Claire’s Baby-Registry Picks
(and Thoughts and Feelings)
A little context before we get going:
This list isn’t meant to tell you what you *need* to buy or register for. Every parent is different, every baby is different, every budget and lifestyle is different. Also, like most parents, I’ve only tried one or two versions of most things, so I’m not in a position to tell you what the best one is. I’ve attempted a) to be comprehensive about the categories and types of things people like to have for the early stages of parenting b) to tell you what I liked (or didn’t!) and c) to include what other people seem to like in order to give a sense of what’s out there. Please don’t interpret this as a checklist—it’s not. If it helps you feel like you’ve covered all the bases on your registry: GREAT. (By the way, if you are wondering where to register, I liked Babylist, which allows you to pull in items from multiple retailers.)
This list was created from my POV, which is a wildly privileged one. I’m a white, cis, hetero woman with access to a healthcare system that unfairly favors people who look like me and more-than-adequate resources to provide for my own comfort and that of my child. If any of that rings true for you, too, consider donating to organizations like the National Diaper Bank Network or National Birth Equity Collaborative, which are doing the hard work involved in fixing a rigged system that I (and perhaps you!) benefit from.
jump to...
pregnancy / parenting books
My advice: Pick one—and just one—for every stage/issue. If you have a partner, make sure they read them too so you’re not in the position to tell them how it’s done. (This, in case it is not obvious, is a setup for a miserable co-parenting dynamic.) Which book you pick is not the most important thing: They pretty much all work as long as you stick to their guidance, but once you start reading more than one on the same topic, you get conflicting advice—and that’s when the crazy really starts.
Here’s what I liked:
Pre-Baby: Like a Mother: A Feminist Journey Through the Science and Culture of Pregnancy by Angela Garbes
Sleep-Training: Twelve Hours' Sleep by Twelve Weeks Old: A Step-By-Step Plan for Baby Sleep Success by Suzy Giordano and Lisa Abidin
Baby Chairs and Other Places to Put Little People
It is tempting to acquire lots of places to put your kid that are not your arms, and we ended up with more of these than we needed. If you want to pick just one thing, get the BabyBjörn Bouncer or, really, any chair that will bounce your kid.
BabyBjörn Bouncer: This is probably my #1 baby item. A truly outstanding product. No batteries, doesn’t make noise, folds up flat, fits in a garment bag, can hang from a wall hook on the back of your door. The wooden toy attachment is sold separately, and it’s a nice thing to have. The baby fits in it from infancy to two years and counting—I still put Cam in it when I’m on my own and need to do things like shower or exercise. It gave me so much freedom when he was tiny because you can easily bounce it with your foot while you answer emails or watch TV or whatever. They come in every color and material, but I like the quilted ones the best. An impossibly chic alt that I have not tried (and doesn’t look like it folds up) but seems otherwise comparable: Betón Baby Bouncer.
Charlie Crane Levo Rocker: This was my splurge thing that felt frivolous in that it was more about the look than the function—it’s so beautiful and went with all of our other furniture so well. That said: We got a ton of use out of it, and Cam loved it. And there’s something to be said for not resenting the presence of baby furniture in your home.
Askr & Embla Sleep Pod: This is a sweet little cushion-y pod that lets you lay the baby down anywhere—in your bed, on the couch next to you, on the floor. You don’t need it, but if it appeals to you as an option, I think this version is cuter than the Dock-a-Tot, which has an absurdly large logo on it (why?!) but that people seem to be very fanatical about.
Boppy: Some people swear by this as a breastfeeding pillow and also as a place for the baby to prop themselves up, either on their back or for tummy time when they’re strengthening their necks. I didn’t love it for breastfeeding and think we probably could have lived without it, but what I could not have lived without is the custom cover from Etsy because they are otherwise not very cute.
Sleeping Solutions
Everybody has a different opinion on newborn sleeping arrangements, but something I didn’t immediately grasp is that most people don’t put a baby in a crib right away. We opted to use a smaller bassinet until the six-month mark or so.
