Making sure you have everything you need for your baby’s arrival can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re preparing for your first child.

It’s not always obvious what items you actually need, what’s optional, or what’s best left off your list entirely. That’s why we’ve created this baby registry checklist, a clear, practical guide to the baby registry essentials and must-have items that parents actually use.

Whether you’re starting from scratch or refining your list, this guide breaks down what to put on a baby registry, how to organise it, and which items are worth prioritising.

Online registry providers like Moonsift allow you to create as many registry lists as you like, so keeping multiple lists is easy.

You'll also find a more comprehensive registry checklist specifically designed to help first-time parents ensure they have everything they need before their little one arrives.

How to Use This Baby Registry Checklist

Before jumping into the checklist, here are two tips to make building your registry easier:

1. Organise your registry by category.
   Breaking items into categories like Sleep, Feeding, Bath, Travel, Clothing, and Play helps keep things manageable.

2. Create two lists: “definitely need” and “might need.”
   This lets you prioritise essentials while keeping track of optional items.

Universal registry platforms like Moonsift let you create multiple lists in one place, making it easy to organise, update, and share your registry as you go.

What Is Usually on a Baby Registry?

Most baby registries include a mix of everyday essentials, bigger ticket items, and a few comfort or convenience products. Below is a breakdown of the most common items for a baby registry, based on what parents regularly add.

You can also explore real examples here: Baby registry USA / Baby registry UK

Baby Sleep Essentials

Creating a safe and calming sleep environment is one of the most important parts of early baby care.

Baby Clothing Must-Haves

Babies grow quickly, so focus on comfortable basics rather than quantity.

What you need

• Onesies (around 10)

• Bodysuits / rompers (short and long sleeve)

• Sleepsuits / pyjamas

• Swaddling blankets

• Socks and booties

• Wool beanie and sun hat

• Mittens

• Muslin cloths

Shoes are optional and mostly decorative until your baby starts walking.

Baby Travel Essentials

Getting out of the house with a newborn can feel like a mission, but having the right gear makes all the difference. These travel essentials help keep your baby safe, comfortable, and well-prepared, whether you're running errands or going on a weekend getaway.

Leaving the house with a newborn is easier with the right setup.

What you need

• Baby changing bag

• Travel changing mat

• Car seat (new, not second-hand)

• Stroller / pram

• Baby carrier or wrap

• Travel crib (if staying away overnight)

• Sun or snooze shade

Baby Feeding Essentials

Feeding needs vary, and flexibility is important.

What you need

• Bottles (newborn teats to start)

• Breast pump (manual, electric, or cordless)

• Bottle steriliser and brush

• Burp cloths / muslin squares (10–20)

• High chair (needed later, not immediately)

• Bibs (for weaning stage)

Baby Bath & Health Essentials

Keeping your baby clean, comfortable, and healthy doesn’t need to be complicated, but having the right basics on hand makes a huge difference. These essentials will help you stay prepared for bathtime and minor health hiccups.

What you need

• Baby bath or bath seat

• Gentle, fragrance-free baby body wash

• Hooded bath towel

• Body thermometer

• Room and water thermometer

• Baby first-aid kit (rash cream, saline drops, nasal aspirator, scissors, baby paracetamol)

This checklist covers the most commonly recommended essentials, but when it comes to bigger purchases, it’s worth chatting with friends who have kids, and reading reviews to make the best choice for you and your baby.

What do you put on a first time baby registry?

When it's your first baby, you are starting from scratch. With so much to acquire, making a registry is a must. Not just so that friends and family can support you with gifts, but also to help you stay organised. Having a list of everything you may need will help your peace of mind.

Below is a more comprehensive baby registry checklist for first-time parents, combining everyday essentials with longer-term items.

Comprehensive first time baby checklist:

Baby Sleep:

• Co-sleeper or bassinet

• Cot/ crib (not needed for first few months)

• Moses basket

• Mattres protector

• Fitted sheets x 2 at least

• Blackout drapes/ curtains

• Baby monitor

• Sleepsuit

• Baby sleeping bag

• White noise machine

• Pacifiers/ dummies

• Pacifier/ dummy clip

Baby clothing:

Start with 0-3 month old clothing. If you can start planning for 0-6 months as well you will have less to do in the first 3 months. This should include:

• Onesises (x10)

• Bodysuits/ Romper (x5 short sleeve & x5 long sleeve)

• Sleepsuits (x5)

• Jumper / sweatshirt

• Footed pants

• Shorts

• Pramsuit

• Booties

• Socks (x5)

• Woollen hat/ beanie

• Sun hat

• Swim suite (if relevant)

• Drool bibs (x5)

• Muslin (x10)

• Shoes are just for novelty until they walk

Baby Travel:

Going out your front door is about to get a lot harder, here are the items you will need:

• Car seat (don’t get second hand)

• Baby changing bag

• Travel changing mat

• Pram/ Stroller

• Baby carrier or wrap/ sling

• Travel pump (if relevant)

• Travel cot/ crib (if expecting to stay away overnight)

• Snooze shade

• Sun shade for car

Baby Feeding:

This will depend on your intended feeding plan. Your baby may not always decide to follow your feeding plan, so you may need to be open to exploring different options.

