You can stream the podcast here. Or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, Amazon, and Pocket Casts. You can also search for Root and Rise Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.

The names of the brands and styles that I purchased will be linked, just because they are ones that I love! My nursery theme was tropical and leafy, so you may notice that trend throughout some of these products. These recommendations are a great place to start. Feel free to find other brands that catch your eye, fit your style better, or choose from my favorites! 

Where to Start Building your Registry

My husband and I used Amazon to create our registry. The link was easy to share with our family and friends. I also really appreciated how organized their registry was. (They also give you a free gift after you register with them and the first purchase of at least $10 is made!) 

To make things easy, I have compiled a list of these items (and ones comparable!) on an Amazon list. The great thing about choosing Amazon products for your registry is the ease of ordering, both for in and out-of-town loved ones. Amazon helps track your orders and will provide wonderful customer service for any issues. We had someone steal a high-dollar item off of a truck and Amazon replaced it immediately!

What to Put on a Baby Registry

Clothes and Accessories

• Sleepsacks and Swaddles
  These are important for safe sleeping. I recommend having at least 3, if not more, for all of the inevitable spit-ups. You can find different styles based off of how your baby likes to sleep. These are some of my son’s favorites!
• Bibs
  These will protect your baby’s clothes and keep you from having to change and wash clothes as often! My sister-in-law made a bunch of custom bibs for us using solid-colored bibs. We also purchased some of the adorable linked bibs above!
  
• Baby Mittens
  At first, I skipped adding mittens to our list because we live in Hawaii and it didn’t seem necessary to purchase mittens in a tropical climate. We were wrong. It’s important to know that the mittens are to prevent the baby from scratching themselves, not just for keeping the baby warm.
• Newborn up to 12-month Clothing
  You never know what size you will need in the beginning or how quickly your baby will grow out of newborn sizes! We purchased less newborn sizing until we brought the baby home and realized our son would be wearing newborn sizing for a while.
  I recommend requesting clothing for up to 12 months! Make sure not to ask for too much of one size because your baby will grow more quickly than you’ll realize! Most of our clothing is from Amazon, Old Navy, Gap, or Target.
• Socks
• Hats
  We were obsessed with this knotted style featured in the photo above this article.  So many people complimented them!
• Muslin Swaddles
  We have at least 8 of these! There are so many uses for these! We use them as a protective cover from spit-ups when holding him or carrying him, burp rags, breastfeeding covers, swaddles, etc.
• Pacifiers
  I prefer a wider and more rounded nipple shape to avoid latching issues while breastfeeding. We did not introduce pacifiers until breastfeeding was well established, which was around 2 weeks for me. Also, how cute is this design?!
  

Feeding

Check out my article on Everything You Should Know About Breastfeeding (That a Class Won’t Teach You!)

• Burp Cloths
  You can never have too many burp cloths! Seriously, get all of the burp cloths. We have 15 total and some days I feel like I want more to save me from doing extra loads of laundry.)
• Nursing Pillow with at least 2 other covers
• Silicone Manual Breast Pump
  I had no idea how badly I needed this item until after the baby came. This was actually our first purchase after birth, we were still in the hospital when this hit our shopping cart! A manual breast pump is for collecting breastmilk on the opposite side while breastfeeding or pumping. Also, this product is great for any oversupply issues!
• Spectra Breast Pump and Supplies 
  Check to see if this is covered by your insurance before adding it to your baby registry.
• Breast Milk Storage Bags
  Your insurance may supply a limited amount while you are breastfeeding. However, you can never have too many breastmilk storage bags! I was surprised at how quickly I went through the box supplied by my insurance.
• Bottles
  Try out a couple different brands to see what your baby prefers. I did a lot of research and tried to choose bottles that were rated to be used along with breastfeeding. We use Como Tomo and Boon bottles.
• Nipple Pads
  I highly recommend getting both reusable (for around the house and overnight) and some disposable (for when you are out in public and to keep in your purse, diaper bag, etc.).
  
