Baby Hudson is HERE and despite my best intentions to get this blog post up before his arrival, it just didn’t happen.
Silver lining: now I can share what actually works for us & some mini reviews on the things we’ve used with him in our first month as parents!
This list is a big compilation of what we registered for & received for our baby shower, what we were gifted from our parents, and lots of items we purchased ourselves.
Building a baby registry was such a daunting task, so I hope this helps you if you’re building one from scratch too!
My goal was to find a balance with baby purchases- looking for items with great reviews (or things that were recommended by friends/family) but also looks for the least toxic options, made with organic materials when possible to reduce baby’s toxic load (especially with furniture/bedding).
I think we did a pretty good job after lots of hours of research, and I hope the time I spent can be helpful to you!
I’ll do my best to come back & update as we use items more if I find something really works (or doesn’t) for us.
If you have something to add to this list that you have loved, please comment below! I’d love to build on this post so it can be a super helpful resource to any overwhelmed expecting mama out there!
PS: If you are a visual person, scroll to the bottom of the post for a clickable visual registry!
BABY GEAR (travel, carriers & sleep)
travel
- NUNA MIXX Stroller (love the look & ease of this! fits our carseat and comes with a larger stroller seat too, and works with all of the different NUNA attachments)
- NUNA MIXX Clip-On Cup Holder (great for walks or for Stroller Strides workout class!)
- Stroller Organizer (love this- also has a cupholder built into it, plus can hold your phone, hand sanitizer, etc)
- NUNA PIPA Lite LX Infant Car Seat (so far so good with this car seat! hooks into the car base easily and also into the stroller; love the built-in cover that can be pulled over baby when we’re outside or in a germy waiting room!)
- Baby Backseat Mirror for Car
- Graco Baby Glider (long story but we ended up getting this for free, and it’s been great! love that the seat reclines, and that we can take it off of the gliding base to use as a bouncer anywhere in the house)
- Baby Bjorn Bouncer in Organic Cotton (if you only need a bouncer seat- I’d recommend this! it’s lightweight and easily portable, and fits even tiny newborns well. there’s an attachable toy bar you can purchase separately too! great for when I’m getting ready in the bathroom or cooking in the kitchen!)
carriers
- Ergobaby 360 Baby Carrier (more structured; good for outdoor activities and super dad-friendly)
- Solly Baby Wrap Carrier (great once you get the hang of putting on the wrap; best for quick walks or around the house)
- Boppy ComfyFit Baby Carrier (excited for this- it’s supposed to be a cross between ergo & solly; structured enough that it clips on, but still soft & comfy like the Solly)
- Ring Sling Baby Carrier (this is good for around the house when baby wants to nap on you! love that it has a pocket for my phone or a burp cloth)
sleep
- HALO Bassinest Swivel Sleeper (plus organic mattress and organic fitted sheet; this is what’s next to our bed for sleep until he’s bigger & transitions to crib)
- Snuggle Me Organic Infant Lounger (love the feel of this and the materials; don’t love that it’s so snug to where baby can’t turn his head to the side. Hudson almost always sleeps with his head to one side which helps if he spits up at all; he seems to choke more easily in this- at least in the early days)
BLANKETS & BEDDING
- Little Giraffe Luxe Baby Blanket (I got this during the Nordstrom sale when I was just a few months pregnant- it’s the softest, sweetest blankey ever! and makes a gorgeous gift!)
- Copper Pearl Swaddles (we also love Lou Lou & Company, but this brand is a great budget-friendly dupe that looks & feels the exact same, with more prints to choose from! they’re super stretchy and the perfect weight; and we love the matching hats and their bandana bibs too!)
- Little Unicorn Muslin Swaddles (these are a light, thin cotton- not stretchy but nice for a lightweight option and super versatile!)
- Organic Fitted Crib Sheet by Burt’s Bees (we bought a few so we’ll always have a clean one on hand!)
