As a mother of two, I can tell you that you don’t need to have that much stuff to have a baby.
Yes, some things are critical if you want to participate in the world we live in (I mean, you gotta get a car seat if you drive a car!), but you don’t have to buy into our modern baby culture that says you have to drop thousands of dollars on all the fancy little things in order to procreate. Sure, have your fun with it! But don’t feel bullied into it.
What I would like to see more of is new mamas putting SERVICES on their baby registries.
Like a doula fund, a meal train, hiring a cleaner to come a few times during postpartum, a postnatal massage, a pelvic floor therapist session, a postpartum doula, etc. These are the things can really make a difference in mama’s wellbeing (and therefore baby’s by extension!).
Having said that, sometimes a baby registry can be a great way to receive a few items that you know you’d like to invest in anyway. Like items that will improve the health of your entire family… you guessed it… food related items!
Here are my top 8 foodie things I would put on my registry if I could go back in time. Some of these can be used right away and some won’t be used for a little while (like the toddler tower). But all items on this list will last much longer than any newborn-sized onesie (as adorable as they are!), and they support the health of your growing family. Bonus points— all items are very reusable and generally plastic-free!
Don’t wanna buy new?— tell your mama friends these are the hand-me-downs you’re looking for! You can also buy them yourself and pass them on to a mama friend in the future.
#1 Breastmilk savers
Like Haaka Lady Bugs
If you plan on breastfeeding, you will likely want to freeze some of your milk to have available for baby at a later time. When you breastfeed your baby, your body will naturally let down some milk from the other boob as well (the one that baby isn’t latched onto!). This is especially true in the early months of postpartum.
Use a breastmilk catcher, or saver, to collect the natural let down and you can store this milk. I didn’t learn about these until my second baby and OH MY GOODNESS they are a true life saver! It’s amazing how much the body produces and how much you can save without having to pump at all if you just make the effort to use these milk catchers. I seriously can’t recommend them enough. I’m eight months postpartum at the time of writing this and I still use them! I recommend getting a pack of two.
#2 Small silicone molds (for freezing breastmilk and pureed foods)
Like My Milk trays by Souper Cubes
Well, you’re going to need something to freeze that breastmilk in! This is the alternative to freezing in small plastic bags (personally, I did both). A very cool thing about the My Milk trays is that the molds are the perfect size so that your frozen milk cubes will fit through the top of any standard sized bottle (how convenient!). This is also nice because you can control how much you defrost at at a time (you don’t have to defrost a whole bag of milk). Use it with your older babies too by popping a frozen cube into their morning green smoothie!
#3 Silicone bags for freezing
Like Stasher bags
Once you’ve frozen your milk, you gotta keep those cubes in something airtight! (Like my progression here?). These are also perfect for your fourth trimester freezer meal prep! And for reusing with meal prep for many years to come. You can even use these as you would any plastic bag or reusable container (like sending your kid to school with snacks). I recommend the larger sizes for meal prep, but a variety is great too.
#4 Glassware containers
If you don’t already have some, you need some solid glassware containers. These makes meal prep SO much easier and more sustainable. I’ve been using the same glassware containers for six years! And I literally use them almost every single day. This is my number one choice for anyone, anywhere. You will use these for yourself and for baby’s food in the future. Choose an option that is freezer safe and oven safe.
#5 Slow Cooker
Like Crockpot or Instapot
It may not seem baby related, oh but it is! This is how you will make your nourishing bone broth that will aid your pregnancy and postnatal recovery, and how you will easily heat up meals during postpartum. Nothing is more inviting for a sleep deprived mama than a meal that just has to be dumped into a crock pot. Walk away and come back to a ready to go meal!
#6 Reusable silicone squeeze pouches
This is a wonderful options for mamas who plan on making their own baby food. Squeeze pouches are super convenient to give your littles when you’re on the go or just having one of those days! Thankfully there is at least one good company out there making healthy baby food pouches (shout out to Serenity Kids!), but most other options on the market are full of sugary fruits. If you want to save money, add nutrition, and opt for a more sustainable option than single use pouches, try something like this. And remember, you don’t have to prescribe to any one way of feeding your baby! It’s okay to do a mix of purees, Baby Led Weaning, and using the occasional store bought pouch.
#7 Silicone bib, plate, cup, and utensils
Before you know it, baby will be learning how to feed himself! A few silicone bibs will save you a lot of mess and food waste. I liked having a silicone plate and cup as well (non toxic and it won’t break when he inevitably throws them— hooray!). I’m also a fan of a small set of stainless steel silverware when baby is ready.
#8 Toddler Tower
A toddler tower or stool is a sturdy step stool that has a back bar so your little one can’t tumble out. There’s usually some gripping on the mat too to help them feel stable. These are AMAZING for getting your little one involved in the kitchen! I whole-heartedly believe that kids are naturally curious about food and want to get involved with cooking. This is too perfect because the kitchen is where life long health is made! Get your kiddo involved as early as you can. When baby is young, prop her up safely so she can see what you’re up to. When she’s crawling, let her crawl around on the ground so she can feel the rhythm of the kitchen from the ground up. When she’s old enough to safely stand on her own, let her climb up on her tower at the kitchen counter and give her a non-breakable bowl and a wooden spoon to practice stirring with (this is lots of fun!). Soon she will be helping you sort veggies and actually getting involved with cooking. Giving her a special stool that is safe and comfortable is worth the investment. Ours is made of bamboo (it’s the one in the link below) and it looks really pretty in our kitchen. Re-purpose it later or pass it on to a friend.
Bonus #9 Postpartum Freezer Meals Ebook
My signature 92 page ebook which teaches you how to stock your freezer for the fourth trimester! Having nourishing foods ready to go for your postnatal recovery is a true game changer when it comes to stress, energy, time, and of course, proper nourishment. This is a perfect thing to put on your baby registry or grab now and start prepping asap! You can check out the guide here.
Are you a seasoned mama? Are there any things you would add to this foodie list? Share below!
Looking for more healthy goodies to add to your baby registry? Check out WishGarden Herbs’ Postpartum Essential Kit filled with organic herbal remedies for post birth. I’m a proud affiliate of WishGarden Herbs because I’ve used their products throughout my own pregnancy and postpartum journeys and found them so helpful! Find the kit and more herbal goodness for pregnancy, postpartum, and lactation here.
This page contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you choose to make a purchase. It should go without saying, but just in case, I only ever recommend products that I whole heartedly believe in, that I use in my own personal life, and that I would recommend to my best friend. I hope these resources are helpful to you!