Newborn essentials baby registry

Whether you're expecting your first-born—or looking to stockpile some useful baby shower gifts, we've assembled the best options out there to see expectant parents through their first few months.

Infant Car Seat

While you can theoretically invest in one car seat to see your little one through their formative years (many models come with newborn inserts), the first few months are infinitely easier if you opt for a scaled down, infant version. You can buy multiple bases for all the family cars and snap the seat in and out, which means that you can carry it around without waking the baby.

Maxi Cosi Mico Infant Car Seat Maxi Cosi Mico Infant Car Seat

This option gets snaps for its minimalist styling—it's best for smaller babies.

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Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant
Car Seat

This wins all the awards for safety—it has loads of padding, including on the sides, which is key for cars that don't feature side airbags. As its name suggests, you can use it until the baby surpasses 30 pounds.

Shop Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat
Graco Snugride 35 LX Infant Car Seat Graco Snugride 35 LX Infant Car Seat

This accommodates babies until they're 35 pounds, which means you'll get many months of use.

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Strollers
Baby Trend Snap 'n Go
Baby Trend Snap 'N Go

Most seasoned parents will tell you that the Snap n' Go was the best 70 bucks ever spent: Essentially, it's an easy-to-collapse, frill-free stroller—you snap your infant car seat up top, and you're on your way.

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Baby Jogger City Mini GT
Baby Jogger City Mini GT

The newest version of this much-loved model boasts sturdier wheels and even easier steering: It gets huge points for being highly maneuverable and collapsible with one hand. You can also buy an attachment which will let you use the stroller with your infant car seat.

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Bath Time
Shop Boon Baby Bathtub
Boon Baby Bathtub

Nothing sounds more terrifying than giving a newborn a bath, but this collapsible (and expandable) mini tub from Boon ensures that you're never contending with too much water

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3 Sprouts Hooded Towel
3 Sprouts Hooded Towel

A pint-sized towel makes the whole process infinitely easier: These aren't so small that you can't get 18 months of use out of them.

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Blankets
Aden + Anais Swaddle Blankets
Aden + Anais Swaddle Blankets

You can't really have too many receiving blankets, and these thin muslin options work triple-time to provide privacy for breastfeeding moms, sun protection for strollers, and impromptu cleaning action for burp ups. They're intended for swaddling, and for many babies they ensure a tight, good sleep.

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Miracle Blanket
Miracle Blanket

If your baby has a tough time sleeping or is extra-fussy, look no further than the Miracle Baby swaddling blanket: It gets rave reviews from everyone.

Shop Miracle Blanket
Bouncers
Shop Baby Bjorn BabySitter Balance
Baby Bjorn
BabySitter Balance

Minimalists will love this streamlined approach to a bouncer, which moves as the baby rocks itself (you can also get it going with your foot). There are no sound effects, though the optional wooden toy bar adds a major entertainment factor.

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Fisher Price My Little Snugabunny
Fisher Price
My Little Snugabunny

While it's not going to win any design awards, this offers calm vibrations and loads of nature sounds that tend to quiet fussy babies. It also comes in an effective swing version.

Shop Fisher Price Snugabunny
Play Mat
Shop Skip Hop Funky Farmyard Activity Play Mat
Skip Hop Funky Farmyard Activity Play Mat

Infants have to sleep on their backs, so it's important to give them ample opportunity for tummy time throughout the day. This version is as soft as it is cute.

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Carriers
Baby Bjorn
Baby Bjorn

Available in a number of iterations—mesh, organic, etc.—this classic lets you face your newborn either in or out, which makes it ideal for curious kiddos.

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Ergo
Ergo

You can deploy this carrier in three ways: On your back, on your side, or in your front. There's no variation that allows a baby to look out, but this does hold heavier kids, which means that it provides great value.

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Travel Crib
Baby Bjorn Travel Crib
Baby Bjorn Travel Crib

This weighs less than 11 pounds (including the case), which makes it the perfect solution for long-haul flights to grandma's house. It also works as a portable crib in your house, too.

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Shop Graco Pack 'N Play
Graco Pack 'N Play

This contraption is the gold standard for the category, winning points for price, durability, and additional features (like a bassinet and changing table addition for your babies first few months before she moves into a proper crib). While you can use this for travel, it's heavy, which makes it ideal for limiting to in-house use only.

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