- Halo Bassinest Organic Cotton Fitted Sheet (same story- bought backups so we always have a clean sheet)
- Organic Velcro Swaddles (I like these best when we swaddle his bottom half only and leave arms out- which Hudson prefers! otherwise these would be too short/tight for a full body swaddle)
- Halo Sleepsack Swaddle – Wearable Blanket (love! We have two in the newborn size, and there’s room to grow- even for a long baby!)
CLOTHING
- Molly’s Suds Laundry Powder (this is super simple, works for the whole family, and is unscented)
- Oversized Baby Mittens (great for bigger babies, or any baby who wants wiggle room for their fingers to stretch- which was important to me!)
- L’Oved Baby Organic Cotton Kimono Bodysuit (these are pricey but we loved having them for those early days when his umbilical cord stump was still hanging on. great for after too- we got size 0-3 months)
- Gerber Short-Sleeve Onesies (we liked the fit of Gerber best! but we went straight to 0-3 months. “newborn” was too small for Hudson even at his birthweight of 8 lbs)
- Gerber Long-Sleeve Mitten-Cuff Onesies (the built-in mittens are so nice!)
- Jefferies Organic Cotton Socks (these are the only ones that stay on!)
- Lamaze Organic Zip Up Sleep N’ Play (the fit & fabric of these were are favorite- but we also love Carter’s and Baby Gap for these zip up outfits which he pretty much lives in!)
- Hudson Baby (my mom found this brand on Amazon after we chose Hudson’s name, and we’ve really loved all of the outfits we’ve found from them! great prices, super cute prints, and thick/soft fabrics)
DIAPERING
- Skip Hop Simply Chic Diaper Backpack (love the look & functionality of this!)
- Waterproof Wet Dry Bag (great to keep in the diaper bag- has one section for clean clothes, and a lined pocket for wet/dirty clothes)
- Travel Diaper Changing Pad / Station (this is great for the stroller or to keep in the car)
- Portable Diaper Caddy (we keep this downstairs for quick diaper changes when we don’t want to go up to the nursery)
- Hatch Baby Grow Changing Pad + Scale (this is amazing for tracking baby’s weight – and really great if you’re breastfeeding and want to measure how much baby is getting in one nursing session! connects to an app both my husband and I can access and update his weight at any time)
- BabyBum Diaper Cream Brush (I’ve heard great things about this brush! it comes with a travel sized brush/case too.)
- Wipe Warmer & Dispenser (this is a must for us! no tears during diaper changes when he has him warm wipes)
- Disposable Changing Pads (this is a convenience thing that we really enjoy- we lay this down on our changing pad in case of a “messy diaper change” which can definitely happen with boys who pee everywhere! great for on-the-go too.)
- Ubbi Diaper Pail (love that we can use regular kitchen trash bags in this, and it really keeps the “odor” in!)
- Water Wipes (these are great- and don’t irritate his super sensitive skin)
- Honest Diapers (love the materials used & that they are fragrance free; also available through a subscription service on their website HERE)
- Primally Pure Baby Powder (haven’t needed this, but this is the one we will use if we do!)
- Beautycounter Baby Calming Diaper Rash Cream (keeping on hand just in case!)
BATH
- Angelcare Baby Bath Support (fits right in the tub and works as baby grows)
- Bath Kneeler & Elbow Rest Bundle (love this for saving my knees when baby is in the tub! and has handy pockets for soap, washcloths, etc)
- Bath Organization Caddy (tucks away all of his bathtime gear under the sink)
- Organic Bamboo Washcloths (these are SO soft)
- Natural Sea Wool Bath Sponge (love this! holds a ton of water so I don’t even need a cup to pour water on his hair)
- DIY Hair & Body Wash for Baby (click the link for a quick video tutorial. I use “baby mild” soap by Dr. Bronner’s, and skip the essential oil)
- Beautycounter Baby Wash (this is what we plan to switch to after he’s a few months old)
- Baby Bath Wrap Towel (the softest and most absorbent, keeps him warm out of the bath)
TOYS / ENTERTAINMENT
- Books! We registered for a few classics and some high contrast black & white books for the newborn stage, which he LOVES to look at:
- Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
- Giraffes Can’t Dance
- Guess How Much I Love You
- I Love You to the Moon and Back
- Goodnight Moon & The Runaway Bunny
- Baby Animals Black & White
- Jane Foster’s Black & White
- Skip Hop 3-Stage Activity Center (I can’t wait to watch him play in this!)
