Baby Registry Checklist: And 9 Places Parents Love (2024)

Whether you are expecting already or still in the planning stages, setting up a baby registry list is both exciting and nerve-racking. While you get to plan what you would like for your baby, you might worry about what to put on your list.

Do you add the more expensive items such as a stroller, or do you fill the registry with smaller items such as onesies? How can you be sure you won’t forget anything important? What items do you really need, and what can you do without?

This baby registry checklist will cover everything you need to know.

What Is a Baby Registry?

A baby registry is a list of items that a parent-to-be would like to have for their child or children.

The registry is usually hosted on a website. When somebody has purchased an item through the registry, it is removed from the list. This prevents more than one person from buying the same item.

If you want more than one of a particular item, you can include the number you would like. The registry will remove one at a time, as they are purchased.

The items can be delivered to your home or to the home of the buyer. This way you can share your registry with people all around the world, and they don’t have to worry about shipping an item to you.

Do You Need a Baby Registry Checklist?

A checklist will not only help you keep track of what you have already added to your registry, it will also ensure you don’t forget to include the essentials.

Free Printable Baby Registry Checklist PDF

Where to Make a Baby Registry

Your baby registry can be hosted on the website of a specific store, such as Walmart or Amazon, or on a baby registry website, such as BabyList.com. There are pros and cons for each.

We went through the registration and set-up process on multiple sites and these, in no particular order, are our top nine options. Information is based on what we could find as a registrant.

1. Target

To set up a Target baby registry, you have to first set up a customer account at Target.com.

By setting up a Target account you automatically become a member of The Circle Program. This program provides you with 5 percent off your Target purchases on your birthday, a credit of 1 percent of all purchases at Target to be redeemed in Target, and hundreds of money-off deals.

Once your account is set up, the baby registry page walks you through setting up and sharing your registry.

The benefits of a Target baby registry include:

• Welcome kit: The kit has coupons and samples for you and your baby and is valued at $100.
• Finish your list: In the last eight weeks before your registered due date, you’ll get a 15 percent discount on any items left on your list.
• Returns: They can be made up to 1 year after the purchase date.
• Other sites: Items from other websites can be added to your baby registry.

2. Amazon

To set up an Amazon.com baby registry, you must first have an Amazon account. It’s easy to create one using basic information. It only takes a few minutes.

The benefits of an Amazon baby registry include:

• Welcome Box: A box of items worth $35.
• Group gifting: Allows a group of people to buy an item together, which is great for those bigger items on the list.
• Returns: Free returns for 365 days.
• Other sites: Add items from any site via an Amazon browser extension.
• Gift cards: Any gift cards available on Amazon.com can be added as a registry item.
• Registry inspiration: Recommended product lists.
• Baby registry checklist: Has a baby registry checklist to ensure you don’t miss any important items.
• App: An Amazon registry app allows you to manage your registry on the go.

3. Buy Buy Baby

To set up a Buy Buy Baby registry, you must first set up a BuyBuyBaby.com account.

Once your account is set up, the baby registry page walks you through setting up and sharing your registry.

The pros of setting up a registry through Buy Buy Baby include:

• Welcome kit: The kit has coupons and samples.
• Returns: They can be made up to 1 year after the purchase date.
• Other sites: Items from other websites can be added to your baby registry.
• Free shipping: After your due date, Buy Buy Baby will provide free shipping on any purchase over $1,500, excluding taxes.
• Price match promise: Buy Buy Baby will match any lower price you find for an item on your registry.
• Consultants: In-store registry consultants are available to help you build your list.
• Registry analyzer: This helps ensure there are items at a range of price points on your list.
• Baby registry checklist: They offer a baby registry checklist to ensure you don’t miss any important items.

4. Walmart

First, you’ll set up a Walmart.com account. Once your account is set up, the baby registry page will instruct you on how to set up and share your registry.

The perks of setting up a Walmart baby registry include:

• Welcome kit: The kit has samples and coupons and is valued at $40.
• Returns: They can be made up to 1 year after the purchase date.
• Next day delivery: Available on purchase of $35 or more.
• Price match guarantee: If you find a lower price locally, Walmart credits you with an eGift card for the difference.
• App: Walmart has a baby registry app so you can manage your list on the go.

5. Crate & Barrel

You don’t need a Crate & Barrel account to set up your baby registry. All you have to do is a quick registry sign-up that will include listing your name, email, date of the event, and some other pertinent details. The site offers simple-to-follow instructions so you can set up and share your registry.

