The Waldessori Mom

There are so many baby products out there! Then among all the items, there’s different brands for each as well! Some are essentials, others are nice to have, and others will never be used. I’ve put together a list of baby items that I recommend purchasing. It’s a combination of essential and nice to have items. Don’t worry if you don’t have all of these right away when the baby comes. As long as the baby has diapers, milk, a car seat, and a safe place to sleep, you’ll be okay! Remember that close to your due date, registry websites will give you discounts on any items you haven’t purchased yet.

I’ll elaborate on some tips and recommendations for each item and also provide a checklist of them. Any items purchased with the links included will give me a small commission.

Clothing

When it comes to clothing, I’m giving the minimum amount recommended. If you find good deals on clothes, by all means get more! I got a lot of free clothes from friends with my first baby but I didn’t keep a lot for my second one. I didn’t realize how expensive baby clothing can be and so when my second baby was coming around, I did a minimalist wardrobe so I wouldn’t have excess clothing that was never worn since babies grow so fast.

If you don’t get enough clothes during your baby shower, I recommend buying second hand baby clothing from consignment shops or thrift stores. They have some stores specifically for baby clothes and the prices are much lower than buying new which is very helpful considering they’ll only wear most items a few times before it doesn’t fit them anymore. However, I do like to have one nice outfit for each size for any special occasion or nice photos I want to take!

• Onesies size newborn, 0-3 months, and 3 months to start
  • I didn’t register for these but instead found these second hand! I’d rather have someone buy me other things on my registry that I can’t get used for cheaper and then get the clothes myself since I know I’ll always be able to find them. People always love to buy baby clothes regardless and you’ll end up with some even if you don’t register for them!
  • I got less newborn onesies than I did 0-3 months because some babies don’t fit in them or if they do, it’s for a very short period of time. Worst case scenario, I figured I would buy more if needed but I hated the idea of having a bunch of newborn onesies that I’d never use!
  • I got short sleeve onesies for my summer baby and long sleeve onesies for my winter baby.
  • The amount of onesies you’ll need depends on how often you’re going do laundry. A newborn can go through around 3 outfits a day depending on how many times they have blowouts! My first baby had a blow out multiple times a day while my second one only has one once or twice a week.
• Zipper onesies
  • I put my baby in one of these and his swaddle every night so I like to have 3-4 per size of these. The ones that have zippers that start at the foot and go up are very helpful for night time diaper changes so you don’t have to take off the sleep sack or velcro swaddle to change their diaper!
• Sun hat (for summer)
  • If you’re planning on being around water, having one that gets wet and won’t get super heavy is helpful! If you won’t be around water, a cotton one is fine.
  • Those little velcro straps on the hat are cute but in my experience, they’re too small for the baby’s head and just end up dangling there. That could also vary depending on the size of your baby’s head (curse my husband for his big head haha!)
• Beanies (for winter only)
  • I liked to have a pack of a few of these for my winter baby for whenever we’d leave the house! I didn’t really use them inside.
• Sleep sacks/swaddles
  • I recommend having at least 3 per size of these. It’s the worst when your baby has a blow out in the middle of the night and all the swaddles are in the wash! It’s always good to have a few extras.
  • My favorite are the Halo sleep sacks because they’re easily adjustable and I like that you can use it with the arms strapped down or sticking out depending on the baby’s preference. My baby outgrew the SwaddleMe swaddles very quickly and I found them more difficult to put on with the different velcro pieces.
• Hudson booties (if it’s winter)
  • These are so much better than socks because they don’t fall off! They have these nice velcro straps that keep them secure. I got 2 of these in case one got dirty.
• Baby socks
  • I don’t usually use these on my summer baby since it’s warmer but with my winter baby I’d use them if he had on a long sleeve onesie. I do prefer the footed zipper onesies though!
  • The grips on the bottom aren’t necessary until your baby is mobile.

Health

I like to have some health items on hand even if my baby isn’t sick so that way when they do fall sick, I don’t have to worry about running out to the store. Nothing is worse than having a baby wake up congested or hot and not having anything for mucus or to take their temperature!

