The baby registry list & checklist
Everything you need for the first months, with the top-scoring pick and the best-value pick for each. Tick things off as you go: your checklist saves in this browser.
Must-have for the first weeks · Nice to have helpful, not essential · Later needed around 4 to 12 months · Often skipped many parents say they didn't need it. What a newborn actually needs · What parents regret buying · Postpartum recovery checklist (for you)
Sleep
- Nice to have88Newton bassinetTop score · About $29974Dream on Me KarleyBest value · About $75All 9 →
- Must-have87Emily organic mattressTop score · About $29981Babyletto Pure CoreBest value · About $199All 8 →
- Must-have86Babyletto YuzuTop score · Premium84Carter's by DaVinci ColbyBest value · About $249All 6 →
- Must-have87Burt's Bees crib sheetTop score · $15-25-All 6 →
- Must-have84HALO SleepSack SwaddleTop score · About $3582Burt's Bees BeekeeperBest value · About $25All 8 →
- Nice to have87Yogasleep DohmTop score · About $5082Momcozy portable sound machineBest value · About $25All 5 →
- Nice to have84Infant Optics DXR-8 PROTop score · About $19983VTech VM819Best value · About $60All 9 →
- Nice to have87Newton travel cribTop score · Mid-range82Graco Pack 'n PlayBest value · About $65-75All 6 →
On the go
- Must-have85Nuna PIPA rxTop score · About $55076Joie RueBest value · About $170All 12 →
- Must-have83Mockingbird 3.0Top score · Mid-range-All 8 →
- Must-have80Tula toddler carrierTop score · About $17974Infantino Flip 4-in-1Best value · About $30All 10 →
- Must-have78Itzy Ritzy Boss PlusTop score · Premium73Miss Fong bagBest value · About $50All 8 →
- Nice to have84Nalakai ring slingTop score · About $9078KeaBabies wrapBest value · About $30-33All 11 →
- Nice to have80Ergobaby Metro+Top score · Mid-range-All 9 →
- Later84Chicco OneFit LX ClearTexTop score · About $33082Graco Extend2FitBest value · About $240All 11 →
Feeding
- Must-have85Pigeon coated glass bottleTop score · About $42 for 278Avent Anti-Colic AirFreeBest value · About $8All 9 →
- Must-have86Gerber prefoldsTop score · About $15 for 10-All 5 →
- Must-have89Spectra S1Top score · Varies-All 9 →
- Nice to have84Boppy Nursing PillowTop score · Varies78Momcozy nursing pillowBest value · BudgetAll 5 →
- Nice to have80Papablic SafeguardPlusTop score · About $29974Munchkin Steam GuardBest value · Under $20All 9 →
- Often skipped81First Years Gentle WarmthTop score · About $30-All 6 →
- Later82Abiie BeyondTop score · About $23877IKEA AntilopBest value · About $19All 9 →
- Later86Bumkins Grip DishTop score · About $9-All 6 →
- Later86WeeSprout spoonsTop score · About $10 for 3-All 5 →
- Later84Pura Kiki sippyTop score · About $4077Munchkin Gentle TransitionBest value · About $7All 7 →
Diapering
- Must-have84Parasol diapersTop score · About $0.40 per diaper74Huggies Snug & DryBest value · About $0.26 per diaperAll 15 →
- Must-have86WaterWipesTop score · About 4-6¢ per wipe84Kirkland wipesBest value · Under 3¢ per wipeAll 10 →
- Must-have87Triple PasteTop score · About $1082Aquaphor 3-in-1Best value · About $8All 9 →
- Must-have80Skip Hop ProntoTop score · About $30-All 5 →
- Nice to have78Munchkin STEP pailTop score · About $6073Dekor EKOBest value · About $40All 5 →
Bath, health and comfort
- Must-have84Pipette Shampoo + WashTop score · Budget82ATTITUDE 2-in-1Best value · BudgetAll 9 →
- Must-have81Skip Hop Moby 3-StageTop score · About $50-6578First Years Sure ComfortBest value · About $20All 10 →
- Must-have87Frida Quick Read RectalTop score · About $14-1686Vicks SpeedReadBest value · About $15All 6 →