The benefits of a Crate & Barrel/Crate & Kids baby registry include:

• Group gifting: Several people can choose to buy an item together.
• Coupon: You receive a 15 percent off coupon that can be used after your expected due date.
• Baby registry checklist: They offer a baby registry checklist to ensure you don’t miss any important items.
• Design service: Book an appointment with an in-store consultant for help designing your baby’s room.
• App: Crate & Kids has a baby registry app so you can manage your list on the go.

6. IKEA

Before setting up a baby registry, you have to set up an IKEA Family account.

Once your account is set up, the registry page walks you through setting up and sharing your registry.

The perks of setting up an IKEA baby registry include:

• Returns: They can be made up to 1 year after the purchase date.
• App: An IKEA app allows you to manage your baby registry on the go.
• Purchases: Items can be purchased online or in-store and shipped to any U.S. address.

7. Pottery Barn Kids

You must set up a Pottery Barn account before you can build your baby registry. Once your account is set up, the baby registry page will tell you step-by-step how to set up and share your registry.

The benefits of a Pottery Barn Kids baby registry include:

• Finish your list: In the last eight weeks before your registered due date, you’ll get a 20 percent discount on any items left on your list.
• Other sites: Items from Pottery Barn Kids, Modern Baby, Williams Sonoma, West Elm, and Pottery Barn can be added to your registry.
• Consultants: Book a private registry appointment in-store and get help choosing items for your list.

8. BabyList.com

The baby registry page will get you through setting up and sharing your registry in a few easy steps.

The perks of a BabyList.com registry are:

• Special gifts option: You can set up gift options for things such as home-cooked meals, walking the dog, or anything else you would find useful. Options are not listed — you create them yourself.
• Cash gifts: You can ask for cash and the gift-giver can pay any amount by credit card or debit card to BabyList.com. BabyList then pays the money into any bank account you specify.
• Finish your list: In the last 60 days before your registered due date, you’ll get a 15 percent discount. The discount applies only to items that can be purchased directly from BabyList.com and not to all items on your list.
• Returns: They can be made up to 1 year after the purchase date.
• Other sites: Items from other websites can be added to your baby registry.
• Baby registry checklist: They have a baby registry checklist to ensure you don’t miss any important items.

9. MyRegistry.com

Set up a baby registry account with MyRegistry.com and the page will prompt you through setting up and sharing your list.

The benefits include:

• Cash gifts: You can ask for cash and the gift giver pays the designated amount by credit card or debit card to My Registry.com. MyRegistry.com then pays the money into any bank account you specify.
• Finish your list: In the last eight weeks before your registered due date, you’ll get a15 percent discount on any items left on your list.
• Returns: They can be made up to 1 year after the purchase date
• Other sites: Baby registries from other websites can be added to create a single baby registry.
• Browser extension: Download the MyRegistry.com browser extension and you can add items from any website.
• App: The app has bar code scanning technology which allows you to add an item from a physical store.

What Should You Put On Your Baby Registry Checklist?

Once you begin looking at baby items, it’s easy to become almost instantly overwhelmed. You will read and hear advice about what you need and what you don’t and probably end up not knowing what you should put on your list.

To help you out, we’ve used the personal experience of dozens of caregivers to bring you the ultimate baby registry checklist.

1. Clothes

Avoid newborn size clothes for the most part, although you may want one or two on hand just in case your baby is on the small side. Why don’t you want a lot of newborn clothes? Your baby will grow out of them in a couple of weeks, or if you have a large baby they may not fit at all.

Instead, ask for baby clothes in both 0 to 3 months and 3 to 6-month sizes for each item.

Essentials

• 8 onesies with envelope-style necks and snap fastenings. Get long- or short-sleeved depending on the season.
• 8 sleep and playsuits, which are also called footie pajamas.
• 4 pairs of leggings or elastic waist pants.
• 4 tops such as t-shirts or long sleeves, depending on the season.
• 4 sleeper gowns.
• 3 light sweaters or zip-up hoodies.
• 3 caps or hats.
• 5 swaddling blankets.
• 8 burping cloths.
• 8 bibs.
• 1 snowsuit or fleece suit with mittens and feet (for a winter baby).
• Laundry detergent for babies.

Nice To Have

• One or two special outfits.

2. Breast Feeding

Essentials

• Nursing bras.
• Nursing pads.
• Nipple cream.

If you plan to express milk and feed your baby you’ll also need:

• Breast pump and accessories.
• Milk storage bags or containers.
• Steam sterilizer bags.
• 4 baby bottles.
• Bottle brush.

Nice To Have

• Nursing pillow.
• A comfortable chair near your baby’s crib.

