10 Items Not to Forget on Your Baby Registry

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Four weeks ago, we had our second baby – a little boy named Wallace. We’re over the moon to be a family of four. Not having had a newborn in the house for five years (our oldest just started Kindergarten), I’ve been re-remembering what it’s like to have a newborn at home as well as the items we’re constantly using. As such, there are items I’d recommend new (or experienced) mamas/parents register for their second or third baby. In this post, I go into a lot greater detail about what to include in a full, first-time registry. If you’re having a sprinkle for a second little one or are looking for some final items to add, here are 10 items not to forget on your baby registry!

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1. Hatch Rest Go (Mini Portable Sound Machine)

We’ve used this Hatch mini every single day on Wallace’s car seat, stroller, and/or alongside him on the couch during daytime naps. We have the larger Hatch upstairs in our room; the light is perfection for nighttime feedings and the sound machine is lovely (I use it when there’s no baby in the room…), but the Rest Go is a great portable and rechargeable option. Plus…cutest colors ever!

2. Muslin Swaddle Blankets

I actually recommend adding two or three muslin swaddle blanket packs as a set of items not to forget to add to your baby registry. For us, these double (and triple) as swaddles, blankies (in stroller or on couch), burb cloths, and car seat covers (can drape over the seat base when he’s in the stroller). On any given day, we have about three in rotation. They’re super soft and wash well, too!

3. Portable Changing Mat

A portable changing mat like this one or, even simpler, this one, is something you’ll want. We have a changing station downstairs and upstairs, and we use this one in the living room. It’s great to have a basic, lightweight changing mat to throw in the diaper bag.

4. Diapers and Wipes…Items Definitely Not to Forget on Your Baby Registry

These are (hopefully) obvious, but it’s important to include diapers of various sizes on your baby registry. At our first shower, we were gifted a lot of newborn and Size 1 diapers, but depending on the size of your little one, it’s possible they will grow out of these within the first two to three weeks. (We just donated a whole box of newborn diapers! There are local diaper banks that take donations, like this one in NOVA.)

You’ll also head home from the hospital with a boatload of newborn diapers, and if you become friendly with the nurses, they’ll likely help you stock up before you’re discharged.

We love Honest’s diapers and their extra thick wipes. We’re also currently lucky to have a baby without super sensitive skin, but if your little one happens to need tons of diaper creme to prevent horrible rashes, Earth & Eden Sensitive Diapers get really high ratings and are a great eco-conscious option.

Amazon Registry has an option for a diaper fund – highly recommend! And one idea for your shower or sprinkle: ask guests to bring a pack of diapers or wipes in lieu of a card or to be entered into some kind of raffle. All in all, diapers and wipes are items not to forget on your baby registry!

5. A (Smaller) Diaper Bag

There are an endless number of gorgeous diaper bags out there but so many are massive. If you’re one who wants to throw a few diapers, wipes, an extra onesie, and your wallet into a bag when you’re out and about (and not pack include the kitchen sink), I highly recommend this cutie. Great pockets, tons of storage, and chic design. Plus stroller straps to hook onto the front handle bar when you’re out.

6. Zipper Jammies

Even if they’re cute, best to avoid jammies with buttons – instead, don’t forget to add jammies with zippers to your baby registry. These make middle of the night diaper changes so much easier, and these pairs from Burts Bees are super soft & comfy.

7. Pack N’Play or Portable Bassinet

It’s so helpful to have a portable safe sleeping space for baby, even if you have another bassinet next to where you and your partner sleep. When Wallace was about three weeks old, we decided to take a one night trip with our five-year-old in celebration of her birthday, and having the Pack n’Play that we could load into the car and set up where we stayed made this possible. Don’t forget an easy swaddle (with velcro), like these, as well as a crib sheet – other items not to forget on your baby registry.

7. Comfy Nursing Bras & Camis

If you’re planning to breastfeed, it’s good to have supportive camis and bras on hand. I live in these right now, and I’d forgotten how many I need to have in rotation thanks to milk and spit up and poop and pee accidents…constantly. This pack of three is awesome & hugs you in. Also this cami from Target is super comfy. And these nursing bras from Target are my favorite thus far (and rival much more costly options!).

8. Nursing Pillow

If you’re breastfeeding or bottle feeding, having a supportive nursing pillow is clutch. I still love the Boppy (and essentially carry it around the house with me). The MomCozy pillow also gets great reviews.

9. Play Mat or Play Gym

When baby isn’t eating or sleeping upon you, it’s great to have some place for them to lie down – maybe to nap, maybe to play, maybe to do some tummy time. The Play Gym by Lovevery makes a great registry gift and comes with everything you need to entertain little ones…when our daughter was practicing standing (and dancing lol), she’d stand and hold onto the wooden bars. And this super cute option is more budget-friendly as well as design-friendly.

10. Infant Car Seat & Stroller System

Don’t forget to add to your a baby registry a car seat and stroller that are easy to use right from the time baby comes home from the hospital! You’ll want a car seat that can ‘snap’ into a car seat base in your car as well as into a stroller (great for baby’s first doctor’s appointment a few days after you’re discharged and/or early postpartum walks when you feel like you can begin to move your body again). We love this system from Evenflo with car seat, car seat base, stroller base, and bassinet/toddler option (or a second seat for a second little one). It’s pricier and thus a great group gift if registry gifters want to team up to purchase!