The Top Baby Registry Must-Haves for 2024

Creating your baby registry is a major to-do item on your “prepare for baby” list. And with so many baby products out on the market and new ones launching all the time, it can get overwhelming to know what products to register for. We have a complete baby registry checklist here that breaks everything down for you, but today we’re showing you the baby registry must-haves for 2024. Here are all the top baby items in 2024 that you’ll want to add to your baby registry.

Sleep

Sleep is something every expecting parent hopes they’ll get (at least a little of) after the baby is born. We all need sleep—a true essential—and having the right sleep items to encourage your little one to catch the most ZZZs is critical. Here is where our baby registry must-haves come in.

You must create a safe sleep environment for naps and nighttime for babies that soothes and reminds them of the womb. Things that every sleep consultant will tell you to get baby to sleep are to have a dark space, a safe space to put the baby down to sleep (a crib or co-sleeper), a swaddle (swaddle blankets as well as zip-up baby swaddles), a sound machine (the white noise is similar to what they heard in the womb), and even a pacifier to help with self-soothing.

For safety, be sure to pick a safe crib mattress for your baby (like this one) and have a monitor to ensure baby is doing well. We also love the Owlet Smart Sock Monitor that can track how your baby is sleeping and their heart rate and oxygen level.

Feeding

Breastfeeding

If you’ve decided to breastfeed your baby, some breastfeeding products can make things much more comfortable and easier for you. You absolutely need a few good nursing bras (like this one) and some nursing pads so you don’t leak through your clothes. Trying different breastfeeding positions is also important to release all the milk ducts in your breast and prevent engorgement or even mastitis. A breastfeeding pillow can definitely help you stay comfortable when trying those different breastfeeding positions with your baby.

And after breastfeeding for a few feedings, your nipples can become chapped. Keep them hydrated and prevent them from cracking and bleeding by using a good and safe nipple balm.

Another product that we love is a silicone breast pump. These can travel with you anywhere, require no battery or outlet, and are easy to clean! For an electric pump, we love this one (you can read our review of the Motif Duo Double Electric Breast Pump), and you will want to remember to get a good hands-free pumping bra.

Bottle-feeding & Solids

Whether you decide to bottle-feed your baby with formula or breastmilk, these items are definitely baby registry must-haves! Select a baby bottle (or a few bottles for your baby to try), a good bottle brush to keep your baby bottles clean, and a drying rack to let all the bottle parts air dry.

When bottle-feeding your baby, it’s much easier for baby to overeat and spit up. I highly recommend these burp cloths since they are super absorbent and have snaps to turn into a bib.

The Baby Brezza Formula Pro and Baby Brezza Formula Pro MINI are game changers for making the perfect bottle if you are formula feeding. The PopYum bottles are also great for formula feeding on the go.

Then when your baby is ready to start solids, use those burpy bibs while baby is sitting in their high chair. This first foods feeding set has everything you need for starting solids, and we also love these easy-to-grab utensils and starter cups.

On-the-Go

Leaving home with baby can feel quite daunting at first. You might think you need everything in your house, but really you just need a few key essentials.

If you’re going on a trip somewhere, have baby’s car seat ready to go and properly installed, bring a pack ‘n play/ travel crib along with the SlumberPod for a safe and dark place for baby to sleep, a stroller or wagon to easily transport baby to and from (especially if you are going somewhere where there’s a lot of walking), and your diaper bag filled with all of the diaper bag must-haves or toddler must-haves. I absolutely love this baby bottle while on the go, especially for formula-feeding moms. (Read more about formula feeding on the go.)

And whether you are leaving town, walking around the block, or even around the house, a good baby carrier is a must! There are so many benefits to babywearing. I love this wrap, this structured carrier, and this ring sling carrier. They are all great options.

Clothing

Don’t forget to pick out your baby’s coming home outfit from the hospital. Once your little one is born, you want to keep them covered and cozy because they cannot regulate their own temperature. Choose soft fabrics when selecting onesies and baby hats. Socks can also keep their feet warm if their onesies don’t include footies. Mittens are also helpful because it prevents babies from scratching their faces. It’s wild how fast their little fingernails grow and how sharp they can be!

Newborn Care

These are the absolute essentials when talking about baby registry must-haves. These items are how you care for your newborn. Every baby will need diapers, wipes, diaper balm, a changing pad, a diaper pail, nail trimmers, and a teether/ toothbrush to care for their gums and teeth. I also love a wipe dispenser because it makes taking the wipes out so much easier. It helps prevent you from pulling out more than one wipe at a time.

Bath Time

You don’t need too much for bath time. First, you need a bathtub that can grow with your baby (like this one or this one), then some safe shampoo and body wash specifically made for babies. You’ll also want a bath rinser that makes washing their hair easier and some hooded towels and washcloths. Keeping your baby’s skin hydrated is essential, and we love this gentle baby lotion that you can apply after their bath. In the beginning, you won’t need bath toys, but after a few months, bath toys are a must to keep baby entertained while scrubbing them clean.

Play

Babies learn through interacting with you and through play! Here are our playtime baby registry must-haves to help their brains grow and keep them entertained.

It’s great to be able to put baby somewhere safe where they can either relax or play. We love this activity center, bouncer, swing, and play mat.

You can never begin reading to your child too early, so get them to love books with crinkle books. Reading to them and showing them pictures is a great activity to do together.

You’ll also realize that babies love to put everything in their mouths. That’s one of the ways they learn. Having a good teether (like this one) that you can put in the freezer when they begin teething is an excellent option.

Babies also love music and rattles. This baby toy plays all sorts of classical tunes for your baby, and this rattle lights up and is a great first toy for baby.

Health & Safety

Our baby’s health and safety are of the utmost importance. You can create your own first aid kit for your children (which I highly recommend), but if that is too much, the pre-made first aid kit for kids is also a good option. It will contain the essentials that you need for big and small boo-boos.

An item that doesn’t come in first aid kits is a thermometer. I also recommend getting a rectal thermometer for newborn babies because that is the most accurate temperature readings for a child that young. Your pediatrician will ask for this if you were to call concerned about your baby’s temperature.

Another must-have is saline spray and a snotsucker. Those bulb syringes just don’t get the job done, and these two products really help your baby breathe better!

That’s our complete list of top baby registry must-haves we recommend to all families. We’ve tested, used, and love them all. Let us know if there is anything that we’ve missed!