The Snoo: This is a smart bassinet developed by Dr. Harvey Karp (our generation’s Dr. Spock) that plays white noise while gently rocking your baby and adjusts the intensity of both actions in response to your kid’s cries. We had it, absolutely loved it, and enthuse about it constantly (full disclosure: It was gifted). It’s quite expensive, but you can rent them, which feels like the right move. My (and Dr. Karp’s) philosophy: If your baby is getting sleep, then you’re getting sleep, and if you’re getting sleep, you’re a better parent, so if you can afford to try this out, it’s worth it.
Moses Baskets: A moses basket is a very pretty bassinet option that we repurposed as toy storage once we were past the infancy stage. I think it really only works as a sleep solution until about four months or so. Kind Label makes very beautiful ones that are on the pricier side, and Jolly Jumper makes a solid stand for them—but there are options at every price point. (You definitely don’t need one of these if you are getting the Snoo.)
Cribs: I don’t have strong opinions on cribs. There are a million great options out there depending on your style and budget. Ideally you get one that transitions to become a toddler bed, and most of them do. The Ikea Sniglar is great and often sold out, so snag it early if that’s your plan. We were gifted this one from Babyletto and have been very happy with it. Nestig cribs launched recently, and they’re quite beautiful. If money is truly no object, there’s the Kalon Caravan Crib, which transforms into a very good-looking bench or daybed.
Crib Mattress: We’ve only tried one (duh), and Cam has not complained about it (lolz). Newton Baby (which we have) gets rave reviews for comfort and safety. Buying a cover to protect it from the inevitable accidents is not a bad idea. You’ll also want some sheets, and we love the ones from Lewis.
Pack ‘n Plays: On one hand, these do seem fairly necessary because you need somewhere for your kid to sleep when you’re on the road, and on the other, we haven’t actually gotten all that much use out of ours because our parents and friends who we usually stay with have their own and hotels almost always supply them. We got the Guava Lotus because everyone raves about it, but I’ve found it challenging to assemble. The much-less-expensive (but, alas, also less sleek) one from Graco is way easier to use. BabyBjörn makes a good-looking one, though I’ve never used it.
Strollers
This is the category where I am particularly suspicious of anyone who claims to have the answer as to the best one because who exactly is trying out a bunch of strollers? Pushing one around buybuy BABY doesn’t count! The one lesson I did learn the hard way is that it’s not worth it to try to split the difference between a compact travel stroller and a big sturdy one—we initially purchased a sort of in-between model that was too big for travel but too flimsy for handling awkward curbs, snow, etc.
Maxi Cosi Lila: This is our everyday big stoller, and it’s been great—handles well on even the trickiest terrain and has lots of storage. (Speaking of: Stroller hooks basically double your storage capacity. Don’t sleep on them!) It’s comparable to the Uppababy Vista, which, based on my observations, is very popular with NYC parents, as is its smaller sister, the Uppababy Cruz.
Colugo Compact: We feel pretty passionately about this one. It’s what we use for traveling and the many times when we’d prefer not to be steering a Zamboni around a crowded restaurant or cramped bodega. It is light, tiny, and folds up easily—even fits in an overhead bin! It’s comparable to the Yoyo from ZenBaby, which people also like.
Stroller Bassinet Attachments: These are meant for newborns so they can lie flat and are usually sold separately. We never bought one, and it worked out fine because we preferred to wear him when he was super tiny (see the next section), but some people find them worthwhile if they’re using the stroller a lot in the early days.
Car-Seat Adapters: These are also usually sold separately, and depending on what you end up with, you either buy it from the stroller manufacturer or the car-seat manufacturer. (NB: I’m not going to give advice on car seats! Go to the experts for that.) The Doona, which is a compact stroller frame that the car seat snaps right into, has an extremely enthusiastic fan base. We didn’t get it because we live in NYC and thus didn’t use the car seat much in those early days, and once they move on to the toddler car seat (~one year), something like the Doona is no longer useful.
Baby Carriers
I was intimidated by the idea of navigating a stroller around city streets and subways in the early days, so Cam went most places by carrier when he was tiny. It just felt simpler and also nice for both of us to get to be a little clingy. But again: personal preferences!
