Articles · Baby
What to skip on a baby registry (and what to get instead)
Some links here are affiliate links. If you buy through one, I earn a small commission and your price stays the same. How that works.
Skip anything that goes in the crib besides a fitted sheet. That means no bumpers, pillows, positioners, or weighted sleep sacks. Skip a baby walker on wheels, a wipe warmer, newborn shoes, and a closet full of newborn-size clothes. Put the money toward the things you will use every day: a good car seat, a carrier, sleep sacks, and diapers in sizes 1 and 2.
The baby aisle sells to tired, worried people. That is you now, so shop with a list. My baby registry checklist has the must-haves. This post is the other half: what to leave off.
Skip these for safety
These are the ones that matter most. Everything else on this page is about money and closet space. These are about your baby.
Crib bumpers. They are a suffocation risk. A federal law, the Safe Sleep for Babies Act, now bans their sale. The American Academy of Pediatrics links crib bumpers to more than 100 infant deaths. Grandma may have used them. The advice has changed.
Inclined sleepers. The same law banned these. Babies sleep flat.
Sleep positioners and wedges. The AAP says to keep these out of the crib.
Weighted sleep sacks, swaddles, and blankets. The AAP says weighted swaddles, weighted clothing, and weighted objects on or near a sleeping baby are not safe and not recommended. Amazon, Target, and Babylist stopped selling weighted infant sleep products in 2024.
Crib bedding sets. The matching quilt, pillow, and bumper look sweet in the photo. None of them belong in a crib. Babies need a firm, flat mattress and a fitted sheet, and nothing else. Read the AAP safe sleep guide before you shop.
Baby walkers on wheels. The AAP has called for a ban on the making and sale of mobile baby walkers. Most walker injuries involve falls down stairs. Canada banned them in 2004. A stationary activity center gives a baby the same upright view with no wheels.
Gadgets sold to prevent SIDS. The AAP advises against using home heart and breathing monitors as a way to lower the risk of SIDS. Safe sleep habits do that job. If you want a monitor, a basic audio or video monitor is plenty. Talk to your pediatrician before you buy anything that promises more.
Skip these because you will not use them
A wipe warmer. Room-temperature wipes are fine. The baby will survive. So will you.
Newborn shoes. Babies do not walk. Shoes fall off in the car seat and get lost at the grocery store.
A closet of newborn-size clothes. Some babies skip that size. Others outgrow it in two weeks. Register for 0-3 and 3-6 months instead.
A bottle sterilizer. Boiling water or a dishwasher with a sanitize setting does the job. Ask your pediatrician how often to sanitize.
A baby food maker. The blender you already own makes purees. So do a fork and a ripe banana.
A changing table. A changing pad on top of a dresser works the same and saves floor space. You get a dresser to use for years.
A fancy diaper bag. A backpack holds more and leaves both hands free.
A pile of stuffed animals. People will give you plenty. You do not need to register for them.
Every size of every bottle brand. Register for a small set of two kinds. Some babies are picky, and you will not know what yours likes until they try.
What to get instead
| Skip | Get instead |
|---|---|
| Crib bumper or bedding set | A firm mattress and two or three fitted sheets |
| Weighted sleep sack | A regular wearable blanket |
| Baby walker on wheels | A stationary activity center |
| SIDS gadgets | A basic baby monitor if you want one |
| Wipe warmer | More wipes |
| Newborn shoes | Socks that stay on |
| Newborn-size clothes | Zip sleepers in 0-3 and 3-6 months |
| Bottle sterilizer | Extra bottles and a drying rack |
| Baby food maker | The blender you already own |
| Changing table | A changing pad on a dresser |
| Fancy diaper bag | A backpack diaper bag |
What to register for with the money you save
A good car seat. Buy it new. A used seat may have been in a crash you do not know about.
A baby carrier or wrap. Some babies only nap while held. A carrier lets you hold them and use both hands.
Diapers in sizes 1 and 2. You will use thousands. Ask guests for the sizes after newborn.
A breast pump, but get it free through your insurance first.
Help. Many registries let you add meals, cleaning, or a night of babysitting. Those are the gifts you will remember. Babylist lets you add favors like these next to items from any store, plus cash funds. Start your universal registry.
Shop it: sleep sacks, baby carriers, or size 1 diapers.
Frequently asked questions
What should you not put on a baby registry?
Skip unsafe sleep products like crib bumpers, positioners, inclined sleepers, and weighted sleep sacks. Skip baby walkers on wheels. Then skip things most parents do not use, like wipe warmers, newborn shoes, bottle sterilizers, and a lot of newborn-size clothes.
Are crib bumpers safe?
No. The AAP says to keep bumpers out of the crib, and the Safe Sleep for Babies Act bans their sale. A baby’s crib needs only a firm mattress and a fitted sheet.
Are weighted sleep sacks safe for babies?
The AAP says weighted swaddles, weighted clothing, and weighted objects on or near a sleeping baby are not safe and not recommended. Use a regular sleep sack instead.
Are baby walkers safe?
The AAP has called for a ban on mobile baby walkers because of injuries, most of them from falls down stairs. A stationary activity center is a safer choice.
Do I need a wipe warmer?
No. Room-temperature wipes work fine. Put the money toward more wipes.
More for new parents: baby registry checklist, new parent money checklist, and nursery organization ideas.