• Infant Tylenol
  • Babies can’t use Motrin until they’re 6 months old. I always liked to have Tylenol on hand in case of emergencies. I didn’t buy Motrin until later down the road since it expires.
• Nasal aspirator– NoseFrida, electric NoseFrida, bulb syringe
  • I’ve tried the manual and electric Nose Frida and they both have their pros and cons.
  • With the manual Nose Frida, you need to have to good lungs. I always had trouble getting any boogers out when I’d use it and I’d have to ask my husband to use it to have any effect. With the electric Nose Frida, it works easily but it takes a really long time to charge and whenever I needed to use it, it wasn’t charged and would take forever. It also randomly stopped working for me one day which was upsetting, especially because it’s expensive!
  • As a heads up, my baby hated when I used either of the NoseFrida ones but they really helped him breathe so just be prepared to be fast!
  • I used the bulb syringe with my second baby and he didn’t seem to mind it at all and I liked that I didn’t have to use my mouth but also didn’t have to worry about the batteries and I could wash it out.
• Boogie wipes
  • These are so much nicer than just regular wipes for when those boogies get stuck on their delicate little faces! The saline helps break them up without having to scrub so much.
• Frida Vapor rub
  • This is good to have for when your baby has a cough or is congested. You rub it on their chest and back. I like the Frida brand since it doesn’t have harsh chemicals in it like Vicks.
• Humidifier
  • This is helpful to have if your baby is congested, has a cough, or if it’s winter time and the air is really dry. It will help with preventing nose bleeds from the heater! I use the Frida Baby one but they don’t seem to sell it anymore.
• Humidifier essential oil drops
  • I like to add these when my baby is sick! It makes the air filled with a vapor rub scent to help them breathe better.
• Saline mist
  • I like the spray version to help break up boogers that are stuck in there. Your baby won’t have fun with it but it’s one of those necessary evils!
• Electric nail file
  • I find these less scary to use than baby nail clippers because I can grind them slowly.

Diapering

It’s well known that you’ll need lots of diapers when baby comes! Here’s some suggestions on the basics. If you’d like more information about cloth diapering, let me know in the comments!

• Diapers
  • I’d get 1 box of newborn and 1 box of size 1 diapers. Don’t open the newborn diapers yet until you know that your baby isn’t too big for them! I’d recommend opening the size 1 and if they’re too big, then open the newborn ones. You can return the newborn box if it’s unopened and you don’t need it. Target will take unopened boxes even without a receipt!
  • Keep in mind that some babies are allergic to some diapers and can get rashes so you don’t want to go rally crazy buying a ton of one type until you try them out.
• Wipes
  • I’d get a small box of these just in case your baby is allergic to the wipes or sensitive to them.
• Changing mat
  • I got one and put it on top of a dresser. This way, I didn’t have to buy a changing table that I’d have to get rid of or store in a few months. The dresser is practical for now and will also grow with the baby!
• Changing mat covers
  • Buy at least 3 to change out for pees!
• Washable changing mat liners
  • This helps protect the changing mat so you don’t have to change it as often.
  • Depending open the wipes you use, they can be really annoying to take out of the container. Also, if you cloth diaper, you can pre-wet your cloth wipes and put them in here. let me know in the comments if you’d like to learn more about cloth diapering!
• Diaper bags
  • With my first baby, I didn’t use a diaper pail but instead had a roll of scent containing bags that I’d put a few diapers in and then tie it up and throw them away.
• Diaper rash cream— petroleum or cloth diaper safe
  • My son had very sensitive skin so I would use this for every diaper change. They have different bases. Avoid petroleum and zinc creams if you cloth diaper!

Feeding

These are some basic items you’ll need to feed your baby. Even if you’re breastfeeding, you should still know the basics of formula feeding in case something doesn’t work out as planned. I had to supplement some for my first son at the beginning and it was helpful to have some of these things in advance and other items I wish I had known about!

