Must-Have Items for Your Baby Shower’s Gift Registry

Getting ready for a baby shower can be fun, whether you or someone else is handling the planning. Most of the time, the only “work” you have to do is start a baby registry for gifts that you’d appreciate receiving. Although baby registries are optional, they make it easy for guests to select items that you truly want and will use. They also help ensure that you won’t receive duplicate items, thereby saving you the time of having to return items to stores.

Opening a baby registry at one or more stores nevertheless takes forethought, even though you can open the registry online and participating stores provide a “shelf list” of goods that they carry concerning baby.

What exactly will you need? How many of each will you need? Which items are necessities and which are luxuries or frivolous? And besides, what in the world are half of the items mentioned on the store’s “shelf list” and what do those items do? If you’re a first-time parent, the following list of baby registry “must-haves” can be a real new-mother’s helper:

Everyday

• Diapers (lots and lots of them)
• Diaper bag
• Diaper disposal
• Baby wipes
• Rash cream
• Baby carrier
• Stroller

Baby’s Room

• Crib
• Crib mattress
• Fitted crib sheets
• Waterproof mattress protectors
• Swaddle blanket
• Nursery organizer

Clothing

• Clothing for newborns (one-piece and/or two-piece)
• Clothing for age 6-months, 8-months and 12-months
• Socks and booties
• Hats

Feeding

• If you plan to breast feed: nursing bra, breast-feeding pillow, breast-feeding pump and accessories
• Infant food formula
• Burping cloths
• Bottles
• Bottle brushes
• Bottle drying rack
• Sippy cups
• High chair for when child is able to sit upright
• Baby bowls
• Baby spoons

Transportation Accessories

• Car seat
• Stroller
• Back-up diaper bag

Bathing

• Baby bath tub
• Bath toys
• Baby-safe hair and body wash
• Hooded bath towels
• Wash cloths

Toys

• Teething toys
• Rattle
• Safe-for-baby toys that make sounds

Although there may be other items that you wish to add, the following baby registry must-haves are an excellent starting point.

Happy baby shower!