The Ultimate OXO Baby Registry Guide: Must-Have Essentials for New Parents

WIth all the options out there, it’s easy to feel completely overwhelmed when choosing gear for your own newborn, or when shopping for a friend who’s expecting. Which items actually make feeding, bathing, and traveling with an infant easier? Should you be planning for the first few months, or thinking ahead so you’re ready for future stages? Our list of baby registry must-haves explains exactly what you need and why.

Why You Need a Well-Planned Baby Registry

Giving and receiving gifts to welcome a newborn is such a lovely tradition. Friends and family genuinely want to help make the transition to parenthood as easy as possible. But without a well-planned registry, you might end up with duplicates (or more!) of common items. Plus, if this is your first child or if you’ve never before shopped for a friend who’s about to become a parent, you probably don’t have a clear idea of what’s needed on a daily basis vs. what’s a fun “extra.” Of course, if you already have kids, you might have some hand-me-down items laying around that still work fine, but there might be others that have gotten worn out or misplaced. By creating a baby registry, you’ll take stock of what you might already have and also discover what you need. Sharing your registry with friends and family helps them help you by listing items you genuinely want and need. Wondering what belongs on your list of essential baby registry must-haves? Read on for our best suggestions.

Feeding Essentials

No matter how you plan on feeding your baby in the early stages, they will eventually grow into trying solid foods and drinking water. And since each baby develops at its own pace, you never know when a transition might happen. Seemingly overnight, they might suddenly be ready for a bottle, sippy cup, a piece of fruit or a bowl of cereal. So it makes sense to have some feeding essentials on hand from the start.

High Chairs and Booster Seats

From about nine months onward, babies can be ready to sit at a dining table. So having a booster seat with a high back and sides, plus a secure harness, makes it safe for them to join the fun with the rest of the family.

Bibs

Babies generally need a light, small bib to catch drizzle and splatters when they're breast or bottle feeding and a larger bib with sleeves to protect their clothing once they’re eating solid food.  

Feeding Accessories

One necessity that also makes a great gift: A grape cutter that quarters grapes, making them safe for little ones to eat. A food masher is another must have because it turns solid fruits and vegetables into instant baby food.

Food Storage for Baby Purees

Whether you envision making your own purees or just want to have leakproof mini storage containers on hand for unfinished portions of baby food, having a selection of silicone blocks that are dishwasher, microwave and freezer safe makes it easy to store and organize food for your baby.

Sippy Cups and Water Bottles

As babies grow, they progress from bottles to sippy cups with a spout and handles to transition cups with a straw. After that, they’ll be ready for a spillproof water bottle they can manage entirely on their own.

Baby Utensils and Plates

Once babies are ready for cereals or solid foods, it’s handy to have a few unbreakable plates or bowls with a suction base that keeps them from being dislodged. Soft feeding spoons and silicone utensils are great to start with because the rounded edges won’t irritate sensitive gums. Once kids are feeding themselves, it’s fun for them to have their own “big kid” utensils that are still light enough for them to manage on their own.

Bottles and Drying Rack

If your baby is bottle fed, having a system for cleaning and drying bottles is essential. A dedicated bottle brush with both soft and firm bristles helps clean bottles thoroughly, and a bottle drying rack that keeps them upright will help them dry faster.

Bottle and Straw Cleaning Set

Not sure how to clean the drinking spouts and straws of sippy cups and water bottles?  A brush set that gets into crevices is super helpful, as is this step-by-step cleaning guide.

Baby Bathtime Must-Haves

Bathtime is a joyous way for parents to bond with their baby. Warm water, whimsical toys and the sheer glee of splashing around make tubtime a family favorite. But it can also be a stressful and sometimes scary activity, especially for first-time parents who want to be sure their little one is safe in this new environment. To make bathing your baby a secure, relaxing experience for everyone, check out these solutions and tools to add to your registry.  