Colugo Carrier: This is the type of carrier that you’ll get the most use out of—everything from grocery runs to long hikes—and it’ll stay with you until the kid is too heavy to carry on your bod. It comes in great prints and colors, has very convenient pockets, and can be worn on your front or back. That said: It is not necessarily ideal for brand-brand-new babies and is a little bulkier than you might want for just wearing the kid around the house in those early days when they insist on being held at all times. It’s comparable to (but less expensive and cuter than) the Ergobaby.
Sakura Bloom Ring Sling: This was our wear-around-the-house go-to in those early days. It’s easy to slip on and throw the baby into without dealing with any straps, buckles, or ties. It’s not the type of thing that’ll grow very far with the kid and probably doesn’t offer enough support for really long walks, but it’s great to have in those early months. The Solly Baby Wrap is a popular alt, but I found it to be such a pain to assemble. (I was so proud the first time I did it correctly that I triumphantly texted a picture to Chris. Which...I just feel like there are more worthwhile accomplishments to focus on in those early days, like washing your hair).
Artipoppe: The fashion-y carrier option. It’s expensive—and we never sprung for it—but it’s quite. quite chic.
BabyBjörn Baby Carrier Mini: This one is specifically for newborns and could be a good alternative to the Ring Sling for a little more support and structure. We never had it, but people really love it.
High Chairs
You won’t need a high chair until the kid is around six months, so you can wait and just buy it when you actually need it. But some people like to include it on their registry.
Bumbo Seat: This isn’t actually a high chair—it’s a little seat that sits on the table or floor. People like it as a sort of in-between option before the high chair for when the kid is just starting to eat and probably isn’t quite big enough for a proper high chair. If I hadn’t been so loathe to acquire more stuff, I probably would have bought one, but we just used the BabyBjörn Bouncer for the same purpose.
Charlie Crane Tibu: This is the high chair we have. It’s beautiful, well-made, and highly functional, but the price was hard to swallow. I do like that it feels very at home with our other furniture.
Lalo: This wasn’t out yet when we were buying a high chair, but it would have been a serious contender otherwise. My parents have one, and it is attractive, is easy to clean, and looks very at-home with their mid-century modern dining furniture. It also transforms into a little toddler chair, which is great since the high chair only gets used for about 18 months or so.
PlanToys: I’ve never used this, but it’s a great-looking option from a company that I love.
Stokke Trip Trapp: This seems to be the go-to option for a lot of people—it’s good-looking, has a small footprint, and is from a great brand. That said: I find it challenging to get a wiggly toddler in and out of it, but I have to assume that is not a universal problem.
Furniture
I won’t get into dressers and bookshelves and the like because the options are endless, but here are a few things worth knowing about.
NurseryWorks SleepyTime Rocker: I was resistant to buying a rocker at all because the idea of buying another piece of bulky furniture felt like a drag. But we’re so happy with this one, and I was particularly thrilled to have a roomy, cushy chair with—and this part is key—wide armrests when I was breastfeeding. I still spend a ton of time in this reading books to Cam. I do like to have something to put my feet up on, and though this one doesn’t have a matching ottoman, we just use a jute pouf with a sheepskin over it.
Playmats and Baby Gyms: Babies spend so much time on the floor, and it’s nice to give them some stimulation while they’re down there. We loved the Liewood playmat (which comes in many different designs) and also enjoyed the Lovevery, which feels very ~educational~. Filibabba makes an attractive option, too. Finally, these wooden stands are nice because they fold up easily and can be placed over basically anything (including our beloved Charlie Crane Levo rocker). You hang whatever you want from them, but we were partial to crocheted veggies.
Wood Playpen: The months before your kid can roll over and crawl are blissful because you can just put them on a soft surface and not worry about what trouble they’ll get into. Eventually, you might want to contain them for some moments of peace. You can adjust the size and shape of this pen to your liking, and it’s a nice, simple, wood design.
Three Pears Bobbin Triple Play Center: We never had this or anything comparable to it, but I had my eye on it because it’s so good-looking (if pricey) and, apparently, helpful for developing motor skills. Think of it as what you upgrade to after the playmats. It’s certainly appealing from a “keeping your baby put” perspective. It transforms from what the industry calls a “baby activity center” (okay!) to a play table, which seems nice.
