New Baby Registry Checklist - Shona’s Favorites

Mom Blog
Written By Shona Craig

Congratulations on your upcoming addition! As you embark on the journey of preparing for your baby's arrival, remember that they don't need much in the beginning. The essentials like a place for him/her to sleep, diapers, wipes, and some clothes, coupled with your care and love, are what truly matter. Our experience taught us that babies are remarkably adaptable even if everything isn't perfectly set up or prepared. Even if you are not fully prepared, your baby will be content as long as he/she is loved, fed, and cared for.

As you navigate the vast world of baby products, keep in mind that every child is unique. What works wonders for one might not for another. We aimed to prioritize quality, safety, non-toxic, and eco-friendliness in the items we chose, with an eye towards longevity where possible. It's important not to stress too much about finding the perfect items, as your baby will ultimately guide you toward their preferences as they grow.

In our journey, we've found that some items, like pacifiers and bottle warmers, ended up being unused or quickly replaced by unexpected preferences. Babies often surprise us with their unique preferences and habits, and it's important to be flexible and adapt to their needs. Thus, when registering for items like pacifiers, diapers, or bottles, consider selecting a variety of options to accommodate potential preferences or needs. With this in mind, here are some favorites from our own registry that have stood the test of time in our home.

For our registries, we opted for SoKind Registry and Amazon. SoKind proved invaluable as it afforded me greater control over the gifts we received. I appreciated the flexibility to link gift cards and set up gift funds tailored to our needs. Among the funds we established were the Midwifery and Prenatal Care Fund, the Postpartum Healing Fund, and the Baby College Fund, which conveniently allowed guests to contribute to Gordie's 529 plan. However, since SoKind deducted a percentage for monetary gifts, we advised guests to send money directly through Venmo or PayPal. For my wedding registry, I utilized WithJoy.com due to its zero-fee cash funds feature. I may use WithJoy’s Baby Registry next time.

This post contains affiliate links, but I only recommend products I truly love and trust. Thank you for your support!

PREGNANCY

Clothing

Pranavida Style is my go-to clothing brand because it perfectly complements all stages of womanhood. The brand is sustainable and eco-friendly, using healthy materials to create garments suitable for maternity, postpartum, and nursing. Plus, it's a small woman-owned Canadian business, which makes me feel good about supporting her work.

Pregnancy Books

  • Birthing from Within: An Extra-Ordinary Guide to Childbirth Preparation by Pam England & Rob Horowitz -
    This book offers a holistic approach to childbirth that supports and strengthens our belief that birth is a profound experience as a journey of self-discovery rather than just a medical event. The book includes exercises like journal writing, meditation, and painting that helped me process my thoughts and fears during pregnancy. My husband and I did the drawing activity together, which was a profound bonding experience. The book also provides proven techniques for coping with labor pain without drugs and discusses the roles of doctors, midwives, and fathers during the birth process. It also covers essential baby basics like bathing, sleep, and breastfeeding, helping us prepare for life with a newborn.

POSTPARTUM RECOVERY

Home Help/ Meal Train:

Some registries let people sign up to help clean the home or drop off meals. We set up a Meal Train (mealtrain.com) for a month, and it was AMAZING!

Postpartum Recovery Intimates:

Postpartum Disposable Wear

  • Rael Disposable Underwear

  • Rael Disposable Pads

  • Make your own padsicles! - These were amazing! I used the Real disposable pads with witch hazel and aloe vera gel. They were so soothing those first few weeks postpartum.

    • Open the pad and keep the wrapping attached. If you make a mistake, you can stick the pad (sticky side down) on aluminum foil for storage. Pour 2-4 tablespoons of witch hazel directly onto the pad.

    • Pour aloe vera along the length of the pad. Use a spoon to spread the aloe evenly across the pad.

    • Refold and wrap the pad. Place in a gallon-sized freezer bag and store in the freezer.

Other Postpartum Needs:

Postpartum Books

SLEEP

Crib: Ikea Sniglar Crib

Why we love it: The crib, minimal, non-toxic, and eco-friendly, made from solid beech, is one of our favorites for its budget-friendly price and its two-level feature. If we were to do it all over again, we would opt for a floor bed setup from the start and skip the crib altogether. Co-sleeping and easily rolling away after nursing are much simpler with a floor bed – no need to lower the baby into the crib, which often resulted in waking Gordie up. I found myself having to climb into his crib to nurse him, then climb out again. Next time, we're definitely going with a floor bed with a Montessori frame.

