As a new mom, there is so much information on the internet and it can be overwhelming. There are so many opinions and recommendations on what you should register for. When you look on Pinterest there are a ton of baby registry must-have checklists. But what about the items you shouldn’t register for? There are a lot of unsafe items or items you probably won’t use. As a mother-baby nurse and mom of 3, I’ve compiled a list of 23 baby registry items you don’t need.
Not adding these items to your registry is not necessarily to save you money or give you a less cluttered house, but to keep your baby safe. Some of these items are just a waste and you’ll most likely never use them. Wouldn’t you rather someone buy something you’ll actually use versus buying you something you’ve been told you should register for? This list of baby registry do’s and don’t’s will help you know what to register in place of the baby registry items to skip.
If you’ve been wondering “What should I not put on my baby registry?” Then you’ve come to the right place. This list of baby registry items you don’t need may surprise you!
DISCLAIMER: there are affiliate links in this blog post meaning if you click a link and make a purchase I can make a small commission. As a part of the Amazon associates program, I make commissions on qualifying purchases.
DISCLAIMER: This is not medical advice. This blog post is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Always consult with your doctor for any concerns or medical advice.
If you’re looking for a checklist on what to pack in your labor and delivery bag read my blog post here.
I’ve also got a blog post on postpartum essentials for mom and baby.
Here’s a blog post on breastfeeding essentials for new moms if you’re planning on breastfeeding.
Baby Registry Items You Don’t Need
This is a list of items I would not use for my children as a nurse as well as items I never used as a mom of 3. Here are the baby registry items you don’t need to add to your registry.
Dock-A-Tot and SnuggleMe
Any infant lounger like this is not safe for sleep. These companies have been required to stop promoting them for sleep and promote them as loungers instead. Soft, plush sleep surfaces like the dock a tot or snuggle me pose a risk for suffocation.
There are much safer items you could get to lie your sleeping or awake baby in like a pack-and-play. These are not too expensive (they vary in price) and can be used much longer than an infant lounger. Using a pack-and-play is a safe place to lay your baby and you don’t have to worry if they fall asleep.
Here’s a couple different options across price ranges from Amazon:
Graco pack and play with a changing table, dome, and bassinet attachment. The dome can be removed and has a canopy to be used outside.
Baby trend pack and play with bassinet attachment
Remember a safe sleep space for a baby is when the baby is alone, on their back, in a crib/bassinet/pack and play. The mattress should be firm and flat.
Changing Table
I know lots of people love their changing tables, but this is not a necessity! It can actually be a fall risk. A changing table is high and if you look away or step away for a second the baby can roll off.
In my opinion, changing tables aren’t worth the risk. Also, do you want to have to walk to your baby’s room for every diaper change? I personally have a changing pad in my living room and one in my loft so I can change my baby anywhere in the house!
This is similar to what I have in my living room. I keep it folded up in a drawer and pull it out when I need it. That way it isn’t obvious it’s down there. I like this one better though because it is machine washable!
Here’s a changing pad for a dresser that one of my friends keeps on the floor in her living room to change her baby’s diapers. It’s great, but big and not easily stored away.
And in all honesty, you don’t NEED a changing pad. I also change my baby’s diapers on the couch, bed, or carpet. I definitely use the pads if my baby has pooped. But you could use a towel in that instance to protect your carpet as well.
Wipe Warmer
A wipe warmer sounds great, I mean who wants cold wipes on their bottom? But if you get your baby used to warm wipes at home they will not like the cold wipes when you’re out and about! Also having a wipe warmer will limit where you can go change your baby’s diaper, which defeats the purpose of having changing mats in a couple different areas of your house.
Baby Monitor With Wifi
Having a baby monitor where you can see your baby at any time anywhere sounds great right? I thought so too until I heard many stories of parents who heard strangers talking to their children through the video baby monitor. So having a wifi baby monitor became scarier than just having a normal one. You don’t want to risk someone being able to watch you and your children through your monitor. I love a good video monitor without wifi capabilities.
Here are a few baby monitors with no wifi capabilities you could register for instead:
Car Seat Protector
This is an item that doesn’t seem like it’d be a big deal to have but it is. Using a car seat protector can make you think you’ve got a tight install with your car seat when you don’t. And not all car seat manufacturers allow car seat protectors.
Before you register for one purchase your car seat and read the manual to see if they’re even allowed. In my opinion, they aren’t worth not having a tight enough install.
Baby safety is the number one priority and having a tight install beats having perfect seats.
