Adopting a Newborn? Here’s What to Register For

Safe sleep guidelines recommend room sharing for at least the first six months of your baby’s life, as well as using a crib or bassinet with a firm surface. This lightweight, portable bassinet is a safe, simple sleep solution for home, and also works well if you have to travel for your baby.

From swaddle to blanket to on-the-go changing mat, these classic oversized swaddle blankets are functional, soft and durable. (Wondering how to swaddle a baby? Learn how with this video.)

While traditional swaddles are great for multi-purpose, they can be tricky to wrap. This genius swaddle stays put and keeps babies feeling safe and secure while also allowing options for both arms in, one arm out or both arms out. Negrey says she loves the Ollie swaddle in particular because it’s “really soft and easy to use.”

No matter how you become a parent, peace of mind over your baby’s sleep is universal. This smart video monitor helps, with a crystal clear picture and great audio streaming, WiFi connectivity and temperature and humidity display. It even tracks baby’s breathing and sleep patterns, and it’ll alert you if there’s any cause for concern.

If you’re looking for something a little lower-tech that doesn’t track baby’s health or sleep data, several adoptive parents recommend this monitor as an alternative. It has the option to view the camera on the local parent unit or remotely via WiFi on the Motorola Nursery app. It’s a solid choice for adoptive parents who want to keep a close eye on baby in those early days of bonding while still keeping cost in mind.

One of the biggest things for adoptive parents to keep in mind when it comes to choosing a car seat: an infant car seat is more convenient to travel with than a convertible car seat (which tends to be a lot heavier). One of our gear editor’s top picks for an infant car seat, this parent favorite works for babies as small as four pounds, and it’s compatible with a lot of stroller brands so you can stroll your baby around from the day they come home.

If you’ll be traveling to pick up your little one, adoptive parent Emily Crass recommends this roomy, durable diaper bag. “I chose it because it has stroller slips, you can wash it and it comes with a changing pad and extra storage bags,” she says. It also has plenty of interior and exterior pockets for keeping everything you need organized—for you and your new baby. “Our family is on the go, and I thought it would be best for our lifestyle!”

Love the luxury look but not the price? Target’s Cloud Island brand has a great dupe.

Hands down the easiest stroller to travel with—the Aer+ is lightweight, has an effortless fold and fits in the overhead bin of most airlines. All of which make it a perfect choice for any parent, but especially if you’re going to be flying or traveling to meet your little one! Just keep in mind that, in order to use any stroller with a baby under six months old, you’ll need a bassinet attachment or a compatible infant car seat (like the PIPA above). “The bassinet option made it an easier transition for us,” Negrey says. “Going from no idea we'd have a baby one day to taking her home from the hospital the next day, being able to go out on walks with her sleeping in the bassinet helped with the transition.”

If you don’t need a travel-size stroller, Negrey recommends the UPPAbaby Vista V3 Stroller & V3 Bassinet Bundle for a full-size option (it’s compatible with the PIPA car seat we recommended above, too). If you’re looking to save a little more money, we also recommend the Mockingbird stroller + bassinet bundle, which has a lot of similar features but at half the cost.

Another travel-friendly pick, this ultra-light travel crib weighs only 13 pounds and folds down to fit in any airline baggage space—all without sacrificing on comfort.

Those first few nights with baby can be stressful, especially if you’re away from home. This cordless, portable sound machine uses white noise to recreate womb sounds and comfort your little one no matter where you may be. Negrey loves that it’s “easy to travel [and] also great to toss in the bassinet stroller for naps out and about.” Crass loved hers, too: “If you are adopting out of state, this would be helpful for travel, walks, etc!”

Especially if you’re traveling out of state or out of the country for your baby, bringing them home can mean exposing them to lots of stuff in the air—so Negrey said she relied on a portable air purifier. “Sleep-deprived and worried about traveling with a newborn, it was a great peace of mind item.”

Babies can be particular about what bottle they prefer, so instead of risking a drawer full of bottles your baby may refuse, this sampler box includes five popular brands so you can test each one out to see what baby likes best before you commit. Both Negrey and Crass swear by this sample box to help the feeding journey go a little smoother.

Negrey also recommends this compact, all-in-one cleaning solution that has everything you need to keep baby’s bottles clean, whether you’re traveling to meet your new addition or once you’ve brought them home.

You may be lucky enough to have a breast milk donor to help you feed your baby—but if you don’t, Crass says, then this formula maker is the next best thing. It automatically makes the perfect bottle with just the push of a button. Customize the size and temperature of the bottle, and you can prep up to 20 bottles at a time. It also works with all bottle sizes and brands, and virtually all formula brands.

If you don’t have a do-it-all formula maker, a bottle warmer can still be a big help, both Negrey and Crass say. The Kiinde Kozii uses a warm water bath to gently and evenly heat bottles, and it works for both formula and breast milk. It’s easy to use, doesn’t require measuring water for each use, and works with most bottle types—making middle-of-the-night feedings a little smoother.