• Breast pump
  • Make sure you get a free one through your health insurance! If you’d like to learn more about different types of breast pumps and what they’re best for, let me know in the comments!
• Flange sizing kit
  • This is helpful because breast pumps come with big flanges and that will affect how well they work. A sizing kit allows you to insert a piece into the bigger flange to figure out what size works best for you without having to buy a bunch of different sized ones and wasting money.
• Bottles
  • I would only get 1 or 2 of the same bottle so you can try a few. I’d recommend using the ones from free bags registry boxes like from Amazon or Target and also getting one or two other ones if you wanted to try others that don’t come in the kit. In the kits, you typically get Dr. Browns or Philips Avent bottles.
• Bottle soap
  • I use this to clean all baby related products!
• Bottle brush– regular bottle brush, dishwasher safe brush
  • You can get a dishwasher safe one so you can occasionally wash it or a regular bristle brush one that you throw away eventually. The dishwasher one is more sustainable and sanitary but it doesn’t suds up as much.
• Breast milk bags
  • You can get these for free through your insurance and the free registry boxes tend to come with some too!
• Sterilizer
  • They have big and small ones. They have microwavable bags, microwavable containers, and machines that can do a bunch (I’d only recommend this if you’re exclusively bottle feeding).
• Bottle warmer
  • You can run the bottle under hot water but I prefer to put it in the bottle warmer and let it heat up on its own.
• Formula (if using)
  • If you only want formula to potentially supplement occasionally while breastfeeding, get the pre-made bottles because the giant cans go bad after 1 month after opening. I learned this the hard way and had to throw almost the whole thing away!
• Distilled water (if formula feeding)
  • You can also boil water but I always felt paranoid about doing it and then storing it properly. If you buy the pre-made bottles, you don’t have to worry about this.
• Nursing pads
  • I prefer the disposable ones instead of the cloth, at least at the beginning, because you leak a lot and the cloth pads have to be changed often or you can end up with thrush (ask me how I know that…). Let me know if you want to learn more about thrush and surviving it! My first son had it for weeks.
• Nursing bras– structured bra, unstructured bra
  • I prefer the ones that aren’t structured because I can wear them day and night and be comfortable. I also like the ones that can be pulled to the side so I don’t have to be fumbling with the clips. The clips can also break and then you have to throw away the whole bra.
• Breastfeeding cover
  • In the beginning, you may feel more comfortable having a cover while feeding your baby in public. Eventually you may feel more comfortable and won’t want to use one, or you won’t want to use one at all which is okay too!
  • They have looser and tighter ones but I prefer this one because it has a structured top so I could still see my baby but it’s overall loose so it’s easy to wear and adjust.
  • Covers are also very helpful if you have a baby that gets easily distracted and keeps looking at everything in public instead of drinking milk.
• Vitamin D drops (if breastfeeding)
  • Breastmilk doesn’t provide vitamin D but formula does. Your baby needs this daily. You can try and get one with a detachable syringe that isn’t part of the lid so you can wash it. However, I find that I don’t give it to my baby as often as I’d like because I forget to wash it and then it sits out. If this is the case, get one attached to the lid!

Bath

If you really wanted to, you could always hop in the shower while holding your baby, but they’re so tiny and slippery, so I much prefer having these basic items to make bath time easier for everyone.

• Towel
  • You can always use a regular sized towel but I like the baby ones because they’re not as big to maneuver around the baby and they have the little hood to keep their head warm.
• Rags for bath
  • I like to have a ton of these around to help clean up spit up too.
• Baby bath soap
  • Make sure it’s unscented!
• Baby bath tub
  • You can bathe your baby in the sink but that requires an empty clean sink and one that’s the right size. I use one on the kitchen table until my baby started being more mobile and also splashed more. Then, I moved the baby bathtub into the actual tub.
  • I like one that holds the water so I don’t have to put it into the actual sink. I like the convertible ones that grow with the baby: sling, sitting up, independently sitting up.
• Water pitcher
  • Try and get one with a wide enough opening that’s easy to clean the bottom so it doesn’t get mineral build up.

Miscellaneous

This is a compilation of essential items that didn’t have enough of a specific type to fit into their own categories.

