Baby registry: the real essentials (and useless purchases)

A baby registry is generally prepared during the last trimester of pregnancy. Between the advice of friends and family and the store offerings, it is easy to get lost. Here is a realistic list: what you need to have before the baby arrives, what can wait, and what you can avoid.

The principle: buy by priority

Three levels to organize your list:

• To have before birth: safety, sleep, first aid, transport.
• To buy in the first few weeks: based on your actual needs.
• To postpone: everything concerning the following months (meals, development, walking).

The essentials before birth

Sleep

• A crib or bassinet that meets current standards, with a firm mattress adapted to its dimensions.
• A sleep sack suited to the season (2 if possible, to rotate).
• Fitted sheets (about 3).

For safer sleep: no pillow, no crib bumper, no loose blankets, and no stuffed animals in the bed. Baby sleeps on their back, on a flat and firm surface.

Transport

• A certified car seat, adapted to the baby's size. It is mandatory from the drive home from the maternity ward.
• A stroller (or a carrycot) and/or an ergonomic baby carrier: choose according to your lifestyle (car, public transport, city walking).

Meals

• Baby bottles (2 to 4 to start), nipples, bottle brush, and something to sterilize if you wish.
• If breastfeeding: nursing pillow, potentially a breast pump (ask your midwife).

Care and diapering

• A secure changing table or pad (or a changing mat placed on a stable dresser).
• Size 1 diapers (do not stock up too much: baby grows fast), cleansing lotion (liniment), cotton or wipes.
• A baby bathtub or a bath seat, a bath thermometer, gentle toiletries.
• A medical thermometer and saline solution.

Clothing

• 6 to 8 onesies/bodysuits (newborn and 1-month size).
• 6 to 8 pajamas (sleepers).
• A few cardigans, hats, socks.

Do not buy too many in "newborn" size: many babies outgrow them quickly.

What can wait

• The high chair, plate, spoons, bibs: not before 4-6 months.
• Developmental equipment (play mat, toys): baby does not need these in the first few weeks.
• Shoes: useless as long as the baby is not walking.
• Accessories for the next season (for example, a rain cover or winter clothes, if the baby is born in summer).

What you can avoid

• Highly specialized bottle warmers and kitchen gadgets: a pot of hot water does the same job.
• Too many newborn-sized clothes: they are rarely useful for long.
• Hard-soled booties or newborn shoes: of no use for a baby who cannot walk.
• Decorative bedding accessories (crib bumpers, large pillows, thick blankets): they pose a risk and are not recommended.
• Duplicate equipment: a second bouncer or a second bath seat, for example.

How to build your baby registry

1. Take inventory of what you already have (family, friends, secondhand).
2. Prioritize: safety and sleep first.
3. Mix budgets to allow everyone to contribute, with small prices and a few big-ticket items.
4. Share the list with friends and family with a few lines of explanation about your choices.
5. Leave a margin: not everything needs to be bought before birth.

Summary

FAQ

When to create your baby registry?

Ideally around the 5th or 6th month of pregnancy, to have time to compare and be delivered before the due date.

How many clothes should I buy?

6 to 8 onesies and pajamas per size are generally enough, with a wash every 2 or 3 days.

Can we buy secondhand?

Yes for clothes and some accessories. For the car seat and mattress, prioritize new: you do not know the history of secondhand ones.

Do you have to buy everything before birth?

No. Only safety (car seat, sleeping area) and basic products are essential. The rest can be added later.