How Many Bottles Should You Put on a Baby Registry? What I’d Register for After Two Babies

When I made my first baby registry, bottles were honestly an afterthought. I was planning to breastfeed, so I assumed I wouldn't need many. I registered for two bottles from a brand I had picked out and didn't give it much more thought.

Then my work provided me with a doula, and one of the things she did was go through my baby registry with me. She recommended that I have Dr. Brown's bottles on hand in case breastfeeding didn't go exactly as planned. I took her advice, switched bottle brands and was so glad I did.

After bottle feeding two babies and buying what feels like every possible bottle size and nipple flow along the way, my recommendation is pretty simple: I would put about four 4-ounce bottles on a baby registry to start. That's enough to have bottles ready when your baby arrives without buying a huge supply before you know whether that particular bottle works for your baby.

How Many Bottles Should You Put on a Baby Registry?

I recommend registering for four 4-ounce bottles to start. You can always buy more once your baby arrives and you know that the bottle works well for them. I would rather have four bottles I know we'll use than register for 10 or 12 bottles and discover that my baby doesn't do well with that particular brand.

If you aren't sure which bottle you want to use, another option is registering for a bottle sample pack so you can try a few different brands before committing to an entire collection. For me, though, sticking with one bottle brand worked really well.

Why I Originally Registered for Only Two Bottles

When I was pregnant with my first baby, I planned to breastfeed. Because of that, I didn't spend nearly as much time researching bottles as I spent researching things like strollers, car seats and all the other baby gear on my registry. I put two bottles from a different brand on my registry and basically moved on.

It wasn't until my doula went through my registry with me that I started thinking more seriously about what I would need if breastfeeding didn't work out the way I expected. She recommended Dr. Brown's bottles, so I bought them before my baby arrived, and I ended up being really grateful that I had bottles ready to go.

It's one of those things I now think is worth preparing for even if you plan to exclusively breastfeed. Your feeding plans may work exactly as expected, but having a few bottles available gives you another option if you need it.

Should You Register for 4-Ounce or 8-Ounce Bottles?

I would start with 4-ounce bottles. That's what I used initially with both of my babies, and I liked having the smaller bottles during the newborn stage rather than starting immediately with the larger size.

Eventually, I bought 8-ounce bottles as my babies began drinking more at each feeding. You certainly can add some 8-ounce bottles to your registry if you'd rather have them waiting for you, but I don't think you need a huge collection of both sizes before your baby is born.

My preference would be to register for four 4-ounce bottles, make sure you're happy with the brand and then buy larger bottles when you actually need them. If you're trying to decide between the two, I break down when to use 4 oz vs. 8 oz baby bottles based on what I actually used with both of my babies.

Should You Register for More Than One Bottle Brand?

This is one of those decisions where I can see both sides. I used Dr. Brown's bottles successfully with both of my babies, so based on my own experience, I liked having one bottle system rather than a cabinet full of different bottles and parts. Once I knew the bottles worked for us, it was easy to buy more of the same brand.

But babies can absolutely have preferences, which is why I can also see the appeal of registering for a bottle sample pack. It lets you try a few options without committing to a large set of bottles your baby may ultimately refuse. If you're completely unsure which bottle to choose, I'd rather test a few than register for a dozen bottles from a brand you've never used.

Don't Forget About Bottle Nipple Sizes

This was something I didn't even know I needed to think about before having my first baby. Bottle nipples come in different flow rates, and the nipple that's right for your newborn isn't necessarily the one they'll use a few months later. I didn't understand any of this as a first-time mom, so I put together a guide to what bottle nipple size a newborn should use and what worked for both of my babies.

With my first baby, my doula recommended starting with a slower-flow Dr. Brown's Preemie nipple because I planned to breastfeed. With my second baby, who was born prematurely, the NICU started her with an Ultra-Preemie nipple.

So when you're adding bottles to your registry, don't assume the nipple that comes with the bottle is automatically the flow your baby will need. I wouldn't stock up on every nipple size before birth, either. Start with what makes sense for your baby and feeding plans, and buy additional sizes as you need them. If you're trying to figure out how many to buy, I also break down how many bottle nipples you actually need before your baby arrives.

What About Glass vs. Plastic Baby Bottles?

I tried glass bottles, and I ultimately switched back to plastic. I liked the idea of glass, but in real life we had trouble with bottles falling and breaking. Eventually, the inconvenience outweighed the benefits for me.

