
How to Build a Baby Registry in 4 Easy Steps
We’ve helped millions of parents build their baby registries—here’s how to make yours work for your life.


In This Article
Whether you or your partner is pregnant, you’re adopting or you’re working with a surrogate, there’s one thing most parents-to-be choose to do before the arrival of their newest addition: create a baby registry.
Baby registries are great for lots of reasons. Your friends, family and coworkers will likely be pretty excited to give you gifts, and registries are an easy, convenient way for them to do that. Registries increase your chances of getting just what you were hoping for and what you’ll actually use. They’re also a good way to stay organized in terms of what baby products you want, have already received and still need.
But here’s the thing—creating a baby registry can feel pretty overwhelming. There’s a lot to think about, especially during a time in your life when you’re not exactly looking for more things to take on.
We’re tapping our baby registry expertise to walk you through four easy steps to create the best registry for your family (filled with the products you’ll actually use when your baby arrives) and answering the most frequently asked questions we see and hear from new parents.

Here are four things to consider as you begin your baby registry:
#1 Think About Your Lifestyle. From minimalist to maximalist, city dweller to suburban sprawl, adoption to twins—your life shapes your list.
#2 Choose Your Research Style. Love the details? Explore Babylist guides and scour the internet. Hate the details? Stick to essentials and get recs from friends.
#3 Prioritize What Matters Most. Start with the essentials—and add what sparks joy. A safe place to sleep and some diapers? Must-haves. But that mobile you love or a splurge-worthy carrier? Totally worth it if it makes you smile. Your registry should reflect your real needs and your style.
#4 Go Category by Category. Break it down to build it up—start with bigger categories (like sleep, gear, feeding, clothing) then add from there.
Ready, Set, Register
Once you have an idea of what your registry style is, it’s time to start using that “Add to Babylist” button to build it out! Here are the categories we think are the most helpful to work with and some highlights of what’s included (and what we recommend) in each.
Nursery
A crib and a mattress, crib bedding, furniture (changing table, glider, etc.), a monitor and white noise machine, blankets and swaddles, and nursery decor should all go in this category.
Feeding
Bottles are the obvious add to this important category, even if you’re planning on breastfeeding. Don’t forget other crucial items like bibs, burp cloths, formula or a breast pump. (Be sure to check Babylist Health to see if you’re eligible for an insurance-covered pump, too!)
On the Go
For anything that gets you and baby from here to there, including all things transportation-related, make up this category. Your stroller, car seat, baby carrier and other similar items fit in here.
Health and Safety
This isn’t the most exciting of categories, but it is one of the most important. You’ll want to include things like a first aid kit, a humidifier and a thermometer here, as well as bathtime needs like a tub, towels, washcloths and baby wash.
Diapering
Cloth or disposable diapers, wipes, diaper cream and a diaper bag are the biggies in this crucial category—along with any on-the-go diaper changing supplies too. You don’t need to register for diapers if you want to buy them as you go (or test out different options before stocking up). You might also consider incorporating a diaper raffle into your shower.
Clothing
It’s easy to go overboard here, so try to stick to the basics. Bodysuits are a great staple, as are pajamas, as well as some separates like pants and a few newborn hats.
Places to Set Baby Down
Gift Cards + Cash Funds
Last but definitely not least, don’t forget gift cards. Gift cards for your favorite store, or even help and favors cards for non-material items are also helpful to include on your registry. They’re sure to get used and can help you buy more of any item you and your little one are loving.
Sometimes, It’s Ultimately Baby’s Call
They might be tiny, but babies sure have opinions on what they like and what they don’t. (And they’re not afraid to let you know, either.) It can be tempting to add all of the things, but it often takes a bit of trial and error to find what baby (and you) prefer. Keep this in mind when registering for things like diapers, wipes, pacifiers and bottles (especially bottles!). You might also want to start with smaller quantities of toiletries (like lotion, soap and diaper cream) and baby formula. Babylist try-it kits really come in handy here; they’re a great hack for sampling and figuring out what baby likes before committing—and spending a lot to stock up.

Babylist
Diaper Cream Box
Ready, Set, Register
Building your family brings with it lots of excitement—but it can bring some stress too. Creating your baby registry shouldn’t add to that. A little bit of know-how and some useful guidelines will help you to streamline the process and build a registry that works for you and your family.
Baby Registry FAQ
Here are the most commonly asked questions our registry experts are asked—and the answers.
When should I make my baby registry?
There’s no right answer to this one, as the answer depends on whatever timeline you’re most comfortable with. Some parents start a registry toward the end of the first trimester, while others wait until they’re a bit further along. Some parents kick off their registry shortly after finding out about baby, but wait to begin adding items to it until around the 20 week mark, which is right around when the anatomy scan takes place.
If you’re excited to start building your registry but not quite ready to announce yet, most registries allow you to keep it private (aka hidden) until you’re ready.
When should I make my baby registry public?
If you’re having a baby shower, you’ll want to make sure your registry is visible as soon as the invitations go out. If not, you can make the registry public whenever you’re most comfortable, but around the beginning of the third trimester is often a common timeframe.
And what if you want friends and family to see your registry, but you don’t feel comfortable making it totally public? That’s okay too. Most registry-building sites allow you to use a private link to share your registry with exactly who you’d like to see it. (Pro tip: you can change your Babylist registry privacy settings by going to “visibility & privacy” and adjusting to your preferences. You can make it totally private and even require a password for friends and family to view.)
How many items should I add to my baby registry?
The average Babylist registrant adds 125 items to their registry, though that’s not always the final number they land on by the time they’re ready to share it with family and friends. (Decisions, decisions.) But don’t get stuck on a number—register for what feels right to you. You can always add or delete items as you go along. Babylist’s baby registry checklist can help you jump-start your registry-building experience.
We also have a bunch of sample registries to help guide you, too! Here are a few:
Is it okay to ask for cash?
Yes! Sometimes there are things you might need or want to add to your registry, like a night nurse or you want to be able to take more time off for parental leave. This is where a cash fund comes in handy. Most registries offer cash fund options, but if not, many offer spots for gift cards and help and favors. Don’t hesitate to add some to your list. Here are some of the popular cash funds you can add to your Babylist registry:
Is it okay to add big purchases to my baby registry?
Yes! Your friends and family want to know what you really want and need, so there’s no issue with adding a stroller, crib or other item that might be higher in price. Certain baby gear is just pricey, no matter which brand you choose—but there are many registries, including Babylist, that offer a group gifting option that lets people contribute as much as they want toward the item, or even fully fund it.
How can I make a baby registry from different stores?
Say you’ve got your eyes on a stroller from a big box store and baby clothes from your favorite local boutique. No need to make multiple registries, and no need to sacrifice any of your picks. Babylist is a universal baby registry that combines stores in one convenient place, so you can add anything from anywhere on the internet. Already have a baby registry somewhere else? Babylist can also integrate your other registries seamlessly so they’re all in one spot.



























































