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Motherhood · October 14, 2024

Guide: Baby Registry

A thoughtful collection of baby essentials shaped by experience, simplicity, and the needs of real family life.

When we found out we were pregnant with our first, I dove into everything baby: books, prayers, and – of course – the baby registry. I spent hours and I do mean hours, looking at products. And after all that looking, I had no idea what I was looking at. What did a little human need? What should we have for him/her?

My brain reeled with ideas for creating an idyllic nursery, effortlessly pulling out diapers and a change of clothes on the go, surrounding our newest family member with age-perfect books and toys in a Montessori setting that would have won Maria’s glowing smile of approval.

And so, I scrolled and “added” and built a registry more comprehensive than our wedding. Just to realize, when our wonderful son was born, that I had spent WAY too much time on the wrong things, that we had far too many items, and that I was helplessly overpacking a diaper bag just to realize that I left the baby wipes out every time we had a blow out after mass (or during … usually during mass).

I’m not perfect, and I don’t know the ins and outs of everything in the industry but from a mom of three, with one being a cancer and bone marrow transplant conqueror, the other being a bundle of perfect beauty and energy, and our third having spent the first couple days of his remarkable life as a warrior in the NICU, here are some well tested ideas for your newest family member – whether they’re your first or your fifth:

Prayers/Contemplative Readings

  1. Mary’s Fiat- Luke 1:30-55
  2. Pope St. John Paul II’s Letter to Families
  3. St. Gianna Beretta Molla’s Prayer

Books

  1. Made for This
    • This inspired me and helped me more than any other resource. It’s beautifully written, and is filled with wonderful insights.
  2. Vax Facts
    • Written by a pediatrician, we have used this book to educate ourselves on our approach to vaccines and how we communicate this approach. There is also good material for moms to reference during pregnancy.

Apps

  1. Made for This
    • This is related to the aforementioned book. The app is an incredible resource with insights into the growth of your baby, a directory of faith-based providers, and a collection of research-based articles to help you and your spouse prepare for labor, delivery and early health decisions.
  2. Flo
    • I used and considered a variety of pregnancy tracking apps and have found Flo to be the most user friendly both in cycle and ovulation tracking pre-pregnancy (we are an NFP family) and then during.

Birth Vision

  1. Thomas Family Birth Vision Template
    • Colin and I were guided to create this when we took the Bradley Birth Class while pregnant with our first. We have since used it for the rest of our births and it has been a wonderful tool to communicate our vision to our OBGYN and then align our approach with all involved with the birth.

All Things Early Sleep

  1. Hatch Sleep Sound Machine – Rest Go
  2. Taking Cara Babies Sleep Course
    • Tip: Putting our babies to sleep at the end of their wake windows, while they were still awake!, was revolutionary for all of our children. We don’t follow everything in this course (see our thoughts on sleep here) but it has great advice and insights, especially for first time parents.
  3. Maxi Cosi Iora Bassinet
    • Comment: We agonized for so long over getting a crib, and a bassinet, and if we needed a separate bassinet, or if the pack n play could work for the early months etc. At 3 AM, when our first was 2 months old, I “mom-shopped” on Amazon and bought this bassinet. I’m so glad I did. Our kids have slept in this for months. It’s easy to pack up and travel with, or move around the house (we transition our kids to the “baby cave” when they’re around 2 months old – see sleep post).
  4. Pack ‘n Play On the Go Playard
    • Comment: The bassinet is perfect for the beginning months at home but a pack ‘n play comes in handy as your babe grows bigger, and outgrows the bassinet. We started with a different brand of pack ‘n play but then were won over by Graco. It’s a great product and the price is hard to beat.
    • I do recommend investing in a mattress pad. We love the Hiccapop Pad.
  5. Arenti Baby Monitor
    • Comment: Security cameras work great too. Sounds odd but since the cameras are wifi enabled, they allow visibility via a mobile app without the need to worry about proximity to the monitor itself. For example, if a family member is watching the children and I’m running an errand, even if I’m across town, I’ll receive a notification if one of the children is waking up.
    • Note: Security cameras are a fraction of the price of baby monitors. So, if you’re comfortable using your phone and admitting to friends that you have security cameras in your kid’s room(s) – then I’d highly recommend trying the security camera.
  6. Cotton Crib Sheets
  7. Woolino 4 Season Baby & Toddler Sleep Sack
    • Comment: We didn’t know we needed this but thankfully, a friend did. She sent it for our first and we used it almost every day.
    • We have found that having two is helpful in case there’s an overnight accident however, it washes and dries well, so you could use one and be perfectly fine.
  8. Swaddles
    • I find it very helpful to have at least 5 swaddles. It sounds excessive but the breakdown is: 2 by the bedside/bassinet, 1 in the diaper bag, 1 in the car, 1 clean backup just in case.
    • Comment: I personally don’t swaddle with the swaddles. I use them as light blankets, burp clothes, nursing covers when in a pinch, and a clean place to lay my babe down on when on the go.