This is very much a personal preference. If you want to try glass, you certainly can, but I wouldn't necessarily register for an entire bottle collection in glass before you've actually lived with them. That's another reason I like starting small with bottles in general. I wrote an entire article on my preference after two kids here.

What I Did Differently With My Second Baby

By the time I had my second baby, bottles weren't nearly as mysterious. I already knew I liked Dr. Brown's because I had successfully used them with my son, so I didn't feel the need to experiment with a bunch of different brands.

I also chose to buy all new bottles rather than reuse my son's old ones. There were plenty of baby items I was happy to reuse the second time around, but bottles were something I wanted to start fresh with. I also bought new nipples as we worked through the different flow levels my daughter needed.

Having already been through bottle feeding once made the entire process much less overwhelming.

What If You're Planning to Breastfeed?

I would still put bottles on your registry. I was planning to breastfeed my first baby, which is exactly why I initially registered for only two and barely thought about them. Looking back, I'm glad my doula encouraged me to prepare for another possibility. This is why I always recommend packing them in your hospital bag just in case.

Registering for four bottles doesn't mean you're committing to bottle feeding or changing your breastfeeding plans. It simply means you'll have them available if you want or need them. And if you plan to pump and have someone else give your baby a bottle, you'll need bottles anyway.

Do You Need to Register for Bottle-Feeding Accessories Too?

You don't need to register for every bottle accessory you see. I'd focus first on the things you know you'll actually use. Bottles and the appropriate nipple flow are the essentials. From there, you can decide whether things like a bottle drying rack, bottle brush, sterilizer or bottle washer make sense for your routine.

I learned with two babies that it's very easy to accumulate feeding gear. You can always add something later once you realize it would actually make your life easier. The same goes for breastfeeding supplies. I originally registered based heavily on how I expected feeding to go, but you really don't know exactly what your routine will look like until your baby arrives. I have an entire guide on the newborn feeding essentials here.

How Many Bottles Do You Eventually Need?

Four bottles is my recommendation for what to put on your registry initially, not necessarily the total number of bottles you'll ever own. Once you know your baby takes the bottle well, you may want more depending on how often you're bottle feeding, how frequently you want to wash bottles and whether your baby will eventually be going to daycare.

That's when I'd invest in a larger bottle supply. Starting with four simply keeps you from overbuying before you know what works. If you're trying to figure out how many you'll eventually want at home, I have a separate guide on how many bottles you need for a newborn based on our actual bottle-feeding routine.

Bottles are one section of a bigger list. The registry must-haves list walks through the rest.

FAQs About Putting Bottles on a Baby Registry

How many baby bottles should I register for?

I would register for about four 4-ounce bottles to start. That gives you enough to have bottles available without committing to a large collection before you know whether the brand works well for your baby.

Should I put 4-ounce and 8-ounce bottles on my registry?

You can, but I don't think you have to. I started with 4-ounce bottles and purchased 8-ounce bottles later when my babies began drinking larger amounts. If I were building a registry again, I'd prioritize the smaller bottles first.

Should I register for different bottle brands?

If you don't know what your baby will like, a bottle sample pack can be a good option. I personally had success using one brand with both of my babies, so once I knew Dr. Brown's worked for us, I preferred sticking with it.

Should I register for bottles if I plan to breastfeed?

I would. I planned to breastfeed my first baby and originally registered for only two bottles. My doula encouraged me to have bottles ready in case I needed them, and I was very glad I did.

Should I register for glass or plastic baby bottles?

Either can work. I tried glass bottles but eventually switched to plastic because our glass bottles kept falling and breaking. If you're unsure which you'll prefer, I'd try a few before committing to a large set.

How many bottle nipples should I put on my registry?

I wouldn't buy every nipple flow before your baby arrives. Babies progress through nipple flows differently, and the appropriate starting flow can vary. Once you know which bottles and nipple flow work for your baby, it's much easier to buy additional nipples as you need them.

What I'd Put on My Registry Now

If I were building my first baby registry again today, I'd keep the bottle section simple: four 4-ounce bottles from the brand I wanted to try first. If I wasn't confident about the brand, I'd consider a sample pack instead.

I wouldn't stock up on a dozen bottles, buy every nipple size or feel like I needed an entire collection of 4-ounce and 8-ounce bottles waiting before my baby was born. You don't know exactly how feeding will go until you're actually doing it.

Having a few bottles ready gives you enough to get started. Once you know what your baby likes and what works for your family's feeding routine, you can always buy more.