Being pregnant is equal parts exciting and exhausting. Unless you’re one of the lucky few who has a “unicorn pregnancy,” you’re bound to experience a bit of discomfort during the 10 months. And yes, it’s 40 weeks, not 36 weeks. The “9 months” is merely a placeholder.

On top of experiencing a gamut of emotions and morning sickness, which makes you feel like you’re recovering from a month-long hangover, you also need to create your baby registry.

If it’s your first time to create one, you might feel overwhelmed. What do you include and what do you leave out? This baby registry checklist makes your selection easier and answers all the questions you might have regarding registries.

What is a baby registry?

A baby registry is a record of all the items you’d wish to receive as gifts for your newborn, either during a baby shower or once the baby arrives. The idea behind creating a registry is to steer your friends, family, and colleagues in the right direction when shopping for you and your little one. Essentially, it lets you specify the exact products you prefer, down to the type and brand.

But how does a registry for a baby shower work? You simply look for a retailer, be it online or at a brick-and-mortar store, which offers a platform for creating a registry. Retail giants like Walmart, Amazon, Buy Buy Baby, Target, and IKEA all let you register baby items and keep track of them. Once your registry is set up-which means you’ve added items to it-you can share it with friends and family.

Amazon Baby Registry

With so many avenues at your disposal, you might be wondering which baby registry you should use. In our opinion, the Amazon Baby Registry is one of the safest bets, and it comes with numerous perks:

• It’s easily accessible by guests.
• It accepts returns.
• It offers group gifting-several individuals contribute towards buying big-ticket items like a car seat. Amazon also lets you know what each individual has purchased so you can start jotting down those “thank you” notes early.

Creating a baby registry on this site is very easy;

• Go to the Amazon Baby Registry page.
• Click on “Get Started.”
• Fill in the required details – name, address, and expected date of delivery.

Voila, you’re all set. Amazon also allows you to personalize your checklist based on gender, number of kids, and more. For instance, you can have a girl baby registry tailored for a female newborn.

What to put on your baby registry

Here’s a list of things to get before your baby arrives:

1. Bassinet

Are you worried about the sleepless nights that come with being a new mom? Well, Beside Me Dreamer Bassinet promises easier nights by letting you co-sleep with your baby.

A reliable top-seller, the mini crib is stylish, spacious, cozy, and user-friendly. Our favorite feature is the detachable wall, which allows you to attach the bassinet right next to your bed.

2. Wearable baby monitor

The anxiety associated with taking care of an infant doesn’t exactly vanish when the lights go out. If you don’t want to have to worry too much about your baby’s health once they sleep, be sure to add Owlet Smart Sock 3 Monitor to your baby registry.

This is a wearable monitor that enables you to keep track of your child’s heart rate and oxygen levels when they’re asleep. Amazing, isn’t it?

3. Nursing pillow

When I was pregnant a few months ago, I thought breastfeeding pillows were just a silly gimmick designed to rip off pregnant women. A pillow? For nursing? What for?

That was until I had my son and realized how taxing breastfeeding could be. If you don’t maintain the right posture, it can hurt your back, neck, and shoulders.

This is where a nursing pillow such as Boppy Original Nursing Pillow & Positioner proves handy. It helps you position your baby as close to your body as possible, making breastfeeding comfortable for both you and your baby.

4. Nursing pads

Walking around with 2 wet blotches on your blouse will not only feel uncomfortable; it’s also embarrassing.

Save yourself the humiliation by making Baby Bliss nursing pads another baby shower registry must-have. For as little as under $20, your loved ones can get you 14 reusable nursing pads.

Better yet, these come in three different sizes-medium, large, and extra large.

5. Baby bathtub

A bathtub is one of those items that should rank at the top of your baby registry checklist. More specifically, consider Fisher 4-in-1 tub, which comes with a sling already attached.

Other than the sling, we also like that it grows with your child. So once they start sitting on their own, you can remove the sling to create more space for your baby.

6. Baby hooded towel

There are dozens of baby towels on the market, but the Hudson hooded version won our hearts. We particularly like its generous and practical size, which allows you to wrap your baby completely.

It also has a soft feel, thanks to the cotton fabric. And, if you’re a sucker for cute baby products like I am, you will love the selection of themes that it comes in-a snorkeling turtle, giraffe in glasses, and more.

7. Diaper bag

Just because you have to carry around a diaper bag doesn’t mean you can’t do this stylishly. If you’re looking for a bag that perfectly combines fashion and function, Tote Diaper Bag is a baby shower registry must-have.

It looks so chic that no one will ever guess you’re carrying a diaper bag. And it has plenty of pockets too, providing enough space to stash all your baby’s essentials.

8. Swaddle blankets

Did you know that swaddling helps your baby sleep soundly? That’s right; it mimics the coziness your baby experienced in the womb, enabling them to sleep for longer.