Aftermarket Car Seat Accessories
This is a big one. Do not register for any after-market car seat accessories. They are not safe and can negatively affect the function of the car seat in a crash. The car seat has not been crash tested with the after-market accessories so no one knows how they’ll affect the car seat.
Keep after-market car seat accessories as one of the baby registry items you don’t need. And if someone purchases this for you do not use them!
Crib Accessories
There are so many cute crib accessories to decorate your little one’s room with. But did you know it isn’t safe to add anything to your baby’s crib? The only thing in your baby’s crib should be your baby.
Don’t register for crib bumpers, pillows, a comforter, railing covers, etc. You can’t use them with your baby in the bed because it’s unsafe so you could just register for other things you can actually use.
If you’re worried your baby will be cold while sleeping try registering for these instead:
And when your baby is rolling they’ll need to switch from swaddles to sleep sacks:
Halo sleep sack (my personal favorite)
Burt’s Bees Sleep Sack (This one is a highly rated sleep sack)
Bottle Sterilizer
The idea of a bottle sterilizer is so intriguing. But they are very expensive and typically can’t fit very many bottle/pump pieces. We got one for our first baby and it could only fit TWO bottles and took 15 minutes total to sterilize. And it’s another appliance to have on your counter.
In reality, you can actually use a pot of boiling water to sanitize your pump parts. Or they have sanitizing bags that you can put your bottles/pump pieces in and microwave them. Another great affordable option is using your dishwasher!
Per the CDC as long as your baby is over 2 months old and healthy you don’t have to sanitize daily anymore. (See article here). So it can be a waste of money to purchase a sterilizer for $100+ to only use for 2 months!
Instead, register for these:
Medela Quick Clean Sterilizing Bags
Baby Bottle Tongs (To safely and cleanly remove bottles/pump parts, etc. from the boiling water).
Small parts basket for the dishwasher
Bottle Warmer
A bottle warmer is a great product to warm your baby’s bottles with. But it’s another appliance for your counter and can actually take longer to warm up your milk.
We tried one with our first and it took so long and our poor baby was screaming ready for her bottle. Instead, we would run the breastmilk bag under hot water to warm it up. It worked perfectly, was quicker, and saved us coveted counter space!
Breast Pump
I know what you may be thinking, “why is a breast pump on the list of baby registry items you don’t need?” Because most insurance will cover your breast pump!! You can get a “free” pump through insurance so why not let someone who would spend the money on a pump for you spend that money on something else?
I recommend when you get pregnant check with your insurance company to see if they’ll cover a breast pump. That way just in case they don’t you can register for one, but most do cover breast pumps!
Instead, you can register for:
Extra breast pump supplies that go with your breast pump you got through insurance. Having multiple sets is always a good idea!
Breastmilk storage bags Medela brand is my favorite
Medela breastmilk storage solution
Breast pump quick clean wipes especially if you’ll be going back to work or pumping on the go.
Breast pump bag and breastmilk cooler for when you go back to work.
Owlet Sock Monitor
The owlet is a sock that monitors your baby’s heart rate and oxygen level. It will alarm when your baby’s oxygen level gets below a certain level. I used it with my oldest and it would have false alarms that would scare me to death. And it caused more anxiety in the sense I continued to check her levels constantly. There’s also the fear that using it can give people a false sense of security and make people think it’s okay to bed share because if the oxygen level drops they’ll get an alarm and wake up. (This is not safe and bed sharing is not safe even if using the owlet monitor).
I follow a pediatrician who is a child safety advocate and she says the Owlet is not a recommended device and that healthy-term infants don’t need to have oxygen saturation monitoring. If you’re concerned, always consult with your pediatrician.
Check out this article on whether you need a home apnea monitor.
Multiple of Specific Bottles
It honestly doesn’t matter what bottle you want your baby to take, your baby will take the bottle they want. If you decide you want your baby to use dr browns bottles they may decide they want to use the munchkin latch bottle instead. (This is a true story that happened to me!!). Both are great bottles, but I spent so much money on bottles my baby wouldn’t even take!
Instead of registering for 8 Dr Brown bottles maybe register for a single bottle in a few different brands!
Here are a few of my favorite brands meant to help with the adjustment of going from breast to bottle and back to breast:
Baby Mittens
But how will your baby not scratch their face? Because their nails will be kept trimmed! With my first, I was terrified to cut her nails so I kept mittens on her constantly. She wasn’t able to use her hands to explore because they were always covered. Instead, try registering for an electric nail file. These are incredible. It takes away the risk of accidentally clipping baby’s skin and making them bleed but keeps their nails short so they don’t scratch their face. I haven’t used baby mittens since my first after I discovered the electric nail file.
