April 13, 2020
A major to-do item on your “prepare for baby” list is creating your baby registry. And with so many baby products out on the market and new ones launching all the time, it can get overwhelming to know what products to register for. We have a full baby registry checklist that really breaks everything down for you, but today we’re showing you the baby registry must-haves for 2020. Here are all of the top baby items in 2020 that you’ll want to add to your baby registry.
Sleep
Sleep is something every expecting parent hopes they’ll get (at least a little of) after the baby is born. We all need sleep–a true essential–and having the right sleep items to encourage your little one to catch the most ZZZ’s is critical. Here is where our baby registry must-haves comes in. ???? You must create a safe sleep environment for naps and nighttime for baby that soothe them and remind them of the womb. Things that every sleep consultant will tell you to get baby to sleep are to have a dark space, a safe space to put baby down to sleep (a crib or co-sleeper), a swaddle (swaddle blankets as well as zip up baby swaddles), a sound machine (the white noise is similar to what they heard in the womb), and even a pacifier to help with self soothing. For safety, be sure to pick a safe crib mattress for your baby (like this this one) and have a monitor to ensure baby is doing well.
Feeding
Breastfeeding
If you’ve decided to breastfeed your baby, there are some products that can make things much more comfortable and easier for you. You absolutely need a few good nursing bras (like this one) and some nursing pads so that you don’t leak through your clothes. Trying different breastfeeding positions is also important so that you can release all of the milk ducts in you breast and prevent engorgement or even mastitis. A breastfeeding pillow can definitely help you stay comfortable when trying those different breastfeeding positions with baby. And after breastfeeding for a few feedings, your nipples can become chapped. Keep them hydrated and prevent them from cracking and bleeding by using a good and safe nipple balm. Another product that we love is a silicone breast pump. These can travel with you anywhere, require no battery or outlet, and are easy to clean!
Whether you decide to bottle-feed your baby with formula or breastmilk, these items are definitely baby registry must-haves! Select a baby baby bottle (or a few for your baby to try), as well as a good bottle brush to keep your baby bottles clean and a drying rack to let all the bottle parts air dry. When bottle feeding your baby, it’s much easier for baby to eat too much and spit up. I highly recommend these burp cloths since they are super absorbent and have snaps to turn into a bib. Then when your baby is ready to start solids, use those burpy bibs while baby is sitting in their high chair.
On-the-Go
Leaving home with baby can feel quite daunting at first. You might think you need everything in your house, but really you just need a few key essentials. If you’re going on a trip somewhere, have baby’s car seat ready to go and properly installed, bring a pack ‘n play/ travel crib for a safe place for baby to sleep, a stroller to easily transport baby to and from (especially if you are going somewhere where there’s a lot of walking), and your diaper bag filled with all of the diaper bag must-haves or toddler must-haves. I absolutely love this baby bottle while on-the-go especially for formula feeding moms. (Read more about it here.) And whether you are leaving town or walking around the block or even around the house, a good baby carrier is a must! There are so many benefits to babywearing. I love this wrap and this structured carrier.
Clothing
Once your little one is born, you want to keep them covered and cozy because they are unable to regulate their own temperature. Choose soft fabrics when selecting onesies and baby hats. Socks are also good to keep their feet warm if their onesies don’t include footies. Mittens are also helpful because it prevents babies from scratching their faces. It’s wild how fast their little finger nails grow and how sharp they can be!
Newborn Care
These are the absolute essentials when talking about baby registry must-haves. These items are how you care for your newborn. Every baby is going to need diapers, wipes, diaper balm, a changing pad, a diaper pail, nail trimmers and a baby teether/ toothbrush to take care of their gums and baby teeth. I also love a wipe dispenser because it makes taking the wipes out so much easier. It helps prevent you from from pulling out more than one wipe at a time.
Bath Time
You really don’t need too much for bath time. First, you need a bath tub that can grow with your baby (like this one), then some shampoo and body wash that are safe and specifically made for babies, a bath rinser makes washing their hair tons easier, and some hooded towels and washcloths. In the beginning you won’t really need bath toys, but after a few months, bath toys are an essential to keep baby entertained while you scrub them clean.
Play
Babies learn through interacting with you and through play! To help their brains grow and keep them entertained, here are our playtime baby registry must-haves. It’s great to be able to put baby somewhere safe where they can either relax or play. We love this activity center, bouncer, swing and play mat. Also, you can never begin reading to your child too early so get them to love books with crinkle books. Reading to them and showing the pictures is a great activity to do together. You’ll also realize that babies love to put everything in their mouths. That’s one of the ways they learn. Having a good teether (like this one) that you can put in the freezer for times when they begin teething is a great option to have. Babies also love music and rattles. This baby toy plays all sorts of classical tunes for your baby and this rattle lights up and is a great first toy for baby.
Health & Safety
Our baby’s health and safety is of the utmost importance. You can either create your own first aid kit for your children (which I highly recommend), but if that is too much to handle at this point, the pre-made first aid kit for kids is a good option. It will contain the essentials that you need for big and small boo-boos. An item that doesn’t come in first aid kits is a thermometer. I also recommend getting a rectal thermometer for newborn babies because that is the most accurate temperature reading for a child that young. Your pediatrician will request this if you were to call concerned about your child’s temperature. Another must-have is saline spray and a snotsucker. Those bulb syringes just don’t get the job done and these two products really help your baby breathe better!
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