Expecting your first (or second) little one? You’re probably wondering what baby essentials you’ll need.
No idea where to start or what’s most important? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!
With this baby registry, you’ll have a complete overview of all the baby items you’ll need for you and your little one, and it’s also handy for family and friends who want to give you a gift. Then you’ll know for sure that you’re fully prepared as soon as your baby arrives.
What is a baby registry?
A baby registry is a list of baby products that you’d like to have at home before your baby arrives.
You can also share this list with friends and family, so they can give you and your baby a fitting gift. A baby gym, an electric breast pump, or sleep sacks – you can literally put everything on your baby registry.
When to start making a baby registry?
It’s never too early to make a baby registry! You will need quite a few things. The searching, comparing, and buying of all the items on the checklist takes a lot of time and energy.
Most parents, however, start making the baby registry in the second trimester. That’s when mom has the most energy and can really start enjoying the anticipation. Plus, you’ll know the gender of your child by then, which might influence your choices for color and design.
What are the average costs of the baby registry?
What are the monthly costs of a newborn baby?
You might wonder what a newborn baby actually costs per month, aside from the costs of the baby checklist.
It’s not exactly romantic, but it’s a fact: a child costs money.
According to Statistics Netherlands (CBS), parents typically spend an average of 19% of their disposable income on their first child. If a second child comes along, parents spend 27% of their disposable income on their children.
In short: the amount you spend per month or year on your child depends strongly on your income.
Of course, these costs vary depending on where you live and your lifestyle.
However, there are certain costs that every parent with a baby can expect to incur, and you can already account for these in your budget. Think of things like diapers, baby food or breastfeeding products, and baby clothes.
You can use the average of 19% as a guideline for your monthly budget for your newborn baby.
The baby registry:
Baby clothes
One of the most fun things to shop for. Our tip? Add a few adorable outfits to your baby checklist for day trips.
Keep in mind that babies don’t stay clean for long, so it’s best to stick to basics that are easy to wash. Besides, your little one will likely outgrow the newborn size quickly, so buying bigger sizes won’t hurt.
What’s also nice is finding a special outfit to wear as the first outfit after birth.
- Onesies with long sleeves
- Onesies with short sleeves
- Boxers
- Adorable outfit sets
- Socks
- Sweaters
- Hats
Diaper changes
The first months, a baby typically uses around 10 diapers per day. A nice changing table with the right accessories to clean your baby is therefore not a luxury. Think about the following items:
- Changing table
- Changing pad
- Changing pad covers
- Diapers
- Diaper wipes
- Diaper cream
- Diaper bag
Bad
For bathing your baby, you don’t really need a lot. These are the most important basics to get your baby squeaky clean:
- Baby bathtub
- Baby shampoo or soap
- Hydrophobic washcloths
- Baby caps
- Soft brush
Nursery
You can, of course, make the nursery as fancy (and expensive) as you like. It all depends on how you want to use the space and what style you choose. The most essential furniture is a wardrobe, a changing table, and a crib. The necessary items can be found under the headings Sleep and diaper changes.
Sleep
The items you need for sleeping are based on where you want your baby to sleep. In their own crib or in a co-sleeper? You’ll definitely need a good mattress, a blanket, and soft sheets.
The choice between a sleep sack, swaddle, or light blanket and blanket is up to you.
You can skip the pillows and crib liners; given the safety risks, it’s recommended not to use them in your baby’s crib.
- Baby cradle / co-sleeper
- Crib
- Mattress
- Blankets
- Sheet set
- Mobile
- Nightlight
- White noise machine
- Sleep sacks
- Swaddles
- Light blankets
- Blankets
- Pacifiers
Nursing
Breastfeeding your baby takes just as much time as a full-time job!
To make feeding as pleasant and relaxing as possible, it’s important that you have the right items at home.
What you need specifically for feeding your baby depends, of course, on whether you plan to breastfeed or bottle-feed
Breastfeeding
- Breastmilk storage bags
- Nursing pads
- Nursing bra
- Nursing pillow
- Nipple cream
- Optional: Electric or manual breast pump
Bottle Feeding
- Breast milk
- Bottles
- Nipples
- Bottle warmer
- Bottle brush
- Feeding (milkpowder) tower
Health
It’s always nice to be prepared when your baby has a cold or doesn’t feel well after a vaccination. A few handy items to have at home in case of need:
- Thermometer
- Vitamin D and K drops
- Saline nasal spray
- Snot sucker
- Baby acetaminophen (paracetamol)
- Nail clippers
Play
What’s nicer to ask for (and get) than beautiful and educational toys for your baby.
Newborn babies see the world in high contrast (black and white), and only later recognize colors – it’s useful to buy toys with a mix of black, white, and neutral colors.
At some point, babies put everything in their mouth, this is their way of discovering the world. So, make sure to pay attention to the materials used in the toys.
- Rattle
- Soft cotton scarves
- Teether
- Bath book
- Cardboard books
- Baby gym
- Play mat
- Baby swing
On the road!
The first few weeks, you might want to stay home a bit more, but eventually you’ll really want to get out there.
Here are some handy items you’ll need when taking your baby out:
- Baby carrier
- Stroller
- Car seat
- Blanket
- Lullaby mat
- Cleaning mat
- Cooler bag for breastmilk
- Bottle warmer
- Pacifiers
What do you need for a second or third baby?
Finding baby essentials for a second or third baby is generally easier – you’ve already done it before. However, it’s still worth taking the time and attention to go through everything.
When you have a second or third baby, it’s handy to start by seeing what items you still have from your first child.
Take some time to pull out all the items, from car seat to clothing and bottles.
Take the time to evaluate which items are still usable and which may need to be replaced.
Also think about the circumstances and needs of your new baby. A different season or gender may require or make you want to make different choices regarding baby products.
What don’t you need for your baby?
- Baby wipe warmer: Undoubtedly nice for your baby, but not necessary at all. Your baby’s bottom will stay clean regardless of whether the wipes are hot or cold. Once they get used to not having a wipe warmer, they’ll have no problem with changing diapers at other times without one, which will make the experience less pleasant.
- Navel bandages: What was once a must-have is now unnecessary. In the past, people used to apply a navel bandage after cutting the umbilical cord to bind the stump together. Today, we let this stump air dry and heal without covering it up. Not needed anymore, so no need for navel bandages.
