How to Build a Baby Registry: A Step-by-Step Guide

Building a baby registry sounds fun until you actually start. Suddenly you are comparing strollers, researching bottles, wondering how many pajamas a newborn needs, and trying to figure out whether you really need half the products everyone says are essential.

After building registries for two babies and living with all of the stuff, my biggest advice is to simplify. You do not need to research every baby product on the internet, and you definitely do not need everything on a standard checklist. Here is how I would build a registry now.

The short version

Pick one registry platform, start around 12 to 16 weeks, and treat it as a working list you keep editing. Make your biggest decisions first, work through one category at a time, focus on the first few months rather than the whole first year, and remember that stores still exist after your baby arrives. You can always buy more later.

1. Pick where your registry lives

Decide where your registry will live. The main options are Babylist, Amazon, or a single retailer, so think about what will be easiest for you and for the people shopping from it.

I used Babylist with my first baby and liked being able to add products from different websites to one registry. The browser extension was especially helpful, because if I found something while researching, I could add it right then instead of trying to remember where I saw it.

2. Start earlier than you think

You do not need to build the whole registry in one sitting. I recommend starting around 12 to 16 weeks and treating it as a working list you keep editing throughout pregnancy.

Starting early gives you time to research the bigger purchases instead of panic-adding products right before your baby shower. You can also keep it private until you are ready to share.

3. Make the big decisions first

Do not begin with burp cloths and pacifiers. Start with the products that need the most research and usually cost the most: your stroller, car seat, sleep setup, baby monitor, high chair, carrier, and diaper bag.

These are the items worth comparing, asking other parents about, and thinking through against your daily life. Once the big decisions are made, filling in the everyday essentials feels much more manageable. For the full list of what to actually register for, see my baby registry must-haves guide.

4. Work through one category at a time

Instead of scrolling a giant list and deciding on everything at once, break the registry into categories. I would work through sleep, feeding, diapering, clothing, bathing, baby gear, travel, health and safety, and postpartum.

You do not need to finish every category in one day. Do one, take a break, and come back later. My Baby Registry Checklist can help you work through each category without starting from scratch.

5. Plan for the first few months, not the whole first year

One reason registries get overwhelming is that you are essentially shopping for a person you have not met yet, for an entire year of their life.

You do not have to do that. Prioritize what you will need during the newborn stage and first few months: where your baby will sleep, how you will feed them, how you will change them, what they will wear, and how you will get them around. I put together a separate guide to newborn essentials for the first 3 months.

6. Match the registry to your actual lifestyle

This is where registries get unnecessarily huge. A product being popular or going viral does not mean you need it.

Think about where you live, how much storage you have, whether you travel, how often you are in and out of cars, whether you have stairs, whether your baby will go to daycare, and what your everyday routine looks like. If you walk everywhere, your stroller may matter more than it does for someone who drives. If you live in a small space, products that fold up or do double duty may matter more. Something that makes perfect sense for one family can be unnecessary for another.

7. Choose one option, not three

You generally do not need three versions of the same product on your registry. If you have decided on a stroller, register for that stroller. If you have picked a monitor, add that one. Giving yourself endless options makes the process harder than it needs to be.

There are exceptions: bottles, pacifiers, and swaddles are things babies have strong opinions about, so I would not stockpile a huge quantity of one option before you know it works. For most of the bigger products, decide and move on.

8. Do not stockpile the smallest sizes

This is especially true for diapers and clothes. Babies can move through newborn sizes quickly, and you do not know how big your baby will be at birth.

My second baby was born prematurely and wore preemie sizes, while some babies barely use newborn clothes at all. That made me even more convinced it is better to have a reasonable amount of the smallest sizes than to stockpile them. For the specifics, see what size baby clothes to put on your registry and how many newborn clothes you need, plus what diaper sizes to register for.

9. Add different price points, and do not forget about mom

Not everyone shopping from your registry has the same budget, so include useful options at a range of prices. Alongside the bigger items, add everyday essentials like bottles, burp cloths, diaper cream, pajamas, and bath supplies. If your platform allows group gifting, that helps with the bigger purchases.

And a registry does not have to be only for the baby. Postpartum recovery is a major part of bringing a baby home, so include practical things you will actually use, like recovery supplies, comfortable clothing, and nursing or pumping supplies. I would much rather see someone register for something they will genuinely use postpartum than another cute baby gadget.

10. Edit before you share, and remember you can buy later

Before you share the registry, go through it with fresh eyes. Ask whether you actually need each item, whether you already have something that serves the same purpose, whether you could borrow it, and whether you have added too many of one type of product. My favorite question: would I spend my own money on this?

Then remember that you do not have to anticipate everything your baby will need during the first year before they arrive. Stores will still exist. If you need more burp cloths, order them. If your baby hates the swaddle everyone recommended, try another one. Taking away the pressure to get everything exactly right before your due date makes the whole process easier.

The bottom line

If you are trying to build a registry without getting overwhelmed, start smaller than you think. Work through one category at a time, choose one option when you can, prioritize the first few months, and spend your research time on the bigger purchases that affect your day-to-day life.

Most importantly, your registry does not have to be perfect. After two babies, I have realized there are very few baby products you have to figure out before your baby arrives. Choose what makes sense for your family, skip what does not, and fill in the gaps later.

Frequently Asked Questions About Building a Baby Registry

How do I start building a baby registry?

Start by choosing the registry platform you want to use and making your biggest baby gear decisions. Once you’ve chosen things like your stroller, car seat, sleep setup, and monitor, work through categories such as feeding, diapering, clothing, travel, and postpartum one at a time.

When should I start building my baby registry?

Around 12 to 16 weeks of pregnancy is a good time to start. You can keep your registry private while you research and continue adding, removing, and changing products throughout your pregnancy.

Is Babylist good for creating a baby registry?

I used Babylist for my first baby and liked that I could add products I found across different websites. The browser extension made it especially easy to add something to my registry while I was already researching it online.

How many items should be on a baby registry?

There isn’t a perfect number of items that every baby registry should have. Focus on covering the things you’ll realistically need and offering different price points rather than trying to reach a certain number.

How many items should be on a baby registry?

There is no perfect number. Around 75 is a reasonable target for many registries, since it gives you variety across categories and price points. I would rather have 60 or 75 things you will genuinely use than 150 added because a checklist told you to. Here is more on how many items to put on a registry.

Do I need everything my baby will need for the first year on my registry?

No. Focus on what you’ll need during the newborn period and the products you already know you’re likely to use. You can buy additional clothes, feeding supplies, toys, and other baby gear as your baby grows and you learn what works for your family.