Our Most Common Baby Registry Questions, Answered

Creating a baby registry is an exciting project—and we do mean project—but it can also feel overwhelming, triggering your anxiety and amping up your stress. While searching for #grandmillenial nursery decor or baby booties is usually low-stakes fun, knowing which baby gear are essential or if you should create a registry for a second baby may seem less clear.

Building a baby registry that works for you involves a lot of decision making, but if you’ve got questions, our registry experts have the answers. These are the most common baby registry questions we receive, answered (because your pregnancy brain deserves a break).

What Is a Baby Registry?

A baby registry is a wish list of anything you’d like to receive as a gift for your new bundle of joy. Creating a registry helps you plan and organize all the baby gear you need, and points your friends and family towards products you actually love or need (and not the ones you don’t).

When Should You Create a Baby Registry?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this one, and the timeline is different for every family. Many expecting parents start a registry towards the end of the first trimester, while others wait until they learn their baby’s gender, or have had their 20 week anatomy scan. Don’t forget that most registries—including ours —have a “private” setting that allows you to discreetly add items early in pregnancy, before you’ve announced to friends and family.

If you’re planning to have a shower, keep in mind that you’ll want to give guests plenty of time to pick a gift and make purchases. Try your best to have your registry ready to go public by the time invitations go out—you can always add products leading up to the event, and after.

How Many Items Should You Add to Your Baby Registry?

Take our seasoned advice here: this is no time to be shy. Plan to register for everything your baby needs in the first year (and beyond). Friends and family will appreciate having plenty of options to choose from, and you can use your registry completion discount on any leftover must-haves.

As you build your registry, we recommend trying to keep a few things top of mind:

Range of price points. Including a variety of gear, from wallet-friendly to splurge-worthy, will mean that there’s a gift for every budget.
Essentials. Can the must-have baby basics feel a little boring, especially from a gift-giving perspective? Maybe (although a cute burp cloth still gets our pulses racing). But it really is important to register for the items you actually need, like a safe sleep environment, monitor, car seat, diapering and feeding essentials, and clothing.
Long-term needs. We often see first-time parents build registries that are very newborn-focused. But your baby will outgrow tiny layette pieces and newborn-sized diapers faster than you’d think. Don’t neglect larger sizes and gear you’ll use once your baby has started solids and has gained mobility.
Seasonality. If your due date is in the summer or winter, adjust your registry accordingly. Winter babies will need stroller buntings, mittens, hats, sleep bags, layering pieces, and heavier blankets. Summer babies will need sun hats, sunblock, and lightweight blankets.

It’s better to have a range of options on your registry than not enough, so remember, don’t stress that your registry is just too big (especially for a first child). Your friends and family will appreciate having plenty of choices, and can pick the gear they’re most excited to gift.

How Should You Tell Friends and Family Where You Are Registered?

Thankfully, online registries have made spreading the word pretty simple. The Albee Registry allows you to quickly email friends and family from one place, or you can share a link to your registry on whatever social channel you’re active on (don’t forget to make your registry public first!). And don’t forget to include a registry destination on invitations for baby showers, gender reveals, or any other baby-to-be celebrations.

What Are the Absolute Baby Registry Essentials?

If you’re minding your baby gear budget, or have adopted a more minimal approach to all the “stuff” that can clutter up a home, there are some core pieces of baby gear that are non-negotiable:

A crib, crib mattress, mattress cover, and crib sheets. Your baby (and eventual toddler!) will need a safe sleep environment, and you can skip the bassinet and opt for a crib from day one. A two-stage crib mattress (one extra firm side for the first twelve months, one that’s cushier for toddlers) will eliminate a future mattress purchase, but don’t skimp on the sheets. Overnight diaper leaks and spit-up accidents are inevitable, and having a few clean crib sheets at the ready will save time and score you a few extra minutes of shut-eye.
A car seat. If you know you’d like to use an infant car seat to start, register for it and a convertible car seat. Your baby will outgrow their infant car seat by their first birthday, so you’ll need a convertible car seat eventually. If you’re trying to limit baby gear purchases, an all-in-one car seat may be the only car seat you need (just remember that it can be difficult to achieve a proper fit with low birth weight babies or preemies).
Diapers and wipes. Babies go through a crazy amount of diapers—newborns use 8-10 diapers daily, and the average child uses over 7000 diapers before they’re potty-trained. Your new peanut will outgrow newborn-sized diapers quickly, so register for a range of sizes and cover all your bases.
Bottles. Even if you’re planning to breastfeed exclusively, you’ll need bottles if you’re returning to work (and they’re nice to have handy for other caregivers pitching in with help, especially overnight feedings). Your baby will also eventually outgrow the four ounce size, so register for more eight ounce bottles (or just opt for the eight ounce size all together).
Clothing. You may be sensing a trend: babies grow. Fast. Register for practical basics (bodysuits, footies, pants, and socks) in several sizes, and keep in mind that zippers make overnight changes much easier and quicker than snaps.

