The short answer: A baby registry checklist helps you ask for what you'll actually use, not just what looks cute in the store.
Our picks for baby registry checklist
Printables
Newborn Baby Tracker
A 24-hour daily log plus feeding, diaper, sleep, growth and pediatrician-visit pages - easy to bring to checkups.
Save 33%Bundles
Family Life Admin Bundle
Baby logs, chore charts, pet records, meal plans and family recipes in one tidy set.
Spreadsheets
Paycheck Budget Spreadsheet
Enter your bills once. The sheet tells you which paycheck pays each one, all year.
This page has a free two-page printable list, what to buy new, what to skip and how to fill the gaps after the shower.
After the baby arrives, our Newborn Baby Tracker printable has feeding, diaper and sleep logs plus pediatrician visit, growth and vaccination record pages.
Go straight to the free download, or read on for the full list with notes.
How to use this baby registry checklist
The printable groups items into eight categories. As you work through it:
- Tick what you need and haven't got yet.
- Star the items you'd love but could live without.
- Cross out what you already have or will borrow from family.
Then build your registry from the ticks first and the stars second. That way the must-haves are the first things guests see.
Sleep: the safest place to start
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Crib, bassinet or play yard | Meets current federal safety standards |
| Firm, flat mattress | Fits the crib snugly with no gaps |
| Fitted sheets (3) | Spares for night changes |
| Sleep sacks (2 or 3) | Wearable blankets instead of loose ones |
| Swaddles (3 or 4) | Stop swaddling once baby starts to roll |
| Monitor and white noise | Helpful, not required |
The CPSC's safe sleep guidance and the NICHD Safe to Sleep campaign both say the same thing: a bare crib, baby on their back, no pillows, bumpers or loose blankets. That rules out a lot of cute nursery sets.
Feeding
- Bottles and nipples (start with four to six; babies can be picky)
- A bottle brush and drying rack
- Burp cloths (six to eight) and bibs
- A breast pump, pump parts and milk storage bags (check insurance first)
- A nursing pillow
- A high chair for around six months
Diapering
- Newborn and size 1 diapers, plus a diaper fund for later sizes
- Wipes and diaper cream
- A changing pad with covers, or a pad on a low dresser
- A diaper pail and a diaper bag
Getting around
The car seat is the one item every baby needs before leaving the hospital by car. NHTSA's car seat and booster seat page helps you pick a rear-facing seat that fits your car. Add a stroller (or a travel system that clicks the car seat in), a carrier or wrap, and a sun shade.
Bath, health and clothes
Register for a baby tub, hooded towels, washcloths, gentle wash, nail clippers, a digital thermometer, a nasal aspirator and a baby first aid kit.
For clothes, ask for more 3 to 6 month sizes than newborn. Bodysuits, footed sleepers, socks, hats and one seasonal jacket cover the basics.
Big-ticket items: what's worth the money
Three items take most of a registry budget: the car seat, the stroller and the crib. These are worth researching before you add them.
- Car seat. Buy new unless you know the seat's full history. Check the expiration date on the label and make sure it fits your back seat.
- Stroller. Think about where you'll use it. A lightweight model suits city sidewalks and small trunks. Bigger wheels handle gravel and grass.
- Crib. A simple crib that meets current standards is as safe as an expensive one. Convertible cribs can turn into a toddler bed later, which spreads the cost over more years.
For these pieces, group gifting works well. Several friends can chip in toward one item, and you get the model you chose instead of three cheaper versions. A registry that shows the exact model also cuts down on returns.
After the baby arrives
Some of the best registry items aren't things at all:
Before the baby arrives, print our free birth plan template to talk through your preferences for labor, delivery and feeding with your provider.
- Freezer meals or a meal delivery gift card
- House cleaning help in the first month
- A diaper subscription
- A childcare or savings fund
Plan the money side, too
A baby changes the budget quickly: diapers, formula or pump parts, childcare and more. Our baby budget guide walks through the first-year costs. For the longer view, see the cost to raise a child by age. For more on this topic, see our baby planning guides.
Once the baby is home, the Newborn Baby Tracker ($3.99) logs feeds, diapers and sleep, with pages for pediatrician visits, growth and a vaccination record. To plan bills around a smaller paycheck during leave, the Paycheck Budget Spreadsheet ($5.99) assigns each bill to the right payday. The Family Life Admin Bundle ($15.99) includes the baby tracker along with a chore chart, pet health records, a meal planner and a recipe binder.
Getting close to your due date? Print our hospital bag checklist too, and see gifts for new parents for ideas to share with friends who ask.
