Baby Registry Must-Haves

Our Favorite 0-12 Months Old Baby Items

Since our little man just turned one year old, I wanted to share all of our favorite must-have baby items that we used his first year. Now I'm the type of person that spends at least one-hour reading reviews and watching videos before I purchase a single item, so rest assured that all of these products have been thoroughly vetted and tested. This list contains our favorites for every stage from 0-12 months old. I've broken the list down by section so you can easily find suggestions for the subject you're interested in. You can click on each item to be taken to an online store that carries it, or you can use this list as a guide and search for your own favorite brands. Some of these items were chosen for convenience, some for affordability, and others are just basic necessities. If you know anyone that is expecting or has recently had a baby, feel free to share!

On The Go Essentials

• Car Sun Shades - I tried several different types of car sunshades and these are the only ones that will stay on.
• Baby Carrier - We bought multiple expensive baby carriers and wraps but we always found ourselves reaching for this affordable little gem.
• Dome Travel Bassinet - This is a great machine washable travel bassinet/play area and it folds up so nicely.

Nursery Necessities  

• Dohm Sound Machine - Our boy constantly wakes unless we have this sound machine running during naps and bedtime.
• Baby Monitor - This baby monitor is durable, affordable, and does its job.

Clothing & Bedding

• Aden by Aden + Anais Silky Soft Swaddles - If you're wanting some swaddle blankets, spend the extra money and get these. No one else sells anything quite like them. They are amazingly soft! (Note: They must say silky soft).
• Halo Sleepsack Swaddles - I would get one or two of these for your baby in each size. You might also want to get a different fabric like fleece for the winter months and muslin for the summer months.

Diaper Bag Essentials

• Skip Hop Wet/Dry Bag - Blowouts don't just happen at home. Get this so you're prepared on the go.
• Disposable Diaper Bag Dispenser - There isn't always a trash can nearby when you're out and about, these are great for containing the stink until you get home.
• Pacifier Holder or SippiGrip - We used these to hold toys, pacifiers, & sippy cups on the go. Our son loved throwing things on the ground...

Medical Must-Haves

• Crane Cool Mist Humidifier - We use this and elevate one side of our son's crib anytime he is sick and it works like a charm. Once he got sick when we were traveling without this item and nothing consoled him. As soon as we got home and turned it on, he fell right asleep.
• NoseFrida Fridababy Snot Sucker - As gross as it sounds, this thing is a lifesaver. Don't worry, you don't taste or smell anything, there is a filter. You'd be surprised what you'll do to clear out your little one's nose when it's 3am and nothing else is working. You do need to spray some saline spray before you use it though.
• Infants' Dye-Free Tylonal - A must-have in both the diaper bag and nursery. Ask your doctor for dosing information.
• Little Remedies Natural Saline Nasal Mist - We used the drops and this mist and we definitely prefer the mist. Our son quite enjoys the spray as well.
• Temple Thermometer - Great for on the go temperature checks.

Changing Station

• Baby Bumco Diaper Cream Brush - Diaper cream is just a pain and it doesn't like to wash off either, so we used this tool to apply where necessary.
• Prince Lionheart Diaper Depot Clear - I liked this diaper holder because it held the perfect amount of diapers and accessories and we could wipe it clean when unexpected accidents happened... gotta love boys.
• Munchkin Changing Table Liners - We ended up purchasing 3 packs of these because we used them so much. Changing a newborn baby's diaper can be quite messy and these liners helped contain that mess.
• Hello Bello Diapers - These diapers are plant-based and have never irritated our son's delicate skin.
• Hello Bello Wipes - We usually buy these wipes or the Huggies Natural Care Wipes. I like that these are plant-based so I usually go for these first.
• Huggies Natural Care Wipes - These baby wipes never bothered our son and they rip in half easily so you get more bang for your buck.

Bathtime & Grooming

• Skip Hop Safety Moby Waterfall Bath Rinser - Our son loves this whale rinser and it helps us rinse him off in a jiff without getting water into his eyes.
• Angelcare Baby Bath Support - This bathtub support never molded and was very easy to clean when accidents happened in the tub. They also make a great toddler seat for 6 months and up.
• NailFrida - Cutting our sons nails was a breeze with these curved scissor-like nail clippers.
• Honest Baby Shampoo - This soap smells amazing and it has a safe, low score on the Think Dirty App.

Feeding Finds

• Munchkin Snack Cups - We tried using other snack cups but our son seemed to prefer these and the smooth clear top makes it easy for him to find snacks.
• Munchkin 360 Cups - Our little man refused to take a bottle or accept any sippy cup other than these. I recommend only getting one at first until your little one takes to it.
• First Fork & Spoon Set - The big handles and mouth guard make it easy for little ones to practice using a utensil.
• White-Hot Spoons - I liked that these spoons were dishwasher safe and the white-hot feature gave us added peace of mind when feeding warm foods to our son.
• High Chair - This high chair is amazing! It's dishwasher safe and all the parts wipe clean in a jiffy. We ended up removing all fabric/padding so it's very easy to clean and aesthetically pleasing.

Nursery Organization 

• Ikea Wardrobe - I housed all of my son's clothes, bedding, and more in this one wardrobe. I did end up adding an extra shelf in the middle though.
• Dresser Dividers - I bought two packs of these and used them in the wardrobe to hold socks, t-shirts, shorts, towels, hats, muslin blankets, and other misc items.
• Large Wardrobe Baskets - I bought 4 of these to put on my shelves in the wardrobe for holding sheets, onesies, and other bulky items as needed.
• Large Storage Bins - I put 3 of these bins on top of the wardrobe for extra storage. I stored extra diapers, toys, and my boppy in them.
• Cube Storage Organizer  - I bought two of these and placed them on either side of the crib to hold toys.
• Fabric Cube Storage Bins - These bins are perfect for holding toys and books and they come in lots of different colors.
• Wall Bookshelf - Easily access your favorite baby books with this stylish display shelf.

If you'd like to learn more about why I recommended a particular product or if you're looking for a product that is not on this list, ask me about it in the comments and I'll get back to you asap.

Thanks for visiting & keep an eye out for a future blog post on baby registry product fails.

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Photo Credit: Marry Me Photography