 months.
AAP on starting solids
Skip these
SkipMost families never miss them
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.
AAP safe sleep guideWipe 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.
Put it on your calendar
The Due-Date Plan gives every item its own week, flags what is due now, and adds the tasks around them, like checking the car seat and packing the hospital bag. The minimal registry checklist has the same items as a list you can print.
This guide is for planning and shopping. For anything about your health or your baby's, ask your doctor or pediatrician.