• Nursing bras
  I recommend at least 3 or 4 to start. I am obsessed with the Lively brand bralettes because they are buttery soft and so comfortable.  Plus, the terracotta color is somehow invisible underneath every single white shirt that I own! Use my code (AMB-breazieboo) at checkout to receive $10 off of your first purchase! They also offer bundle deals on their nursing bras and I suggest taking advantage of that. Spit-up happens often and no one has time to do that much laundry with a newborn.
• Nipple Cooling pads
  A necessary item at the beginning of your breastfeeding journey. 
• Hot/cold packs for Nipples
  We purchased 2 sets, one for each temperature. Your nipples will thank you for this!
• Nipple Butter
  If you are breastfeeding, I recommend having at least 2 of these on hand before the baby comes. I keep one in our diaper bag and at home.

Diapering

• Changing Pad
  While I end up changing my baby wherever is convenient, it is nice to have a little diaper changing station set up. I also recommend having a portable changing pad as well.
• Diaper Caddy Organizer
  This will make changing diapers so much easier! We keep this well-stocked and next to our changing pad for easy access.
• Newborn and Size 1 diapers
  You will find your favorite diapers within a month or so of having your baby, so try new ones! We love Costco’s Kirkland Signature and Huggies.
• Diaper Rash Cream
  Start with a sensitive skin Diaper Rash Cream because newborns have super sensitive skin!
• Baby Wipes
  Again, Costco’s Kirkland Signature brand is our favorite. Getting a Costco Membership is worth it with how much money you will save on diapers and wipes alone! We do also love the Huggies Natural Care wipes as well.
• Diaper Pail
  I see a lot of new parents asking whether or not a diaper pail is worth it. Because you can just throw the diapers in your regular trash, right? Wrong. I don’t know about you, but I certainly don’t want to smell dirty diapers every time I throw something away. Especially considering we don’t take our garbage out more than once a week or so.
  We preferred this steel Ubbi brand diaper pail because it seemed to trap odors better than the plastic one we originally purchased. The plastic ones seemed to retain and hold the odor after using it for some time. Ubbi is definitely worth it!

Baby Gear

• Diaper Bag
  And find out what I pack in my diaper bag!
  
• Swing and Rocker
  This is a lifesaver somedays! Our son loves to swing and watch the mobile attached above the swing. It plays songs or birds chirping and vibrates. I have this Swing and Rocker duo to thank for the quick breaks this allows me!
• Pack n Play On-The-Go Playard
  Great for traveling or having in another room for the baby to sleep. I have this set up in my office so my baby can nap or safely just hang out while I’m working.
• Baby Lounger/Baby Nest
  These are incredibly popular right now! You can really treat yo’self and get the best-loved Dock-A-Tot brand that you probably see all over social media or stick with the great knock-off linked above. However, no matter which option you choose, it’s incredibly important to know that this item is not recommended for use while the baby is sleeping unattended.
• Car Seat and Stroller Combo
  I LOVE having the Nuna brand combo car seat and stroller. As a military family, we chose to have a car seat that worked safely without a base for traveling. This is one of the lightest travel systems on the market. I am able to load and unload this into our SUV all by myself, no problem!
• Baby Wrap/Carrier
  Because babywearing is my new favorite thing! This Solly Baby brand wrap is silky smooth and much easier to wrap than any of the other brands that I’ve tried. I’ve even purchased a second one because I love it so much.
• Baby Shusher 
  This is so easy to use and promises more sleep and fewer tears!
• Activity Gym/Play Mat
  My son looooves the lights and toys on this activity mat.
• Baby Activity Center
  Great to start using when your baby begins learning how to stand up but still needs assistance!
• Baby Beach Essentials
  Everything that I used with my baby while living in Hawaii. Pro tip: baby powder easily removes sand from sticking to skin!

Toys

• Stuffed Animals
  I leave this little monkey next to my son before he naps (he is fully supervised!) and he will fall asleep just staring at it. Not only is it incredibly sweet to watch, but it takes a lot of stress off of my plate to not work so hard to nap him.
  
• Rattles
  I especially loved this set that can go on their hands and feet!
• Crinkly Books/Crinkle Paper 
  Our son’s first laugh came from a crinkle book!
• A Lovey
  My son loves having this near him when he’s feeling extra snuggly.
• Taggie Blanket
  My baby definitely went through a tag phase, like most babies. He loved this Taggie blanket! I know he enjoyed rubbing the tags and sucking on them as well.
• Teething Toys
  This mushroom-style teether was hands down the most popular teething toy among all of the mothers that I know. And for good reason! 
  
