Creating your baby registry is truly one of most exciting aspects of a pregnancy journey! For me, envisioning my baby wearing this cute swaddle or using that adorable pacifier made everything feel much more real.

While there are many lists online that give you a rundown of the basics, my hope is to bring to light the less-obvious items that will ease your transition into the first weeks and months of parenting. With that said, I also remember how overwhelming it was (both my husband and I are major researchers when it comes to making purchases) even when it came to picking out the obvious items for a registry. Reading reviews is helpful, but sometimes you just want to talk to someone you know. So grab your favorite drink, a pen and paper, and think of me as your internet BFF giving you my best recommendations based on what I’ve learned so far on this adventure of parenting!

Baby Registry Must-Haves

Grabease utensils – My daughter was able to use these forks to feed herself by around 9 months old. We’re still working on the spoon, but the handles are easy to grab and the choke guard gives me peace of mind.

Nail trimmer – I had a frightening experience with regular baby nail clippers, and a friend recommended this little device. We call it the “baby dremel” and it takes some getting used to, but it’s all we use now!

Sun hat – One with a wide brim is great for walks! We did not think of this ahead of time and ended up grabbing this one once the summer months hit.

Sling wrap – Moby Wrap is a popular and well-known brand for this, but I borrowed the one my sister-in-law had (she loved it!) and discovered I much preferred this one that we registered for. The fabric has more stretch to it but it still keeps baby snug against you.

Burp cloths – These are great, and luckily Danielle also sewed us a bunch that were fabulous. (Not just a talented photographer, folks…She’s a jack of all trades, I’m telling you!) You’ll need a lot of them unless you win the baby lottery and your little one doesn’t spit up!

Swaddle – I had not seen these when we were registering (and may have been suspicious of their unique design anyway), but they coincided perfectly with my daughter’s preference to sleep with her arms up. She eventually graduated to this one with the zip-off wings, and I credit the Love to Dream brand’s amazing design for her seamless transition out of swaddles!

High chair – We didn’t go the traditional route because we don’t have a ton of extra space in our kitchen. This is totally a matter of opinion, but if you’re looking to save space, we love this one that hooks on to your table or island! You can deconstruct the whole thing and throw the fabric parts in the laundry, which I love.

Bibs – Another classic baby item, but there are so many options to choose from! Based on Danielle’s recommendation, we went with these made by Bumkins and I can’t say enough great things about them! With regular and long-sleeve options, they are machine washable but you can also just give them a good wipe down and they dry very quickly.

Books – Sleep training, feeding, developmental benchmarks…there’s so much to think about and an overwhelming number of opinions on how to do just about everything when it comes to babies. While every parent can and should choose what works best for their family, I want to offer these books as a starting place because they have truly been beneficial for us:

The Wonder Weeks: A Stress-Free Guide to Your Baby’s Behavior

Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child

I could go on, but I want to leave you with a nugget of wisdom that my husband and I only learned with experience. You can research for days and buy only expert-recommended baby products with the highest reviews…and it still may not work for your baby. One example is this flower petal baby bath that seemingly everyone loves and was therefore a no-brainer, or so we thought. But our daughter hated it and so it didn’t work for us. Every baby is different and what jives well with one may not with another, but I hope my insights will be helpful along the way. I wish you the best of luck as you navigate your baby registry. If you’re already on the other side, leave a comment below with your favorite baby registry items and be sure to share with anyone who is preparing to enter parenthood soon!

As an Amazon affiliate, I do earn a little something from each qualifying purchase. Thank you for supporting Danielle Hardesty Photography. All opinions expressed are my own and not sponsored by the brands listed.

Here are a couple other posts that might be helpful as you anticipate your little one’s arrival:

Hospital Bag Essentials Part 1: The Basics

Hospital Bag Essentials Part 2 (COMING SOON)