Comin in hot at 38 weeks this week! Figuratively speaking, as in this home-stretch of pregnancy really snuck up on us. But also literally, in that its hot AF here in San Diego – this mama is sweaty as all get out. Praises for solar panels and AC thats crankin’ round the clock.
Would you be surprised to learn that I started creating Baby Wilson’s Registry within a week of finding out I was pregnant? I was that type-A over-organized mama already at 5 weeks pregnant. It did help that two of my best girlfriends were 6 and 9 weeks ahead of me in their own first-time pregnancies, they have paved the way! And truly helped with so much of the research. Being in Pediatric Nursing, too, has given me some real-life examples of what products work and what I’ll actually use.
Tay and I are NEW parents. We felt overwhelmed by the gigantic pool of baby products on the market. What did we actually need? What would Baby Wilson like? What items are splurge-worthy and what items could we save on? These were some of the questions running through our minds.
While so much thought, research, and consideration has gone into this Baby Registry, most of these products have been chosen solely based on recommendations from fellow mamas, nurses, and friends! Mama readers – I hope you recognize some of your own personal favorites on this list!
My hope for sharing our Registry Essentials in this Blog Post is that you’ll find some of your own research slightly streamlined. Deciding what your baby will need before you even meet them is no easy task! Let this roundup provide some essential product suggestions, but know that every baby is different!
Tay and I registered through Babylist, which we loved for its conclusive database of just about any site possible. It didn’t matter if we were registering for an item from a big name like Target or Walmart, or a small, mother-owned boutique, Babylist showcased it all! Additionally, for those big name items, it would list a price comparison between vendors, which helped our friends and family get Baby Wilson the best deal!
Check out the compiled roundup below, and click on the photo to take you to a list of product links. Or scroll down further to read about/shop each product one by one!
DIAPER PAIL | CHANGING PAD | CAR SEAT/STROLLER | DIAPER BAG | BOUNCER | BLANKET | CONVERTIBLE CRIB (SIMILAR) | PUSH BIKE | MONITOR | LOUNGER | SWADDLE | GLIDER | BOTTLES | TEETHER | SOUND MACHINE/NIGHTLIGHT | HIGH CHAIR | NURSING PILLOW | HAAKA BREAST PUMP |
DIAPER PAIL | The Munchkin STEP Diaper Pail is powered by Arm & Hammer so you know its #1 in odor control! I love the minimalist white design, and its self-sealing system. This pail comes with bags and a lavender-scented baking soda puck for added freshness. A nursery must-have next to your changing table.
CHANGING PAD | The Keekaroo Peanut Changer is certainly a splurge-worthy item to add on your Baby Registry. While I’m a fan of the neutral vanilla color, we mainly registered for this product because of the material its made of! A slip-resistant, silicone-like material that is impermeable to fluids, wipes down easy, doesn’t require any additional pads, and limits bacteria growth! Win win!
CAR SEAT/STROLLER | The Maxi Cosi 5-in-1 Zelia Max travel system includes the Mico 30 Infant Car Seat, and a convertible bassinet/pram setting for baby’s early weeks. The stroller is for a child up to 50lbs, and has rear and forward facing seat options. One-hand portfolio folding (still getting the hang of this, to be honest, but its lightweight!) Unfortunately, the ‘Nomad Sand’ performance fabric that we have is no longer in stock, but linked here is the same travel system offered in other colors.
DIAPER BAG | I am so excited to use this Maeden Carryall Convertible Tote! The prettiest, and most practical diaper bag for trendy mamas. 13 pockets in total – 2 of which are insulated for beverages/bottles! Backpack straps or crossbody or shoulder strap options. Rings to attach to the stroller, and a smooth easy to clean exterior.
BOUNCER | This Baby Bjorn Bouncer was recommended to us by SO many mamas. I imagine Baby Wilson in this thing quite often, whenever I feel like I’m needing that third or fourth set of hands, I can place baby in this and grab a cup of coffee, hop in the shower, or check off a quick to-do from the list. This cotton/jersery bouncer is so soft, and looks like a coordinated piece of furniture in our home!
BLANKET | A sweet, sleepy statement blanket. Just as pretty for a photo op, as it is soft n cuddly for baby snuggles. Made of organic cotton, and is machine washable.
CONVERTIBLE CRIB | The Babyletto Gelato 4-in-1 convertible crib in Washed Natural is a focal point of our nursery, and one that will grow with Baby Wilson. The mattress frame adjusts to two different heights, and the crib converts to a toddler bed, and eventually a twin bed frame. Babyletto offers a waterproof, breathable mattress for purchase with this crib, but we purchased a similar, more affordable mattress by Graco from Target.
