This post was a labor of love because I wanted it to be chock full of our favorite things – and there are a lot 🙂 A combination of the tried and true must-haves that we used with Nora + the latest and greatest pieces that we’re so excited about. Any of these things would make amazing gifts, and remember – what works for us may not work for someone else. A large part of this post is very personal, and I hope y’all find it helpful!

The Ultimate Baby Registry: My Top Picks

Lounge

Snuggle Me Organic Lounger

It’s exactly as it sounds…this lounger is designed to snuggle your baby’s whole body 🙂 This snuggling sensation is highly effective at calming and comforting your baby when you need extra support. We used this every day and multiple times a day for Nora to lounge or sleep in (while supervised for all the Karens out there).

Boppy Nursing Pillow and Positioner

Believe it or not, cradling and feeding a baby is an arm workout – no matter if you’re breast feeding or bottle feeding! I took this pillow to the hospital with Nora and SO glad I did. We used it for the first few months for easy feeds.

Graco Baby Swing

Mom life is a lesson in doing everything with one hand…but sometimes you need two. Nora loves this swing as it either soothes her right to (supervised) sleep or leaves her content looking at the world around her!

Ergobaby 3-in-1 Bouncer

We borrowed this our first go-around, but I’m happy to report we’re the new owners of our very own baby bouncer since we loved it so much with Nora!

Lovevery Play Gym

Lovevery has been a staple in our house from Day 1, and I’m excited to say I just broke out this play gym again for Baby 2. It brought back so many memories from playing with Nora. This would also make for an amazing shower gift!

SLEEP

Newton Crib Mattress

If you’re questioning what crib mattress to get, look not further. Seriously. This one is SO comfortable, but more importantly, breathable. You can literally put your mouth on it and continue to breath allowing safe sleep for your babe.

Love to Dream Swaddle Up

I love the unique design of these swaddles allowing babies to sleep in their natural arms UP position so they can self-soothe by touching their face and sucking on their hands, just like they did in the womb. It’s snug around the torso to provide security while only taking a few seconds to swaddle (my favorite thing!).

HALO Sleepsack

This always reminds me of the Beyoncé song and turns out I love BOTH the sleepsack and the good jams. While it does take a bit longer to set up and adjust than the above swaddle, it’s just different. With this one, baby sleeps with her hands either by her sides or folded, and I feel like she really does love how it holds her so snug!

HALO BassiNest Luxe

Rated “Best Bassinet” by Good Housekeeping and Babylist, this came highly recommended by y’all on IG! It allows for extra close safe sleep and has built-in white noise and vibrations for extra soothing. We also got the Newborn Insert for extra hugs.

Baby blanket

I’ve lost track of how many blankets we have in this house, but it seems like we need all of them! One for every room 🙂 I love this one because it’s lightweight but still oh so warm.

Infant Optics Baby Monitor

We bought this monitor when Nora was 6 months and haven’t looked back. Previously, we had a wifi-enabled monitor for her but really disliked many things about it. The infant Optics DXR-8 Pro has amazing video quality and reliable monitoring.

Slumberpod

Truth be told, I haven’t used this YET but definitely plan to with Baby 2 during our travels. Other families have sworn by it for a dark, quiet place for your baby to sleep while in a pack n’ play!

The Original White Noise Machine

Ahh, the soothing ambient sounds of rushing air. I’ve been using this exact sound machine for years, and now Nora loves it, too! Whenever we go into her nursery, I swear I see her eyes get heavy 🙂 Works like a charm.

Baby Shusher

They call it the sleep miracle…and it is. This machine basically mimics a human “shushing” sound, soothing babies to sleep. Pro: It’s portable! Con: It only has 15 and 30 minute timers. I know some babies wake up when the set timeframe ends…wawaaaa.

Hatch Baby Sound Machine

Technically this is the third sound machine listed on here in a row. See a trend? The main reason we love it is for the nightlight feature! A simple manual tap and late-night diaper changes are good to go! We can customize color, brightness, sound, and volume level.

EAT

Bobbie Organic Baby Formula

This organic formula nourished my first-born for a whole year. Not only is the product incredible, but the WOMEN who make up this company might be even better. If the travel industry doesn’t work out, I’ll put my resume in the ring to work for this company.

Baby Brezza

Like a Keurig for baby formula, this thing is SO AMAZING if you’re formula feeding. Nora was very spoiled and had a bottle made in .3 seconds. With various temperature levels, ounces and formula settings at the push of a button, we’re pumped to use this again with Baby 2!

Dr. Brown’s Baby Bottles

If you’re pumping or formula feeding, these bottles were Nora’s fave. She didn’t take to the first bottles we offered, so Alex jumped in the car for a Walmart run. I know these bottles have many parts to them, but I love the fully vented design and how they offer a paced, controlled feeding.

Boon Lawn Countertop Drying Rack

With bottles come loooots of parts and lots of cleaning. I personally like the white countertop drying rack (over the green) and while it will certainly take up precious real estate, this is much easier than drying + constantly taking out nipples and tops from a drawer throughout the day. I also love the stem and twig accessories for nipples and pacifiers.

Munchkin Baby Formula Dispenser

No need to lug around a large container of powdered formula when you and baby are out and about. Munchkin makes on-the-go bottle feeding easy with this guy. It’s so nice I bought it twice 🙂

The Every Day

Nuna Pipa Lite Infant Car Seat and Base

We had two different car seats for Nora and loved each of them. You can’t get much lighter than the Nuna Pipa Lite, and that doesn’t sacrifice for safety one bit.

