40 Baby Products No One Tells You to Register For

This might seem like a gimmick; surely it’s not that much work to “shush” your baby to sleep. Think again! Many parents swear by this simple white noise machine that provides the comforting “shush” of a caregiver. In fact, this was one of the few things that kept my second baby content in her car seat while running errands or attending check-ups. “We used it multiple times a day, every day, for months,” said one Babylist parent.

A yoga ball is helpful during pregnancy—to prepare your body for birth—and after. I have firsthand experience (times two) with the magic touch they have when bouncing on it for both calming my babies and getting them to sleep.

Babies are picky creatures, and pacifiers are one of those things they tend to have very strong opinions about. At the end of the day, the best pacifier is the one they’ll take, but it can take some experimenting to figure which one that is. This try-it kit comes with six popular pacifiers, saving you from late-night Amazon orders or Target runs.

Whether you’re an exclusive or occasional pumper, this manual breast pump comes in handy (literally). “[It was] such a lifesaver for bedside relief once [my baby] started sleeping a bit longer,” says Michelle, a mom of one who primarily breastfed. I was also an occasional pumper and found this so easy and quick to use when I needed relief while away from my baby.

If you’re planning on breastfeeding or pumping, definitely add these to your registry. They’re one of those things you’ll want to have ready right when you need them. Breastfeeding shouldn’t be painful, but it can take practice to get the ideal latch. An incorrect (or shallow) latch can lead to sore, cracked and painful nipples. These soothing nipple shields are made of 950-purity silver and have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. They’re designed to fit right in your bra to wear between feeds—no nipple cream needed. They also work for pumping parents too!

If you're formula feeding and don’t want to splurge on a high-tech machine, this compact water dispenser is a surprisingly genius workaround. It keeps water warm and ready to go, so you can mix a bottle fast. One Babylist parent who wrote into our poll put it best: “the water is already warm, so no need for a bottle warmer! Very reasonably priced, too. Love it!” Simple, practical and a serious time-saver.

Like yoga balls for baby sleep, this spray is no match for baby stains. “It clears literally any stain, from poop to food,” says Alainna, a mom of two. I give this spray extra points for getting stains out of my own clothes (and our rug for that matter). Register for a multipack so you never run out. One Babylist parent shared, “I now buy every new mom a bottle after getting it as a gift myself.”

One Babylist dad advises that you “[Add] a copious amount of rags.” Register for enough to cover burping, spit-up and bathtime—and then add more. Another parent on our team agrees with this sentiment, sharing, “We used them 24/7—in the bath, burping, cleaning spit up, [both] at home and on the go.” We like these muslin washcloths because they’re absorbent, easy to wash and dry and come in a cost-effective multipack. 

Washing bottles and pump parts will become a daily ritual (multiple times a day, if we’re being honest). A dedicated wash basin keeps everything separate from the regular sink gunk, and a collapsible one saves space when you’re not using it. One parent summed it up perfectly: “A wash tub for all the pumping parts. We used it so much the first few months!” It’s the kind of basic that makes a big difference.

It can be helpful to double up on certain things, like a sound machine, so you can keep one in the baby’s room and the extra in your room (or at another caregiver’s home for when baby’s visiting). The Hatch Baby is our top sound machine pick for baby’s nursery—and the one 56% of parents preferred in our Most Loved Baby Gear survey. But this more sophisticated model with thoughtful features like a sunrise alarm and different meditations is great for parents’ rooms.

While your baby’s sleep schedule may be unpredictable, your need to see what you’re doing in the dark isn’t. This soft-glow nightlight turns on with a simple tap and adjusts easily with a dimmer—no fumbling for switches or squinting under harsh overhead lights. One parent shared, “Easy tap on/off with dimmer for MOTN feeds. Still use it a year later as a nightlight.” Another said, “They’re amazing for middle-of-the-night diaper changes.”

To swaddle or not to swaddle. Which one will your baby prefer? This try-it kit is a great way to find the one you and your baby like best. I went straight for all of the Velcro options with my first baby, only to quickly learn that 1. he did not like his arms down at his sides. And 2. the sound of the Velcro was disruptive while trying to discreetly change a middle-of-the-night diaper or top him off with a dream feed. We ended up preferring the SwaddleUp (included in this set) so he could have his hands by his face, but this box would have saved a lot of last-minute online orders.