Baby Bath Tub

Regular bathtubs are far too large for newborns and infants. That’s why it’s important to have a dedicated baby bathtub, like OXO’s Splash & Store tub, which accommodates newborns up to 18 months old. It has one narrow end that holds small babies safely in place and a wider one for them as they grow. The best part: It folds up flat so you can store it in a cabinet or closet to keep your bathroom organized.

Baby Bath Toy Bin

Make it easy to find what you need and put everything away with a self-draining basket that ensures proper airflow so toys dry quickly. When bath time is over, simply scoop toys out of the water and allow them to drip dry in place.

Rinsing Cups

Make sure to have a few plastic cups or containers on hand for rinsing baby’s hair and also for them to play with. Another idea: Grab a bundle of bath time essentials that includes a shampoo rinser cup.

Spout cover

Avoid bumps and bruises by covering your faucet with a bathtub spout cover that softens sharp edges.

Soft-Bristled Hair Brush

Go easy on baby’s hair and scalp with a soft bristled brush made just for them.

Non-Slip Bath Mat

Once your tot is steady enough to sit in the bath on their own, make sure you have a non-slip bathmat in place to prevent slips and falls.

Tub stopper

Keep water from draining out of the tub (and taking little toys with it) with this flexible silicone stopper. It’s safe for small fingers to handle and easy to store on the wall when you’re not using it thanks to its suction-cup mechanism.

Changing Pad

When bathtime is finished, it’s important to have a soft spot for diapering your baby. Registering for a changing pad that can be used anywhere from the bathroom floor to a changing table is a great idea since it provides a secure location for resting your baby as you dry and dress them.

Baby On-the-Go Essentials

As any new parent can confirm, getting out of the house with a newborn can be challenging at first. And while it can be tempting to pack up all your baby gear for even a short excursion to ensure you’re not caught without something, you’ll be just fine if you have these key items.

Portable Wipe Dispensers

Never leave the house without extra diapers. No matter what! And since you need extra wipes, too, a compact wipes dispenser and diaper pouch makes it easy to keep things in one place. A wipes container that can hang from stroller handles or be slipped into your purse is also handy for cleaning hands when out and about.

Fork and Spoon Set

Since you can’t count on finding tot-sized utensils when you’re out and about, it’s smarter to pack your own. The fork in this portable duo is pointed enough to spear food but rounded enough to be safe for babies’ and toddlers’ delicate mouths, and the spoon is deep enough for scooping. Most importantly, both the utensils and the handy travel case are dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.

Snack Containers and Travel Cups

Eating can get messy quickly with infants and toddlers, so it’s important to have a few strategies for keeping snacks organized and contained. On-the-go snack cups, with their petal lids, keep snacks inside while allowing tots to reach in on their own, and reusable flat-bottomed snack bags—that stand up on their own!—can be sealed tight, making them ideal to take with you to the park or playground.

New Parent Must-Haves

When you create your registry, don’t forget items that will make your days a little more enjoyable, too. Or gift one to a new parent to let them know you’re thinking about their comfort and enjoyment, as well as the baby’s!

Stroller Hooks

These ingenious contraptions create space and offer a simple way to access frequently-used items. Hang a few hooks from the bar of your stroller to accommodate your purse or diaper bag. They’re also great for holding grocery totes or extra jackets.

Insulated Beverage Holder and Cooler Bag

Coffee, tea, water—new parents need ‘em all. So consider registering for a thermal mug that keeps beverages warm for up to 12 hours, or cold for up to 24 hours. Another indispensable item: An insulated lunch tote that keeps meals and snacks cool, while providing extra pockets for keeping utensils organized.

As with so many things, life as a new parent becomes more familiar once you establish a routine. Using a comprehensive baby registry must-have checklist can help with that by ensuring you receive-—or give—the thoughtful basics that every new family needs. And even if things seem a little topsy turvy with a newborn, remember: Time goes fast and before you know it, you’ll be thinking about gifts for baby’s first birthday.