These are our favorite baby registry items to add to your list as well as items you can get for dirt cheap when you buy them used! Get the top baby registry items and accept the hand-me-downs when you can!
There’s no shortage of options when it comes to what baby gear you should add to your baby registry. Seeing all the different baby products can be overwhelming. Add to that all the different brands, styles, and price points and an expectant mom is bound to be in over her head when deciding which items she should put on her baby registry.
All those baby items add up quickly too. As new moms we’re inundated with marketing messages telling us we need the newest and fanciest baby item to make our life easier.
I’m here to tell you that while there are some favorite baby items I recommend adding to your registry, you can also save A TON of money by getting some items used or borrowed from friends and family who already had babies. I’ve compiled a list of the top baby registry items as well as which items you can buy for cheap.
Top Baby Registry Items to Get Used
These are the baby items you can find used or borrow them pretty easily. If you want to buy brand new, you can still save money by buying high-quality items at lower price points. For items you don’t mind getting secondhand, thrift stores and Facebook marketplace are full of top baby items that are gently used and 50 to 70% off the retail prices.
Baby Clothes
I know baby clothes are ridiculously adorable and fun to buy, but they are also ridiculously overpriced when they are purchased new. Babies grow out of clothes so quickly that first year, that it just makes sense to buy used clothes or get hand-me-downs.
We got a ton of hand-me-downs so I was reluctant to spend any money on new baby clothes. When I received new clothes as gifts, I took them back for store credit so I could put that money toward something we really needed.
Hit up friends who had babies before you or shop Facebook marketplace or secondhand stores to save big on baby clothes. And see how you can organize baby clothes to save your sanity!
High Chair
High chairs can get expensive fast but there are ways to save on them. We went with the Fisher Price space saving high chair and were able to use it from infancy up until Evelyn was two. Talk about a steal!
There are plenty of other low-priced high chairs including IKEA’s Antilop chair, Evenflo’s 4-in-1 chair, and the Joovyy Foodoo. On most highchairs, all of the parts are washable so you can get a used chair and clean and sanitize it like new.
While I loved that this chair was small, it wasn’t great for Baby-led weaning. See my favorite high chairs for BLW.
TIP: Sometimes the same chair in a different color or pattern will be less expensive so look around!
Toys
Babies really don’t need toys. Anything new can be exciting to them! You don’t need to spend a lot of money on toys as they will be fascinated exploring the Tupperware drawer, tissue paper, boxes, whisks, etc. If you have friends who want to give you some good condition hand-me-down toys, accept those and call it good. (Learn how to organize and declutter toys to save your sanity!)
TIP: you can wash plastic toys in the dishwasher on the top rack to sanitize them when buying used.
Baby Bathtub
Baby baths aren’t too expensive but they are something that you can find for dirt cheap if you buy used. The maximum shelf life of most baby tubs is about six months. I got a hand-me-down from a friend and washed it out and called it good!
Baby Bouncer or Swing
Buy used or borrow from a friend when shopping for a baby bouncer, swing, or exersaucer. All of the pieces are washable and easy-ish to take off and on. Babies have their own opinions and some don’t even like swings or jumpers. Evelyn loved her swing but would scream when I tried to put her in a bouncer. So glad I borrowed both of those items!
Top Baby Registry Items To Buy Generic
Save money and get more off your registry by asking for generic items for these ultimate baby items. These make perfect baby shower gifts and work just as well as the more expensive name brand items!
Diaper Bag
Petunia who? I know some parents love designer diaper bags, but I personally did not see the need to spend $200+ dollars on a fancy name brand diaper bag. By the time my little sweetie was nearing 8 months old, I was so over carrying the diaper bag with me everywhere. Once we were done with bottles, I ditched it altogether and went back to a bigger purse. I’m so glad I didn’t spend a ton of money on it.
There are a ton of cute designer-like diaper bags for less. I used this Fawn Design bag with Evelyn, but next time around I am getting this cute floral backpack!
Diaper Pail
I do recommend getting a diaper pail, especially if you have a two-story house but that doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot of money on it. It holds waste. How glamorous do we really need to be here? I did the research for you and the Playtex Diaper Genie Compete consistently ranks high on every “best diaper genie” list I came across.
Baby Crib
I totally recommend buying a new crib for safety and sanitary purposes, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend a fortune on it! Newer cribs have to meet more rigorous testing standards than older models but there are several new models at affordable prices. Cribs can range from $100 to upwards of $1,000!