Convertible Car Seat
Now this one is an unpopular opinion, but hear me out. Car seats expire 10 years after the date of manufacture. So if you register for a convertible car seat and get it but don’t start using it until your baby is 1 year old then that’s one year less your baby can use it. You don’t want to have to purchase a new car seat when your child will be outgrowing it soon!
I’d recommend waiting to get a convertible car seat until you’re ready to start using it so you can maximize your usage.
Also don’t forget it isn’t safe to purchase used car seats. You don’t know if it was taken care of per manufacturer instructions or if it was in a car accident.
Baby Shoes
Infants can’t walk, so they don’t need any shoes. I know they’re so cute but they are a waste of money. Also when your baby starts learning how to walk they should learn barefoot first!
Sleepers with Buttons
I know there are so many cute sleepers with buttons, but zip-up pajamas are so much easier! When it’s 3am and you’re half asleep there’s no way you’ll want to button up a sleeper! Register for zip-up sleepers, especially ones with double zippers so you don’t have to undress your baby for diaper changes.
Newborn Size Clothes
Newborn-size clothes are only useable for the first few weeks of life (if your baby even fits in them at all). Instead, register for 0-3 month size clothes and up so you don’t risk getting clothes your baby will never wear.
And more than likely someone is bound to get you newborn-size clothes anyway!
Walkers
Baby walkers are not safe and are actually banned in other countries like Canada. It’s a fall risk meaning if you’re using it upstairs your baby can walk themselves down the stairs. It also puts your baby at a new height where now they may be able to reach the counter which can be dangerous as well. It has also been shown that infant walkers don’t help babies learn to walk faster.
Instead, register for items like this: VTech sit to stand learning walker
Sleep Positioners
Items that you purchase to keep your baby in one position while sleeping are not safe. These can lead to suffocation and are not recommended for use.
Weighted Swaddles
The AAP recommends not using weighted swaddles because they can increase the risk of suffocation, strangulation, and entrapment.
Baby Teething Necklaces
First off, a baby should not wear a necklace. That just is a major strangulation hazard. Amber teething necklaces are also a choking risk so they should not be used. Children have died from amber teething necklaces, and with that information, it just isn’t worth the risk of using them.
Newborn Bathtub
Your baby will be a newborn for approximately 8 weeks. And you don’t bathe a newborn that often anyway. An infant bathtub can be a waste of money. Instead, get a baby bath with a newborn sling so you get more use out of it.
This is the bathtub we have and have used for all 3 of our children.
Diaper Pail
So hear me out, these are great in the newborn days if your baby is exclusively breastfed. Their poop doesn’t stink so having poop diapers sit in a pail for 4 days isn’t terrible. But the minute your baby’s poop starts stinking it is a different story. Our diaper pail would stink up the entire house. And honestly, it’s much easier to take the one poop diaper straight out to the trash can outside.
I could see it being useful if you live in an apartment and can’t walk right out your back door to the trash can. But other than that I would not recommend it.
Baby Registry Items You Don’t Need
As with everything when it comes to your baby, always do your research on the pros and cons of items and whether you want to register for them. These items are items that I would recommend not registering for either due to safety or because they are a waste of money.
Instead, think about registering for the other options listed here! Do you have any other baby registry items you don’t need? Let us know in the comments to help other new moms out!
Great list! I added the electric nail file to my cart for my stepdaughter, due in August. Thank you for the recommendation.
It is one of my favorite baby items!!
I enjoyed reading your post. I smiled because I remembered how much unnecessary stuff I bought for my first son. I definitely think wipe warmers are overrated!
Thank you so much!
These are Great Tips to save money and space!
Thank you!
Nurses know a lot about the needs of a baby. Thank you for the list.
You’re very welcome!
Great post, this will help mamas to know about these items. My aunt has the baby monitor and it’s a cool item.
thank you!
Such a helpful article, especially for first time parents. I had no idea about half of these things! My kids are adults now. It’s crazy to see all the things parents think they need to get.
Yes! I agree, when looking at the baby registry must have lists there’s SO much!
Much needed information for soon to be parents! Thank you for addressing the fall risk with changing tables. We all think it won’t happen, but it does!!
Thank you for your comment! I’m very much someone who thinks about all those things after working in the medical field!
Sleepers with buttons! They are the bane of my existence. I agree with most of the things you added to this list. Thanks for sharing!
Yes!! We got a lot of sleepers with buttons for our first and we quickly replaced them with zipper sleepers!