Storage
Ikea Råskog Rolling Storage Cart: This is one of Ikea’s most useful items and a true all-star when it comes to baby things. I wish we’d bought more than one. We use it to store all of Cam’s diapers, wipes, creams, and even his shoes, and a friend uses hers to store all her kid’s bottles and pump parts.
Linen Cambridge Drawer Organizers: The excellent Tidy Tova turned me on to the fact that drawer organizers meant for men’s ties are the perfect size for baby onesies. They’re life-changing. Otherwise, newborn clothes are just too small to properly fold, and you’re dealing with a messy pile of crumpled cotton in your drawers.
Ikea Hänga Children's Coat-Hanger: No surprise: Ikea makes a solid baby hanger.
Diaper Bag: We never got one, and I don’t think you need to either if you have other bags you like that are an appropriate size. We use a backpack most of the time.
Diapers, Wipes, Lotions, Potions, and Changing Stations
Baby Soaps, Lotions, and SPFs: Buying fancy soaps and lotions for your baby might feel sort of silly (the grocery-store brands will do just fine), but letting other people buy them for you does not, so throw these on your registry! The one I really love and have purchased (er, splurged on) again and again is Minois because I like the smell and also use it myself sometimes. Evereden, Wiley Baby, Pipette, and Paloroma are all cute and luxurious.
Coterie Diapers & Wipes: I really didn’t want to recommend the trendy, more-expensive DTC line of diapers and wipes because of course most any diaper brand is more than sufficient. But I must be honest and tell you: Coterie makes legitimately excellent products. Their wipes are especially wonderful when your kid gets older and the poops get more, er, serious.
Water Wipes: These are truly just water and a wipe, and they’re the only thing we used until Cam was around a year and a half. They’re great. They never irritated him (others did), and it’s nice to know you can use them for everything (face, hands, etc.) without wondering what you’re smearing all over your kid.
Wipe Dispenser: Get one for the diaper changing station and one for travel.
Diaper Pail: We like the Diaper Dekor because the system for changing the liner bag is simple and sleek. The Ubbi is another popular option.
Changing Station: You may want to get a freestanding changing table or a dresser with a changing tray on top (what we have), in which case you’ll probably want a changing pad and covers. If not, the Keekaro Peanut Changer is a very convenient solution. You can put it anywhere, don’t need to cover it, and can wipe it down easily. It’s not our main diaper-changing situation (though it could be!), but we will throw it in the car for road trips and keep it around for myriad makeshift changing scenarios. The basket-style options are also chic—but unclear to me how practical they are. For changing on-the-go, I love the Storq diaper-changing kit, which goes wherever Cam goes.
Toiletry Kit: I swear by getting two of anything toiletry-ish, because packing for travel with a baby is awful and having a duplicate travel set of all the little odds and ends that you never need to unpack is a tiny luxury. Keep one set of all this by the changing station and another in a pouch for a carry-on. Here’s what’s in ours:
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Diaper paste (I like Desitin, you do you.)
Infant Tylenol (Yes, it’s worth stocking up on this before the baby needs it. A first fever is traumatic enough without having to make a drugstore run.)
Hair comb/brush
For the travel pouch only:
An extra pacifier
Bathtime
Bathtub: We have no complaints about this $30 option. OXO Tot makes one that folds up flat, and I do like the versions that have removable sling inserts that grow with your baby like this one from Skip Hop.
Luma Bath Thermometer: We found bathtime stressful in the early days because Cam always hated it. My mother-in-law sent us a thermometer, which really changed the game because it eliminated our anxiety over whether his tantrums were due to the fact that the water was too hot or cold or something else entirely. Less anxious parents = less anxious baby.
Bath Towels and Washcloths: I find the tiny little hoods on baby bath towels to be very handy when trying to wrap up a squirming, slippery little creature. Bathrobes are also objectively hilarious on babies.
Bath Kneeling/Arm Pads: For saving your limbs when you’re leaning over the bathtub.