Crib Mattress: Naturepedic Organic Breathable Baby Crib Mattress (2-Stage)

Naturepedic offers three excellent non-toxic crib mattresses: the Classic, Breathable, and Breathable Ultra models. After careful consideration, we opted for the Breathable mattress and also purchased an additional Breathable mattress protector to use when the other was in the wash. To complete the setup, we invested in Naturepedic's organic sheets, creating a cozy and safe sleeping environment for Gordie.


Naturepedic's crib mattresses are certified organic, waterproof, and breathable, offering a safe sleep environment. The mattress has 360-degree airflow and a machine-washable cover for temperature regulation. The cover combines soft organic cotton with a 3D polyester lattice for air circulation. The 2-stage design provides a firm side for infants and a medium-firm side for toddlers, meeting CPSC and pediatrician recommendations. The mattress also features firm edges to prevent limb entrapment and supports active toddlers.

Toddler Bed: Avocado Mattress and Sheets

Personal Bed Accessories: Naturepedic Organic Waterproof Mattress Protector Pad

For the first few months, Gordie and I co-slept in my king-sized bed. I used a waterproof mattress protector along with a soft cotton pad that my mother-in-law sewed for us, placing it right underneath Gordie. The mattress protector provided added protection for the entire mattress, offering peace of mind against accidents, drool, and nursing milk leaks. The small cotton pads were incredibly convenient as they could be easily thrown in the wash.

Blankets and Swaddles:

We experimented with many different swaddles, spending a significant amount of money in the process. Ultimately, we found ourselves consistently returning to the simple and affordable traditional swaddle blanket. Gordie preferred having his elbows bent and hands up by his face rather than strapped to his sides, and the blanket offered this freedom of positioning. It took a few attempts to perfect the swaddling technique, but once I mastered it, it became easy. See my blog post on swaddles for more info.

Sleep Bags: Woolino 4 Season® Ultimate Baby Sleep Bag, Merino Wool & Organic Cotton, 2 Months - 2 Years and 4 Season® Baby Sleep Bag with Feet, Merino Wool & Organic Cotton

Once we phased out swaddles, we transitioned to the Woolino infant sleep bag. This became a nightly essential in our routine, with at least 2 or 3 on hand at all times. These sleep bags offered me peace of mind, ensuring Gordie maintained the ideal sleep temperature without the need for blankets. As Gordie grew and started walking, we seamlessly switched to the sleep bag with feet. For those seeking the same comfort and reassurance, I'm thrilled to share a discount code: DRSHONA10, offering 10% off your entire order on the Woolino website. See my blog post on sleepsacks for more info.

Baby Monitor: Bebcare Motion Digital Video Baby Monitor

This monitor is a great addition to our low EMF nursery, supporting our healthy lifestyle and ensuring our baby's safety. If you're interested in a low EMF nursery, use code "DRSHONA10" for 10% off your Bebcare Motion purchase. Check out my blog post for more information on my favorite baby monitor

Sound Machines

  • Snooz: https://amzn.to/4caantW - we love the way this one sounds and love that it has a real fan inside. This sounds much better than recorded sounds. We love the app so we can turn it on and off/ up and down remotely.

  • Travel sound machine: https://amzn.to/3KUZhwY

CLOTHING

Dresser: Grain Wood Furniture

Pajamas:

  • Zippyjamz - These are perfect for nighttime diaper changes! You can easily zip off the bottom without removing the entire onesie, making the process quick and fuss-free.

  • Moon and Back and Primary Footie Pajamas - Our favorite PJ’s for Gordie as a toddler

Organic Clothing Brands

  • Burt’s Bees

  • Hannah Anderson

  • Colored Organics

  • Pehr

Laundry Detergent: Aspen Clean

We love our EWG-certified laundry detergent - Aspen Clean! See my blog post for more info.

STROLLER

Stroller: Guava Roam Stroller

I selected this stroller for its exceptional versatility. The Roam stroller is a compact running stroller with reliable all-terrain wheels, making it perfect for various outdoor activities. Its unique feature of folding 50% smaller than other jogging strollers makes it incredibly convenient for storage and transportation. It performs exceptionally well on winter roads and trails, providing a smooth and comfortable ride. I decked it out with all the accessories.

