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Baby Registry Must-Haves

Confused about what to put on your baby registry? Here's Shanna and Laura's list of tried-and-true baby items that they think belong on every baby registry! We'll be updating this list as we think of more great products we couldn't live without -- check back soon!

Both Shanna and Laura used Amazon Baby Registries for their showers -- it's honestly the easiest way to set up a registry for you and your guests. Most of the links below are Amazon, so you can click through and add directly to your registry, easy peasy!

Affiliate Disclosure: Please note that when you click links to external sites and make a purchase, in some cases we will receive a referral commission. Your support in purchasing through these links enables us to keep Big Fat Positive running. Thanks!




Activity Mat

This activity mat provides many sounds and textures to keep baby interested in back time and tummy time!

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aden + anais Classic Sleeping Bag

100% Cotton muslin sleep sack is the lightest sack I’ve found, and super comfortable!

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Aquaphor Baby Healing Ointment

Aquaphor is amazing for baby skin troubles, from drool rash, to diaper rash, to dry, rough skin. Shanna uses this religiously for her two daughters!

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Aveeno Baby Calming Comfort Moisturizing Lotion with Lavender, Vanilla and Natural Oatmeal

Lather this on your fresh-outta-the-bath baby. It smells so good!

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Aveeno Baby Gentle Wash & Shampoo

Shanna’s favorite baby body wash and shampoo. Great for babies with sensitive skin!

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Baby Care Play Mat

Laura wishes she had this from the beginning — laying out quilts and blankets got old really fast. This mat is reversible, non-toxic, and has great cushion for tummy-time and play.

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BabyBliss Reusable Bamboo Nursing Pads

These reusable nursing pads are soft, comfortable and absorbent.

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Babyganics All Purpose Surface Wipes

These are great for cleaning surfaces that baby might come into contact with. Great for wiping down toys, high chairs, furniture, etc!

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Bag Nation Diaper Bag Backpack with Stroller Straps, Changing Pad and Sundry Bag

This diaper backpack has a ton of compartments and comes with a changing pad and convenient little diaper kit case. It also clips on to your stroller!

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Beco Gemini Baby Carrier

Shanna’s favorite baby carrier — and she’s tried a lot! She loves that it doesn’t require an infant insert, and that you can carry baby in many different positions.

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Bib-On Full Coverage Bibs

Shanna loves these full-coverage bibs for her girls. They also come in handy in the car if you have a baby that gets car sick.

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Boon Grass Drying Rack

Perfect for drying bottles, nipples and other odds and ends.

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Boudreaux’s Butt Paste

This stuff really helps heal and prevent diaper rash!

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Bunny Night Light

This adorable LED nursery night light is a great source of dim light for nighttime feeds.

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Burpy Bibs

Burp cloths that double as bibs ‚ — awesome if you have a “happy spitter” like Laura does!

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California Baby Super Sensitive Shampoo & Body Wash

Really nice baby shampoo and body wash.

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Chicco Keyfit 30 Carseat

I love how easy it is to snap this carseat in and out of the base. If baby falls sleep in the car, you can just snap the seat out and carry it inside and never have to wake him or her!

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Chicco Keyfit Caddy

Snap the Keyfit 30 into here, and you’re ready to go for a stroll!

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Clingy Car Window Shades

These stick on without any adhesive and stay put. Great for keeping sun out of baby’s eyes while in the car.

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Comotomo Bottles

Shanna’s baby LOVES these soft, squeezable bottles.

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Convertible Crib

This crib grows with your child through the years. Plus it’s sturdy and cute!

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Dohm White Noise Machine

This white noise machine is pleasing to the ear (not a harsh, digital sound) and blocks out extraneous noise that might wake the baby.

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Dr. Brown’s Dishwasher Basket

If you use Dr. Brown’s bottles and have a dishwasher, you definitely will want one or more of these. Dr. Brown’s bottles are amazing, but hand-washing all those components SUUUUUUCKS. Pop ’em in this basket and stick it in the dishwasher. Voila! You have several hours of your life back!