PUSH BIKE | I get that Baby Wilson won’t be riding on this wooden balance walker for another year but how stinkin cute is it!? Purely just a fun, decor piece in the nursery at this current point in time, but I imagine Baby W rolling down our hallway on this push bike every afternoon as they head into the toddler years. A plus – the rubber wheels don’t make any noise, and won’t scratch our floors.
MONITOR | There are so many baby monitors on the market. We opted for the Motorola® MBP36XL Portable 5″ Video Baby Monitor in White for its wireless technology, its battery powered camera and rechargeable portable camera, and its 2-way radio communication. We love the 1000 feet of service range, and an option to add in a second camera once baby #2 comes along.
LOUNGER | The Dock-A-Tot infant lounger was another highly recommended registry essential item by several mamas and nurses. We love its portability and lightweight fabric for baby W up until 8 months age. A great space for supervised lounging, tummy time, and time under their wooden play gym. This lounger and the SnuggleMe lounger are both fantastic options worth adding to your registry.
SWADDLE | The softest swaddle! We love the camel color in this Copper Pearl Swaddle. Its almost 4 feet square in size, and uber stretchy; so we know it will tightly wrap newborn Baby W, but grow with them into toddlerhood! Available in several colors. Already packed and ready in our hospital go-bag!
GLIDER | A nursery is not complete without a designated space to nurse your baby, read endless books, snuggle for hours, and pump! The Babyletto Toco Upholstered Swivel Glider and Stationary Ottoman in Performance Cream is perfect for us. You know I love a good performance fabric, especially in such a high traffic area. Water repellant and stain resistant. Bring on the breastmilk leaking and sippy cup spills! This glider is also low-profile and surprisingly suitable for small nurseries like ours.
BOTTLES | While I plan on primarily breastfeeding, I know that pumping and bottle feeds will be a must when I return to work full-time. And an opportunity to give Tay some bonding time with Baby W via bottle feeds! These glass bottles and wide breast-shaped nipples have been recommended to us as the most natural way to bottle feed. We were also advised toward glass bottles over plastic for their chemical-free, easy to clean, and scratch-resistant features.
TEETHER | Boy or Girl, Sophie La Giraffe seems to be an all-time fave for all teething babies! My MIL almost bought us two of these as she knew a friend who needed one at home and one in the car for their child! We’ll see how hooked Baby W is on this cutie, but we love that its 100% rubber and chemical-free!
SOUND MACHINE/NIGHTLIGHT | There is no denying a newborn loves the shh-ing of white noise to soothe them to sleep. And that a nightlight is a must-have for midnight feeds and diaper changes in the nursery. We love that the Hatch Rest is a sound machine, night light, and time-to-rise trainer all in one! Linked to an app on our phones, Tay is already having so much fun practicing setting the mood in the nursery with the light color and sound options. I’m excited to use its time-to-rise feature once Baby W is older and ready to learn sleep/wake times based on the color of the light! Think red light is sleep, green light is wake.
HIGH CHAIR | Another Baby Registry essential item we won’t be using for a few months, but we love this high chair for a few reasons! Its light oak wood and white blends in with our existing dining table chairs! The chair is designed to grow with your child, from high chair to booster seat to table chair. An easy-to-clean seat, and a removable, food-grade tray.
NURSING PILLOW | I am a new mama, and that means new to breastfeeding. The Boppy Pillow was so highly recommended as a must-have for breastfeeding. Its curved shape supports good body mechanics, multiple feeding positions for baby, and encourages a better latch during feedings. Also a great support pillow to help prop up an infant that isn’t sitting upright independently just yet. This grid print cover is available on Amazon, among several others. The pillow itself is machine washable, but we also purchased a waterproof-cover to go under the printed pillow cover.
HAAKA BREAST PUMP | A silicone, award-winning, manual breast pump sent from heaven! Endless reviews from friends and social media raving about this breast pump as a must-have for breastfeeding mamas. Using natural continuous suction, squeeze and place on the opposite breast from the side your infant is feeding from as a way to catch leaked milk. Don’t waste a single drop of that liquid gold! Also a nice option to manually express milk should a clogged duct or engorgement issues arise. Could not be more portable or affordable.
Mamas, do you see some of your favorites on this list? Share in the comments below, or come weigh in your opinion on Instagram.
New parents, I hope this list has simplified and streamlined some of your seemingly endless research as you create a registry for your little one. Will be sure to report back in a few months postpartum to share my own personal experiment with these products.
This blog post contains affiliate links via RewardStyle. By shopping these links, you are supporting New Cotton Blend at no additional cost to you . Please note that I only recommend products that I personally use; and I always have my readers’ best interest at heart. Maternity Photography by Whitney Norko.
