Baby Registry Checklist

When to Start Your Baby Registry

Most parents start their registry between weeks 12 and 20. Early enough to spread out purchases, late enough to know your situation (twins? surprise gender? apartment change?). There's no perfect time — the best time is when you're ready to think about it, which is probably why you're here right now.

Our checklist adjusts to your due date, so if you're at 32 weeks and just starting, it'll prioritize the essentials you need before the hospital bag gets packed. If you're at 10 weeks and planning ahead, it'll space things out by trimester.

Baby Registry Checklist by Trimester

First trimester (weeks 1-12)

This is research time, not buying time. Browse, compare, add items to your list. The only purchase worth making now is a good prenatal vitamin and maybe a pregnancy pillow. Everything else can wait.

Second trimester (weeks 13-27)

This is the sweet spot. You have energy, you know more about your situation, and baby showers are usually planned for this period. Now's the time to register for the big-ticket items: crib, car seat, stroller, high chair. Order anything that requires assembly — future-you at 36 weeks will thank you.

Third trimester (weeks 28-40)

Fill the gaps. Diapers, wipes, onesies, burp cloths — the consumables you'll tear through in the first month. Pack the hospital bag. Install the car seat (you can't leave the hospital without one). And make sure the nursery is functional, even if it's not Pinterest-perfect.

How Much Does Baby Gear Actually Cost?

The internet will tell you to budget $5,000-$10,000 for a first baby. That number includes a lot of things you don't need. A realistic budget breakdown:

• Budget approach ($1,500-2,500): Buy essentials only. Accept hand-me-downs. Skip the wipe warmer. Your baby will not care about the brand of their onesies.
• Mid-range ($2,500-5,000): New car seat and crib, quality stroller, a few nice outfits, a decent monitor. The sweet spot for most families.
• Premium ($5,000+): UPPAbaby stroller, Snoo bassinet, Nanit monitor, organic everything. Beautiful stuff, genuinely nice to have, absolutely not necessary.

The biggest money-saver in baby gear: buy the car seat, crib mattress, and bottles new. Everything else — stroller, high chair, clothing, toys — is perfectly fine secondhand. Babies use most gear for 6 months or less.

What Most Registry Lists Get Wrong

Every generic checklist includes items like "bottle warmer" and "diaper genie" as must-haves. They're not. A bottle warmer is nice but a bowl of warm water works. A diaper genie is great but a regular trash can with a lid is fine. The items that actually matter are the boring ones: a safe sleep surface, a way to feed the baby, a car seat, and way more burp cloths than you think.

Our AI checklist marks items as "must-have," "nice-to-have," or "skip-for-now" so you can focus your budget and energy where it counts.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the baby registry checklist work?

Enter your due date, budget, living space, baby number, and feeding plan. Our AI generates a personalized checklist with 9 categories, each item prioritized by urgency and marked with a price range. Check items off as you go and track your progress.

Is this free?

Yes, completely free. Generate your checklist, check items off, share it with family. No account needed. Your progress saves in your browser so you can come back to it.

Can I share my registry with family?

Yes! Click the "Share" button to copy your full checklist (with checked/unchecked items) to your clipboard. You can paste it into a text, email, or note. You can also print it with the "Print" button.

What if I'm having twins?

Select "First baby" in the filters — the checklist will include everything a first-time parent needs. You'll want to double up on certain items (car seats, sleep surfaces, bottles) but our checklist gives you the base list. Adjust quantities as needed.