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Dr. Brown’s Original Bottles

Sure, they have lots of little parts, but they helped reduce spitup and gas in Laura’s baby, so it’s worth it!

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Electric Steam Sterilizer

If you have the counter space, a steam sterilizer is so convenient to have.

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eufy Security Video Baby Monitor

This is the NY Times’ Wirecutter pick for best video monitor in 2019. It has a huge, clear screen, and isn’t wifi-dependent, so it works even if your wifi goes out. The camera and monitor are both powered by micro-USB, so you can even use this with a battery pack if your power goes out.

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Fisher-Price 4-in-1 Sling ‘N Seat Tub

It’s a bathtub that fits in your sink or in your tub (or on the floor, I guess!). It has a newborn sling and transitions to a sitting tub when the baby is ready.

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Haakaa Manual Breast Pump

The Haakaa is a must-have for nursing moms! It makes collecting extra breastmilk so easy.

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HALO Bassinest Swivel Sleeper Bassinet

Gorgeous and sturdy bassinet that adjusts to the height of your bed so baby is easy to retrieve for those nighttime feedings.

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Halo Sleepsack Wearable Blanket

Shanna’s favorite wearable blanket for baby that has transitioned out of swaddles and the Merlin.

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Halo Swaddle Sleep Sack

Shanna’s favorite swaddle for newborns.

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Hello Baby – Baby Monitor

Budget-friendly monitor that is reliable and doesn’t need wifi to work. Shanna has used this for both babies, and her favorite feature is VOX mode — the monitor only comes on when baby makes a sound.

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Hudson Baby Unisex Baby Cotton Bodysuit

Newborns don’t need much in the way of clothing, but bodysuits (aka “onesies”) are a must!

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Ingenuity Baby Seat

Shanna started using this seat when her baby was four months old and desperate to sit up and see the world but still needed some support. The feeding tray has come in very handy since she started eating solids. Strap this seat to a dining chair, and baby can sit at the table and eat with the family!

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Keekaroo High Chair

This stylish high chair grows with your baby and is less expensive than the similar Stokke Tripp Trapp high chair.

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Lansinoh Lanolin Nipple Cream

This saved Laura’s early breastfeeding days from being painful! Bring this to the hospital with you!

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Leo&Ella Baby Car Mirror

Very clear, large car mirror that’s crash tested and safe!

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Luvable Friends Unisex Baby Socks

Gotta keep those teeny tooties warm!! These socks are soft and cozy and adorable. They come in lots of different styles and patterns.

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Manhattan Toy Winkel Rattle & Sensory Teether

Great toy for young babies just learning how to grasp things.

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Matimati Baby Bandana Bibs

Cute, stylish bibs that help keep a happy spitter’s clothes clean!

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Merlin Magic Sleepsuit

A great transition after baby no longer uses swaddles. It helped Shanna’s first baby learn to sleep through the night.

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Moby Classic Baby Wrap

Stretchy, soft, wrap-style baby carrier that’s a life saver during the newborn phase. Babies love napping in this!

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Munchkin Step Diaper Pail

The self-sealing design keeps odors trapped inside.

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Muslin Swaddle Baby Blankets

Soft and versatile baby blankets.

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My Brest Friend Nursing Pillow

If you’re going to breastfeed you need this pillow! It’s a life saver!

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NoseFrida Nasal Aspirator

What’s more fun than using your mouth to suck snot out of your baby’s nose?! Answer: EVERYTHING. But, this device works great when babies are stuffed up. Shanna’s older daughter has even learned to use it on herself!

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NUK Comfy Orthodontic Pacifiers

Made of 100% silicone, these are soft if baby rolls over onto them.

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Oball Toy

Ball and rattle that is perfect for little fingers to grasp.

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Owlet Dream Sock

This little device helped ease Laura’s mind (and stop her from checking if her baby was breathing 2000x/night).

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Oxo Baby Wipes Dispenser

This is a great hands-free way to have wipes available at your changing table.