• Receiving swaddle blanket
  • I use these little swaddle blankets for anything like a thin blanket, throw it over my shoulder while burping, or to clean up split up.
• Blankets
  • Having a few of these around is a good idea aside from swaddles. I use them on the swing, during skin to skin, in the car seat, etc.
• Lotion
  • Make sure this is unscented too.
• Comb
  • I use this to get the shampoo under the hair because the hair can get stuck on their little scalp. Just be careful not to brush to hard because their heads are so sensitive and it can pull up all the cradle cap. That just makes it look all peely and makes it worse.
• Pacifiers– sample box, favorite BIB pacifier, MAM Pacifier
  • Get a sample box with a few different kinds. Just because your baby didn’t take one doesn’t mean they won’t take another! Don’t buy a ton of one type until you test them out.
• Play mat
  • This is helpful to have a flat clean surface for your baby to play on. You can hang toys or cards from the top.
• White noise machine (for home and portable)
  • For a white noise machine at home, it’s helpful to have one with a night light that doesn’t have to be plugged in all the time so you can move it around from room to room. We like to use the red light on it at night so it doesn’t wake up the baby with the harsh light and we walk over with it to the nursery to change his diaper. Hatch is a nice white noise machine, but it has to be plugged in to work (unless you get the more expensive one that has a chargeable base).
  • I also like to have a portable white noise machine that I turn on when my baby is napping in the car or outside of the house.
  • White noise machines sound different and your baby may prefer one over the other. My favorite sound is the portable one!
• Bassinet sheets
  • I like to use ones that have a built in waterproof sheet so there aren’t so many layers in the bassinet.
• Crib sheets
  • Buy 3 of them so that way you have extra when others are washing. Some babies leak or have blow outs often and you don’t want to be in the middle of the night with no sheets!
• Waterproof crib mattress sheets
  • 2 of them so if 1 is washing, you have another. Mattresses tend to have a waterproof cover but I like to add my own so I can wash it if it gets pee on it and the mattress is still protected for sure.
• Crib skirt (if using)
  • These are decorative but they make the crib look nice since the mattress is so high up in the beginning stages.
• Stroller parent organizer
  • A lot of strollers only have a handle bar and have nowhere to put your phone or water bottles.
• Diaper bag
  • I like when they have pockets and compartments inside to help organize my things. Let me know in the comments if you’d like tips on what to keep in your diaper bag depending on your child’s age!
• Portable fan (summer baby)
  • These are nice to have on the stroller on those hot days. Whenever people would see me use it, they’d always be impressed by it and said they wanted one for themselves!
  • You need one to pour water on your baby during the bath.
• Baby monitor
  • I recommend getting one that isn’t wifi enabled for security. There’s too many scary stories about people getting hacked and someone can watch their kid or they started talking to their kid through the monitor trying to scare them.
• Closet clothing organizers
  • These hang in the closet to separate clothes by size.

Equipment/Furniture

This is one of the categories where things can get a little crazy because of all the options! I recommend staying away from baby walkers and door bouncers because they’re harmful for leg development. Any baby carrying devices like bouncers and swings are helpful to have but it’s good to keep in mind that the baby should be spending most of their time on a flat surface. The reason I say this is so that you don’t go crazy buying a ton of equipment to hold baby or equipment that’s super expensive!