Stroller Accessories:

CAR

Carseats:

  • Infant Car Seat: Nuna Pipa Lite lx - Connects to our Guava Stroller

  • Convertable Car Seat: Clek Fllo Convertible Car Seat - This was the only car seat that fit in the small bucket seats of our Chevy Volt. It is lightweight, compact, and free of flame retardants. We were impressed with the quality and ended up loving it! We got the cup holder to go with it.

  • Convertable Car Seat 2: Maxi Cosi Pria All-In-One - We got this one for our truck. It is more padded and bigger than the Clek Fllo. We love both!

Car Accessories

DIAPERING

Diapers: Healthy Baby Diapers

I dedicated a considerable amount of time to researching disposable diapers. Since they are worn night and day, it is incredibly important to wear diapers that are non-toxic. Throughout my exploration, I tested various non-toxic brands to find the optimal fit and comfort. While many newborn diapers proved too large initially, Honest Diapers emerged as the best choice for this stage. We transitioned to Healthybaby diapers as Gordie grew, which impressed us with their remarkable softness, lightweight feel, and flexibility. Opting for their subscription program, we continued to rely on them as Gordie progressed through various sizes, eventually transitioning to pull-ups as he reached that stage.

Wipes: Ecoriginals Baby Wipes - see my blog about wipes here.

These wipes are the most minimal and non-toxic wipes I would find. They wipe well, too, with their textured fabric. I did a cost comparison on most of the non-toxic wipes, which came out to 10 cents per wipe, comparable to other brands. Use code DRSHONASCRAIG for $20 off.

Changing Table: Delta Changing Table

Changing Table Pad and Covers:

Other Diapering Needs:

Elimination Communication (EC)

I tried EC and had success using the top-hat potty method. I believe in the concept and may explore it further with my next baby. Go Diaper Free has excellent information for EC. Use code DR.SHONA15 for 15% off courses and books.

Potty Training Accessories

Gordie led the charge with “potty training.” One day he decided he didn’t want to wear diapers anymore, so we pivoted quickly into underwear, potties, potty seats, and best of all - peeing outside. It took several weeks of accidents, but he slowly but surely got the hang of it. We are so proud of him and glad that we didn’t have to force anything.

  • Potties: Ikea Lilla Potty (affordable, easy, comfortable) and The Baby Potty - we keep these little potties in every bathroom, the playroom, at the grandparents’ houses, and take one to travel with.

  • Potty seat with step: SkyRoku - Gordie likes to feel independent with this seat - he can step up and use the big potty by himself.

  • Toddler Urinal: Training Urinal - Gordie has always loved going to bathroom standing up!

FEEDING/NURSING

Nursing Chair: DaVinci Piper Recliner and Swivel Glider

I am in love with this chair. I use it every day. It is so comfortable and nontoxic!

Nursing Pillows

Other Feeding/Nursing Needs

I received a Medela Pump in Style breast pump through my insurance via Edgepark's website. However, I didn't end up using it, as I exclusively breastfed and occasionally used my Haakaa instead. I primarily relied on the Haakaa to clear blocked ducts, which you can read more about here.

Solid Food Supplies:

High Chair: Stokke Trip Trap Chair

Puree Pouches: Cerebelly

BABY WEARING/ CARRIERS

We loved having a simple, lightweight, and super easy-to-wear carrier for the newborn stage (Baby Bjorn Carrier Mini) before transitioning to a more heavy-duty, travel-friendly, versatile carrier once he got older (Lillebaby).

0-12 months carrier: BabyBjörn Baby Carrier Mini

Newborn to toddler carrier: LÍLLÉbaby 6-in-1 All Seasons

PLAY/ INTERACT

Baby Bouncer: BabyBjörn Bouncer

Subscription to Lovevery Playkits

I love Lovevery's toy subscription because each box is thoughtfully curated with age-appropriate, Montessori-inspired toys that support my child's development at every stage. The toys are beautifully crafted from sustainable materials and provide hours of engaging, educational play. Lovevery's subscription takes the guesswork out of choosing the right toys for my little one, making it a stress-free and enjoyable experience for both of us.

Books

Other Toys

Bathing:

HEALTH & FIRST AID

I made my own first aid kit and kept a mini kit in his backpack. Here is what the large kit is comprised of:

Other health needs:

TRAVEL

Courses/Books

Shona Craig https://drshonascraig.com
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