- The Play Gym by Lovevery (this is our FAVORITE. Hudson does most of his tummy time here & it will be perfect as he grows! love the canopy for later too when he wants a cute little play tent; and the materials used in this are great!)
- NOOK LilyPad Playmat (for travel, outdoors, or for moving easily from room-to-room. great for tummy time or anytime you want a cushioned surface for baby to rest or play. machine washable and folds up easily)
- Lovevery Play Kits (a subscription service based on baby’s development. I paid for them all in advance & they’ll ship when he hits the age for the next box. Love these so much, and the thought process behind each toy and item in every box!)
HEALTH, SAFETY, & SKIN
- Baby Vitamin D Drops (we like the ingredients and that the entire serving is in just one drop)
- Baby Hair Brush & Comb Set (LOVE the soft goat hair brush in this set!)
- Electric Nail Trimmer File with Light (this is what we registered for after hearing such great things, but haven’t used it yet!)
- Tweezerman Baby Nail Clippers with File (my mom ran out & bought this from Whole Foods when we were at the hospital and realized how long his fingernails were! works great- I use the file most!)
- BabyGanics Alcohol & Fragrance Free Hand Sanitizer (love that it’s unscented and doesn’t dry out our hands or leave a residue)
- Beautycounter Baby Daily Protective Balm (this is my favorite multi-use product, similar to a vaseline or Aquaphor but with safe ingredients! it works on my dry hands from so much washing, and I trust it for Hudson’s dry patches too)
- Beautycounter Baby Oil (we all use this! even my husband for his face/beard)
- Forehead & Ear Thermometer (really easy to use for a quick read)
- Oral & Rectal Digital Thermometer (we went out & bought this after realizing the forehead scan thermometer isn’t accurate for babies under 2 months! good to have both- this one for a more accurate read if needed)
- NoseFrida Nasal Aspirator + Extra Filters (a must have! sounded gross at first but is totally not when your babe needs your help to clear out their nose! milk boogers are a thing!)
- Baby Bulb Aspirator (we snagged one from the hospital too, but it’s great to have a few of these lying around!)
- Baby Finger Toothbrush (good practice and nice to have on hand for when those teeth do come in!)
- Infant Optics Baby Monitor (I polled you guys on Instagram and had an overwhelming response about this one! we love that it doesn’t use WiFi so can’t be hacked, and has a super clear picture and good range. apparently it travels well too since you just plug in to set up!)
FEEDING
- Copper Pearl Bandana Bibs (we LOVE these for bottle feeding- saves on washing a million outfits a day just because of a wet collar! will be great for drooling/teething days too)
- Gerber Cloth Diapers (for burp cloths- THE BEST and most absorbent)
- Soothie Pacifiers 0-3 months (Hudson has tried a couple of styles and this is the one he likes most! He’s not much of a pacifier guy, but will take it from time to time if he’s gassy or falling asleep to satisfy the suck reflex)
- Fast Baby Bottle Warmer (love the “quick warm” setting on this- great for heating breastmilk too)
- Philips Avent Anti-Colic Baby Bottles (we had no clue on bottles/nipples when we had to start supplementing with formula early on, so it took a lot of trial & error before we found this bottle that was great for the early days & complimented breastfeeding. love the anti-colic vent that keeps air bubbles to a minimum! we did have to go up a nipple size to a level 2; the level 1 came out too slow. such an art to find the right ones- haha!)