Nuna Mixx Next Stroller

There are travel strollers and then there are every day, neighborhood walking strollers. This one is the latter with amazing suspension, allowing for the Nuna Pipa Lite car seat adapter in the early days to a forward facing seat for the toddler days.

Diaper Changing Pad

What’s a nursery without a changing station? A comfy changing pad is a necessity. We were gifted this one from a good friend!

Changing Pad Covers

Dress it up with whatever design your heart desires. We have these exact ones!

Ubbi Diaper Pale

So slim, so functional, so…pretty! I never thought I’d describe a diaper pale that way, but here we are.

Angelcare Baby Bath

This might be my favorite item, but I’m partial to baths 🙂 Nora LOVED her baby baths as an infant, and I can’t wait to see baby 2 in here! The reviews speak for themselves!

Noodle & Boo 2-in-1 Newborn Shampoo and Body Wash

This is one of my favorite gifts to give at a shower (with a little rubber ducky!). I loved when I was gifted it alongside the body lotion. It’s plant-based, tear free, hypoallergenic and EWG verified which means they meet the EWG’s strictest standards for health and transparency. They also have a “Lowest Concern” rating meaning they have few or no known or suspected hazards to health or the environment.

Copper Pearl Hooded towel

I love how soft and beautiful these hooded towels are! Pro tip: put them in the dryer when you make baby a bath so they’re warm when it’s time to get out! Yes, Nora was very spoiled.

Dua Design Moses Basket

I wanted to see Nora in a Moses basket before Nora was even born! First off, it’s just the cutest concept ever. A baby in a basket HELLO! But it also doubles as the best portable changing station! I’ve taken this all over the house and even to Gigi & Papa’s house.

Skip Hop Diaper Caddy

Easy carry from room-to-room for all things baby. From diapers to wipes to aquaphor, the easy transport is a Godsend for diaper changes in the house. Pssst…this also works very well for postpartum essentials for mom. Pads, witch hazel, ice packs and peri bottles can be carried from bathroom to bathroom!

Baby Nail Trimmers

Nail cutting made easy! This electric nail file is designed to safely and quickly trim nails from both babies and adults believe it or not. It is super soft with cushioned sandpapers file head attachments. With a LED light aimed at fingernails, you can trim your baby’s nail even while they are asleep.

NoseFrida

Your baby can’t blow its own nose, so this tool allows you to suck out the boogers for them. Yep, sounds disgusting but you’ll get over it. Better yet, just get Frida Baby everything.

Jellycats

No nursery is complete without a few adorable stuffed Jellycats! This is the lovey that Nora has had since before she was born and still carried around to this day.

Le Petit Baby Book

Document the first year of baby’s life with this lifelong keepsake! It’s a reason to take a ton of photos and a place to mark milestones. I literally JUST finished this exact one for Nora (which was a gift during her shower 2.5 years ago!).

Travel

Doona Car Seat/Stroller

Our very first baby item was the Doona because you can’t leave the hospital without a car seat! If you’re a traveler or like convenience at home (yeah who doesn’t), the Doona is a must. The only one of its kind, it converts from a car seat into a stroller within seconds. EASY PEASY. I will say it lacks suspension for long walks so you’ll probably need a second stroller for that activity.

Babyzen Yoyo 2 Stroller

This is HANDS DOWN the best travel stroller available. We didn’t buy this until Nora was out of the Doona, and it’s been our best purchase ever since. When folded, it’s so compact that it can fit inside the overhead bin. We also just got a second one for Baby 2 complete with bassinet, bells and whistles.

Dagne Dover Diaper Backpack and Tote

I’ve searched high and low for the best diaper bags around, and the answer is simple. Dagne Dover has a couple favorites whether you like the backpack style or tote style. I have both and can tell you they’re incredible functional, spacious, and a work of art. The thoughtful touches like bottle holder, stroller clips, changing mat, and luggage sleeve make these a no-brainer.

Guava Lotus Travel Crib/Pack ‘n Play

While we didn’t use a pack n’ play too often with Nora, they’re a very handy travel accessory for babies! When Nora was an infant, we only traveled to a few places in the pandemic. Each place we went either already had a crib available or we rented gear for ease.

Related: What I’m Packing in My Hospital Bag: Round 2

Carriers

Solly Baby Wrap

This wrap allows me FREEDOM! With two hands, I got so much done when I wore Nora. It also claims to reduce infant crying and increase connection. We love LOVE how soft and cozy it is.

BabyBjorn Carrier Mini

Tiny babies need smaller spaces which is why I love this carrier in the early days. It’s incredibly easy to use/put on and also made of mesh material making it breathable and great for indoor chores to outdoor walks.

Ergobaby Omni Breeze

The carrier that is ready for the newborn to the toddler with great airflow and all carrying positions.

Burp cloths/Diapers/Desitin/Aquaphor/Portable changing pad/Wipes/Pacifiers/Diaper Bags

One of my favorite gifts from my shower came in the form of a functional care package. Can’t get enough of this stuff, so even though I didn’t OHHH and AHHH over this one, I appreciated it SO MUCH!

Is there anything I’m missing on this longggg list that you loved? Let me know!