Adopting a newborn means you get all the newborn joys—and all the spit up. These burp cloths are generously sized, ultra soft and feature an inner layer of absorbent fleece to protect your clothes from whatever comes your way.

As with bottles, babies can also be particular about what pacifier they’ll take. This box includes six popular options, so you can find baby’s favorite and skip (at least some of) the late night panic shopping.

We’ll say it one more time: babies can be picky. While you should definitely make sure you have at least a one- to two-week supply of newborn-size diapers and wipes as soon as you get your adoption placement call (baby’s birth hospital may give you some too), once you’ve settled in a bit, then Negrey recommends getting a diaper and wipe sample box. “So great for trying out different options to see which actually worked for the baby,” she says.

This steel diaper pail fights odors and doesn’t require special inserts, giving you one less thing to worry about having on hand as you adjust to life with your little one.

Babywearing encourages skin-to-skin and helps with bonding. This soft, lightweight wrap is easy to use (we promise!) and is designed for baby’s first year. Negrey recommends getting this wrap carrier right away once you know you’re adopting your baby, since the skin-to-skin connection is beneficial from day one. She also loves that it’s “easy to pack up.” Crass recommends it too: “Anything to encourage bonding skin-to-skin.” If you’re not sure about using a wrap carrier, Baby K’Tan is a great alternative, since it goes on exactly like a t-shirt (no tying fabric involved) and still allows for skin-to-skin.

Ergonomic, soft and no batteries required—this bouncer moves in response to baby’s movements. It can be used from birth and folds completely flat, making it perfect for travel or moving from room to room.

While newborns don’t need a full bath until they’re about two weeks old, that first bath can still be stressful for you and for your little one, especially if you’re not at home. This sink-friendly baby tub makes the process a whole lot easier—even if you’re staying somewhere with no bathtub—and folds completely flat for easy packing.

With everything you need if you’re doing bath time away from home, this gift set is entirely fragrance free, so it’s gentle on even the most sensitive newborn skin. It comes with newborn-safe hair and body wash, diaper cream and Tubby Todd’s parent-favorite All Over Ointment.

A set of soft cotton towels and washcloths can help make bathtime a little more comfortable, and your new baby will look undeniably adorable all bundled up post-bath.

Newborns don’t need a whole lot in terms of grooming and first aid, and this kit has all the basics. It comes with multiple nail trimming tools (including clippers, scissors and an electric file) to keep baby’s claws at bay, a silicone finger toothbrush to keep baby’s gums clean, a hairbrush and comb to help with any cradle cap and a nasal aspirator to get you through baby’s first stuffy nose.

A few versatile sets of clothes is a great place to start when you finally get the placement call. These sweet, neutral basics are made with soft 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton. This set comes with everyday essentials including a knotted hat, bandana bib, knotted gown, short-sleeve bodysuit, zip-Up footie, pants and booties.

Versatile organic cotton bodysuits are the perfect go-to for everyday wear. They can be worn alone on warmer days or layered with pants, booties and mittens when it’s colder outside.

A loving reminder that the often-long road to adoption ends right where it’s meant to.

What’s cuter than a newborn baby in a top knot hat? Not a thing. They’re functional as well—hats keep those little heads warm in the first few weeks. If you don’t get the traditional newborn hat from baby’s birthing hospital, this is a great choice to have on hand in case the weather gets chilly.

Parents needs an accessory too! This sterling silver necklace can be personalized with your little one’s birth state, the state you live in or both. (Also available in 14k and 10k gold.)

Celebrate baby’s birth state or your family’s home state with this personalized organic rattle made from solid hardwood.

Newborns don’t need many toys, but this one is special enough to register for. Designed with both physical and cognitive growth in mind, this play gym grows with your baby through a full year of play and beyond. While not something you’ll need right away, it can make a wonderful “welcome baby” gift from a loved one once you’ve settled in with your new baby. And it helps take some of the guesswork out of parenting a baby, too: “It took the thinking out of what [toys] would be developmentally okay and actually entertaining for a baby at each month,” Negrey says.

Designed specifically for families who grow through adoption, this keepsake book is a beautiful place to record your family’s adoption journey and your little one’s milestones.

Written by Hoda Kotb and inspired by her adoption of her daughter, this book tells the story of how, no matter when, where or how you came to be together, parents have always loved their children.

This sweet, inclusive board book celebrates the journey to adoption with simple, heartfelt language and warm illustrations. It’s a meaningful way to start sharing your family’s unique story with your little one from the very beginning.

While many parenting books are for a birth parent’s perspective, Negrey recommends this book to adoptive parents to help you zero in on baby’s needs during those hectic first few weeks. “It’s helpful for what to do for the first six weeks so you still have at least some mental energy for all of the paperwork and uncertainty of placement,” she says.

Adoption costs on average between $30,000-$40,000, which often doesn’t include additional travel costs and attorney fees. Give your friends and family a chance to chip in. You can even set up a secure way to donate online via your Babylist registry page.