- Comotomo Baby Bottles (these are the bottles we originally purchased, and may end up switching to when he’s just a bit bigger! they too are designed to work well for breastfed babies)
- Baby Brezza Formula Maker (the best thing we’ve bought! highly recommend if you know you’ll be using formula, or as a later purchase if you end up supplementing like we did. It’s like a Keurig for babies, but FASTER!)
- Brush & Nipple Cleaner with Stand
- White Countertop Drying Rack (love the look of this and it works well + is easy to clean)
- Twig Drying Rack Accessory (for bottle lids & nipples, pacifiers, etc)
- Stokke Tripp Trapp Highchair (this was pricey but it’s a chair that grows with them and is completely adjustable, all the way up to adulthood if you wanted! and the materials are super high quality and non toxic. we love the look of it in our home, and can’t wait to use it!)
- Fast Table Chair (portable highchair for countertops or dining out – this will be so great once he’s sitting up!)
- Fast Dining Tray (goes with the highchair so they have a clean surface)
- Easy Clean Silicone Bibs (when we introduce solids!)
- No Spill Cups (better for development than a sippy cup, but without the mess of an open cup)
- No Spill Snack Containers
- Easy Clean Silicone Bowl & Plate Set (can’t wait to use these! love that they stick to the surface and won’t slide around)
FOR MAMA
- Hands Free Pumping Bra (this gave me back some sanity when chained up to the breast pump!)
- Willow Wearable Breast Pump (if you want ALL freedom back while pumping- you need this! it’s very expensive. my husband bought me these for Christmas and I cannot be more grateful- they are game changing, especially if you’ll be pumping on the go… cannot recommend enough!)
- Earth Mama Organic Nipple Butter (I use this on my lips & any dry patches too… it’s good stuff! and safe ingredients for around baby)
- Primally Pure Dry Shampoo (love the ingredients and that there aren’t any harmful fragrances while I’m snuggling baby)
- Beautycounter One Step Makeup Remover Wipes (these were perfect for the hospital and are great for quick makeup removal on late nights)
- Beautycounter Cleansing Balm (this worked wonders for my dry skin without much effort- removes makeup, cleanses, and moisturizes in one step)
- Hanky Panky Vikini Underwear (these feel like nothing but suck you in around the tummy- worth every cent!)
- Amazon High Waisted Tummy Control Underwear (these are magic for the price)
- Rael Organic Cotton Pads (I started with the largest, heaviest ones and have worked my way down to the lightweight ones- loves that they are fragrance free & organic, and do the job)
- Barefoot Dreams Cozychic Cardigan (love the pockets for carrying all the things with a baby in my arms; wears almost like a daytime appropriate robe!)
- Kindred Bravely Leggings (designed for pregnancy but I have LOVED them for postpartum; they suck me in and smooth everything out, and make me feel a bit more comfortable & confident in this freshly post-baby body! worth every single penny)
- Zella High Waisted Leggings (great for postpartum tummy control, and beyond into workouts & athleisure wear! my all time favorite. I sized up for postpartum and they still suck me in)
- Nursing Tanks
- YETI Insulated Coffee Mug (would probably never drink my coffee hot again without this!)
- Contigo No Spill Cold Water Bottle (because all recovering mamas need extra water! especially if breastfeeding)
- Pink Stork Organic Vanilla Nursing Support Tea (this tastes so good & is supposed to help with milk supply)
- Organic Raspberry Leaf Tea (this is supposed to help shrink the uterus & also support milk supply)
NURSERY: Crib, furniture, decor, organization, & more are all covered HERE!
VISUAL BABY REGISTRY: click to go to the items!
1 Comment
Allyson Wyatt
January 14, 2019 at 5:11 pmLove this! Question, what dish soap do you use for cleaning your bottles/pumping parts? Struggling to find a clean one.