Does Albee Baby Have a Registry Checklist?

You betcha, we do! (But with a caveat.) We aren’t big believers in “universal” baby registries because your registry should reflect your actual lifestyle. But we do believe in simplifying shopping for your baby, so we’ve created a basic checklist of gear most Albee parents include on their registries.

Of course, many soon-to-be parents turn into baby gear research fiends (we see you—let’s be BFFs). And if you’re interested in a deeper dive on must-have registry products, from car seats to stroller wagons (and more), we’ve got you covered.

Is There Any Baby Gear First Time Parents Often Forget to Include?

During the excitement of a first pregnancy, it’s almost impossible not to get swept up in the adorable fun purchases—but it turns out, you can have too many tiny rompers (or stuffed animals, or lovies, etc.). What experienced parents tend not to overlook on their registries are the more practical items that are care and feeding focused, like:

Nursing supplies. Breastfeeding can be wonderful, but many moms also find it equally challenging. Register for nursing supplies that can help your journey go as smoothly as possible. Nursing bras, a nursing pillow, breast pads, a manual pump, and nipple cream are must-haves.
Health supplies and first aid. It’s smart to stock your medicine cabinet before your due date: register for a first aid kit, as well as any items that will help you take care of a sick baby, like a humidifier, thermometer, nasal aspirator, and a fever reducer. Once your little one catches their first cold, no one is panicking and running to a pharmacy at 3am.
Grooming items. Will infant-sized clippers completely alleviate the anxiety you’ll feel about cutting your baby’s nails for the first time? Probably not, but you’ll still need them. Don’t forget to add those, plus a baby hairbrush, baby toothbrush, shampoo and bodywash, and lotion to your registry, too.
Extra storage. Boy, do babies have a lot of stuff, and it’s tiny and difficult to organize, as well. Make sure to add some extra caddies or bins to your registry so that all your baby stuff has a designated place where it’s stored and easily found (sleep deprivation is no joke!).

What Baby Gear Should You (Maybe) Skip?

We don’t call ourselves baby gear enthusiasts for no reason—we love it! But a product that’s essential for one family might be completely useless to another. If we absolutely had to vote any item off the island, we’d consider:

Wipe warmers. Not only are they a perfect environment for nasty bacteria, they’re also a trap: once your baby comes to expect a nice warm wipe on their tush, they may find a room temperature wipe less-than-agreeable.
Countertop bottle sterilizers. They’re bulky and take up a ton of precious countertop space, plus, pediatricians are less concerned with bottle sterilization than they have been previously. If you’re worried about contaminated water or have an immune-compromised baby, there are reusable sanitizing bags like these from Medela that are super quick and easy to store.
Changing tables. Why choose a single-function piece of furniture when there are better multi-purpose options? Instead of a changing table, use a changing pad or wipeable mat on top of your dresser.
Blankets, stuffed animals, and newborn clothing. These are the gifts that everyone loves to give, so you’ll probably end up with more than enough, even if you don’t register for them.

Also, plan for a little baby-led buying. Some registry must-haves you’ve heard your friends swear by may be incompatible with—or flat out rejected by—your new little one. Tiny humans can have big opinions, and they aren’t afraid to make them known. In our experience, these are the items babies are sometimes picky about:

Bottles. Babies can be very picky when you introduce the bottle (especially newborns who have been exclusively breastfed). Consider adding one or two bottles from a couple of brands to test committing to more.
Formula. Formula isn’t cheap, and building a stockpile through registry purchases definitely makes sense. But it’s hard to know exactly which formula is going to agree with your baby’s belly, especially if there’s an allergy or intolerance involved. We recommend not registering for formula, period.
Swaddles. There are a lot of swaddle options (traditional muslin, sleep sacks, and swaddle sacks that allow for arm movement, to name a few), and it’s likely your baby will have a preference. Again, register for one or two of each category and learn what works before purchasing more.
Gear. Having a safe spot to put your baby down is crucial (especially if you ever want to shower again). And more likely than not they’ll have a preference—some babies will squirm in a bouncer, but be content in a swing. Consider starting with one item, and if it doesn’t work, donate or sell before purchasing something new.