Carseats, Strollers, and Things that Go

  1. Uppababy Vista V2 + Mesa V2 Infant Travel System
    • Comment: Yes, it is an investment. From our experience, it is worth it. This stroller has traveled across the USA with us and then in and out of multiple hospitals and clinics for our son’s care. It is easy to use, easy to store, and made incredibly well. If possible, ask this to be a group gift – you’ll use it daily, for years to come!
  2. Doona Carseat
    • Comment: We purchased the Doona for our daughter when our son was diagnosed with cancer. It allowed family and friends who were helping with her care while we were in the hospital to more easily travel with her. It can fit in any car, transitions effortlessly to a stroller, and the material is quality.
  3. ArtiPoppe Baby Carrier
    • We pulled the trigger on this for our third and it has been terrific. It wears well, cleans well, and is versatile. It also allows baby wearing as early as 7lbs. It’s by far the most comfortable carrier we’ve tried for both mom and baby.

Clothes, Clothes, Clothes

  1. Burt’s Bees Baby – Sizes run large.
  2. GAP Baby & Toddler – Darling, made well, and lasts for all the babies.
  3. Carter’s Baby Oshkosh B’gosh – Great selection and made well.

Detergent – We have had success homemaking a gentle detergent, which has been great for our skin-sensitive kiddos (see “homemade” post), but Dreft has also been reliable and necessary for all of our newborns. We also like the BlueLand brand.

Shoes

  1. Burt’s Bee’s Booties
    • These stay on so well – better than socks while still keeping their tiny toes warm. I would wait to progress to other shoes until your little one shows signs of pulling up.

Feeding

  1. Amma Cocoon Nursing Cover
    • Comment: You only need one, or two if you want a backup/one in the diaper bag, but it’s true that it washes well and is extraordinarily breathable.
  2. Honest Company Nipple Cream
    • This helped tremendously when learning the nursing dance with our oldest. As an encouragement, this was not necessary for our second two but every babe is different. If you’re hopeful and able to nurse, this will come in handy during the beginning months.
  3. Elvie Stride
    • We relied on the Stride when our oldest was receiving his cancer care and I was pumping for our newborn daughter. The pump was reliable and the ability to wear it handsfree was essential. Prayerfully, you will not find yourself in a similar situation as us, but the handsfree element is a game-changer in a home setting. Just think, you can chase one child while pumping for the other. Motherhood!
    • Tip: This and breastmilk storage bags should be covered either entirely or partially by your insurance.
    • Comment: The Elvie also allows for more discreet and simple pumping, which is helpful for pumping on the go/at work etc.
  4. Medela Hand Pump
    • Tip: If birthing at a hospital, this will most likely be included in the pumping kit they can bring you. I have found that hand pumping is the best method of “power pumping.” It doesn’t take long and it allows me to massage while pumping one side, which yields more.
  5. Spectra Pump
    • We mostly used the Elvie but it is helpful be able to “power pump” with an option such as the Spectra.
  6. Boon Nursh Bottles
    • Comment: All of our children have taken to the Boon Nursh Bottles. I find them easy to clean and easy to travel with.
  7. Philips Avent Electric Sterilizer & Dryer
    • Comment: I did not think we needed this. We boiled the bottles for our son but when we moved into the hospital and we had to give my milk to our daughter in bottles, we needed something that could be “portable.” We found this to use in our son’s oncology/BMT room. It cleans incredibly well. It is also simple. Even now that we’re back home, I find myself using this to sanitize pumping equipment for our third.
  8. Pacifiers
    • Our firstborn was offended that we dared to offer a pacifier. Our daughter loved hers. Our third was not as appalled as our first but has politely declined every attempt. He prefers to self-sooth, which we are all for. Honestly, a babe not taking a pacifier is ideal from our experience however, taking a pacifier has its advantages. Our favorite, and the one our daughter liked best, was FRIGG. As parents, we appreciate the materials – and the cute designs.
  9. Dish Soap
    • Dapple has come in handy and has provided a reliable, safe “clean” on all of our baby bottles and pump equipment. The wipes especially are fantastic for “on-the-go” cleaning.