Feeding
A (long) note on breastfeeding and pumping: It is not for everyone, for so many reasons! I was fortunate in that Cam and I didn’t struggle too much to make it work (aside from the inevitable intense nipple pain in the early days), and I was in an office environment that was conducive to pumping. Initially I felt indifferent towards breastfeeding, and somewhere around the three- or four-month mark, I started to love it and found a lot of value in the bonding aspects. When I did wean off of it, I did so very gradually because I knew I was sensitive to the hormonal shifts it caused and was wary of suffering the emotional impact of quitting cold turkey. (More on the link between lactation cessation and postpartum depression here.) Anyway: It’s not worth acquiring lots of breastmilk-related odds and ends until you know whether or not it’s something you want to stick with. Get the free pump from your health insurance, register for a storage starter kit, and collect the rest as you go. Similarly, don’t bother learning the logistics of pumping until you need to—it’s likely to overwhelm you (...maybe you’ll end up heavily pregnant and crying in the middle of a buybuy BABY or maybe that’s just me), and you have plenty of other stuff to worry about in the meantime. Because I don’t have any expert advice to share on formula, you won’t find it covered below.
My Brest Friend: It’s basically a shelf to put the baby on while they eat, and it worked wonders for me and made breastfeeding so much more comfortable in the early days. It is also bulky and weird, and I could not wait to get rid of ours. Because everybody has different preferences (and postures!), it’s probably one of those things you can wait to buy until you need it.
Breastmilk Storage Solution: So boring and I barely even knew what it was when I registered for it, but I was so happy to realize I had it waiting when it came time to start pumping.
Stuff for Your Boobs: Nipple balm for the chapping and pain of early breastfeeding days (it goes away—promise!), nursing pads for leaky boobs, hot/cold compresses for dislodging and soothing the pain of clogged milk ducts (don’t wait until you need these to buy them—you’ll want them right away and may need them regardless of whether or not you decide to breastfeed).
Bottles: We used Comotomo silicone and Philips Avent glass and liked them both. Cam didn’t seem to care much, but some babies are picky. Buy a couple so you have them, and then wait to buy more until you know what your baby likes. (The Avent has different-sized nipples for different ages, which might help with the transition from breast to bottle.)
Bottle Warmer: I avoided acquiring one of these because I didn’t want more crap on the counter, but once we finally did, I felt silly for waiting so long. It’s much simpler and quicker than heating up water on the stove and then putting your bottle in that. (No, you can’t just microwave the bottle unfortunately.) The brand truly doesn’t matter. Here’s what we had.
Bottle Cleaning: If you have a dishwasher, I don’t think you need a sterilizer. You will probably want a dishwasher basket for all the small bottle and pump parts, pacifiers, sippy cup parts, etc. and a bottle drying rack—this one is nice because it occupies minimal counter space. A bottle-cleaning brush is good to have so you’re not using the same brush you use on your own dishes.
Regular Pumps: I got the Spectra, which I kept at the office, from my health insurance and was gifted the Medela Sonata, which I really, really loved and kept it at home. In retrospect, I should have had two from the same manufacturer so the parts were interchangeable. Don’t put too much stock in my choices—this was 2019, and the models change and improve all the time. It’s also complicated to rate and review pumps because the design and technology should be much further along than they are, so to give them a compliment is really to say “this is the best of the crappy options we, as lactating people, have been given.”
Mobile Pumps: I bought the Willow and was so glad to have it for the times when I was running around to meetings for an entire day and needed to carry a pump in my bag. That said: It wasn’t quite the magic-maker I imagined it to be. It’s sort of tough to assemble and put on, much slower than a regular pump, not all that discreet, and bulky enough that I didn’t feel like I could do much moving around in it. I’ve heard the Elvie is better in a number of ways, but I haven’t tried it. Given the choice, I’d opt for that instead.
Beaba Babycook Original Baby Food Maker Yet another thing you definitely don’t need (and certainly not until the kid starts eating solids at six months), but it was a nice convenience. If you don’t feel like making your own, (and why would you, really?) Yumi is a great option.
