The Baby Registry – 5 Years Later

| Mary Stoffel, MOT, OTR/L

It’s incredible how much can change in just five years! When Patti and I first stepped into parenthood, the landscape of baby essentials looked entirely different. The must-have items evolved. Mamaroos became less of a must-have while baby slings took center stage. Even the reigning travel system brands, Britax and Baby Jogger, have made way for newer favorites like Doona and UPPAbaby. Also, an RIP moment for our beloved (and recalled) Fisher Price Rock and Play sleeper.

Yet, despite the shifting trends, one truth remains: babies need stuff. But what exactly do they need, and how much of it is truly essential? The answer is often subjective and changes if you get to your second or third pregnancy. That’s why for this post, we’re doing a refresh—what baby items proved indispensable, what turned out to be unnecessary, and the unexpected game-changers that saved the day.

What You Need

Your newborn will need the essentials, like a place to sleep, food and ways to feed, diapers, clothing, and safe transport. Outside of that, consider what your baby may need to achieve their developmental milestones. Although we’ve covered the developmental essentials before, the baby game has made some of these items better and more efficient.

  • Swaddles (2-3). I won’t lie, I loved bundling my babies up like little burritos in their swaddle blankets. But if you’re trying to be a perfectionist, you never feel like you’ve done it right and within minutes, they wriggle their way free. Thankfully, adjustable wraps and compression  sleep sacks that make swaddling effortless. Side note: babies do NOT need to be swaddled all day, only when fussy or during sleep.

  • Baby carrier. We’ve seen more and more parents babywearing in public over the years, and we’re here for it! Not only does it keep little ones close and secure, but it also serves as a natural and enjoyable way to encourage tummy time. There are lots of different models for both mom and dad.

  • Pacifiers (2-4). Pacis help your newborn self-soothe and reduce the risk of SIDS. But even with countless styles and designs to choose from, our kids had a clear favorite—the stuffed animal pacifier. When their paci days came to an end, we simply said goodbye to their binkies but held onto the plushie as a keepsake.

  • Baby swing or bouncer. Babies don’t necessarily require one of these, but they are useful when you need a little extra help keeping them occupied while tackling other tasks. In the past, these items were bulky and took up valuable space. Now, they’ve evolved to be more versatile and compact and honestly, I’m a bit envious of how convenient they’ve become.

  • Activity gym. Between feedings and naps, infants get plenty of movement and stimulation by playing on the floor in different positions—whether it’s tummy time, lying on their back, or side-lying. At this stage, their interaction with objects is mostly observational and exploratory, limited to batting at things rather than actively grasping or manipulating them. Because of this, additional toys aren’t really necessary until they develop the strength and coordination to sit up and maintain an upright posture. Bonus points if you can find one that has a high contrast and reflective attachments as they promote visual development and attention, curiosity, and engagement, like this one.

What You Want

The tricky part about creating a registry is that, while you carefully list all the baby necessities for friends and family to follow, it’s often the unexpected, overlooked items that end up being real lifesavers. Here’s our list:

Although we didn’t personally use it, many of our friends found the Owlet Sock to be a huge source of reassurance, helping ease their worries about their newborn’s sleep and wellness, providing much-needed peace of mind. Check if it’s covered by your insurance/HSA plan.

What We Wish We Had

Not Necessary

Unless you really want them, you can skip these on your registry:

  • Baby wipe warmer
  • Baby shoes (socks will work fine until they start actually walking)
  • Baby food maker
  • Bottle sterilizer (most bottles can go in the dishwasher or steamed in the microwave)
  • Bath thermometer
  • Shopping car seat cover
  • Diaper pail – the more pails you have, the more the smell will accumulate.
  • Crib mobile
  • Baby bedding sheet sets (just the fitted sheet works fine)
  • A ton of special outfits. For the first year, the main wardrobe will just be onesies and pajamas.

So what do I ask for?

Overall, our Baby Registry must-haves aren’t a long list. But if it’s your first baby, you might have a lot of extended family asking what they can gift you. This leads to a lot of stuffed animals and fancy clothes you probably won’t use. We handled this a couple different ways to avoid all the extra “stuff”.

  1. Gift cards. Your main baby registries are most likely going to be at Amazon or Target. You can explain that you’d like to have gift cards to cover any unexpected things after the baby is born. This also covers the real everyday needs (like diapers, formula, toiletries) that you can put on Amazon Subscription.

  2. Hint that family can go all in on a bigger gift. For Patti’s twins, her extended family split the cost of their really expensive stroller. Car seats and cribs are really pricey, and it can be a big relief to know that those are taken care of. Her grandparents also made the first contribution to the twins’ 529 accounts.

  3. Plan ahead. Forecast for the entire first year and even beyond if you think you need more items on your registry. If these are gifted, then you are ahead of the game. Think: a potty training seat, toddler car seats, baby gates, a convertible high chair, wood toys, diapers of all different sizes, etc.

Linked items can also be found on our Child(ish) Advice Amazon Storefront.

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