It can still feel daunting to tackle the entire registry, even if you know what you want across the main categories of baby items. As with all things Kibou, our goal is to streamline and simplify--to pare down to only the essentials that serve a deliberate and necessary purpose from the moment you bring your little one home. 

So we asked baby registry expert, and Poppylist founder, Sarah to tell us the absolute essentials that parents need to have before baby arrives. Having the peace of mind that you’re prepared before your babe makes their appearance will let you rest a little easier (while you can!) and help ensure a smoother transition to life with your newest, tiniest family member. 

Sarah tells us:

I've selected these absolute essentials that you need to have before the baby arrives for a few reasons. First, they're the items I relied on most in the first few months of having my daughter. I've also spoken with hundreds of moms, and some of these items are those they wished they’d had sooner, or similarly that they relied on more than any other item they reviewed for purchase. 

Sidenote: I left diapers and wipes off this list in favor of some less obvious essentials, but I guess technically this is a 12 item list ;)

1. Car Seat (properly installed)
2. Bassinet/Crib or safe sleep arrangement already prepared
3. Fridababy Postpartum Recovery Essentials Kit
4. 1-2 swaddle blankets
5. Diaper changing station with essentials
6. 2-3 footed onesies or gowns
7. Haakaa
8. Diaper bag (Kibou)
9. Breast pump
10. Silverette Nipple Cups

The car seat is pretty obvious. For non-home births, you'll require the car seat to leave the hospital, and you'll have to make a few trips to the pediatrician and your doctor within the first 6 weeks, and perhaps, even more, if you visit a lactation consultant. For this reason, we've also added the Kibou bag since you'll want to carry that basic with you in the car (wipes, diapers, wallet, keys, etc.) for these trips. Unless there's a blowout, babies don't need frequent outfit changes, so go with a zip footie or gown for easy diaper changes that also double as warmth for the baby's sleep. The additional items are essential for the mom's recovery, ability to produce and store breastmilk, and heal the nipples. 

Of course, if you ask 10 parents for their top 10 essentials, each would give you a different list. So take this with a grain of salt; you may need more like 15 items. But the point remains, you don’t have to have fully furnished and decorated rooms with organized bins full of products to be prepared for your newborn’s arrival. We love Sarah’s list because it helps to give you a glimpse into what really matters those first few days and weeks.

Curious what Kibou founders Nell and Stephanie couldn’t live without? Click below to find out:

Kibou picks: Registry items that make your life easier from Nell & Steph

Want more tips on how to deliberately minimize your baby registry? Click below to read more:

Deliberately Minimal: Baby Registry Edition with Poppylist founder, Sarah Hollingsworth