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drmorganzapalac
Oct 25, 20249 min read

Essential Baby Registry Guide: Holistic Must-Haves for New Moms, Dads, and Baby

By: Dr. Morgan Zapalac, M.Ed., DAcCHM


I. BABY ITEMS

A. Bedding & Nursery

  • Waterproof sheet (2) & organic bassinet sheets (2 sets)

    • Pro tip: Layer 1 waterproof protector + 1 sheet, then another waterproof protector and sheet - for easy clean-up where you just take off the top layer during nighttime blowouts.

  • Organic Topponcino

  • Pro tip- makes it super easy to transition baby to someone else or another location without waking them up

  • Organic blankets of varying thicknesses

  • Changing station

  • Multiple organic changing mats

  • Diapers, wipes

  • Hand sanitizer

  • Care kit: diaper cream, q tips (for umbilical cord), goldenseal power, coconut oil, nail clippers (links & descriptions below)

  • Toy for them to hold onto

  • Trash can w/ lid + bags

  • Hamper

  • Clothes, blankets nearby

  • Later Nursery items

  • Organic Crib Mattress

  • Bedroom furniture 

B. Baby Gear

  • UPPAbaby gear

    • Interchangeable stroller, car seat, and crib stand system makes it super easy to take the baby from place to place. UPPAbaby website

    • Mesa V2 car seat doesn't use flame retardants in the part that comes into direct contact w/ baby and is GreenGuard gold certified for low chemical emissions

    • Pro Tip: Include UPPAbaby accessories like the parent organizer, water bottle holder, changing station adapter, etc for the stroller.

    • Pro Tip: Get travel bags for the carseat and stroller from UPPAbaby for when you travel- it’s a game changer!

  • Organic baby carrier

  • Our fav was Baby Bjorn Baby Carrier Mini - super cozy and easy to use

  • Pro tip: Consider getting a two baby carriers- one for each parent so they can keep it adjusted for themselves

  • Bath tub option

    • Pro Tip: use a kneeler like this to save your knees

  • Diaper bag(s)

C. Breastfeeding & Pumping

  • Breastfeeding Chair

  • Make sure it is comfortable and your feet can touch the ground when sitting (otherwise it's hard to stand up with the baby in your arms). The more adjustments you have- reclining legs, adjustable lumbar support, head rest positioning- the more comfortable you'll be.

  • Pro Tip: Make sure to have something like Pregnancy Wedge Pillows nearby to help your arms get comfortable with the baby (to prevent your arms from falling asleep). Also have blanket s

  • Breastfeeding Cart w/ supplies

  • You will want to have a cart next to the breastfeeding chair with all of your supplies you'll need while breastfeeding & while the baby is sleeping on you in the chair.

  • Cart Idea 

  • Organizers for supplies in cart

  • Suggestions:

  • On top shelf: Your electric pump (plugged in), clean bottles, hand sanitizer, haakaa, organic nursing pads, organic burp cloths, headphones, phone charger cord, water bottle, snacks

  • Lower shelves: Self care supplies (nipple cream, silverettes, breast massager)

  • Pro Tip: Silverettes are soothing for sore nipples. Can also use breast milk as a natural remedy before applying.

  • Pro Tip: Organic Calendula Nipple Cream for cracked or sore nipples. They have a trio kit: nipple cream, diaper rash, perineal spray. You can also use breastmilk on your nipples to help them.

  • Pro Tip: Breast massager is used for clogged duct/mastitis

  • Breast pumps

    • Evenflo Double Electric Pump (can be covered by insurance) and portable options like Elvie for when you are on the go.

    • Pro Tip: No pump will be as efficient as your baby getting milk out. Typically plug in pumps are more efficient than portable pumps.

    • Pro Tip: it is critical to measure nipple size for the correct flange size (the plastic part of the pump that goes over your breast. Sizes vary and really impact efficacy and comfortability with pumping. Work with an IBCLC (lactation consultant type) if you need assistance- highly recommend everyone get one before you need one!)

  • Glass bottles & nipples

  • Evenflo glass bottles to avoid plastic. Evenflo Glass Bottles

  • Pro Tip: There are different nipple types for bottles.

  • To avoid the baby preferring the bottle you need the right flow speed. A normal healthy term baby should use newborn flow rate. As the baby gets older, you will change to nipples with a higher flow rate.

  • To avoid the baby not taking the bottle, you need a nipple that is like the breast, where it has a wide base for them to attach to. Evenflo has the Balance + nipples.

  • Glass jars for milk storage

  • Dry erase bottle labels

    • Dry erase stickers to track milk storage date and time of day

    • Pro tip: Label pumped milk with date and time. You will want to feed the baby milk that was pumped form a similar time. Morning milk contains more cortisol, which could disrupt the baby's sleep if you were to give them a bottle of AM milk at night.

