Things I Forgot to Put on My Baby Registry (And Panic-Bought After Birth)

The first week you bring your baby home is a wild, beautiful, exhausting blur. You've spent months preparing… the nursery is ready, the registry is done, the hospital bag is packed. And then your baby arrives and you realize: there are a few things you completely forgot.

I've been there. In my first week home with my son, I found myself panic-buying things on Amazon at 2am that I wish I'd had ready before he arrived. Consider this your heads up – so you don't have to do the same.

Note: This post may contain affiliate links where I earn a small commission, at no cost to you, if you purchase through my link. I only share products I truly love and believe will genuinely help you.

1. Larger Depends-Style Underwear

Here's something nobody warned me about: postpartum recovery requires disposable underwear. And I learned the hard way that sizing actually matters.

I delayed purchasing these for as long as possible – mostly because I was dreading them. Then I grabbed a pack without really thinking about the size and got it completely wrong. Lesson learned: if you're between sizes, always go larger. Comfort is everything in those first postpartum days, and you want to get this one right before baby arrives.

Trust me… once you're there, you won't mind them at all. I promise.

2. Baby Wipes (The Big Pack)

I made the classic first-time mom mistake of buying three small packs of wipes because I wasn't sure which brand I'd like or how sensitive my son's skin would be.

Those three packs lasted exactly two days.

Do yourself a favor: just get the big pack. You will use every single one, and you can always return them if something doesn't work out. Wipes are one of those newborn essentials that you simply cannot have too many of.

3. An Electric Nail File

I had absolutely no idea this existed – and I wish someone had told me sooner.

Babies can be born with surprisingly sharp nails, and using traditional nail clippers is genuinely terrifying. My husband bravely attempted it in week one and accidentally nicked our son's little finger. After that, neither of us would go near the clippers again for about a year.

Enter: the electric nail file. It is a total game-changer. Gentle, safe, and so much less stressful than clippers. Add this to your registry right now… your future self will thank you.

4. Stool Softener

I'm just going to say it: your first postpartum bowel movement is terrifying. Everyone who has been through it knows. And yet somehow it still didn't make it into my registry or postpartum care pack.

My son arrived two weeks early, which meant I hadn't gotten around to stocking up yet. Right after birth, I was ordering stool softener as fast as Amazon could deliver it. Take it regularly from day one and you'll be absolutely fine… but the lead-up without it? Stressful.

Add it to your registry. Add it to your cart right now. Just do it.

5. Burp Cloths (More Than You Think You Need)

Burp cloths are one of the most underrepresented items on baby registries – including mine.

Babies spit up. A lot. And constantly. The best burp cloths are big, soft, and actually stay on your shoulder instead of sliding off at the worst possible moment. We ended up buying two full packs and used them every single day.

If you're building your newborn essentials list, put burp cloths on there… and then add a few more for good measure.

6. Pack N Play Sheets

I had my Pack N Play all set up and ready to go. What I did not have? Sheets for it.

Newborn sleep is unpredictable, and you'll quickly learn that babies have strong opinions about where they'll sleep. We cycled through sleeping in shifts, trying the bassinet, and eventually landing on the Pack N Play as our saving grace. Having the right sheets made it so much more comfortable for everyone.

Free tip: Mini crib sheets fit the Pack N Play perfectly.

7. A Large Thermal Water Bottle

Here's a postpartum secret that doesn't get talked about enough: you will be so thirsty. Whether you're breastfeeding, recovering, or just running on no sleep – staying hydrated is everything.

I bought a large thermal water bottle and carried it with me everywhere. It's one of those small investments that makes a surprisingly big difference, and it's so easy to forget something for you when you're busy preparing for baby.

Put it on your registry. You deserve it.

One More Thing You'll Want Before Baby Arrives: Sleep Support

I will never forget sitting on the couch at 2am, taking turns with my husband holding our baby because he wouldn't sleep any other way. We were exhausted, overwhelmed, and completely unprepared for the reality of newborn sleep.

That experience is actually what started my journey to becoming a holistic baby sleep coach.

If I could go back and give myself one more thing before my son arrived, it would be the knowledge I now share in the Newborn Sleep Guide.

It's your complete guide to baby sleep from birth to 4 months, covering:

• What to expect from newborn sleep (hint: it's not what most people tell you)
• Safe sleep guidelines
• How to optimize your baby's sleep and your own
• Attachment in the fourth trimester
• How to troubleshoot the most common newborn sleep challenges

It's the guide I wish I'd had as a first-time mom – and unlike a lot of sleep advice out there, it's designed to take the pressure off and help you feel confident from day one.

👉 Grab the Newborn Sleep Guide here and go into the fourth trimester actually prepared.