Updated November 23rd 2023
If putting your registry together has you overwhelmed, don’t worry! You’re in the right place. When I was putting together my baby registry for the first time, I had no idea what I needed to add. I relied entirely on google and random lists I found on the internet to help me figure out what I needed for my baby because it felt really overwhelming.
And to be honest with you, I ended up with several items that I didn’t ever use. There’s so much baby gear out there that you end up with registry items that you really don’t need. And on the flip side, there’s many that are invaluable that just don’t get included because the value of them isn’t seen right away.
But building your baby registry doesn’t have to be confusing. It doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It can be a streamlined process when you know what you’re looking for.
As a mother of three and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant I’m going to let you know the key items that you need to build your baby registry. While having cute onesies and burp cloths and the latest and greatest Tummy Time toys are helpful they’re not the best choice if you truly want to plan for your postpartum and create the breastfeeding relationship that you desire.
So the first item that you can add to your baby registry when you are planning to breastfeed is a baby carrier. Now this might sound a little unusual at first because why would you need a baby carrier to help you breastfeed but the reason behind this is because as humans we are carry mammals. Our babies are meant to be close to us. They are meant to be carried and be on our bodies for essentially that first year of their lives.
Having a carrier or something like a wrap or a ring sling in those early weeks when your baby is small can help facilitate breastfeeding. Your baby gets to spend more time on your body. You release oxytocin and this actually helps to foster the bonding experience and the breastfeeding relationship. Adding a baby carrier to your registry will actually be helpful for your breastfeeding relationship in the long run.
A breastfeeding pillow is something that could be helpful for your breastfeeding relationship but also may not be helpful. I still included it in this list because it’s important that you feel comfortable while you feed your baby and this means making sure that your back and shoulders and body is supported while you are nursing. Sometimes these traditional nursing pillows can be very helpful to get you through the learning curve of breastfeeding.
I use them in different ways in my private practice. I’ll use them behind my client’s head or behind her back instead of having them in front of her. Traditional nursing pillows can cause a lot of leaning over and bending down and being in uncomfortable positions. That ends up affecting how well your baby feeds and how well they latch. This is why it’s important to use them only to bring baby closer to your body and then recline if/when you can.
A nursing bra is a very helpful thing to have because it allows easy access to your breast when your baby need to feed. Having a nursing bra is something many new moms like to have. It’s normal for your breasts to leak for a few weeks after your baby is born sometimes even a few months after your baby is born and having a pad inside of a bra can help that situation.
Having a nursing bra is important because nursing bras are designed specifically for lactating breasts. When your body is making milk, your breasts weigh more. They are heavier. There’s more blood flow to them than when you are not breastfeeding and these bras are specifically designed to support the delicate tissue of the breast and not create restrictions. Having a nursing bra can be really helpful for your breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding is going to not only increase your hunger but also increase your thirst. This has to do with the release of oxytocin. This causes you to feel more thirsty. I would encourage you to add a reusable water bottle to your registry something that is stainless steel that is insulated that’s going to help keep your water cold. The second part of that would be to have some kind of drink mix rich in electrolytes. A mineral rich drink mix will help replete your body and provide the necessary minerals that your body needs postpartum to support your body’s healing and to support lactation.
Having a diaper caddy is another essential registry item but not for the reasons you think. This diaper caddy is for breastfeeding. In this caddy you can put the electrolyte drink mix and the water bottle. You can add clothes for your baby as well as diapers and cream if you need to change them without leaving to head to their room. There’s usually extra pockets where you could put the remote for the television or have a phone charger or earbuds. Having this diaper candy will ensure that you can stay where you are you can rest you can recover. It’s also a great place to put snacks like protein bars, energy balls, granola or trail mix because breastfeeding makes you hungry. Having this caddy allows you to nurse your baby and settle in for cluster feedings because you have everything that you need at the ready when you need it
Bottles are often added to registries especially for families in the US or elsewhere in the world that might have a short maternity leave. I know I added bottles to my registry and I never ended up bottle feeding my child so I didn’t end up using the bottles at all. If you are adding bottles to your registry because your feeding goals include bottle feeding, I would encourage you to add small bottles.
I would encourage 5 oz bottles because a breastfed baby does not need an 8 oz bottle. The average intake for a breastfed baby is about 2 to 4 oz of milk per feeding after they’ve reached 4 weeks of age so having an 8 oz bottle can actually make you feel like you’re not producing enough milk. Looking for a bottle that also has a gradual slope and looks very different than a human breast would be helpful as well. The bottles that are shaped like breasts at rest can promote a shallow latch and a shallow latch at breast is painful and often babies have a hard time drinking milk.
Another helpful item to include on your registry if your shower is happening before 36 weeks pregnant is colostrum collection syringes. These are oral capped syringes that you can use to collect colostrum after 36 weeks pregnant. This allows you to have extra milk hand for when your baby is born in case there is separation or in case your baby may need to be supplemented. This way you have your own milk and don’t have to necessarily intervene with formula supplementation right away.
The final item I think is a must have is prenatal education. This might seem unusual to add to a registry but you can take up a collection from your friends and family. You can let them know you want to work with a lactation consultant for a prenatal consultation or you want to take a prenatal breastfeeding class and ask your friends and family to help fund this for you. Create a lactation fund where your friends and family who would otherwise be buying something from your registry, could just donate the money that they would spend on the registry into this fund.
Believe it or not, breastfeeding can be hard. While it’s a natural way to feed a baby, it doesn’t come naturally for most. If you’re feeling like “I’ll breastfeed if I can” or “I’ll worry about it when the times comes” you can benefit the most from prenatal breastfeeding support. Either take a course outside the hospital or work one-to-one privately with a lactation consultant. Hospital courses tend to focus a lot on latch and positions which is GOOD and needed but not enough to set you up for success.
As someone who’s been there, it’s way less overwhelming to learn about feeding your baby BEFORE they get here rather than waiting until they’re in your arms. If you have a baby on the way and are ready to prepare for and learn about breastfeeding there’s two ways you can learn from me.
My FREE Peaceful Postpartum Guide. You’ll learn some very important ways to set yourself up to heal and have a successful start to breastfeeding
A private 1:1 prenatal breastfeeding session with me to ask me all the questions on your mind and learn about feeding your baby from a Lactation Consultant. This package includes access to my full online prenatal breastfeeding course AND 4 weeks of messaging support with me. We can also talk about registry items!
Recap: Top 10 Baby Registry Items: Breastfeeding Edition
- Baby carrier/wrap/ring sling
- Breastfeeding Pillow
- Nursing bra
- Breast pads
- Water bottle
- Electrolytes/mineral mix
- Diaper Caddy
- 5 oz bottles
- Colostrum syringes
- Prenatal class/Appointment with lactation consultant – ask family and friends to help fund this
There’s many other items that might be helpful to you but it depends on how you’re planning to feed your baby and how your journey ends up unfolding. Your breastfeeding relationship is unique to you and your baby.