Life is busy!
And when you’re taking the family out and about, having the right gear makes all the difference. For this part of my registry, I wanted to keep things simple, knowing I’d pick up more along the way based on our lifestyle, and you should feel the flexibility to do the same! Build your baby gear around your life, and it’ll make things smoother and less stressful.
In this post, I’m sharing the transportation essentials you’ll want to include on your registry from the start. Some of these items were borrowed and loved, some items I went through a couple options before landing on what we liked.
**Some links in this post are affiliate links and I do make commissions off your purchase at no extra cost to you! Thank you for your support!
📝 How This Guide Works
I’m breaking down the necessities for getting about and about with your baby: car seat essentials, strollers/carriers, diaper bags, and on-the-go must-haves.
- Look for the ⭐ for my must-have favorites.
- A 👍 means it’s nice-to-have, but not necessarily essential right away. It might be something you borrow or wait to purchase later.
🛒 For a quick glance at all these items – check out this Amazon Idea List so you can easily add them to your registry!
🚗 CAR SEAT ESSENTIALS
⭐ Infant Car Seat
We had the Nuna PIPA™ which sadly isn’t available anymore – so if I was going about this again, I’d go for the Evenflo Pivot Suite Travel System with LiteMax Infant Car Seat with Anti-Rebound Bar. It seems very similar to the Nuna travel system I have, PLUS it has the option for the bassinet mode – which I wish we had!
We were also given the Doona Infant Car Seat & Base, and I highly recommend it for new parents! It was awesome to not need to transfer your baby from the car seat to a stroller or carrier, especially for quick errands.. The Doona is perfect for on-the-go moms.
Now that my son has outgrown the infant seat, we’re using the Evenflo Gold Revolve360 Extend All-in-One Rotational Car Seat and loving it every day. I’ve been impressed with the Evenflo brand overall!
PRO TIP: No matter what car seat you choose, find a local Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician to check your installation! Use the National CPS website to find one near you. This gave me so much peace of mind, and she even gave us tips specific to our car seats.
⭐ Soft-Sided Car Mirror
We use the GoldBug Soft Sided Car Mirror. I prefer soft-sided car mirrors just in case it comes loose in an accident – safety first!
⭐ Emergency Identification Kit
Having a way to identify your child in an emergency is so important! I found this ROTH ID brand through social media and was blown away that this isn’t something we think about immediately. We now have ID stickers for both car seats and just got the traveler’s kit they released as well. These give me a huge peace of mind.
👶 STROLLERS & CARRIERS
⭐ Stroller
As I mentioned above, we had the Nuna system, but Evenflo Pivot Suite Travel System would be my pick if I was registering today! Friends have also loved the UppaBaby and Mockingbird – both great options to check out!
⭐ Baby Carrier
Soft Cloth Wraps – Solly Wrap, Boba Wrap, Moby wrap, ring sling carriers
These are perfect for the early months when your baby is tiny and snuggly. I used our Boba Wrap constantly for naps and outings until my son was around 8 or 9 months. I moved to a more structured carrier after that.
Structured Carriers – Wildbird, Ergo Baby, Artipoppe
We have the Wildbird Aerial Carrier and LOVE IT. We used it for walks, errands, and just hanging at the farmer’s market on a chill Saturday morning. It’s comfortable, easy to adjust, and supportive on the shoulders.
👕 DIAPER BAGS & ON-THE-GO MUST-HAVES
⭐ Diaper Bag
We have the Large KeaBabies Baby Diaper Bag Backpack and still use it every day. It’s been perfect from newborn days to toddlerhood. It fits everything without being too bulky.
👍 Stroller Fan
We have two of these Stroller Fans with a Flexible Tripod, – super convenient to hook onto the stroller or carry by hand during walks.
👍 Noise Canceling Ear Protection
If you enjoy concerts, sports, or any loud family events, this is a must. We’ve used both of these and they stay on well:
👍 Clear Packing Cubes
A dream for organizers like me! These Clear Toiletry Bags keep all the small things in the diaper bag from floating around. You can easily see what’s inside – no more digging for diaper cream. These haven’t failed me yet.
⭐ Clothes
An obvious and fun registry item to go wild on. I went pretty basic on my registry, because I knew I’d be getting the gifter’s choice of cute clothes galore. I also shop at second-hand sales for his clothes or borrow from friends, because they grow so quickly. From 0-12 months, I really found myself just rotating the same 7-8 short sleeve and long sleeve onesies depending on the season and included 3-4 long pants for colder months. Socks are a must. Shoes are cute, but unnecessary if you don’t want to have a bunch of tiny shoes around.
Clothing is a fun registry item, but I kept it basic since people love gifting adorable outfits. I also shopped second-hand and borrowed from friends since babies grow so fast!
From 0–12 months, I kept these items in rotation depending on the season:
- 7–8 short and long sleeve onesies
- 3–4 long pants for colder months
- Plenty of socks
- Shoes? Cute, but in my opinion they are not necessary at this stage. Babies receive a lot of sensory information about their environment through their hands and feet!
⭐ Brimmed Hats & Beanies
Great for sunny days and chilly outings. We used:
- Baby Toddler Bucket Hat
- Sun Hat Summer UPF 50+.
- Baby Knit Beanies – super soft and cozy for winter
Pack and Play & Slumberpod
These aren’t truly essential unless you plan to travel frequently. We mostly visited our hometown, so we just left a foldable crib at the grandparents’ house!
🏆 My Top 5 Must-Have Transportation & Gear Items
As a new mom, I’m so thankful to have had these from the start:
- Doona Infant Car Seat – The ease of mobility is worth the investment
- Wildbird Aerial Baby Carrier – Made outings smoother and cozier
- Diaper Bag – Holds everything and grows with your child
- Brimmed Hats & Beanies – No matter the season, having a hat or beanie in the diaper bag just made me feel prepared
- Clear Packing Cubes – Game changer for diaper bag organization
Let’s Pack This Up!
No matter your lifestyle – whether you’re a homebody or a travel lover – having the right transportation essentials will help you feel confident and prepared! These are the basics I recommend to get you and baby on the move.
And remember: you can always add things later as your season of life changes. Borrow from your mama besties when you can, and give yourself grace as you figure out what works best for you. Check out the Part 4: Ultimate Baby Registry Guide & Advice series where I share feeding essentials—what we actually used.
Go be Loyal & Limitless, my friends!