Hosting the celebration instead? Our baby shower food ideas guide has menus for every shower style, how much food per guest and a simple budget table.
Hosting the shower too? Our baby shower game ideas include easy, funny and co-ed picks.
Watching costs? Our baby shower on a budget plan hosts 30 guests for under $300, with a free venue and free games. Planning a cheap party first? Try our cheap gender reveal ideas.
Picking a name next? Browse our boy names resource built from SSA popularity data.
If you are still building a naming shortlist, browse these unique girl name ideas and check the exact spellings in current records before treating a name as rare.
If you have a shortlist but are not ready to decide, use the baby-name decision guide to compare priorities, test the full name and agree on the exact spelling.
Track feeds, sleep and diapers without an app
A 24-hour daily log plus feeding, diaper, sleep, growth and pediatrician-visit pages - easy to bring to checkups.
$3.99 · Instant download. Print at home or fill it in on screen. Or browse the full Family & Life Admin collection.
Frequently asked questions
What should be on a baby registry checklist? Start with the things a newborn uses every day: a safe place to sleep, a car seat, diapers and wipes, feeding supplies, a few weeks of clothes and bath basics. Then add the helpful extras, such as a carrier, a monitor and a play mat. Our free baby registry checklist groups everything by category so you can see what's missing.
When should I start a baby registry? Many parents start in the second trimester, around 20 weeks, after the anatomy scan. That leaves time to research big items like the car seat and stroller. If someone is hosting a baby shower, finish the main list about six to eight weeks before the shower so guests have time to shop.
How many items should I put on my registry? Put enough items on your registry to cover a mix of price points, usually more small items than big ones; there's no set number. A registry with a mix of price points works best, so guests on any budget can find something. Many families list more small items, like bottles, burp cloths and diapers, than big ones. Group gifting or a fund for the car seat or crib helps with the expensive pieces.
What baby items are worth buying new? Car seats should be bought new, or used only if you know the full history, because a seat that has been in a crash may not protect as well. Crib mattresses are also worth buying new. Clothes, swings, play mats and many toys are fine secondhand if they are clean and not recalled.
What should I leave off a baby registry? Skip crib bumpers, pillows, positioners and loose quilts, since safe sleep guidance says a baby's sleep space should be bare. Also skip lots of newborn-size clothes, because babies grow out of them fast. Wipe warmers, special baby laundry hampers and fancy diaper bags are nice but rarely needed.
How many diapers do I need for a newborn? Newborns often go through 8 to 12 diapers a day in the first weeks. Rather than registering for huge boxes of one size, list a few newborn and size 1 packs plus a diaper fund or gift card. That way you can buy the brand and size that actually fits once the baby arrives.
Should I register for a breast pump? Only if your health insurance doesn't cover one, so check with your insurer first. Many plans cover a breast pump, sometimes from a list of approved suppliers. If yours does, leave the pump off the registry and add pump parts, milk storage bags or a hands-free bra instead. If it isn't covered, a pump is a common group gift.
Is it okay to ask for cash or gift cards on a baby registry? Yes, many registries now include a cash fund for things like childcare, diapers or a future savings account. Keep the wording simple, such as "diaper fund" or "help for the first months." Guests who like to give something they can wrap still have the rest of your baby registry checklist to choose from.
What do I need for a baby's first year that people forget? People often forget a high chair, a few bigger clothing sizes, outlet covers and cabinet locks, a thermometer, a nasal aspirator and a first aid kit. Meal deliveries, cleaning help and babysitting vouchers are also some of the most appreciated gifts in the first few months.
Is there a free baby registry checklist I can print? Yes, there's a free baby registry checklist you can print. The free baby registry checklist on this page is a two-page PDF that we email to you. It covers sleep, feeding, diapering, getting around, bath and health, clothes, play and nursery, and after-baby help. Use it while you build your registry so nothing important slips through.
Do I need a changing table? You don't necessarily need a changing table. Many families put a changing pad with a strap on top of a low dresser, which saves money and space. Whatever you use, keep one hand on the baby at all times and keep supplies within reach so you never need to step away.
Free printable
Build your baby registry without buying things you won't use
Two pages grouped by sleep, feeding, diapering, getting around and more. You'll also get our weekly HomeBase email with simple, practical tips for getting ready for baby.
Sources
- CPSC: Safe sleep for babies cpsc.gov
- NICHD Safe to Sleep campaign safetosleep.nichd.nih.gov
- NHTSA: Car seats and booster seats nhtsa.gov