What Baby Needs / Baby Shower

No doubt you’ve thought about how you want your baby’s room to look, and you might have your eye on a few toys or clothing items that are too cute to pass up. But have you really thought about everything your baby will need when he or she arrives? And what should you put on your registry?

What to buy and/or register for 

You’ll have to figure out exactly what you want and need for your new baby, but here are some ideas for must-have items. 

In the nursery 

• Baby monitor 
• Crib or bassinet and mattress 
• mattress covers and crib sheets 
• Nightlight 
• Rocking chair or armchair 
• Dresser 
• Changing pad 
• Toy basket 
• Laundry hamper
• Baby swing or bouncer 

Feeding and changing 

• Bibs and burp cloths 
• Diapers and wipes (register for multiple sizes of diapers to help you stay stocked) 
• Diaper cream 
• Nursing pads 
• Nursing pillow 
• Highchair
• Diaper pail and liners (or a covered trashcan) 

Health and safety 

• Infant first aid kit, nail clippers and thermometer 
• Infant bathtub and toiletries 
• Baby washcloths and towels 
• Baby-friendly laundry detergent 
• Bulb syringe (for sucking mucus out of baby’s nostrils) 
• Infant pain reliever/fever reducer
• Gas drops 

Travel 

• Rear-facing infant car seat 
• Rain cover for car seat 
• Stroller
• Diaper bag 

Clothing 

• Onesies 
• Receiving blankets 
• Socks and hats 
• Lots of lightweight footed sleepers 
• A few sets of “going out” clothes 

What not to buy or register for 

There are so many things that we might think we need, but we really don’t—at least not yet. Here’s what you can skip: 

• Wipe warmer 
• Baby shoes 
• Dressy clothes (unless you have photos or a special occasion planned) 
• millions of toys 
• Crib bumper (these may look cute, but they’re not safe) 

Safety first 

One thing to keep in mind as you start to buy and receive lots of new baby things: make sure to check the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website to make sure none of your items are on the national recall list. You can also sign up for recall notifications so you never miss important notices.