• Bottles

• Breast pump

• Formula (if relevant)

• Burp cloths/ muslin squares (x10)

• Bottle sterilisers

• Bottle brush

• High chair (won’t need for 1st 6 months)

• Silicone bib (won’t need for 1st 6 months)

Baby Changing & cleaning:

• Changing table (ideally with drawers)

• Changing mat

• Diapers/ nappies (x100+)

• Cotton balls

• Nappy wipes

• Baby bath

• Baby body wash

• Hooded bath towel

Baby health & other:

• Body thermometer

• Room & water thermometer

• Nappy rash cream

• Saline nasal drops

• Nasal aspirator

• Baby scissors

• Baby Paracetamol

• Nipple guards / shields,

• Nipple cream

• Nursing bras

• Breast pads

• Maternity pads

• Drawers (if not part of changing table)

• Storage baskets and organisers

• Baby swing chair

• Sheepskin rug

This is a comprehensive starting point, but every family’s needs are unique, so feel free to tailor your registry to suit your lifestyle, routines, and personal preferences.

The fun stuff is up next; toys and creative things for your baby to learn and play with.

Fun and Creative Baby Registry Gift Ideas

If you'd like to add some more fun and creative ideas to your registry, you have a lot of exciting baby gift options to choose from.

1. Soft toys: whether it’s teddy bear, doll, bunny or cat, soft toys are ideal baby gifts that can become your child's devoted buddy.

2. Baby sensory toy set: A collection of tactile stimuli for a baby can be provided through sensory toys, including a softball, textured blocks and rattles.

3. Activity gyms: these are great to for keeping your baby entertained and helping them build up their neck muscles and hand eye coordination.

4. Customised baby gifts:  Onesies and bib with a special message or the baby's name can make a thoughtful and one-of-a-kind gift.

5. Milestone blanket or card set: this is the perfect backdrop for photos that capture the baby at different milestones as they progress through their first year

6. Baby music box: A classic music box can add a charming touch to any nursery and help soothe your baby to sleep.

7. Handmade gifts: browse Etsy for lots of unique handmade baby gifts such as handmade rattles

8. Personalised baby keepsake box: A personalised keepsake box is a beautiful way to store and preserve precious mementoes, such as hospital bracelets, the first lock of hair, and other special items.

9. Baby photo album: A beautiful photo album is a great way to showcase your baby's adorable pictures.

Remember, the key to a great baby registry is choosing items that reflect your style and personality and will make life with a new baby more manageable and enjoyable.

Example registry on Moonsift

To bring the recommended list items to life, we’ve created a registry that gives examples of all the products listed above from a variety of brands. These are real examples of common items we see on registries in the UK and America.

Baby registry U.S. examples

Baby registry UK examples

Because the above registries are public, you will not be able to mark off items as bought. When you create your own registry on Moonsift, the people you share it with will be directed to mark off what they buy.

While these examples are of products in the USA and the UK, you can add products from any store in the world to your Moonsift registry. So no matter where you are and which products you wish to add, you can do so on Moonsift.

How does a baby registry work on Moonsift?

In brief, creating a baby registry on Moonsift is quick and easy.

1. Add products from any store in the world to your registry

2. Share the registry anywhere with a link

3. Guests mark off the item(s) they buy

4. You can track what has and hasn’t been bought

Why Choose Moonsift for Your Baby Registry?

Moonsift is a free, independent registry platform that lets you add items from any retailer, from major stores to small boutiques.

It’s designed to be clean, easy to use, and flexible, helping you build a baby registry that reflects your lifestyle rather than locking you into one store.

Create your free baby registry here.

Baby Registry Checklist FAQs

What is okay to put on a baby registry?
Anything you’ll genuinely use: essentials, big items, and smaller everyday products. There are no strict rules.

What should be included in a Babylist?
Babylist registries typically include sleep items, feeding essentials, clothing, bath products, and travel gear.

What is the most popular baby registry?
Popular registries include Babylist, Amazon, and universal registries that allow items from multiple stores.

Is 100 items on a baby registry too much?
Not necessarily. Most baby registries include 100–120 items to give guests a range of price options.