• Singing Toys
  Another favored toy among the moms I know! This really helped my baby with tummy time.
• Bath Toys
  But also, don’t forget the classic Rubby Ducky. This one even has a way of telling you when the water is too hot for your little one!
• Soft Mirror
  A mirror-like this was the only way that we could introduce my son to tummy time in the beginning. He eventually grew to really enjoy it, especially with the singing elephant mentioned above. But it was the mirror that started it all. Plus, it was so adorable to see him checking himself out!
  
• Stroller Toys
  These will entertain your baby on walks or trips to the grocery store!
• WubbaNub
  My son wouldn’t take a binky after a few months, but he still absolutely loooooved this binky/stuffed animal toy. Having the binky attached to a small stuffed animal is that it will keep the binky in place and prevent it from falling out of their mouths. It also gives them something to hold onto.
• Intentional Children’s Books 
  Reading to your baby every day will help their development, can help them sleep at night, and is just an all-around good habit to begin. Every book on this list promotes messages of kindness, compassion, inclusivity, and diversity.

Health and Safety

• Mom and Baby Healthcare and Grooming Kit
  We found one that included a Peri Bottle, Nail Clippers, Nail File, Snot Sucker, and Gas Passer. All essential items with a newborn!
• Car Mirror
  This will allow you to keep an eye on your baby to ensure their head is in a safe position and that they haven’t pulled anything over their face.
• Baby Monitor
  Tried and true, this baby monitor can clip to your clothing so you can keep an ear out while you are doing chores or in the other room.
• Baby Thermometer
  Always a good idea to have one of these. You don’t want to need it and not have it.
• Gas Drops
  Because we could all use a little relief sometimes. 
• Gripe Water
  For hiccups or colicky babies. My son’s hiccups will go away within minutes!
• Infant Probiotic Drops
  We quickly found out that my son had sensitivities to dairy and nuts. Using these probiotic drops helped to relieve all of the tummy issues he had!

Nursery and Decor

• Drawer Dividers
  Keeping all of your clothing organized will make your life so much easier!
• Fitted sheets and Mattress Pads
  I recommend getting two sets of each! This will be a lifesaver for all of the nighttime blowouts and spit-up accidents!
• Crib
  We chose this 3-in-one convertible crib that will last our son well into his toddler years.
• Mattress
  My husband did a ton of research on crib mattresses and safety ratings. We felt this Newton Brand crib mattress was the best and worth the money!
• Black-Out Curtains
  Because you deserve all of the sleep you can get!
• Rolling Cart
  We use this to organize our “Diaper Station”. We have our Diaper Caddy Organizer mentioned above on the first tier. We keep muslins, burp cloths, and our Baby First Aid Kit on the second tier. And the bottom tier holds extra diapers and wipes.

Bathtime

• Washcloths
  Make sure you get a few extra. These bamboo washcloths are so soft that I’ve even started personally using them!
• Body Wash and Lotion
  These Aveeno nighttime scented products help our baby get more sleep! I have a nightly routine of lotion and massage before bed that I swear gets us a full night’s sleep. Read more tips on how to get a baby to sleep through the night!
• Hooded Bath Towels
  
• Bathtub
  We liked this 3-stage one to save on space!
• Drain cover
• Spout cover
• Hooded Robe
  These are absolutely adorable! We got the bear one because my dad likes to call our son his little Teddy Bear.

Home

• Bottle Drying Rack/Pad
  Since I have to stare at this on my counter every day, I found this cute lawn/grass one!
• Dishwasher Basket for Bottles
• Bottles Brushes
  Check out this adorable Cactus set that I keep on my drying rack.
• Sensitive skin / scent-free laundry detergent
  Using a detergent that is safe for the whole family saves money! No need to purchase one specific to newborns when you choose a safe and gentle option.

For You

• Witch hazel/tucks pads to heal postpartum
• Dermaplast
• Maternity Robe
  Comfortable, cute, and easy access for breastfeeding!
• Post-Partum Bellyband

See my other Must-Have Postpartum Essentials for information on these products and to see the full list.

These are the must-have items that we have used in the first 6 months of having a newborn. In addition to these, we did include some additional items on our registry for when the child is a little older. For example, a high chair, books, and toys. Nursery decor was also added as well! It’s your registry! Add any items that will be helpful for you and your baby as you enter into this new stage of life. 

Now that you are well on your way to completing your baby registry, you can focus on Accepting your Body during Pregnancy and learning more about Becoming a Mother and The Birth of a Mother.