32 Baby Registry Must-Haves (and 11 Things We Never Used)

When I made our registry, I was twenty weeks pregnant with twins, scrolling product lists on my lunch break, and adding things in a mild panic. Nineteen months later, I can finally tell which items earned their spot and which ones sat in the hall closet collecting dust.

A note before the list: this is for twins, so a few things say "x2." For a single baby, halve those. And anything involving sleep safety, feeding, or car seats, check current guidelines and ask your pediatrician. I'm a hygienist, not a baby expert.

Sleep and nursery

1. Two cribs with firm, fitted mattresses. We tried one crib for the first few weeks. It did not last.
2. Four fitted crib sheets per crib. Blowouts happen at 2 a.m., in pairs.
3. Waterproof mattress protectors, two per crib.
4. Zip-up sleep sacks, three or four per baby.
5. A white noise machine. Maybe the best $25 we spent.
6. Blackout curtains. The sun comes up early in the summer, and so did my kids until these went up.
7. A video baby monitor with one camera angle that sees both cribs.
8. A dim night light for feedings.

Feeding

9. A twin nursing pillow. If you only take one thing from this post, take this one.
10. About 16 bottles total, all the same brand so parts are interchangeable.
11. A bottle drying rack.
12. A bottle brush set.
13. A breast pump, plus extra valves and membranes.
14. Burp cloths. You will need more than you think. We had 30.
15. Two simple high chairs that wipe clean. Skip anything with fabric seats.
16. Silicone bibs with a food-catching pocket.
17. Suction bowls and divided plates.

Diapering and bath

18. A changing pad on top of a regular dresser, instead of a separate changing table.
19. A diaper caddy for the living room, because you won't walk to the nursery every time.
20. Diaper cream, one tube per room.
21. Baby wipes by the case. We went through about 1,100 a month in the first year.
22. A simple infant bath insert that fits in the tub.
23. Hooded towels, two per baby.
24. Gentle baby wash and a soft washcloth set.

Getting out the door

25. Two infant car seats with bases.
26. A side-by-side double stroller that fits through a standard doorway. Measure yours first.
27. A backpack-style diaper bag so your hands are free.
28. A soft structured baby carrier for wearing one twin while pushing the other.
29. A portable changing mat.
30. Car window shades.

Health and everyday

31. A basic baby first-aid kit with a digital thermometer and nail clippers. Ask your pediatrician what else to keep on hand.
32. A big play yard. It gave me a safe spot to put both babies down so I could, say, go to the bathroom.

The 11 things we never used

Here's where I own up. Some of these were gifts, some I bought myself, and I'm not blaming anyone but pregnant me.

• Wipe warmer. Plugged it in once. The wipes dried out. Unplugged it forever.
• Bottle warmer. A mug of hot water from the kettle did the same thing faster.
• Baby shoes under a year. Adorable. Constantly kicked off. Lost one in a Target parking lot.
• Crib bumpers. Our pediatrician said no to these, so they never went in.
• A fancy diaper disposal system. We used a regular trash can with a lid and took the bag out every night.
• Newborn-size outfits with buttons. Snaps and zippers only. Buttons at 3 a.m. are cruel.
• Baby bathrobes. Nobody needs these. They're for photos.
• Two bouncy seats that played music. The twins hated the songs. So did I.
• A baby food maker. A regular blender and ice cube trays did the job.
• A big, heavy travel system stroller. Didn't fit in the minivan with the double. Sold it for $80.
• A baby journal. I filled out two pages. Now I write this blog instead, which I figure counts.

What I'd tell my pregnant self

The biggest lesson: register for the boring stuff. Nobody coos over a case of wipes at a baby shower, but future you will be grateful for every single one. And a lot of the gadgets really can wait until you meet your actual babies and figure out what they need, which, in our house, turned out to be far less than I thought.