How to build a baby registry: what you need and what you can skip
A practical baby registry checklist for Australian parents: what you really need, what can wait and what to skip, plus how to build a list friends enjoy.
In this guide
A good baby registry does one job: it gets you the big, hard-to-choose things you will use every day, and it spares you six of everything else. Here is what to put on yours, what can wait, and what you can happily skip.
Start with how you will actually live
Most registry checklists are written to sell you things. Ignore the length of them. Start with your own days: where the baby will sleep, how you will get out of the house, how you will get home from the hospital, and what you will need in the first few weeks. If a product does not fit one of those, it can probably wait until you know your baby.
Ask a friend who has been through it which three things they used every single day. Their answer is worth more than any checklist. Then hold your list up against your home: the size of your car boot, the stairs at your front door, the floor space in the nursery. A great product that does not fit your life is not a great product for you.
Look for products with room to grow, too. A pram that works from birth, or a cot that becomes a toddler bed, asks less of your budget than buying the same thing twice.
What you need
A safe place to sleep
Choose a cot that meets the Australian Standard, then pair it with a firm mattress that fits snugly. A cot bed such as the Gaia Baby Eos grows with your child.
Browse cots and nursery furniture →
A way to get around
A pram is usually the biggest decision on the list. The UPPAbaby Vista V3 suits families who may add a second child, while the Minu V3 is a compact stroller for smaller spaces.
Browse prams and strollers →
Something for the parent
Recovery matters too. The Frida Mom kits are made for the days around birth and make a thoughtful gift for the parent, not just the baby.
See the recovery kit →
Nappies, sorted
You will change a lot of nappies. A good nappy bin, like the Magic Thoth L, and a safe changing spot make the first weeks calmer.
Browse nappy bins →One more essential is the car restraint. It must meet the Australian Standard and be fitted correctly, so choose it with care. UPPAbaby’s Mesa capsule is one option, and you can see the full range in our capsules and car seats.
Worth adding, but not urgent
These are good products, and plenty of families love them. They just do not need to be in your first round of gifts, so add them when you know you want them.
- A baby monitor. Some parents love the reassurance, others never use one. If you want to see the nursery from your phone, the Nanit Pro Camera is one to consider.
- Teethers. You will not need these for a while. Matchstick Monkey teethers are small, affordable additions that suit guests with a modest budget.
- A sleep trainer clock. This one is for later, when your child is a toddler and bedtimes and wake-ups need a little help. See ZAZU.
- Extra wheels, covers and organisers. Wait until you have your pram and know how you use it.
What you can skip
Skipping is not about being frugal. It is about spending on the things that matter and keeping your home clear of things you will never open. Here is what most families can safely leave off.
- Piles of newborn clothes. Babies grow quickly, and friends and family will give clothes anyway.
- Baby shoes. They are cute, and they will not be worn for months.
- Cot bumpers, pillows and soft toys. They do not belong in a cot with a sleeping baby. Follow current safe sleeping guidance from Red Nose.
- A wipe warmer. Nappy changes work fine without one.
- Lots of bottles before you know how you will feed. Buy one or two once you know what works for your baby.
- Duplicates of the big things. One good pram and one good cot beat two in-between ones.
How to build a list your friends will enjoy buying from
- Mix your price points.Add a few smaller items alongside the big ones, so every guest can find something that suits their budget.
- Set the quantity you really need.One cot, one pram, several muslin wraps. Being specific stops doubling up before it starts.
- Leave notes.If you have a colour or finish in mind, say so. A short note saves a guest from guessing.
- Check it against your home.Measure the boot, the hallway and the nursery before you add anything big, so nothing arrives and does not fit.
- Share once, then edit as you go.Your link stays the same while you change the list, so you can keep refining it.
Finally, remember that a registry is a conversation starter, not a contract. Friends often want to help and do not know where to begin, so a clear, honest list is a kindness to them as much as to you. If you change your mind about something, simply edit it.
One list for every brand
If you would like to build this list in one place, the Coolkidz Gift Registry lets you add products from every brand in our shop.
- Bought gifts come off the list on their own
- Set how many of each and add a note
- One link to share, no accounts or passwords
- Guests can send a gift to you or to themselves
Baby registry FAQs
When should I start a baby registry?
There is no fixed deadline. Start when you are ready to share your news, because a registry takes a few evenings to get right and your friends will ask. You can keep adding and removing items for as long as you like.
How many items should a baby registry have?
There is no magic number. Aim for enough that guests have real choice at several price points, then set the quantity you actually need for each item. A short, considered list beats a long one you do not trust.
Can I put items from different brands on one registry?
Yes. On the Coolkidz Gift Registry you can add products from every brand in the shop, including UPPAbaby, Nanit, Gaia Baby, WonderFold, Frida and more, to one list.
Do my friends need an account to buy from my registry?
No. You share one link and guests press Buy this gift. Nobody needs an account or password, and you do not need one either.
What happens when someone buys a gift?
It comes off the list on its own, so nobody doubles up. You do not see who bought what.
Where do registry gifts get delivered?
At checkout the guest can send the gift to the parents or to themselves, to give in person. Free delivery Australia-wide applies to orders of $100 or more.
Should I put a car seat on my registry?
It is worth thinking about carefully. A car restraint must meet the Australian Standard and be fitted correctly, so many parents prefer to choose it themselves and ask friends to contribute elsewhere.
This article contains general information only. Always follow the instructions that come with your products and current safe sleeping guidance. Free delivery Australia-wide applies to orders of $100 or more; see our delivery page.
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