A dozen items that should be on every baby registry checklist (but usually aren’t)

As a doula, I often get asked registry questions that set me up to be an insurance commercial (I know a thing or two because I’ve seen a thing or two, you’re in good hands, fifteen minutes could save you 100% of a headache of not having things you actually need, etc.).

I’ll just lean into that for today’s blog post and list for you the twelve items that I think should be on every baby registry but are usually missing from the baby registry checklists.

1. A baby toothbrush. Seriously. You can start with the finger toothbrush model or the cute little banana or something else, but as soon as your kid has teeth, you should start brushing them. And, since some kids are BORN with teeth (!!), I’d suggest listing this as an option for a loved one to gift you. (Toothpaste, or toothpaste with fluoride, isn’t advised for a while though – until about age 2.)
2. If you’re in a cold climate, a babywearing coat. You may already know how much I love babywearing, but keep in mind that a coat that keeps your baby warm and cozy while on you is a financial investment. Ask your loved ones to buy it for you. (You can also get inserts for your normal winter code, but definitely check the reviews before you add one to your registry. I hear mixed things.)
3. No matter your climate, a sunhat. I’d register for a couple sizes of these puppies, honestly. Protecting little babies from the sun is really important, and they shouldn’t use sunscreen until they’re a bit older (The Skin Cancer Foundation, the FDA, and the American Academy of Pediatrics all recommend against sunscreen before 6 months). But…
4. I’m adding sunscreen to this list anyway, because they’ll need it eventually, and I’m pretty sure you’ll use it before it expires. (Yep, sunscreen does expire.) So, in addition to baby shampoo, baby conditioner, and baby laundry detergent, register for baby sunscreen.
5. Sanitizer bags. This is my FAVORITE thing to gift new parents that I don’t know well enough to gift things like peri bottles (see point 8). I love the Medela steamer bags, where you can just throw in an ounce of water and microwave pump parts, toys, and more to sanitize. They last for 30 uses or so. They’re amazing.
6. A shot glass. I’m a huge proponent of teaching your child to drink using one anyway (see more here), but also how do you think I measure all of those one-ounce amounts of water I throw into sanitizer bags? Shot glass, baby. Get a fun one. Get one that will make you smile when you look at it. Get one that’s dishwasher safe. Get someone else to get it for you.
7. On this topic, why not register for baby dishes? Having plates and silverware that are made for a little one’s body size is incredibly helpful as they learn to eat. (Have you ever tried to eat with a salad spoon and fork?! That’s what it’s like for them to eat with adult-sized silverware!) Most babies don’t start eating solid food for a while, but having the items on hand can be useful. And, one of your loved ones might really enjoy getting to buy you a special or particularly cute set of dishes. Go ahead and register for those. Oh, and bibs. Ideally the kind that you can just wipe off rather than have to throw in the laundry.
8. We’ll do a quick but significant jump here from dishes and bibs back to peri bottles. Postpartum care kits are my number one thing to make sure someone has postpartum. You can register for individual pieces or a premade kit. However, this is a tricky one for some folks to add to their registry. Your grandma might not be the kind of grandma to buy you Tucks pads. That’s okay. If you want some discreetness in this request, you can always register for a gift card and tell people it’ll be for “postpartum care essentials.” They’ll get the point, and hopefully they’ll get the card.
9. Furniture. This stuff is expensive! And while a crib might already be on your list, think about what other furniture might be helpful. A rocking chair, sure. Bookshelves, absolutely. Toy storage, you bet. If you’re going to have to find it anyway, add it to your registry! (Also, remember that many registry softwares allow you to mark that you’ll welcome preloved items, and that it can be a great assignment for a loved one who is an excellent Facebook Marketplace Stalker to find you furniture items quite cheap.)
10. Baby gates. This is going to be useful if you have stairs or like the idea of personal space. This is going to be practically essential if you have dogs.
11. Coffee and grocery gift cards. It’s practical, but man alive, it makes a difference.
12. At-home date night activities for the parents. Puzzle boxes, movie night supplies, board games…this is the kind of gift that helps remind new parents to invest in each other and in their relationship, too.

There are my top twelve. What other items do you think are usually missing from registry checklists? Comment below!