• Bassinet
  • I like having one with wheels so I can move it around the room or into different rooms as needed. You can also get a bedside one that has a drop down side for easy access in the night. They don’t make the one I have anymore but this bassinet is really similar!
  • Keep in mind that they have larger or more compact bassinets. I prefer a larger one so it lasts longer. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends having your baby sleep in your room until 1 year old to reduce the risk of SIDS and they grow so much during that time.
  • Some people choose to use a pack and play as a bassinet which is budget friendly but cumbersome to move around since it’s bulky. They have some that have a changing table attachment as well!
• Crib
  • I got the cheapest, most simple crib that met safety standards. It converts into a toddler bed and a bed frame, and if I decide to switch it to something in the future, it was so cheap it doesn’t matter.
  • The only con of the one I have is that it is very light so when my son got older, he would push his feet against the wall and move his crib. Try and stay away from something that has paint that can chip because your baby will eventually start teething on the top edges of it.
• Travel crib– budget suspended pack n’ play, higher end larger travel crib
  • It’s helpful to have a travel crib to take on vacation or when visiting someone that doesn’t have a crib at their house. The ones that are elevated from the floor have a weight limit and the ones that are on the floor can be used for larger kids.
• Changing table
  • I got one for the first floor so I wouldn’t have to go up to the second floor for every diaper change. If you have a single story home, you can just use a dresser in the nursery and skip the changing table.
• Couch lounger
  • I like having one on my couch as a safe place to put the baby down while I do something or to have a supervised nap. Some babies nap nicer in these than in a bassinet since it hugs them snugly and it can give you longer breaks.
• Swing
  • These are really helpful for giving you a break in rocking your baby to sleep and holding them. They’re technically not supposed to sleep in these but I do let my baby nap in it and I monitor him to make sure his head is at a good angle and I check on him often to make sure he’s moving around and breathing okay in there.
• Bouncer
  • I like to have one next to the dining table to hold my baby in if he’s fussy and I want to get him to sleep while I eat. If he’s not fussy, while I eat I have him flat on a blanket so he can stretch out since that’s what’s best for them developmentally rathe than being in a carrying device all day.
• Rocking chair
  • They have a lot of these on Facebook marketplace! I registered for a really nice comfy one I use more often in the family room and then I got used one on Facebook for my room for less frequent use. I linked one similar to what I got used.

• Stroller– travel stroller and more terrain stroller
  • Think about what you’re going to be using the stroller for the most. I love travel strollers because they don’t take up a lot of space and are lightweight. If you’re on rugged terrain often, you’ll need something with more durable tires or if you’re a runner you’ll want a jogging stroller.
  • I’m recommending 2 strollers that I use for different things. I like the travel stroller for my errands and regular use (car seats snap into it too!) and I like my more durable stroller for walks around the neighborhood and for unpaved roads because it has a bassinet conversion for infant naps and thicker wheels for different terrains. You can also have the seat face different directions and go up or down. They definitely make more durable ones but I like that this one has a little bit of everything, isn’t super heavy, and isn’t crazy expensive.
  • You don’t need to spend a crazy amount on strollers. They make a lot of really nice ones that are affordable or in the middle range. If you want suggestions on double strollers, let me know in the comments!
• Car seat
  • All car seats have to meet the same safety standards. Some have extra safety features like a rebound bar. Make sure to get an infant car seat because you’ll be using this so much since they can detach from the base! Once they grow out of it then get the ones that grow with the baby that don’t detach from a base.
  • Keep in mind some car seats are bigger than others once you go past the infant car seat so some may not fit in your car as easily or with other car seats at the same time. I just got the infant car seat initially so I wouldn’t have to find a place to store the bigger one!

For mom

People tend to forget to add things for themselves but I feel like you should! Birthing the baby is part of the process of having a baby (duh!) so why not get some help with any items you may need for it?

• Postpartum underwear
  • The hospital has some but these are way more comfortable and supportive. I got 2 boxes of these so I had some for the recovery period.
• Tucks pads
  • These are good if you had some tearing during a vaginal delivery. You can also make your own at home in advance and freeze them!
• Peri Bottle
  • The hospital gives you one but the shape isn’t the best.
• Pads and underwear liner
  • You don’t have to register for this but make sure you have some on hand since you didn’t need any for the past 9 months! You’ll need it whether you had a vaginal or cesarean birth.

Baby registry checklist

Here are the items I’m recommending without the subtext for easy access!