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OXO Tot On-The-Go Wipes Dispenser

Perfect small wipes dispenser to throw into your diaper bag.

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OXO Tot Space Saving Drying Rack

Vertical drying rack helps clear up counter space and is great for bottles and pumping parts.

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Pack and Play

The Pack and Play offers a safe, flat surface for baby to play, kick and roll around in so you can take a moment to yourself to get a cup of coffee or (imagine this) go to the bathroom alone!! It’s a great place for introducing babies to independent play, since it gives them space to move their bodies and check out their surroundings. Also, it transitions with age and is a perfect travel crib for out-of-town trips!

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Pampers Aqua Pure Sensitive Water Baby Diaper Wipes

Laura’s favorite butt wipes that don’t irritate the baby and clean well.

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Pampers Swaddlers – Size 1

Shanna and Laura both loved using Pampers Swaddlers for their newborns. We recommend registering for Size 1 diapers since babies grow out of the Newborn size so quickly!

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QuickZip Crib Sheets

The easiest way to change a crib sheet!

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Rotary Baby Nail Trimmer

So much easier and safer than using normal baby nail trimmers!

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Safety 1st Heavenly Dreams Crib Mattress

Firm and affordably priced mattress that is highly reviewed.

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Simple Joys by Carter’s Baby Boys’ 6-Pack Short-Sleeve Bodysuit

Newborns don’t need much in the way of clothing, but bodysuits (aka “onesies”) are a must!

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Simple Joys by Carter’s Baby Girls’ 6-Pack Short-Sleeve Bodysuit

Newborns don’t need much in the way of clothing, but bodysuits (aka “onesies”) are a must!

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Simple Wishes Hands-Free Pumping Bra

If you plan to pump, you are going to want this. Without it, you will need to hold the pumps on your breasts, and then you will have zero hands free to scroll through your phone (the horror!).

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Slipcover for My Brest Friend

Laura wishes she had registered for an additional cover for her nursing pillow — you need backup when you have a happy spitter!

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Soft-Bite Infant Spoons

Cute spoons with metal handles and silicon tips that babies like to gum on. They are nice and shallow, so great for feeding young babies purees!

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Sophie the Giraffe

Great teether for babies! Perfect size for their little hands to grasp.

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Spasilk 23-Piece Essential Baby Bath Gift Set

Gotta get hooded towels for your little sweetie, because nothing is cuter than a baby peeking out from a bath towel! Also, they are good for drying the baby off after baths, I suppose. 😉

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Spectra S1 Breast Pump

Really great pump that’s easy to use, comfortable, and runs on a battery!

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Stretchy Changing Pad Covers for Boys Girls

These soft and adorable changing pad covers fit most standard changing pads and help keep baby comfortable during diaper changes so they don’t have to lay on a plasticky, waterproof pad.

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Summer Infant Contoured Changing Pad

Affordable changing pad that Shanna uses on top of an Ikea dresser to create a changing station.

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The Original Cushy Closer Door Cushion | No More Noisy Doors!

Use this item to quietly enter and exit your baby’s nursery without the clicks and squeaks of the door latch. Shanna uses them for both of her daughters’ bedroom doors because she likes to sneak up on her kids. Bwahahahaha! Just kidding. It’s mostly great for when you are quietly closing the door after your baby is asleep and you don’t want the latch to wake him or her.

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Tummy Time Floor Mirror

Babies love looking at themselves during tummy time. This is a soft, lightweight, safe mirror you can prop in front of baby to help them stay in tummy time longer!

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Ubbi Diaper Pail

Stainless steel, easier to use than a diaper genie, and sleek!

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Vava Night Lights

These little egg-shaped, touch-enabled LED lights don’t emit any blue light and can be set super dim, so they don’t wake up your baby during 3am diaper changes.

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Windsor Glider and Ottoman

There are many wonderful rocking chairs and gliders out there, but this one is reasonably priced, comfortable, and has been with Shanna through both her babies.

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Wubbanub Pacifier

Pacifier with a built-in buddy!

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