- Must-have88NoseFrida SnotSuckerTop score · About $2085Haakaa silicone bulbBest value · About $11All 5 →
- Must-have83haakaa nail setTop score · About $1982NailFrida filesBest value · About $6All 6 →
- Nice to have85Honest Organic BalmTop score · Premium80Aveeno Baby DailyBest value · BudgetAll 8 →
- Nice to have89Avent SoothieTop score · About $2 each-All 11 →
- Nice to have82Canopy Nursery 2.0Top score · About $16081AquaoasisBest value · BudgetAll 7 →
- Nice to have81Levoit Core 400STop score · About $22080Levoit Core 300-PBest value · About $100All 6 →
Clothing
For you: postpartum recovery
- Must-have82Cynpel peri bottleTop score · About $9-All 5 →
- Must-have84Kindred Bravely underwearTop score · About $37-43 for 5-All 6 →
- Must-have85Bravado Body SilkTop score · About $5282Auden nursing braBest value · About $17All 5 →
- Must-have82Curity maternity padsTop score · About $1179Amazon Basics postpartum padsBest value · About $12All 5 →
- Must-have81Gentlepak perineal paksTop score · About $21-All 5 →
- Nice to have82KeaBabies organic padsTop score · About $1782Momcozy ultra-thin padsBest value · About $14 for 120All 5 →
- Nice to have82Earth Mama nipple butterTop score · About $14 for 2 oz81Medela PurelanBest value · About $8All 5 →
- Nice to have80Frida Mom binderTop score · About $30-All 6 →
- Nice to have90Haakaa silicone pumpTop score · About $13-All 5 →
Play and later
- Nice to have86Lovevery Play GymTop score · $140-15074Baby Einstein Kickin' TunesBest value · About $45-50All 6 →
- Nice to have82BabyBjörn Bouncer BlissTop score · Premium74Ingenuity Keep CozyBest value · About $50All 5 →
- Nice to have76Maxi-Cosi CassiaTop score · About $20073Ingenuity Comfort 2 GoBest value · About $75All 7 →
- Nice to have76Pehr play matTop score · About $9074Tiny Love Super MatBest value · About $50All 5 →
- Nice to have84Nursery Works SleepytimeTop score · Under $50077Storkcraft HoopBest value · About $250All 6 →
- Later87Itzy Ritzy teethersTop score · Budget86Buzzy Bee teetherBest value · About $7All 9 →
- Nice to have85Skwish rattleTop score · About $2182Lalo Art CardsBest value · About $12All 11 →
- Later88Toddleroo stairs gateTop score · About $50-All 10 →
Picks are the highest Cradle Score in each category and, where different, the Good-or-better product with the strongest value score. Scores change as we find new evidence; the live site always has the latest. Quantities are common starting points, not rules. Always follow safe-sleep guidance from the AAP and your pediatrician. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Registry questions
What do I need for a newborn?
The true must-haves are a car seat, a safe sleep space (crib or bassinet with a firm, flat mattress and fitted sheet), diapers and wipes, a few outfits and sleep sacks, and feeding basics. Everything else can wait until you know what your baby likes.
What should I put on my baby registry?
Start with the must-haves above, then the bigger items friends and family like to give: a stroller, a baby carrier and a monitor. Leave the things that depend on your baby, like bottles and toys, until after birth.
When should I start buying baby stuff?
Most families start a registry in the second trimester and aim to have the essentials ready by about 36 weeks. You'll need an installed car seat to bring your baby home from the hospital. See our month-by-month guide to when to buy baby stuff.
Not sure when to buy each thing? See when to buy baby stuff, month by month.