What to Put on a Baby Registry: A Complete Guide for New Parents in Finland

Having a baby is one of the most exciting things that can happen in your life. It is also, if you are honest about it, one of the most logistically complicated. In a short window of time you go from owning almost nothing baby-related to needing feeding equipment, sleep gear, clothing, bath supplies, a pram, a car seat, and approximately forty-seven other things you had never thought about before.

A baby registry exists to solve exactly this problem. Instead of receiving five of the same swaddle blanket and nothing you actually needed, you create a list of specific items and share it with the people who want to give you gifts. They pick something from the list, reserve it so nobody else buys the same thing, and you end up with things your baby will actually use.

If you are based in Finland, registry culture is less established than in the United States or United Kingdom, but it is growing. Many families find it genuinely useful, particularly for coordinating gifts among extended family members who live abroad or who simply want to make sure they are giving something the baby actually needs rather than guessing.

This guide walks you through the categories to consider and the specific items worth including, along with some practical advice on building a list that works for everyone.

Sleep

Sleep is where you will spend a significant portion of your budget and where getting the right items matters most for safety.

What to include

• A cot or bedside bassinet. In Finland, the traditional baby box (äitiyspakkaus) from Kela includes a cardboard box that functions as a safe first sleeping space, but many parents also want a proper cot for longer term use.
• A firm, flat mattress that fits the cot precisely. This is a safety item, not a place to cut costs.
• A waterproof mattress protector. Accidents are inevitable and having a protector means you are not washing the mattress itself at 3am.
• Fitted cot sheets, at least three to four so you always have clean ones available while others are in the wash.
• Sleep sacks in multiple sizes. Finnish winters mean you will use these heavily. Size up as the baby grows.
• A baby monitor. In Finland it is very common to put babies down for naps in their pram on the patio or balcony, even in winter. A monitor lets you keep an ear on things while you are inside. Audio monitors are the most practical starting point though video monitors have their fans too.
• A white noise machine or app, though this is lower priority.

Quantity guidance: Two to three sets of sheets, one to two mattress protectors, two to three sleep sacks in newborn and 0-6 month sizes.

Feeding

Whether you plan to breastfeed, formula feed, or a combination, you will need equipment for all of it.

What to include

• A breast pump if you plan to breastfeed. Check whether your neuvola provides one on loan before putting this on your registry. It does not have to be electric but an electric pump is considerably more comfortable and efficient. I had a lot of trouble with latching right after my baby was born and having an electric pump ready at home was a genuine relief — I was still able to feed breast milk while figuring out nursing. If you know you will be pumping regularly, a hands-free model is also worth considering as it frees up both hands during feeds.
• Breast milk storage bags.
• Nursing pads, both washable and disposable. The disposable pads hold considerably more liquid and in my experience were also less visible under clothing, which matters more than you might expect in the early weeks.
• A nursing pillow. These get used constantly and are genuinely useful.
• Bottles in two or three different styles. Babies can be very particular about which type they will accept. Many Finnish baby stores include a sample bottle in their free baby packages, which is actually a great way to figure out what your baby prefers before committing to buying a full set of one style.
• A bottle steriliser, though it is worth knowing this is somewhat optional. You should sanitise bottles in a boiling pot of water the first time you use them, but after that washing thoroughly with soap and water using a dedicated bottle brush and a clean drying area is perfectly adequate for most families. An electric steriliser is convenient but not essential.
• A bottle brush and dedicated drying rack.
• Formula if you plan to use it, though this is better purchased as needed rather than in bulk before the baby arrives.
• Bibs, many of them. The waterproof silicone style with a catch tray becomes essential around weaning age.

Quantity guidance: 4-6 bottles across two or three styles to start, 6-8 bibs, 2-3 nursing pillows.

Clothing

This is the category most likely to generate duplicates and the category where both price range and quantity guidance matter most for Finnish gift-givers.

Finnish seasonal dressing for babies is well documented and your neuvola will provide guidance, but as a general framework the rule of thumb is to dress the baby in one more layer than you are wearing. Many Finnish parenting sites publish temperature charts showing exactly what to put on at each temperature range and it is worth bookmarking one of these for reference.

Summer (above 15°C)

• Short-sleeved bodysuits, 3-5 in size 50-56 (newborn) and 5-7 in size 62-68 (0-3 months)
• Baby pants in light cotton, 3-4 pairs per size. If you choose footless pants, add lightweight socks to your list — I personally preferred footed pants because my daughter refused to keep her socks on, but both approaches work fine.
• Light cotton sleepsuits, 3-4 per size
• A sun hat
• Light cotton blanket for pram

Autumn and spring (5-15°C)

• Long-sleeved bodysuits as a base layer, 3-5 in size 50-56 and 5-7 in size 62-68
• Baby pants in thicker cotton or jersey, 3-4 pairs per size. Again, if footless, include warm socks — they disappear constantly so buy more than you think you need.
• Warm sleepsuits or fleece all-in-ones, 3-4 per size
• A light outdoor suit or thick cardigan
• Warm hat and mittens

Winter (below 5°C)

• Thermal base layer bodysuits, 3-4 per size
• Baby pants in thermal or fleece material, 3-4 pairs per size. Footed options are especially useful in winter since keeping socks on a wriggling baby in the cold is its own challenge.
• Warm mid-layer sleepsuits, 3-4 per size
• A proper winter outdoor suit. Reima is a Finnish brand specifically worth including on your registry — their outdoor suits are well-made, warm, and durable enough to be passed on to siblings or friends.
• Winter hat, mittens, and warm socks — even if you choose footed pants, you will want warm socks for indoor use and for layering inside the outdoor suit.