  • Breastfeeding pillows

  • Breastfeeding clothes

    • Pro Tip: You will need a lot of new clothes to support your breastfeedieng journey. Put these on your registry! Other parents know how important it is to support mom and will gladly get registry items for YOU!

    • Comfortable bras, tank tops, shirts, dresses and sweatshirts that allow easy feeding.

    • Breastfeeding cover like We Are Amma Shawl.

    • Normal bra for breastfeeding (has clip)

    • Breastfeeding bathing suit top

 

D. Clothing & Diapers

·       Use EWG website or Gimme The Good Stuff website to search for clean brands

 

E. Home / Environment Support

  • Low-tox household products

    • Search on EWG.org (scores 0-2 ideal) or Gimme The Good Stuff website for clean baby-safe detergents, laundry sprays, cleaning supplies etc.

    • Soap options: Dr. Bronner’s Baby Soap (must dilute), Aleavia Enzymatic body cleanse (has a good pH balance)

    • Low-tox laundry detergent & spray option: Root & Splendor

    • Low-tox cleaning supplies

    • Pro Tip: It is really important to use fragrance free products, especially when the baby is a newborn. They rely heavily on the scent of the mother and if you use any products that have fragrance, it can disrupt this bonding process. Consider your deodorant, shampoo/conditioner/products, lotion, hand soap, laundry detergent, avoid perfumes, etc.

  • Air purifier

  • Pro Tip: can double as sound machine

  • Humidifier 

  • Portable Carpet Cleaner 

 

F. Baby Toys

  • Loverly Montessori items

    • Pro Tip: especially contrasting black-and-white toys since babies only see in black and white for the first few months.

  • Silicone teethers

  • Organic mats for baby to lay and play on in various rooms

  • Toki mats

  • Linen mat

 

G. Safety & Health

  • De-Choking device (2)

    • One for the diaper bag and one for home

  • Portable nebulizer

    • For respiratory colds. Consider toddler-friendly versions that have a small mask size and that are fun for little ones to use

    • NaCl Solution to add to the nebulizer

  • Outlet covers with easy-pull tabs

    • Save yourself from broken nails and frustration.

  • Cabinet baby proofing 

  • Medicine Cabinet

  • See other guide sheet

  • Baby Nail clippers and file

  • First Aid Kit

  • Coconut oil

  • Pro tip: put on rectal thermometer before inserting, use for massaging baby

  • Organic goldenseal powder

  • Pro tip: Helpful for umbilical cord

  • Active skin repair 

  • Pro tip: Helpful for any scratches

  • Baby thermometers (2)

    • One for temporal and one for rectal

  • Non-WiFi baby monitor: Infant optics  

 

H. Kitchen

 

II. Mom's Birth & Postpartum Recovery

  • Birth

  • Delivery gown / robe

  • Postpartum Recovery Kit

o   Pro tip- this is a kit that you will keep in your bathroom(s). Get a basket for each bathroom and fill it with necessary supplies

  • Include in your kit:

o   FitaMom makes a kit, but I don't love how hard it is to see what ingredients they use

·       Pro Tip: Padsicles! You can make tea with certain herbs and spray the pads with the tea, then put them in the freezer to use postpartum. The cold and soothing nature of herbs helps with perineal/vaginal pain

o   Peri bottle with nozzle

·       Pro Tip: you will use this to spray perineal/vaginal area to keep it clean and soothed after going to the bathroom postpartum

o   Reusable perineal gel hot and cold packs

 

III. Healing Herbs & Foods

·       Pro Tip: A lot of the teabags contain micro plastics and you can have hundreds of thousands of micro plastics in your tea if the bag isn’t quality. Also, the lid is super important after you pour hot water on the herbs because some of the herbal properties that you want to make sure you consume will be vaporized by the hot water and the lid will help contain those.

  • Important note: Herbs can go one of two ways. There are common herbs that increase milk supply called galactagogues, however, for some women these herbs have the opposite effect and actually reduce supply. So I’m hesitant for suggesting herbs unless supply becomes an issue. The best thing is just to avoid herbs that can reduce your supply, like peppermint (make sure your don't have peppermint gum!).

  • Lactation support

·       Wise Women Herbals Mother’s Lactaflow Tincture

§  Note- This one is a tincture, which is where they put the herbs in alcohol to extract certain properties.

·       Gaia Herbs Lactation Support Herbal Tea

·       Traditional Medicinals Mother's Milk

 

 

IV. For Dad

  • Support for dad/partner

    • Book: The Birth Partner is a great resource for birth partners to educate themselves about childbirth and how they can support mama

  • Clothing

    • Practical, comfortable shirts for babywearing and skin-to-skin contact; think buttons for easy chest access.

 

 

V. Services & Resources

 

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