Complete baby registry: what you really need

Preparing for the arrival of a baby is beautiful and, at times, overwhelming. Just enter a baby store or open a website, and you'll be told that you need everything. In reality, in the first few weeks, a baby needs only a few things: food, a safe place to sleep, to stay clean and warm, and above all, to be close to you. This baby registry is designed to help you distinguish the essentials from what can wait, so you can spend better and fill your home with less.

Before you start: three useful questions

Every family is different, and the right list depends on your lifestyle. Before buying, ask yourself:

• How will you get around? By car, by public transport, on foot in the city center, on country roads? The choice of stroller changes a lot.
• How much space do you have? In a small apartment, foldable or multifunctional products are better.
• What will be lent or gifted to you? Relatives and friends are a valuable resource. A shared list avoids duplicates.

Sleep

A baby spends much of the day sleeping, and the place where they sleep must be safe. Safe sleep recommendations advise letting the baby sleep in the parents' room, in their cot, at least for the first 6 months.

• Crib, next-to-me crib or cot compliant with safety standards, with a firm mattress of the exact size.
• 2-3 fitted sheets the size of the mattress.
• Waterproof mattress protector.
• 2 sleep sacks in the size and weight appropriate for the season, instead of blankets and duvets.
• A night light warm and dim, useful for feeding.

Pillows, padded cot bumpers, stuffed animals or soft cot reducers are not needed in the cot: guidelines advise against them because they can obstruct breathing. Learn more in the guide on how to let the baby sleep.

Clothing

Babies grow quickly: many outgrow size 0 in a few weeks. A few practical, cotton pieces that are easy to open and wash are better. For the first few months, approximately:

• 6-8 bodysuits short or long-sleeved depending on the season, with a front or wrap opening;
• 6-8 onesies whole, preferably with a front zipper or snap fasteners;
• 2-3 cardigans or light sweaters;
• socks and, in winter, a padded suit for going out;
• 1-2 hats for going out: they are not needed at home or during sleep;
• bibs and a few muslin cloths, extremely useful for a thousand uses.

Wash everything before use with a mild detergent. Baby shoes can wait: they are only needed when the baby starts walking outside.

Changing and bathing

• Diapers for babies, without overstocking: you don't know yet which brand or size will work best.
• Changing table or a changing pad to place on a stable surface at the right height. Never leave the baby alone on the changing table, not even for a second.
• Gentle wipes or, even better for the first few days, warm water and cotton pads.
• Barrier cream for changing, if recommended by the pediatrician.
• Baby bath tub, also with a seat insert, and a bath thermometer if it makes you feel more reassured.
• 2 soft towels or bathrobes with hoods.
• Mild cleanser specifically for babies, to be used sparingly.
• Hygiene kit: small scissors or a rounded-tip nail file, soft brush, nasal aspirator.

Feeding and breastfeeding

A lot depends on how you will feed the baby. If you breastfeed, very few things are needed for the first few days; if you use formula, a little more equipment is needed.

• For breastfeeding: 2-3 nursing bras, nursing pads, a nursing pillow if you find it comfortable. The breast pump can wait: if needed, the maternity clinic or midwife will help you choose.
• For formula: 4-6 baby bottles, bottle brush, a sterilization system, the formula recommended by the pediatrician.
• Bibs and muslin cloths for spit-ups.

A high chair, small plates and teaspoons will only be needed around 6 months, when weaning begins: we talk about it in the guide to weaning month by month.

Stroller and car

The car seat

It is the only truly mandatory purchase before birth: in Italy, children must travel in the car with an approved restraint system suitable for their height and weight. For babies, a group 0 car seat is used, installed rear-facing. For children under 4 years, an anti-abandonment device is also mandatory. We have dedicated a complete guide to how to choose the right car seat.

The stroller

For the first few months, the baby must be able to lie flat. The main options are:

• Trio: frame with carrycot, car seat and stroller seat. Versatile, but bulky.
• Stroller with a seat that reclines flat, suitable from birth according to the manufacturer.
• Ergonomic baby carrier or sling, extremely useful at home and out. Choose a model that supports the baby in a physiological position, with their face always visible and free.

Before buying, try folding and unfolding the stroller, lifting it, and putting it in the trunk of your car.

Health and first aid

• Digital thermometer suitable for babies.
• Physiological saline solution in single doses for the nose.
• Sterile gauze and whatever they indicate to you at the hospital for umbilical stump care.
• Useful numbers at hand: pediatrician, pediatric emergency service, poison control center.

Do not buy medications without the pediatrician's indication. A pediatric disobstruction course, to be done during pregnancy, is one of the most useful gifts you can give yourself and your partner.

What can wait

• High chair: around 6 months.
• Playpen and safety gates: when the baby starts crawling. Read the guide on how to make the home safe.
• Toys: in the first few months, a few simple objects are enough. You can find ideas in the guide to Montessori toys by age.
• Baby walker: comfortable for some families, but to be used only for short periods and never for sleep.
• Baby monitor: useful only if the baby will sleep far from you.

What is often unnecessary

• Electric wipe warmer and bottle warmer: in many homes they are rarely used.
• Cot bumpers, pillows and duvets: advised against for safety.
• Too many size 0 clothes and elegant pieces that are difficult to put on and take off.
• Expensive "smart" gadgets that promise to solve sleep or crying.

Buying used safely

Many baby products are used for only a few months and can be inherited or bought used, saving money and reducing waste. However, pay attention:

• Car seat: better new, or used only if you know its history, it has not been involved in accidents, it has all the parts and a valid approval.
• Mattress: better new, of the exact size of the crib or cot.
• Cribs and cots: check that they are stable, complete and that they do not have broken parts or peeling paint.
• Recalls: check that the product has not been subject to safety recalls, for example on the European Safety Gate portal.

Frequently asked questions about the baby registry

When to start buying for the baby?

Many families start between the fifth and seventh month of pregnancy. The car seat, place for sleep and basic clothing should be ready a few weeks before the estimated due date.

How many bodysuits are needed for a baby?

Approximately 6-8 per size, depending on how often you do the laundry. Babies grow quickly: it is better not to overdo size 0.

Is the trio essential?

No. It is convenient for those who travel often by car, but a stroller that reclines flat from birth, a sling or an ergonomic baby carrier can be lighter alternatives.

Can I use a used car seat?

Only if you know its history, it has never been involved in accidents, it is complete with instructions and has a valid approval. When in doubt, better a new one.

Is the changing table really needed?

It is not essential: a changing pad on a stable surface at the right height is enough. The important thing is never to leave the baby alone during the change.

Sources and further reading: Ministry of Health, safe sleep guidelines; Highway Code, art. 172 on restraint systems for children; Law 117/2018 on anti-abandonment devices; European Commission, Safety Gate portal for unsafe product recalls.