Baby Registry by Trimester: When to Add What
A week-by-week timeline for building your baby registry — from first-trimester research through the final weeks before your due date. Know exactly when to start and what to focus on at each stage.
Too early to register — but not too early to research
The first trimester is for researching, not registering. Your primary job is taking care of yourself. That said, this is a great time to start a saved list of items you're interested in, read reviews, and learn what categories exist so you're not overwhelmed later.
Tasks this trimester
- Start a saved list or draft registry to bookmark items as you research
- Research major gear categories: car seats, strollers, cribs, baby monitors
- Join baby gear communities and forums to learn from recent parents
- Look into registry completion discounts (many retailers offer 10–20% off after your due date)
- Decide where you'll register (Amazon, Target, BennyList, or a combination)
Weeks 16–20: Start your registry in earnest
The second trimester is your registry window. Most parents start their registry around 16–20 weeks — early enough to share with family in time for a shower, late enough that you've had time to research. Focus first on big-ticket items that need the most research.
Tasks this trimester
- Create your official registry (or consolidate your saved list into one)
- Research and add car seats — this is the highest-stakes decision and the one to research most
- Add your stroller pick (and verify car seat compatibility before committing)
- Add the crib, bassinet, or bedside sleeper for the first sleep setup
- Add large nursery items: dresser, glider/rocker, changing table or topper
- Send registry link to your baby shower planner or announce it to family
Items to add to your registry
- Infant car seat or convertible car seat
- Stroller (compatible with car seat if using an infant seat)
- Full-size crib or mini crib
- Firm crib mattress
- Bassinet or bedside sleeper for first weeks
- Baby monitor (video recommended)
- Dresser or wardrobe
- Glider or rocking chair
- Changing table or dresser topper
Weeks 27–35: Fill in the rest of the registry
Use the early third trimester to fill out the middle and small tiers of your registry — feeding, bathing, clothing, and daily care items. This is also when most baby showers happen, so your registry should be complete and shareable by week 28–30 at the latest.
Tasks this trimester
- Add feeding supplies (bottles, nursing gear, feeding pillow, bibs)
- Add bathing and grooming essentials
- Add clothing in appropriate sizes (newborn, 0–3M, 3–6M, 6–12M)
- Add diapering supplies
- Add sleep accessories (swaddles, sleep sacks, sound machine, monitor accessories)
- Complete the registry with low-cost consumables (wipes, creams, pacifiers) for easy gifting
- Attend your baby shower (most happen between weeks 28–34)
Items to add to your registry
- Nursing pillow
- Breast pump (often covered by insurance — check before registering)
- Bottles and nipples (various flow rates)
- Bottle brush and drying rack
- Burp cloths (12+)
- Bibs (6–10 for newborn stage)
- Baby bathtub
- Hooded baby towels and washcloths
- Baby nail clippers or file
- Nasal aspirator
- Baby thermometer
- Swaddle blankets (4–6)
- Sleepsacks / wearable blankets (multiple sizes)
- Sound machine
- Clothing: newborn (2–4 outfits), 0–3M (6–8 outfits), 3–6M (4–6 outfits)
- Newborn diapers (1 small pack — don't stock up, sizes change fast)
- Diapers: size 1–2 (larger quantity)
- Baby wipes (unscented)
- Diaper rash cream
- Diaper bag
Weeks 36–40: Close out your registry and buy what's left
In the final stretch, finalize your registry and purchase remaining essentials yourself. Most registries have a completion discount window — use it. Don't leave critical safety items (like a car seat) on the registry hoping someone will buy them.
Tasks this trimester
- Purchase your car seat yourself if it wasn't gifted — don't leave this to chance
- Use your registry completion discount to buy remaining uncovered items
- Wash all newborn and 0–3M clothing before baby arrives
- Install the car seat and have it inspected at a certified inspection station
- Set up the crib, bassinet, and changing station
- Stock the diaper station with initial supplies
- Prepare your hospital bag separately from your registry
Registry Tips
Tips for building a great registry
Register at 16–20 weeks
Early enough to share with family for shower planning, late enough that you've had time to research the big-ticket items.
Don't register for too many newborn items
Babies outgrow newborn sizing in days to weeks. A few newborn outfits is fine; stocking up is rarely worth it.
Buy the car seat yourself
Your car seat is a safety-critical item. Don't risk it being left as an unpurchased registry item. Buy it yourself and use your registry discount if available.
Check your breast pump insurance coverage first
Most insurance plans cover a breast pump at no cost under the ACA. Confirm your coverage before adding a pump to your registry.
Add items at multiple price points
Gift-givers have different budgets. Include items under $20 (like burp cloths, pacifiers) all the way up to large items. A registry with only big-ticket items leaves budget shoppers without options.
Don't wait to try the stroller
Test your stroller in person if possible — unfolding it one-handed and loading it into your car trunk matters more than it seems when you're sleep-deprived.
Registry timeline questions
When should I start a baby registry?
Most parents start their registry between 16–20 weeks. This gives you enough time to research big-ticket items before announcing it to family, and gets it online in time for most baby showers (which typically happen between weeks 28–34). Starting before 16 weeks is fine for saving items privately, but most people find they need more time to research before committing.
How early is too early to start a registry?
There's no harm in starting a private saved list during the first trimester — it's a good way to bookmark items as you research them without making anything public. The conventional advice is to make your registry shareable by around 20 weeks. Sharing a registry in the first trimester, before you've researched thoroughly and before you've told most people about the pregnancy, can create awkward situations.
What should I add to my registry first?
Start with the items that require the most research: the car seat, stroller, and crib. These have the biggest safety implications, the widest price ranges, and the most compatibility considerations (especially car seat + stroller combinations). Once you've locked in those three, the rest of the registry is easier to fill.
How many items should be on a baby registry?
Most registry guides recommend 60–100 items total. Too few and guests don't have enough to choose from; too many and the registry feels unfocused. A registry of 75 items across multiple price points gives a large family or workplace group plenty of options across all budgets. Include plenty of items under $30 — those go fast at showers.
Can I add things to my registry after my shower?
Yes. Most registry platforms allow updates at any time. After your shower, audit what you received versus what you still need, then use your registry completion discount (usually 10–20% off remaining items) to purchase the rest. Many parents find they still need to buy 30–50% of their original registry even after a shower.
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