Are you struggling with what to put on your baby registry? From the many hours of research it took to pick your ideal stroller to finally finding that super cute diaper bag, it can all be a little… overwhelming.

In all honesty, what does your baby truly need? What things are necessary to have a happy and healthy baby and mama?

Here’s a secret, from one mama to another: those tiny humans don’t need all that much!

Here’s my list for you. She needs:

• Loving arms to cradle her in the night (free!)
• A safe place to sleep
• Food to fill her tummy (whether it’s bottles, breast or both)
• Transportation: some combination of car seat, baby carrier and/or stroller
• A way to keep a clean tush with cloth or disposable diapers and wipes
• Sure, maybe a few of those cozy-looking swaddles

Super simple right? Let’s take an honest look at those Pinterest-worthy registry list ideas.

Some make wild promises like, Register for these 5 things and your newborn will sleep through the night and never cry, ever! Then some baby registry items are just plain cute. I get that.

But really, how likely is it for so many of these things to be tossed in your next garage sale, used once or not at all? Do you really want to drop $200 on the latest baby rocker, only to find out once your little one is here that he or she absolutely hates it??

Purchases that are truly useful, lasting and meaningful will look different for each mom, and what works for me may not be what works for you. Every baby has their own opinions too!

But I do know one thing for sure. I know that regardless of what material things you end up with, you for sure want to be able to look back on the earliest days of your new baby’s life with fondness and warmth. You’ll want to remember how they first made their mark on the world, the beautiful and the not so insta-perfect bits all the same.

Honestly, you’ll soon forget about the giant pack of bibs with sassy sayings on them. And that fancy baby wipes warmer? As many times as those things show up on lists of must-haves, you can just as easily find them on lists like “Ten Things You Will Regret Buying for Baby”.

Girl I know, those perfectly styled baby aisles at Target make me swoon too. Everything is just too freaking adorable. Who can really resist tiny outfits with ruffles on the tush?

Speaking of baby clothes, it’s not that baby clothes aren’t necessary (although in Oklahoma summers that’s debatable), it’s just that you really don’t need to register for baby clothes, because trust me…The baby clothes will come to you. 😉. And prepare yourself now, because you will somehow end up with 500 flannel receiving blankets whether they are on your registry or not!

Pro tip: My kids lived exclusively in sleepers and onesies for months because those are the clothes that are easiest for 2 AM diaper changes! 

I know your friends and family are genuinely eager to shower you and your newborn with love and gifts, of course! I was floored by the generosity of my circle when we first had kids.

But it’s easy to fall into the trap of letting places like Target tell you what a new mom needs, and (as much as I love me some good Target therapy) retailers are pretty good at helping you blow $50 on things that will only disappear.

And I mean literally, disappear. That collection of tiny socks will sadly never again have matches after their first trip through the laundry. And don’t get me started on baby shoes. Still wondering if any mom out there has managed to discover that unicorn shoe that actually stays on.

But what won’t disappear, if you don’t let them? Well, the memories.

You want to remember when your husband touches your cheek softly right before your daughter is born. You want to remember how you look at your son with the strangest mixture of pride and humility when you hold him the first time.

You want to remember how rosy and plump her pouty lips were when she sleeps. You want to remember how tiny his toes are. You want to remember that she had dark hair before it turned blonde when she got older. You want to remember that he was once barely the length of your husband’s forearm.

This is why I suggest registering for services and gear that will help you soak up these moments you won’t want to forget. Postpartum doula gift certificates, meal services so you can focus on bonding with your new baby, and those cozy baby wraps to hold her close are all great ideas. And yes of course…

Put birth and newborn photography on your baby registry!

There is magic in baby’s first hours earthside, mama. Magic in the first weeks that no pile of baby stuff, no matter how cute, can compare to. Photography to preserve that magic is one thing you will not regret registering for.

Yes, some of the material things are necessary, but they will fade into the background in time.

Making space to record those early days of small beginnings… when you’re soaking in the sleepy cuddles, taking time to inhale that newborn smell so you’ll never forget. That is a gift not only for you to treasure your whole life, but also for your children as you document a part of their story which would otherwise be lost.

I can make it super easy for you to gently show your family and friends how important this is to you by creating your personal birth or newborn photography registry link! The great thing about registering for photography is that it is a completely customizable gift. A loved one can contribute $5 or $500 toward your overall goal, which is a major plus, balancing out a registry that might be full of smaller practical items or heavy with the big ticket necessities.

So before you go wild with that scanner gun, think about what’s really important to you. I’ve been there, and I say this with love: Don’t let the magic of brand new life entering the world be lost to time. You can borrow the baby bouncy seat from a friend, but some things you can’t borrow.

Want to give the lasting gift of birth photography or a newborn session to a new mama in your life? Ask if she has considered setting up a photography fund on her registry! Or feel free to contact me about setting up your own gift registry options. 🙂