Dishes: You won’t need them for awhile, but my favorite baby dishes and utensils are from Kinto. It’s hard to find chic ones that can go in the microwave because so many of them are bamboo. I don’t like the silicone stuff because I I think the taste of the silicone transfers onto the food, especially when you heat it. I also like the Arne Jacobsen Design Letter line. I love Massimo Vignelli for Heller dishes, and you can find a ton of colorful vintage versions of them on Etsy, though it’s a bit unclear if these are technically dishwasher-safe.
Postpartum Recovery
If you’re a birthing parent, having postpartum recovery resources at your disposal is as important as anything your baby might need. Even if you don’t include these on your registry, it’s worth knowing what’s out there in terms of solutions for common issues. Our hospital provided us with a lot of the basics (giant pads, mesh underwear, pain- relief spray, a sitz bath), but I ended up buying extras of things like pain-relief spray, and in the years since I’ve given birth, a lot of brands have introduced upgraded versions of items that could be worth exploring.
Frida: Thisis a brand that made its name with ingenious, highly functional products for babies, and they’ve since introduced a line of postpartum support. It came out after I’d given birth— so I haven’t tried any of it—, but I trust the brand based on my experience with their other stuff (and also really loved their ad campaign). A lot of the things they sell are just nicer versions of items that will be provided to you if you’re giving birth at a hospital will provide if you give birth at one, but they’re especially worth considering if you’re having a home birth. Their comfort donut cushion is the type of thing I would have loved to have.
NYSSA: Formakes innovative, high-quality postpartum recovery products (that you will *not* find at a hospital!), including underwear that have a pocket for a heating pad or ice pack. Though they came around too late for me, I’ve seen them and they look great.
Ebi: This is a line of luxury, plant-based postpartum products. I like that they’re bringing some beauty and comfort to the process of caring for yourself after birth, because my experience of those moments was that they were always clinical and rushed.
Mor for Moms and Mombox: These brands both sell postpartum care kits with the recovery essentials that would make great gifts.
Electronics
Baby Monitor: I don’t have strong opinions about this. Ours is fine, not great, but it seems to be the go-to for people who don’t want to have the monitor hooked up to their phone via Nest or whatever. (I didn’t want yet another reason to stare at my mobile device.) The Eufy was released since we bought ours and might be a better option?
Noise Machine: I tell myself Cam finds this soothing (they say it mimics the sound of the womb?), but it also helps block out whatever noise we’re making that might wake him up. I like this one because it’s plenty loud and extremely portable—easy to toss in a bag whenever we go somewhere overnight.
BlissLights Sky Lite: This creates quite a stunning starscape in a dark room. You obviously don’t need this but Cam LOVES it. It’s sort of nice in lieu of a nightlight.
Humidifier: You probably don’t need a super strong one and can get something cute like this cloud one that we have or the model from Fridababy, a brand I trust inherently. There’s also Canopy, the hot new DTC option in the humidifier world.
Miscellaneous
Backseat Mirror: So you can see the kid in the car seat.
Drool Bibs: To catch the constant stream of drool from teething.
Pacifiers and Clips: Bibs and Ecopiggy both make attractive options, which you can attach to Ryan and Rose pacifier clips.
Swaddling Blankets: You need lots, and we love the ones from Lewis. If swaddling isn’t working out for you, you can try sleep sacks like the ones from Sleepea.
Some Favorite Brands and Retailers
Lewis: For the best prints. I love everything they do, and their swaddles were our absolute favorites—the only ones Cam couldn’t break out of. We also loaded up on their diaper-changing covers, crib sheets, and pajamas.
Liewood: For the cutest version of all things baby. It’s frustratingly hard to find (especially without paying a stupid amount for shipping), but Smallable and Scandiborn have a good selection.
Smallable and Scandiborn: For all beautiful baby things—toys, clothes, accessories, decor, etc.—from a well-curated selection of (mostly European) brands.
Maison Frida and At Noon: For chic clothes.
Moon Picnic, Kids Concept, Plantoys, and Lovevery: For toys you won’t hate staring at when they’re strewn across your living room.