These are the brands I like best. In most cases the other brands don't necessarily suck either...unless I specifically mention one (i.e. Bjorn carriers. Hard pass on those.) Imma go ahead and say that the most important things on your registry should be the car seat and stroller. They’ll get the most use of anything you get for your kid, and are worth splurging on good ones (and new ones, for that matter). Everything else, if you can get it second hand/craigslist/garage sales, DO IT. Better for your wallet, better for the earth.  Infant car seat: UppaBaby Mesa. I love the "no re-thread" harness on this one, it looks expensive (but isn’t as expensive as some of the higher end ones), and the safety rating is very high. Plus the base is foolproof to install and that is a game changer for an infant seat. And the canopy is awesome.

High end and amazing: Nuna Pipa, Cybex Aton 2 (or Q).

Totally fine and cheaper: Graco and Britax

Further reading: The Car Seat Blog. Good stuff for car seat nerds.Stroller: Baby Jogger City Mini GT. And I have tried THEM ALL. Easy (and small) fold, turns on a dime, super rugged, big basket, seat easily reclines to flat (read: you can change a diaper in this stroller. Not possible with most strollers.), big seat for tall Dutch kids. Best ever. (might want to think about adapter for car seat you choose, but honestly, I don’t tend to use car seat with stroller often...I either have baby in carrier/ring sling or I put them in the stroller.)

I also really like the Bumbleride Indie, especially if you intend to run with baby, but that’s a higher price point and it’s bulky to take in a car.

Cheaper option: The Britax BeAgile is very similar to the City Mini, and you can get it as a travel system (stroller + car seat) which will save you even more money overall. The car seat and stroller are slightly less cool than the Mesa and City Mini, but Britax IS a respected name in the biz, especially in car seats. Very safe, high quality. High Chair: Oxo Tot Sprout. Easy to clean, Sleek looking (rare in a high chair), Ergonomic Design, comes in tons of color combinations. Ps Oxo Tot'sroll up bibs are the best too. You can put them in the Dishwasher. I swear by them.

Cheaper option: Ikea. The thing is super cheap ($20, I think?) and LEGENDARY because it’s actually nice looking and wipes down easily.

Bottom line: don't go with anything with a cloth seat. Food gets stuck in every crevice and it's a nightmare.

Baby Carrier:  You'll definitely want a carrier--they truly are a lifesaver. I swear by the Tula. By far the best patterns and most ergonomic for baby.Ergo/Boba/Beco aren’t bad either, just more commercial. Definitely no on the bjorn. Not good for a baby's hips. 

I also really love ring slings--Sakura Bloom's linen ones are gorgeous and Beco makes one that I have and love that was fairly reasonably priced. Solly Baby wraps are also nice--stretchy and pretty and great when baby is tiny...but kind of complicated to get on and get tight enough. Diaper Bag: Skip Hop. They have a lot of styles and patterns. They may not be as trendy as some, but they hold up forever and are just really well designed, plus really good price point compared to a lot of bags out there. Honestly, my favorite diaper bag is actually a lululemon gym bag. As long as it's big and has lots of pockets, it'll work.

Note: If someone is footing the bill for a super nice bag for you, I recommend the MZ Wallace or Lily Jade. Changing Table: Keekaroo Peanut. Tons of colors, soft and squishy, slip resistant, antimicrobial, doesn't need a cover (you just wipe it down).

Total game changer, worth every penny. I looooove this thing.

Cheaper option: The floor. Put a changing pad or blanket under baby, you’re fine. Harder on your back, but you know. Free.Baby Bathtub: Boon Naked. This collapses flat for storage and you can pop one side up when the baby is a newborn to keep them upright.

Cheaper option: the sink. If your kitchen or bathroom sink will work, use that. For real. No judgies. Diaper Pail: Ubbi. A little pricy, but cool. Truly doesn't stink, and uses regular garbage bags. Tons of colors.

Cheaper option: a regular trash can...or just throw diapers in your regular trash. If you take it out often, it’s not a big deal at all. Swaddle blankets: Aden and Anais. By far the best. These get so much use, and are great for draping over car seats too. For naps and at night, the swaddleme is amazing. It stays wrapped with velcro so baby can’t “bust out.” As baby gets older and starts breaking out of the swaddle, the Merlin’s Magic Sleep Suit is truly magical--I SWEAR by it. Plus it’s so hilarious looking. Bottles: I love Lifefactory (glass) because I'm crunchy like that. The "hot" bottle right now is the Comotomo, they're silicone and empty like a boob. Pretty cool. The only one I would caution against is the Dr. Browns. They have a million parts, tend to leak and are generally a pain in the ass, and I’m not really sure they actually do much to prevent gas, which is what they’re supposed to do.

Cheap and Awesome: Playtex VentAire. I used these with the twins. We literally had 4 bottles for the two of them and that was all we ever needed. Easy to clean, no gassy baby issues. Bottle Drying Rack: Boon Lawn (and accessories). Super cute, super functional.

Cheaper option: Just dry the bottles and stuff on a towel in your kitchen. No shame there. Or put them in the dishwasher! That works too. The dishwasher baskets they make for baby stuff are great, you can throw all the bottle parts and pacifiers in there and they won’t get lost in the dishwasher.

Diapers: You can try Seventh Gen for unbleached, but that gets pricy in a hurry. I'm honestly a die hard Huggies snug and dry fan (Amazon Mom on recurring delivery is the cheapest). Or you could go cloth...it's just a ton of work, plus ick factor. If you can get your friends and family to pay for a cloth diaper service as part of your registry, that would rock. I have a lot of opinions on cloth diapers (current nanny babe is in cloth), so let me know if you decide you want to try that route and I’ll write another novel! I will say, cloth will definitely reduce (not eliminate--SO much water for laundry…) your babe’s carbon footprint, but it is NOT necessarily cheaper and it’s a lot of work. I can see the appeal, but probably wouldn’t do it for my own kids.