Baby Registry Essentials (But Really, These Are Must-Haves)

I may no longer have babies but we have been toying with the idea of adding one more baby to the mix (unfortunately, I had a miscarriage last fall).  However, I know a lot of my readers are in that season of life; maybe you’re having babies.  Or maybe your friends are having babies.  Or maybe your siblings are having babies (being an aunt is great, by the way).  Even though my kids are young, the online registry process has come so far in such a short time.  When I was pregnant with Harry, I don’t even think my friends and family shopped for my gifts online.  And with Teddy, I didn’t have a shower or sprinkle so I can’t speak to that.  When Walmart reached out to team up on this baby registry campaign I hesitated at first and thought, ‘well, I’m a little out of the game.’  But then I did my research and checked out their registry process.  I soon realized it was amazingly easy to navigate and much more user-friendly than other retailers I’ve seen friends use (because I’m still attending and buying my friends items for baby showers); plus, they have EVERYTHING at super low prices and extremely fast shipping (most of it is 2-day!).  I grew up going to Walmart in my youth (I’m from a small town) and when I moved to a big city, we no longer had access to them (except when a Walmart Express opened near my office a few years ago and we would go there all the time).  But their online presence is a force to be reckoned with and you don’t even need to go to a physical store to start a registry.

I wanted to share the baby staples that I personally relied on heavily during those first few years (some of them I’m still using for my kids, like the Maxi-Cosi convertible car seat and sound machine).  I may be a few years out from the baby stage but a good product is still a good product.  If you haven’t added these items to your own baby registry or don’t see them on the registry of the next baby shower you’re attending, I encourage you to go rogue and snag them, because they’re pretty legit.

1. Braun Thermoscan – Could.not.live.without.this.  I have tried the forehead sensor ones that the pediatrician has but they literally never work for me.  The ear thermostat is my godsend and has always worked for my kids.
2. Maxi Cosi convertible car seat – I have two of these and can’t sing their praises enough.  I have big boys so they’ve both been in this from 9 months on.  Harry just recently graduated from his to a booster and Teddy is still in his.  Cannot recommend enough!
3. BabyBjorn carrier –Wearing my kids was a godsend when I wanted to calm my kids down and/or get things done around the house–especially when I transitioned from one two kids.  BabyBjorn is one of the original babywearing carriers and in my opinion, the best.
4. Comotomo bottles – I don’t think these existed when Harry was a baby but I wish they would’ve.  I breastfed both boys until around 7 months and introduced a bottle around 3 months old when I went back to work.  This was the only bottle that dear Teddy would take–they’re easy to clean, too.
5. Woodland Wonder Activity Jumper – Look, before I had kids I was like, “my kids will just have to be part of my space and I won’t turn into a monster kid house.”  Bahahaha.  Ah, those were the days. I definitely have adult spaces, but there’s no avoiding the loud and colorful toys; I basically step on Legos and matchbox cars daily.  And all kids love the slightly cringeworthy, boldly-colored jumper so you just have to embrace it; I wish this one would’ve been around when I had kids because it’s a little more muted (but still colorful enough for the babies).  I personally loved when they got to the age where I could put them in there and watch them squeal with delight.
6. Hatch sound machine – My mom always gave me guff about sound machines, saying that I was training my kids to get used to white noise, but guess what, I LOVE WHITE NOISE, TOO.  My kids love the soothing sounds of white noise and just like their parents, probably always will.  Sorry, future college roommates.
7. aden + anias silky swaddles – Out of all the blankets I have for my kids (and there’s a lot), these are my absolutel favorite.  For swaddles, for photos, for burp cloths, for diaper bags, for stroller covers, they do it all and still look great no matter how often they’re washed (you’ll be doing laundry a lot more…).
8. Nancy Tillman books – Please add every single Nancy Tillman book to your registry.  I read to my kids every single night and have since they were little.  And still, when I read a Nancy Tillman book to my boys, I shed a few tears because they’re just so sweet.  I didn’t buy these books–they were all gifts and I don’t even remember who bought them for me at this point but they are treasures.  (Side emotional note: my dad passed away a few months after Harry, my oldest, was born, and reading this out loud to Harry after his death was extremely therapeutic to me).  Other classic books to add to your registry that my kids love: The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Goodnight Moon, Brown Bear, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.

I wanted to share the baby staples that I personally relied on heavily during those first few years (some of them I’m still using for my kids, like the Maxi-Cosi convertible car seat and sound machine).  I may be a few years out from the baby stage but a good product is still a good product.  If you haven’t added these items to your own baby registry or don’t see them on the registry of the next baby shower you’re attending, I encourage you to go rogue and snag them, because they’re pretty legit.

PS This is never something I’d add to a baby registry (it’s a toddler gift) I did buy Teddy’s play kitchen at Walmart last Black Friday and it was an awesome deal–I love this particular brand!

*Thanks to Walmart for sponsoring this post!