And finally, some decisions just have to be practical and lifestyle-based. If you’re a city-dweller, finding a compact and lightweight stroller that’s easy to use with public transportation might be more important than figuring out which jogging stroller you prefer, for example.

Is It Rude to Put Expensive Items on Your Baby Registry?

Definitely not! Maybe you have a grandparent in the mood to splurge, or a group of friends who’d like to go in together on your dream stroller. Or maybe you just want to use your registry completion discount on big ticket items—any way you look at it, including expensive gear on your registry is a winning proposition for everyone.

Should You Have a Baby Registry for a Second Baby?

If you’re expecting your second child, registering is entirely up to you—there’s no wrong answer. The need for a registry with baby #2 is most impacted by the length of time between your pregnancies and how outdated (or well kept!) your original gear is.

Things You Probably Won’t Need to Register for Again

Toys and books. Definitely get rid of broken toys or toys with missing parts, but otherwise, you can probably reuse all your toys and books (and both are usually easy to clean or disinfect).
High chairs. Double check to confirm your high chair hasn’t been recalled with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), give your chair a proper deep clean, and you should be good to go.
Baby tubs and towels. If your baby towels and tubs are still in good condition (and baby tubs are generally easy to clean and disinfect), they’re perfectly fine to use with a new sibling.
Clothing. Most new parents end up with more newborn-sized clothing than they could ever possibly use. If your first baby’s wardrobe is still in good shape—especially the basics like onesies and footies—leave it off your second baby registry.
Blankets and crib sheets. Give them a wash and voila! Your nursery is already stocked (just remember, padded crib bumpers are banned under federal law and are a suffocation hazard—never use them in your crib).
Bouncers, rockers, and swings. Thankfully, bouncers don’t typically require a power source and are hard to ruin. And assuming your rocker or swing is in working order, there’s no need to include them on a registry.
Potty training gear. Yes, you will need to really scrub that potty, but it’s plastic, easy to clean, and virtually indestructible.

Things You May Need to Register for Again

Car seats. If your car seat has been in a crash, expired, been recalled (you can check for your specific car seat model on the Safe Kids Worldwide site), or if you’re using it currently with a sibling, make sure to include it on your registry.
Double strollers. If you didn’t choose a single-to-double stroller for your first child, and your first baby is still a toddler, a double stroller can make getting out of the house with two kiddos in tow a lot easier. There are plenty of double strollers that are also infant car seat compatible if you’d like to have a travel system, as well.
Baby carriers. Parents of “velcro babies” may need to get the baby carrier out of the gear stash to see how well it’s held up—if it was used heavily, washed a lot, or you’re still using it with your first child, it makes sense to include a baby carrier option on your registry.
Skin and hair care items. Unless your first child is still using fragrance-free bath and body products intended for newborns, you’ll want to include that on your registry. Same goes for diaper cream.
Nursing supplies. Breastfeeding can be a messy business, so take some time to give any nursing tanks, bras, and pads a once-over. If you’re no longer nursing your firstborn, make sure to register for nipple balm, too.

Things You Will Probably Need to Register for Again

Diapers and wipes. Chances are you’ve run out of newborn-sized diapers, even if you still have a toddler that’s not yet potty-trained.
Bottles and nipples. Nipples wear out quickly and if your bottles weren’t glass, they’ve probably clouded, making it harder to read volume markers. Go ahead and start fresh.
Pumping supplies. Replacement pumping parts are relatively inexpensive, and you’ll need milk storage options, too.
Wishlist items. If you missed out on getting something you really love, or parenting in-the-trenches has made you aware of must-haves you missed out on, give yourself permission to register for them (you won’t regret it).

Finding What’s Right for You

Albee Baby is the oldest family-owned specialty baby shop in the US, and we pride ourselves on providing our customers with the best assortment of baby products anywhere, at fair prices, always. We’re committed to being an inclusive resource for parents, and hope you’re feeling empowered to find the right car seat for your family. Still have questions? Feel free to contact our baby gear experts at 877.692.5233 or by email at [email protected].