How to Build a Great Baby Registry

Building a registry and researching all of the products on the market for Little Baby Ingram served to be a very intense process.  We wanted the top rated products that were also aesthetically pleasing at balling on a budget price point. 

These are a few products that we have selected for our baby, some of the larger items we purchased they are currently sitting in our living room still in the boxes. While others we eagerly wait for the baby shower. 

With any project I wanted to formulate a concept around the registry and then JR and I began tackling the research phase.  All of this of course is subjective but I hope it helps aid while you begin to select the products for your registry. I plan on doing a comprehensive review of the products once we start using them. 

We really liked the simplicity of the design and the ability for converting with the child as he or she grows. We elected for the Baby Letto Hudson Crib. 

For the mattress we selected the Newton Baby.  The mattress allows for air to flow freely for optimal breath ability and temperature regulation.  The washable material prevents bacteria growth. The Newton contains no foam, latex, springs, glues or allergens and is 100% recyclable. So no fear of off gassing. 

Rather than selecting a bassinet we decided to select the Fisher-Price Newborn Rock 'n Play Sleeper. The incline design helps aid baby with acid reflect, the product also allows baby to be rocked back and forth with calming vibrations. 

The travel system that we decided on was the Chicco Bravo LE Trio Travel System in Genesis. This system allows for versatile 3-in-1 system adapts from infant to toddler and includes the Bravo Key- Fit carrier, a travel system and a toddler stroller.  Originally we had considered finding a system that would allow the stroller to adapt to work with two children but after pricing all of the systems we decided the Chicco family was were we needed to be- and would purchase a dual stroller when we needed to in the future. 

The decided on two child carriers, the first more for the newborn to allow for cuddling in the house and more of a soft wrap; Moby Wrap Classic While the more robust carrier we adapted for the Ergobaby Adapt Ergonomic Multi-Position Baby Carrier. 

Selecting clothing has been one of my favorite things. What has been very interesting is looking for the most gender neutral articles of clothing since we will not know the gender until the baby is born. We have adapted for basic elements that either a boy or girl can wear. We have been gravitating towards strong graphic elements when given the chance. Target's Cat and Jack has beautiful options as well as Zara. 

A few elements as it pertains to hygiene and safety has been the Boon Grass Countertop Bottle Drying Rack, we ultimately decided on the green grass for some reason I could not decide between this and the white. For bath time we found this really nifty Puj Flyte Compact Infant Bath that fold like origami for bath time in the sink and can be easily stored flat. For the baby monitor we selected the Motorola 3.5" Video Baby Monitor, I loved that it was Motorola (the first account I ever designed professionally for) We loved the ability to visually see the baby even in low lighting situations and having the ability to move the monitor as well. 

Finding the perfect baby bottle served to be a huge task.  We will be breast feeding so we wanted to find a system that allowed for easy transition, we selected the Tommee Tippe breast feeding system. For the pacifiers we wanted to go the natural path as much as possible and selected the Natursutten pacifier which is made ecologically sustainable from pure natural rubber from the tree of the Hevea brasiliensis. For teethers I wanted to stick with the natural concept and selected the Loulou Lollipop's handmade wood and silicone teethers. These are amazing, they use locally sourced high quality maple hardwood rings that are polished with organic beeswax and olive oil- I am in love with them. 

I am a huge sucker for baby toys! Being a toy designer I am just opposed with non-literal play.  So we found adorable toys at the Land of Nod including; Plan Toys Sensory Tumbling they are the cutest things ever and encourage auditory, visual and texture development. For fluffy animals we fell in love with the Jellycat brand- they are too adorable and select animals that were unique like the Jellycat Sloth Stuffed Animal.  We also wanted a fun looking activity table and selected the SkipHop Explore and More; this activity center supports a "whole body" approach to play. 

The Activity Mat was another challenge we wanted something gender neutral that also stimulated the sensory experience of the baby and so we selected the Ringmaster Baby Activity Gym designed by artist Roxy Marj. 

Our book selections were vast but here are a few that we are in love with mostly because they are written by famous artists, or look at color for a designer perspective- we love them and think the baby will too! So Many Stars by Andy Warhol; Pantone Box of Color, The Biggest Story ABC by Invisible Creature. 

The Diaper Bag and Travel Changing station we wanted something that could handle a lot of abuse but still look good.  We were interested in something gender neutral so both JR and I could carry the bags around. We decided on Skip Hop Duo Double Diaper Bag as well as the Skip Hop Pronto Signature Changing Station

For our High Chair we turned to IKEA and selected the Antilop, we loved the simplicity of the design as well as the ability to clean up the plastic frame. 

For the sheets and swaddles again we wanted organic cotton with high contrasting colors and mostly black and white. My favorites are the Organic Charley Harper Animal Crib Sheet, the Organic Cloud Crib Fitted Sheet and the Muslin Swaddle Blankets by Cloud Island. 

Other items that we also wanted included the Hatch Baby Rest Night Light and Sound Machine the DockaTot Deluxe  and the Bobby Nursing Pillow

Building this registry with my husband was one of my favorite parts of this pregnancy.  I enjoyed researching all of the parts and pieces and diving into what would work best for our child.  Let me know what you think in the comment section below.