We start introducing our Littles to solids between 4-6 months. If you want to include early eating accessories in your baby list, here is what we have found to be most helpful around our home.

Diapering

  1. Backpack
  2. Changing Pad
    • I’ve found it is easiest to change our children on beds, on the floor, in cars etc. The list can go on. And, unfortunately, not every place is Buccee’s with a separate changing table for children (I – along with every other momma out there – have some wild stories about where and how we’ve had to change dirty diapers), so having a packable, easy to clean changing pad has been a game changer – both at home and on the go.
  3. Diaper Cream
    • When our son had low platelets, first from his cancer and then from his recovering bone marrow, we discovered Critic-Aid Clear Antifungal. It was the only cream that helped repair his skin and fight against moisture that could not only worsen the rash, but lead to a yeast infection. We have since used this, and only this, on our other two and it is incredible how quickly diaper rashes vanish. It is not conventional and you might get funny looks from family and friends if they see it on your baby registry but trust me, it is worth it. It also lasts a long time!
  4. Diapers
    • We haven’t tried them all but we have tried a lot. Below are our favorites.
  5. Wipes
  6. Hand Sanitizer

Bath Time & Skin Care

  1. Bathtub
  2. Soap & Shampoo
    • Tubby Todd Hair + Body Wash
    • Dr. Eddie’s Happy Cappy – Our first and third had baby acne, and cradle cap. We tried this at the suggestion of our pediatrician for our third and it worked well and quickly. I would strongly recommend using as directed, and sparingly. A little goes a long way and newborns don’t need something this intense frequently.
    • Mustela Baby Wash
  3. Moisturizer/Eczema Treatment
    • Comment: All of our children have sensitive skin but our firstborn in particular went through a rough bout with eczema. We ended up treating him with hydrocortisone cream at the recommendation of a dermatologist but the following creams have been crucial to keeping our kids’ skin healthy and repaired.
  4. Bath Towel
    • Comment: I would recommend using a regular bath towel. While it doesn’t have the cute design, the size helps keep newborns wrapped from head to toe in warmth. The oversized nature of a regular towel doubles as a blanket, which we discovered makes our third very happy.
  5. Bath Thermometer
  6. Washcloths
  7. Nail File
    • Comment: I could never bring myself to use clippers – and then we could not use clippers on our firstborn because a micro-tear could have led to an infection when he was in the thick of his battle with cancer, so we find a powerful nail file that I still use to this day!

First Aid & Vitamins

  1. Vicks SpeedRead Digital Thermometer
    • We used this for Ro when we needed to check his temperature at every diaper change. We’ve found it to be reliable and the most accurate (even compared to some at the hospital).
  2. Tubby Todd Chest Rub
    • This has been a more natural and safe way to help our kids get over stuffy nose and coughs. They also love the massage!
  3. Welly First Aid Kit
    • Helpful to have on hand!
  4. Active Skin Repair Kids First Aid Spray
  5. Mommy’s Bliss Organic Baby Vitamin D Drops
    • This was recommended by our pediatrician but also by Ro’s oncology dietician.
  6. Mommy’s Bliss Baby Multivitamin + Iron
    • Another recommendation by our pediatrician.

Early Play

Keep it simple to start. Ask for books for baby shower gifts and add to the toy collection as your babe grows. It’s easy to become inundated with teethers, small trinkets and other amusements. Purchase age appropriate toys as your little one grows but don’t worry about stocking up before they arrive.

  1. Lovevery
  2. Baby Bjorn Bouncer
    • Toy Bar – This does actually help and, from our experience, is worth it.

May your day be filled with what is beautiful and good ~ Caitlyn