What are the baby registry must-haves?
The true must-haves are a federally approved rear-facing infant car seat, a firm flat crib or bassinet with a fitted sheet, diapers and wipes, feeding supplies, and a digital thermometer. The rest is preference; these are the items tied to safety.
Car seat: required before you leave the hospital
A rear-facing infant car seat is the one item you cannot go home without. The AAP advises that all infants ride rear-facing starting with the first ride home from the hospital, and that they stay rear-facing as long as possible, up to the height and weight limits of the seat. Many convertible seats allow rear-facing well past age 2.
Every child restraint sold in the United States must meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 213, which sets crash-test and design requirements. Install the seat before your due date so it is ready. If a preterm or low-birth-weight baby needs to lie flatter, the hospital can do a car seat tolerance screening before discharge to confirm a safe position.
A safe place to sleep
Your baby needs a separate, firm, flat sleep surface that meets current CPSC safety standards, such as a crib, bassinet, portable crib, or play yard with a tightly fitting mattress. A firm surface should not indent when the baby lies on it.
Keep the sleep area bare. Use a fitted sheet and nothing else. Place your baby on the back for every sleep, and share a room without sharing a bed for at least the first 6 months, which can lower the risk of sudden infant death.
- Firm, flat sleep surface meeting CPSC standards with a tightly fitting mattress
- A fitted sheet and nothing else: no pillows, blankets, bumpers, or soft toys
- Back to sleep for every nap and at night
- Room-share without bed-sharing for at least the first 6 months
Daily care basics
Newborns go through diapers fast, as many as 8 to 12 a day, so diapers and wipes belong near the top of the list. Buy a small supply of newborn size and more of the next size up, since babies outgrow newborn quickly.
For feeding, plan around your method: bottles and a sterilizer, and a breast pump if you plan to pump. Most insurance plans are required to cover a breast pump and breastfeeding support, and WIC and Medicaid provide pumps as well, so check your coverage before buying one. Round out the basics with clothing in layers, swaddles, and a baby carrier.
- Diapers (newborns use 8 to 12 a day) and wipes
- Bottles and a sterilizer; a breast pump if you plan to pump
- Clothing in layers, swaddles, and a baby carrier
- A digital thermometer
Thermometer and what to skip
Use a digital thermometer. For newborns, a rectal temperature is the most accurate, which matters most for infants under 3 months, when any fever needs prompt medical attention. Skip old glass mercury thermometers.
Some popular products are unsafe and now banned. Padded crib bumpers and infant inclined sleepers were both prohibited under the Safe Sleep for Babies Act, effective in late 2022, after being linked to infant deaths. Leave both off your registry, along with weighted blankets and other soft bedding for the crib.
Related questions
- Do I need a car seat before leaving the hospital?
- Yes. A rear-facing infant car seat is required to take your baby home. It must meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 213, and infants should ride rear-facing from the first trip home and stay rear-facing as long as the seat allows.
- What should be in the crib with my baby?
- Only a fitted sheet on a firm, flat surface that meets CPSC standards. Keep out pillows, blankets, bumpers, and soft toys, and always place your baby on the back to sleep.
- Are crib bumpers safe?
- No. Padded crib bumpers are federally banned under the Safe Sleep for Babies Act, effective in late 2022, after being linked to infant deaths. Infant inclined sleepers are banned as well.
- Does insurance cover a breast pump?
- In most cases, yes. Under the Affordable Care Act, most insurance plans must cover a breast pump and breastfeeding support, and WIC and Medicaid also provide pumps. Check your specific plan, since type and timing vary.
Sources & further reading
ParentFlow: one free app, newborn to age six
ParentFlow is a free baby tracker that logs feeds, sleep, diapers, pumping and growth in one tap, with your daily summary, trends, and reminders based on your own logs. Free for everyday tracking on iPhone, Android, and the web.
App Store Google Play Open Web AppThis article reflects current AAP, CDC, and other public-health guidance and is for educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice. ParentFlow is a wellness companion — not a substitute for your pediatrician. For any medical concern, contact your healthcare provider.