Building a Baby Registry: What to Put on It, Stage by Stage

A baby registry is easiest to get right when you stop treating it as one long list and start building it in stages: what you need before the birth, what you need in the first few weeks, and what can genuinely wait. The NHS's own guidance on what to buy for your newborn baby makes the same point: you don't need everything on day one, and starting with the essentials and adding as you go is the more manageable approach. Below is a stage-by-stage version of that list, with UK-specific notes on what's safe to buy second-hand and what isn't.

A quick overview by stage

The rest of this guide goes through each stage in more detail, including which items are safe to buy second-hand and which safety guidance says to always buy new.

Before the birth: hospital bag and first-days kit

This is the smallest, most urgent slice of the registry — it needs to be sorted by around 36 weeks. We've covered the full packing list separately in what to actually pack in your hospital bag, but the registry-relevant items are:

• A few newborn and first-size sleepsuits and vests (babies vary a lot in birth weight, so having both sizes covers you)
• Nappies and wipes — you'll likely get some free in a maternity pack from your midwife or via retailer freebie schemes, but buy a pack of newborn-size nappies regardless
• A car seat, fitted and checked before the due date, so you can actually leave the hospital
• A going-home outfit and a blanket

First weeks at home: sleep, feeding, cleaning

This is where most of the registry budget should go, because these are the items you use daily from day one. The Lullaby Trust's guidance on mattresses and bedding is direct on the one item worth buying new even if everything else is second-hand: the mattress. Where you'll sleep the baby (Moses basket, crib, or cot) is a separate decision — we've compared the options in cot vs cot bed vs Moses basket — but whatever you choose, the mattress itself should ideally be new for each baby.

Core first-weeks list:

• A safe sleep space (Moses basket, crib, or cot) plus a new, firm, well-fitting mattress
• Two or more sleeping bags, or fitted sheets plus a cellular blanket — the NHS advises against duvets and pillows for young babies because of the suffocation risk
• Bottles and a steriliser if you're bottle- or combi-feeding; see sterilising baby equipment for which method suits your routine
• Muslins, a baby bath or bath support, and basic first-aid items (digital thermometer, infant paracetamol as advised by your health visitor or GP)
• A baby monitor, if your sleep space is in a separate room — see choosing and using a baby monitor safely for what actually matters versus marketing extras

First few months: as baby grows

Nothing here needs to be bought before the birth — it's genuinely fine to wait until you know your baby's size and your own routine. This is also where second-hand becomes a sensible option for most items, with two specific exceptions.

RoSPA is explicit that car seats shouldn't be bought second-hand because structural damage from a collision or even a drop can be invisible from the outside; the one exception is accepting a seat from a family member or friend whose full history with it you know, never from a second-hand shop or classified ad. We go through the reasoning and the exceptions in full in buying secondhand baby gear safely, and the legal side — what "new" and "compliant" actually mean for a UK car seat — is covered in UK car seat law explained.

• A pushchair or travel system (second-hand is fine if the frame is sound and the fabric is washable)
• A baby carrier or sling, once you've read the safety positioning advice for the model you choose
• A play mat or baby gym for tummy time
• A bouncer or rocker, if you want somewhere safe to put baby down while your hands are free

Around six months onward: weaning and mobility

Hold this section off the registry entirely until closer to the time — needs here depend heavily on your baby's development and your own weaning approach, which is hard to predict in advance.

• A highchair (buy once you're close to starting solids, not before)
• Weaning bowls, spoons, and a bib supply
• Baby-proofing basics — socket covers, corner guards, a stair gate — timed to when your baby starts moving, not before

What genuinely doesn't need to be on the list

Registries balloon with items that look essential in an ad but rarely get used. We cover this in more depth in the baby gear you don't actually need, but as a rule: wipe warmers, shoes before walking age, and most "newborn" toys are safe to leave off. If in doubt, wait — it's far easier to buy something in week three than to store, and later return, something you never used.

Stretching the budget: what's free or discounted in the UK

A few UK-specific ways to fill gaps in the registry without paying full price: Bounty maternity and newborn packs (available via midwife appointments or participating pharmacies) typically include nappy samples, wipes, and vouchers; NCT nearly new sales are a good source of second-hand clothes, toys, and non-safety-critical equipment; and if you're eligible, the government's Healthy Start scheme provides a weekly allowance toward food and vitamins during pregnancy and your child's early years.

Practical tips for building the list itself

A few things that make the registry easier to manage once it's live: split it by stage in the registry tool itself if the platform allows folders or sections, so gift-givers can see at a glance what's needed now versus later. Add a note against big-ticket items (car seat, pushchair, cot) if you'd rather receive contributions toward the cost than the item itself — many UK registries, including those run by John Lewis and Amazon, support this. And revisit the list around 20 weeks and again at 36 weeks; what felt essential early in pregnancy often looks different once you've actually handled the gear or had a health visitor or NCT class flag something you hadn't considered.