There are two camps when it comes to wipe warmers—each with strong (and pretty convincing) opinions. Some parents swear by them because they make diaper changes less jarring for newborns (no one likes a cold wipe to the butt), while others say they weren’t essential. It’s really personal preference, but speaking from experience, we were glad our friend talked us into getting one the first time around (even if we didn’t use it for every diaper change). If you live in a particularly cold climate, or your baby is due in the Fall or Winter, consider adding one to your registry. 

Another bonus of a wipe warmer? One Babylist parent shared the genius insight that transferring wipes to a container like this means no crinkly wipes packages. 

We also recommend registering for a crib mattress protector—and consider adding one for your bed too! From blowouts to leaky diapers to leaky boobs to spit up, there are so many fluids involved during a baby’s first year. Pro-tip: make a mattress protector and crib sheet sandwich, so in the case of a middle-of-the-night cleanup you can just strip the top two layers to reveal fresh sheets—and that means you get back to sleep faster.

Vitamin D is an important nutrient for baby’s development, because it “plays a critical role in the developing bones,” says Dr. Fradin, and babies typically don’t get enough of it in their diet of breast milk or formula. For this reason, many pediatricians recommend supplementing with Vitamin D drops. Be sure to discuss this with your baby’s pediatrician if you have any questions or concerns.

Motrin is good to have on hand for babies 6 months and up to help with unexpected fevers or to relieve teething pain when your baby is really struggling. Always consult your baby’s pediatrician before administering any medication.

If the thought of using your mouth to remove your baby’s boogers gives you the ick you’re not alone. But this thing really is a lifesaver when you’ve got a congested baby who doesn’t know how to blow their nose and comes recommended by actual Babylist parents in our poll. The filters prevent anything from getting into the tube (and your mouth) and this bundle comes with saline spray which is helpful for loosening up all of the mucus before you go in with this gadget.

Here’s another highly recommended booger-related item you’ll be glad to have in your sick day lineup, because tiny nostrils are hard for adult fingers to pick. This picker has two sides and the little bear's ears prevent it from going too far up baby’s nose. You can also use it to clean your baby’s ear crusties. One Babylist parent wrote in our poll, “[We] use it every day, especially for cleaning up baby’s nose after tummy time, when their nose gets stuffed.”

It’s amazing how sharp tiny baby nails can be—and how scary it can feel when you’re getting the hang of cutting them. Enter this electric nail file to quell your anxiety and save the day. “I was terrified of using clippers on my baby and then someone told me about this product and it relieved so much stress,” one Babylist parent says. They also come in handy a bit later down the road when you’ve got a wiggly toddler who loves to say no to cutting their nails. 

“[These are] nice to have ready when you need them,” says Alyssa, a soon-to-be mom of three. This Fridababy set features not one, but two double-sided gum soothers with unique textures and shapes to reach every nook and cranny of baby’s sore gums. We really love the stay-warm handle so they can explore without their fingers getting too cold. And even if they’re not yet teething, they’ll provide a rich sensory experience that’ll also keep your baby occupied. 

Bending, reaching or twisting can be tough—especially after a C-section or during recovery from birth in general. A lightweight grabber tool makes it easier to pick up dropped pacifiers, burp cloths or snacks (no judgment), without calling for backup every time. One parent called it “the BEST purchase after my C-section.” You’ll be amazed how often you reach for it—without actually reaching.

The days of newborn sink baths are short-lived, and I quickly learned how uncomfortable bathing baby in an actual tub can be (not to mention doing it in the early postpartum period while your body is recovering). Add these soft pads from Lalo to your registry and your knees and elbows will thank you when the time comes.

If you don’t have smart plugs, you’ll definitely want to get them once you have a baby in your home. The convenience of turning things on and off in your home via app or voice command is truly underrated. These plugs connect to your smart home device (like Google Home or Alexa) so you’ll never have to risk baby’s nap because you forgot to turn off a light.  

Even if you’ve set up a dedicated diaper changing station in baby’s room, many parents say a well-stocked diaper caddy also comes in clutch. Fill it with wipes, diapers, diaper cream, a few burp cloths and any other essentials you want to keep within reach, and you can easily carry it from room to room. “It saved me 1000 trips up the stairs, especially in the early postpartum days,” one parent told us. 