3. Formula Feeding

These are the minimum requirements for bottle feeding. Be aware that the nipples for bottles come in all shapes and sizes, and it might take a few tries to find one that works for your baby.

Essentials

• 8 bottles at least.
• Sterilizer.
• Bottlebrush.
• Formula.
• 10 bibs.

Nice To Have

• Drying rack.
• Bottle storage.

4. Diapering – Disposables

Newborn diapers are available, but it’s difficult to know how many you will need. Our advice is to ask for the number of boxes on the list and supplement them if you need to, rather than asking for too many and not using them.

Essentials

• 3 boxes of newborn diapers.
• 3 boxes of size 1 diapers.
• 6 boxes of size 2 diapers.
• Unscented baby wipes or 8 washcloths.
• Diaper cream.

Nice To Have

• Diaper bag.
• Changing pad.
• Used diaper pails or the Diaper Genie.

5. Diapering – Cloth Diapers

If you plan to use cloth diapers in the long-term, it’s still worth considering using disposables for the first few weeks. You’ll be exhausted and recovering from childbirth during this time. Washing diapers is a big job you may want to avoid.

Since “all-size” cloth diapers are usually too large for a newborn, so you’ll need 16 newborn size cloth diapers on top of the others listed here if you don’t use disposables those first few weeks.

Essentials

• Unscented baby wipes or 8 washcloths.
• Diaper cream.
• Diaper pail.
• 36 cloth diapers.
• Waterproof covers.
• Wet bag.
• Laundry detergent that is safe for cloth diapers.

Nice To Have

• Drying rack.
• Diaper sprayer.
• Diaper bag.
• Changing pad.

6. Bathing

Essentials

• 1 baby tub.
• Baby shampoo.
• Baby body wash.
• 6 baby washcloths.
• 2 towels.
• Baby hairbrush or comb.

Nice To Have

• Bath toys.

7. Sleeping

While it’s nice to have a bassinet or a similar item for your newborn, they can sleep in the crib right away.

Essentials

• Crib.
• 1 crib mattress.
• 4 fitted crib sheets.

Nice To Have

• 4 waterproof crib pads/sheets.
• Bassinet, but you will need at least 4 fitted sheets to go with it.
• Baby monitor.
• Night light.

8. Travel

If you have a car, you will need a rear-facing car seat and possibly a sunshade for your car windows.

Essentials

• Baby stroller, preferably one with a canopy for sun protection.
• Rear-facing car seat.

Nice To Have

• Baby sling.
• Travel system.
• Stroller netting.
• Stroller hooks.
• Footmuff for the stroller.
• Portable playard for at home and travel.
• Extra car seat bases for each vehicle.
• Travel first-aid kit.
• Stroller cover.

9. Health, Safety, and Wellness

Essentials

• Baby nail trimmer.
• Baby thermometer.
• Baby toothbrush and toothpaste.
• First-aid kit.

Nice To Have

• Nasal aspirator.
• Humidifier for baby.

10. Playtime

Play is important for your child’s development so play gear is as important as any other type of baby gear. Look for toys that serve more than one purpose, such as a rattle that is also a teether.

Basics

• Cloth books.
• Teething toy.
• Rattle.
• Bouncer or chair.
• One or two small soft toys.
• Soft ball.

Extras

• Board books.
• Baby mobile.
• Activity center.
• Stacking blocks.
• Play mat.
• Baby gym.
• Nesting cups.

What Not to Put on Baby Registry Checklist

There are some items nearly every new parent thinks they’ll need, but end up using rarely, if at all.

Shoes

Baby shoes are cute, but your little one doesn’t need shoes until they begin walking.

Scratch Mitts

Not all babies scratch at their faces, and a pair of socks on the hands work just as well.

Changing Table

It’s tempting to get a fancy changing table. However, once your baby is here you may find you won’t want to go to their room for every diaper change. If you do choose a changing table, pick one that does double duty as a chest of drawers.

Bedding

Pillows, quilts, sleep positioning cushions, and crib bumpers all increase the risk of SIDS ⁽¹⁾. Do not place any bedding, toys, or other items in your baby’s crib or bassinet.

Bottle Warmer

Heating a bottle in a bowl of warm water is just as quick as using a bottle warmer. Plus, you won’t have to give up any of your precious counter space.

Ready for a Family Expansion

Setting up a baby registry should be fun and not something that causes you undue stress or anxiety.

Fill your baby registry with our essentials. Then add a few of the nice-to-haves because every new parent deserves to have something they don’t need, but would like. When you’re all set, sit back and enjoy waiting for your little one to arrive.