The Ikea Sundvik crib, Graco Convertible crib, and Graco Lauren Signature all scored high on Consumer Reports testing and are all less.
Top Baby Registry Items to Splurge on
I am always going to try and find a bargain first, but there are some favorite baby registry items that are worth splurging on. When it comes to safety, sleep, and convenience, I am willing to spend a little bit more. These are the items I splurged on and found they were worth every single penny!
Marpac Dohm Sound Machine
I think sound machines are one of the most overlooked baby registry items. These can be so helpful to helping establish healthy sleep habits from the start.
The Marpac Dohm sound machine is my favorite. There’s a reason it has nearly 15,000 positive customer reviews. While the price point is higher than many other sound machines, this one is the best.
It plays uniform white noise that blocks out all other sounds. Constant white noise can soothe infants and promote a better night’s sleep. It can also help your newborn as they work out their day/night confusion.
This is also an item you’ll want to add when creating your second baby registry. My husband and I have this in our room as well and we absolutely love it! Totally worth the investment!
Infant Car Seat
There are several different brands of infant car seats. The Chicco Keyfit is a fan favorite, but there are plenty of other options. I recommend going to your local baby retailer and holding different car seats to see what is comfortable for you.
This is different from a convertible car seat as it slides into a base so it’s easy to take your baby in and out of the car. This means you don’t have to wake up your baby when they’re sound asleep in their comfortable seat. You may only use this for 6 to 12 months but you will probably use it almost every day during that time.
TIP: If your baby will ride in more than one car, you can install additional bases in each car for easy transport. I felt comfortable using a secondhand base for my husband’s car. If you’re going to use a secondhand base, make sure you follow important safety tips.
Convertible Car Seat
Once your baby grows out of their infant carseat, you’ll transition them to a convertible carseat. This is larger and isn’t meant to come in and out of the car regularly. Buy one that you like, because your child can stay in most convertible car seats until they reach around 60 pounds. Some of the top safety-rated ones include the Britax ClickTight models and the Chicco NextFit.
A Good Stroller
For every lifestyle, there is a stroller to match it. From jogging strollers to city urban strollers, there’s no shortage of styles. Find one that fits your lifestyle and splurge on it.
A stroller is something that you will use for years with your child. I love my Baby Jogger City Mini GT but have plenty of friends who swear by their BOB Stroller. This is another item that you can test out at your local baby retailer.
If you plan on traveling with your baby, get a good lightweight stroller as well. I have even more baby travel essentials in this post.
TIP: You don’t need to buy the same brand of infant car seat and stroller. You can buy adapters to make every combination work.
Nursery glider or rocker
You will spend a lot of time in this chair. At first, breastfeeding and rocking your little one in those early days, and then later to read stories and share snuggles as they grow. I recommend buying a comfortable chair that will last a while. Evelyn is two years old and we still use this chair every single day.
Baby Carrier
If you plan on wearing your baby, then a good carrier can be a lifesaver! There are tons of different options so poke around and decide which one is right for you. I got the Tula Free to Grow baby carrier. I didn’t end up wearing Evelyn as much as I thought I would have, so I wish I had purchased a used one to save money.
TIP: You can also rent carriers or find a local baby wearing group so you can try different carriers before you buy!
Good swaddles
While I am all for hand-me-down baby clothes, I am also for a good swaddle! A good swaddle can help your baby sleep better. You can learn more about the pros and cons of swaddling here.
We used the SwaddleMe swaddles because velcro is so much easier than making your own swaddle. Save yourself the sanity and buy a swaddle that is foolproof! The velcro on the swaddles usually become less sticky over time, which is why I splurged on these and bought them new.
Other swaddle favorites include the Love to Dream Swaddle, Ollie swaddle, and Halo Sleep Sack swaddle.
Baby Monitor
I researched nearly every baby registry item like crazy when I was deciding what to put on my baby registry. Except. for. the. baby. monitor. I thought it wouldn’t be that important and that I would just hear my child when she cried.
Fast forward two years later and I still hate our monitor but don’t want to spend more money for another one. Buy a good one the first time and you can use it for years.
What are some of the items you splurged on and totally loved? Or what are your favorite baby items you bought used? Leave a note in the comments and I can add them to this list!
My goal is to help tired parents get sleep, so the whole family can thrive!
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