This was the second most-loved play gym in our Most Loved Baby Gear survey (coming in right behind the Lovevery play gym). The Kick & Play has been circulating on social media recently, and for good reason! It has a ton of interactive features plus engaging colors to entertain baby. We also like the inclusion of high-contrast colors (black and white) in the design because it’s great for newborn vision development. “Not only are the songs so catchy, it genuinely held my baby’s attention during tummy time,” one parent said in our survey. Another parent shared, “We use it pretty much every day since baby turned about one month old. The colors, music and toys can be configured in different ways and are really engaging.” If there’s one toy to add to your registry to start, let it be this.

One thing I wish I had thought of before my first baby was born (and honestly when the second came along) was sectioning off a “yes zone” in our living room where they were safe to freely play and explore without me right there with them. Although we diligently baby-proofed, it can be helpful to know they’re going to stay in one spot (especially once they’re mobile). It’s also helpful if you have pets, too. “It was useful to keep [the] dogs away from him when he was a baby and now [that he’s a bit older], he plays in his playpen while I do things around the house without worrying he will get into something,” one Babylist parent shared. 

This was another unexpected first-year purchase that I wish someone had told me to register for—so here I am telling you! An activity center is a great option for those times baby is over tummy time and playing on the floor. The built-in toys are engaging and encourage fine motor skills development and they can use it at different ages and stages. It’s also well-made, so many parents find themselves saving it for baby number two (or three). “It was one of the few items that both babies enjoyed and it has lasted through two pregnancies. It’s convenient for allowing you to get things done around the house while baby is safe,” one parent shared in our Most Loved Baby Gear survey. And speaking of growing with your child, the activity center turns into a toddler-sized table when they no longer fit and this bundle includes two chairs. 

Our waterproof outdoor picnic mat has been a staple in our lives since our first baby was born. We weren’t particularly outdoorsy people before, but we became outdoorsy people after recognizing the benefits of getting outside with our baby for at least a few minutes every day. This outdoor mat gave us somewhere clean and dry to sit and enjoy the fresh air, whether it was from our backyard or the park. The mat is machine washable, folds up quickly (and secures with Velcro) and has a convenient strap for carrying. It also comes in three different sizes and a bunch of fun prints so you can find the best fit for your family.

Sometimes babies don’t want to lay down—which makes sense; there's so much to explore. This chair is a great investment that’ll last well into toddlerhood. “With both babies, we loved sitting outside with them but not holding them the whole time. [We use] these chairs all the time, beginning around three months,” says Alainna, a mom of two. They’re great for indoor and outdoor use and fold up nice and compact so they’re easy to take to the park and even camping. 

According to our Most Loved Baby Gear survey, many new parents reported finding portable sound machines weirdly useful—specifically naming the Hatch Go as their fave. Portable sound machines allow some freedom in on-the-go naps, especially if a baby is used to sleeping with white noise at home. We had a total of three sound machines: one in the baby’s nursery, one in our room, and a portable option for on-the-go. Don’t sleep on the wonders of white noise for baby snoozes.

These disposable changing pads have many uses, both at home and when out and about. At home, we found it helpful to place them on top of our Skip Hop change pad to keep our January baby warm during changes. They also saved us from a bunch of laundry while he was in a pee-during-ever-diaper-change phase. They’re lightweight yet slightly absorbent (enough to catch any accidental pees) and fold up nicely if you want to stick a few in your diaper bag. We also liked having them with us on the go just in case we needed to change our baby in a public restroom (because why are they never stocked with covers?).

Blowouts and large amounts of spit-up usually happen when you’re not at home. In addition to a change of clothes, a wet-dry bag is a must-have when packing your diaper bag. One Babylist parent shared, “we decided to cloth diaper and were pleasantly surprised by how well they keep the smell in compared to the plastic bag we had to use in a pinch.” They’re mainly useful for transporting soiled outfits back home to wash but also come in handy during warmer months for things like wet reusable swim diapers and swimsuits from pool and beach trips.

We have a dog, which is why we had these bags at home when our first was born. But we quickly learned how useful they were not just for taking our dog for a walk but for dirty baby diapers, too. They’re especially handy when you’re visiting a friend or out in public and don’t want to throw a smelly diaper in the trash. 

A stroller wagon is not a must-have by any means, especially if you’ve registered for a stroller. But I found myself reaching for our wagon over our stroller for neighborhood walks and visits to the park or beach because I had space to lug our stuff and the kids. Almost six years in two kids in, we’ve gotten so much use out of our stroller wagon.