Important note on clothing quantities: Do not over-register on newborn sizing. Babies grow out of size 50-56 in a matter of weeks. Three to five bodysuits and a few pairs of pants in newborn size is plenty. Focus your registry on sizes 62 and 68 where babies tend to spend more time.

Price range note: A set of three bodysuits might be 15-25 euros while a quality outdoor suit from Reima might be 60-80 euros. Include items across this range so every guest can find something within their budget.

Bath and Care

What to include

• A baby bath or bath support insert for the regular bath.
• Hooded towels, at least two.
• Washcloths. We bought a large pack of washcloth-sized muslins and it was genuinely one of the best purchases we made. We used them constantly and for almost everything — wiping faces, cleaning up spills, burp cloths, you name it. Get more than you think you need.
• Baby-safe soap and shampoo. Finnish pharmacy brands are well-regarded for sensitive skin.
• A changing mat with a waterproof cover.
• Nappy cream.
• A baby nail file. I found an electric nail file made this much easier — it ensured I did not accidentally nick my baby's skin and she did not mind the sensation at all. Much less stressful than scissors or a regular file.
• A soft-bristled baby hairbrush.
• An ear thermometer. Faster and easier than other types, especially in the middle of the night.
• An electric nasal aspirator. If you do not mind using a manual one, more power to you, but the electric version makes clearing a blocked nose significantly easier for everyone involved.

Travel and Getting Around

This is where the largest single purchases tend to land. A pram or stroller is often the item that extended family members want to contribute to, and a registry helps coordinate who is buying what.

What to include

• A pram or stroller suited to Finnish conditions. Finland's winter pavement means you want something with good wheels for both snow and urban surfaces. This is worth researching carefully before adding to your registry since the right choice depends on your lifestyle, neighbourhood, and whether you use public transport.
• A car seat appropriate for newborns. In Finland all children must be in an approved car seat, and rear-facing seats are recommended for as long as possible. Note that you will need a car seat to bring your baby home from the hospital — you cannot simply carry them out in your arms, so this needs to be arranged before your due date. We got a spinning car seat and it made getting the baby in and out considerably easier than a fixed seat, especially in tight parking spots.
• A baby carrier or sling. These are genuinely useful for the first months and many Finnish parents use them extensively, particularly for the patio nap culture mentioned above. When using a carrier, the baby should be held in a natural position with legs in an M-shape and back rounded. The Pathways.org babywearing guide and this guide from Arizona Orthopedic Physical Therapy both have clear visual references worth bookmarking before you start.
• A changing bag with enough compartments to keep things organised.

For Mom: Postpartum and Recovery

This category is often overlooked on baby registries but matters enormously. The weeks after birth are physically demanding and having the right items for the mother's recovery makes a real difference.

What to include

• Comfortable, loose postpartum clothing.
• Nursing bras in multiple sizes, since size changes significantly in the early weeks.
• Postpartum care products including maternity pads and any items your midwife recommends.
• Nutritious snacks and meal preparation help. Consider asking family members to organise meal deliveries or home-cooked meals for the first few weeks instead of traditional gifts — this is often more appreciated than anything on a registry.
• A good water bottle that can be used one-handed.
• A comfortable nursing or feeding chair if budget allows.

A Few Practical Tips for Building Your Registry

• Include a range of prices. Not every guest has the same budget. A registry that consists entirely of items over 100 euros can feel exclusionary to relatives who want to give something meaningful but cannot afford a large gift. Include items at every price point from 15 euros upward.
• Do not over-register on clothing. Babies grow so quickly that too much clothing in one size is genuinely wasteful. A few well-chosen pieces in each size is better than a large quantity.
• Update your registry as you receive gifts. If someone gives you a car seat at a baby shower, remove it from your registry so nobody else buys the same thing.
• Think about Finnish store availability. If your guests are based in Finland, adding items from Finnish retailers makes it easy for them to purchase locally. Stores like Reima, Finlayson, Verkkokauppa, IKEA Finland, and Lastentarvike carry many of the items on this list.
• Share your registry link directly. The most effective way to share a registry is to include the link in any messages or invitations you send to family and friends. Do not assume people will search for it themselves.

Ready to Create Your Registry?

Wishper is a free wish list platform built specifically for parents and couples in Finland and the Nordics. You can add items from any Finnish or Nordic store, share a single link with family and friends, and guests can reserve what they are buying so nothing gets duplicated. No account required for guests, no payment processing, just a clean list that works with the stores you actually shop at.

Create your free registry at wishper.gift.

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