Clothing

• 6 onesies size newborn
• 6 onesies 0-3 months
• 6 onesies 3 months
• 3-4 zipper onesies size newborn
• 3-4 zipper onesies size 0-3 months
• 3-4 zipper onesies size 3 months
• Sun hat (for summer babies)
• Beanies (for winter babies)
• Sleep sacks/swaddles
• Hudson booties (for winter babies)
• Baby socks

Health

• Infant Tylenol
• Nasal aspirator– NoseFrida, electric NoseFrida, bulb syringe
• Boogie wipes
• Frida Vapor rub
• Humidifier
• Humidifier essential oil drops
• Saline mist
• Electric nail file

Diapering

• Diapers
• Wipes
• Changing mat
• Changing mat covers
• Washable changing mat liners
• Diaper bags
• Diaper rash cream- petroleum, cloth diaper safe

Feeding

• Breast pump
• Flange sizing kit
• Bottles
• Bottle soap
• Bottle brush- regular, dishwasher safe
• Breast milk bags
• Sterilizer
• Bottle warmer
• Formula (if using)
• Distilled water (if formula feeding)
• Nursing pads
• Nursing bras- structured bra, unstructured bra
• Vitamin D drops (if breastfeeding)
• Breastfeeding cover

Bath

• Towel
• Rags for bath
• Baby bath soap
• Water pitcher
• Baby bath tub

Miscellaneous

• Receiving swaddle blanket
• Blankets
• Lotion
• Comb
• Pacifiers- sample box, favorite BIB pacifier, MAM pacifier
• Play mat
• White noise machine- at home, portable, Hatch, Hatch with base
• Bassinet sheets
• Crib sheets
• Waterproof crib mattress sheets
• Crib skirt (if using)
• Stroller parent organizer
• Diaper bag
• Portable fan (summer baby)
• Baby monitor
• Closet clothing organizers

Equipment/Furniture

• Bassinet
• Crib
• Travel crib- budget friendly, higher end
• Dresser/ changing table
• Couch lounger
• Swing
• Bouncer
• Rocking chair
• Stroller- travel stroller, more terrain stroller
• Car seat

For mom

• Postpartum underwear
• Tucks pads
• Peri bottle

What not to register for

With all the baby products out there, there’s plenty that are unnecessary as well as others that can hold off until the baby is older. I prioritized adding things to my registry that I needed right away because I didn’t want to add things that I wasn’t going to need for 6+ months and then worry about finding a place to store it. Also, if someone bought me something I won’t need for months, that’s one less item that could’ve been purchased from the list of things I needed right away and then I’d have to purchase that myself.

• Wipes warmer
  • This may be helpful if you’re going to be changing a diaper at night and don’t want to wake up the baby, but I’ve never used one and we’ve been just fine.
• High chair and solid food anything (plates, bibs, etc)
  • Babies can’t eat solid foods until 6 months so this is just another thing that you’d be storing unnecessarily until then!
• Toddler car seat
  • These take up a lot of space to store. Infant car seats are really convenient because you can pop them in and out of the car since it detaches from the base. This is much easier than strapping the baby in and out every time you leave the car. Especially since most of the time your baby will probably fall asleep in there and that way you don’t have to wake them up!
• Baby bath robe/house robe
  • These are super cute but I never ended up using them. By the time you get the baby out of the bath tub, you’re more concerned about getting them to stop crying and making sure they won’t pee on you than you will be trying to get them into a cute robe.
• Baby shoes
  • Your baby won’t be walking for a very long time and they will rarely, if ever, wear shoes. If you did want to get some, you can for special photos, but in general mine ended up sitting there and never got used.
• Expensive changing mat
  • All changing mats are water proof. They make really expensive ones that people like to get because they’re “wipeable” but if you get a regular Graco changing mat and don’t put a cover on it, it’s wipeable as well for a fraction of the price.

Summary

Use the checklists as a guideline for the essentials and some helpful items you’ll need for baby. If you want more suggestions on the items or explanations, the beginning of the post goes into detail about each one. They make many different versions of each of these items, some more expensive and others cheaper, but I am sharing the ones that I used in my experience that I enjoyed and were either worth the price or were not worth spending more money on in my opinion. Don’t let yourself get overwhelmed by the amount of things you can buy for baby. As I said before, as long as the baby has milk, a place to sleep, and diapers, they’ll be just fine! Oh, and snuggles never hurt either.