Baby registry example: the complete list, category by category

You are getting ready for your baby's arrival and do not know where to start with your baby registry? Here is a complete example, organised by category, that you can copy and adapt. For each category, we separate what you will need from birth and what can wait a few months. You will also find ideas for gifts that last, so your loved ones can offer things that stay useful well after the first weeks.

1. When should you create a baby registry?
2. Sleep
3. Feeding
4. Bathing and changing
5. Outings and the car
6. Clothes
7. Play and early learning
8. Gifts that are useful after 1 year
9. Ideas for the parents
10. Minimalist registry example
11. Our tips for a successful registry

When should you create a baby registry?

Many parents open their registry around the 5th or 6th month of pregnancy. That leaves time to compare, and your loved ones can give you before the birth what you will need as soon as you get home. Nothing stops you from adding to it later: gifts for the following months have their place too.

Sleep

From birth

• A bassinet, a Moses basket or a cot, with a firm mattress of the right size
• 3 fitted sheets: one on the bed, one in the wash, one spare
• 2 sleeping bags suited to the season
• A baby monitor if the bedroom is far from the living area
• A soft night light for night feeds

What can wait

• A floor bed, if you would like to switch to Montessori-style sleeping: here is at what age and how to make it safe.

Good to know: babies sleep on their back, in a sleeping bag, with no duvet, pillow, cot bumper or soft toy in the bed. So there is no need to put these items on your registry.

Feeding

From birth

• A nursing pillow, also handy for propping baby up or getting comfortable
• Cotton muslins and bibs: you can never have too many
• If you bottle feed: 4 to 6 bottles, a bottle brush and, depending on your habits, a bottle warmer or a steriliser
• If you breastfeed: an electric breast pump can often be rented, so there is no need to buy one straight away

What can wait (around 6 months)

• A high chair or a convertible chair
• Plates, bowls, suitable spoons and a training cup
• A blender to make the first purées

Bathing and changing

From birth

• A changing table, or a changing mat placed on a chest of drawers
• A baby bath or a bath seat
• 2 to 3 hooded towels
• A bath thermometer and a medical thermometer
• A care kit: nasal aspirator, round-tipped nail clippers, soft brush
• Nappies, disposable or washable: ask for size 2 and up, babies grow fast

What can wait

• A potty, a toilet seat reducer and a step stool, for potty training

Outings and the car

• A car seat suitable for newborns, essential if you drive home from the maternity ward
• A pram with a carrycot, or a compatible infant car seat
• An ergonomic baby carrier or a baby wrap
• A changing bag
• A parasol or a footmuff, depending on the season

These items are expensive: they are the ideal category for a group gift that several loved ones can contribute to.

Clothes

Newborn and 1-month clothes are often given in large numbers, even without a registry. On your registry, favour sizes 3, 6 and 12 months. For the first weeks, plan on roughly:

• 6 to 8 bodysuits
• 6 to 8 sleepsuits
• 2 cardigans and a hat
• Socks or booties
• A snowsuit or a sleeping nest if baby is born in winter

Play and early learning

In the first months, babies mostly need space to move freely. A firm mat on the floor will be more useful than a collection of bouncers: that is the whole idea behind free movement.

• A play mat or a firm floor mat
• A mobile to hang above the mat
• Rattles and teething rings
• Cloth or board books
• A shatterproof mirror to place on the floor

To choose well, here is how to spot a quality wooden toy.

Gifts that are useful after 1 year

A baby registry is not just about the first weeks. Some loved ones like to give a bigger gift that will stay with the child for several years. It is a chance to think ahead to the second year, when baby stands up, climbs everywhere and wants to join in with everything.

• A climbing arch: our wooden Montessori arch can be used from 12 months to 6 years. It works as a climbing arch, a rocker, a den and even a desk.
• A learning tower: our foldable learning tower, safe from 12 months, lets children see and help in the kitchen. It folds flat for storage.
• A gift card: our digital gift card lets parents choose the right moment.

For more ideas, discover our 15 lasting gift ideas for a 1-year-old.

Ideas for the parents

New parents need some care too. A few ideas to add to the registry:

• Home-cooked meals or grocery deliveries in the first weeks
• A few hours of cleaning or babysitting
• A massage or some time just for yourself
• A newborn photo shoot or a photo book
• A contribution to a big purchase, such as the pram or the cot

Minimalist registry example

Prefer a short registry? Here are the essentials, category by category.

Our tips for a successful registry

• Mix the prices: small gifts, mid-range gifts and a few big purchases as group gifts, so everyone finds their place.
• Think about the following months: high chair, learning tower, climbing arch. These gifts last a long time.
• Keep everything on one registry: it is simpler for your loved ones. Our article on Milirose explains how to gather products from several shops on a single registry.
• Be specific: state the colour, size or model you want, and update the registry when a gift has been given.
• Add a short note: a few lines to thank your loved ones make the registry warmer.

FAQ

What should you put on a baby registry?

The essentials for sleeping, feeding, bathing, going out and dressing, plus a few toys for early learning. Add gifts that are useful after 1 year, such as a climbing arch or a learning tower, and a few treats for the parents.

How many items should you put on a baby registry?

There is no ideal number. What matters is offering gifts at every price, so each loved one finds theirs, and updating the registry as purchases are made.

When should you make a baby registry?

Often around the 5th or 6th month of pregnancy, so you receive the essentials before the birth. You can then add gifts for the following months.

Can you add gifts for later to your registry?

Yes, and it is a good idea: a high chair, a learning tower or a climbing arch will be used for several years, long after the first weeks.