One blanket that’s a baby registry must-have is the eLOVEphant Zippy Swaddle. It consists of two layers of wrapping, keeping your baby as snug and comfortable as possible.

It also has ample space at the bottom, enabling your little one to move their legs freely.

9. Infant car seat

An infant car seat is an accessory that your baby will have to use straight out of the hospital once they’re born. Thus, it should be among the top items on your baby registry checklist.

When it comes to models, Graco SnugRide 35 LX is the one that we recommend the most. The travel system nails the tri-factor aspect we’d want in an infant car seat: it’s safe, simple to install, and customizable for different car models.

10. Crib mattress

When your little munchkin arrives, they’ll spend most of their time sleeping. So one of the things you should take into account is the surface they’ll be lying on. Is it comfortable enough? Is it safe for a newborn?

To put your mind at ease, you shouldn’t omit the Moonlight Slumber crib mattress from your baby registry.

Our favorite thing about this dual-sided mattress is the fact that it’s scalable. One side is made using extra-firm foam, which is what’s recommended for infants. Once your baby grows a little older, you can flip the mattress and let them lie on the softer side.

11. Burp cloths

The first time I shopped for baby gear, I only bought a set of 4 burp cloths. But within a few weeks of having my son home, I was already buying more. My son doesn’t spit up often, but the burp cloth gets completely soaked when he does. I have almost a dozen burp cloths now and I have to admit, they have made my life easier.

These multi-use aden + anais Essentials Burpy Bibs are the best. They’re big, soft, and super-absorbent. Plus, each of the burp cloths has a snap closure, enabling you to fasten it around your baby’s neck and use it as a bib.

12. Baby gates

Before you know it, your baby will have started crawling and scooting. This is why we recommend proofing your home with a baby gate to keep them safe.

We particularly like the Toddlero Baby Gate, which swings in either direction for maximum convenience. The 29-inch tall gate is built using heavy-duty metal for durability and it comes in a white finish, giving it a stylish look.

13. Baby sleep soother

In the first few months of your baby’s life, you will spend most of your nights wearily trying to soothe your baby to sleep sometimes without any luck.

Fortunately, some ingenious inventions can help with that. Enter the Skip Hop sound machine.

This gadget is designed to play melodies and nature sounds, which will calm your baby and help them drift off with ease.

14. Baby-friendly nail trimmer

Trimming a baby’s nails is almost every parent’s nightmare. Since their nails are so tiny, you have to be extremely careful not to pinch their skin. The fact that their nails regrow soon after that doesn’t help the situation.

For stress-free nail cutting, consider Safety 1st Sleepy Nail Clipper. It illuminates your baby’s nails, helping you to see better even in dim light. The nail clipper also has a good grip, which makes trimming easier.

For twin baby registry must-haves, register items in doubles or multiples.

What not to put on the baby registry

1. A large set of one type of baby bottles

Don’t fall into the temptation of registering for a specific set of baby bottles. Here’s the deal, you won’t know which type of bottle your baby prefers until they try it. So, you might register for an extensive set, which your baby won’t end up using.

A smarter approach is to register for small sets or singles of different bottle types. Or you may wait until your baby arrives to buy this item.

2. Gimmicky baby registry must-haves

You know those highly regarded baby products you aren’t sure of their use or necessity? Items like wipe warmers, bottle warmers, and Pee-Pee Teepee (for avoiding any sprinkling while changing his diaper).

Well, most babies don’t end up using them. If you don’t know the use of a given product or suspect that you’re not going to use it, then there’s no point in adding it to your registry.

3. Newborn-sized outfits

Newborn outfits are adorable! The smaller they are, the cuter they look. As a result, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement and end up registering far too many outfits. But don’t fall into this trap.

Remember, your newborn will spend most of the time dressed in pajamas or wrapped in a swaddle blanket. Plus, they’ll outgrow these outfits incredibly fast.

4. Crib bumpers

Proponents of this crib accessory claim that it provides soft padding if a baby bangs their head and prevents their hands and legs from getting trapped in the slats.

But, if you dive deep into research, you will learn that they’re actually a safety hazard. To be specific, crib bumpers increase a child’s risk of accidental suffocation. So you might want to leave this one out.

Is a baby shower registry worth it?

Yes, it is. It may seem like too much work initially, but in the end, it pays off. It serves as a shopping guide for friends and family planning to buy you and your baby gifts.

It also doubles up as an organizing tool since you’ll be able to keep track of the items that are already purchased.

Conclusion

If you’re expecting a baby, you’ll probably want to buy a ton of stuff for your little one. But doing so doesn’t make economic sense, nor does it benefit your baby. So before you make your baby registry checklist, ask yourself, “How much stuff do I really need?” Include those items you’re sure you will use. This way, your loved ones can get you practical gifts that will make your life easier upon your baby’s arrival.

Read all articles in this series: Prep for your baby's arrival

<< Crucial questions to ask at your first prenatal visitBirthing classes and why you need them >>