Not everything you can purchase to make life easier with a baby comes off a registry! Below are seven items to consider adding to your home that you can enjoy now, but will be exceptionally helpful when a baby comes into the picture!

Please note, I only recommend products I have personally used. I also receive commissions on qualifying purchases as an Amazon affiliate when readers purchase products by clicking on the links provided in blue

1. Keyless Entry or Smart Lock

Purpose: Pet care or home care while in hospital. Regular childcare service such as a nanny.

This is a great purchase to allow trusted individuals inside your home while you are away without leaving the door unlocked or handing copies of your house key out. Plus, you can avoid being locked out.

I opted for a keyless entry garage door opener. It allows access through the garage with a four-digit code that can be changed at any time. I ordered this one and could not believe how affordable it was.  and installation took five minutes! Before purchasing, you will need to confirm that the product will work with your lift’s year and brand.

Smart locks are another option that offer more features but come with a higher price tag. Some locks keep track of times an individual is in and out of the house with personalized access codes. Other locks can be locked/unlocked remotely. This may be a better purchase if you are hiring a nanny who will need regular access to your home.

2. Chest Freezer

Purpose: Freezer meal prep, breast milk storage.

If you have the space, I HIGHLY recommend purchasing a chest freezer. Your regular freezer will fill up fast if you are preparing freezer meals for after the baby is born. The extra freezer space is great for storing pumped breast milk as well. 

Chest freezers come in different sizes. My 5.0 cubic feet freezer is only 28 inches wide by 20 inches depth, so it fits great in my small house. I recommend purchasing as large as your budget and space allows, because with a growing family it will fill up fast! 

Having a chest freezer is a great way to save money on food costs by stocking up during sales or buying in bulk. A stocked freezer can allow you to be prepared for an emergency (quarantine lockdowns for example) and can save you less trips to the store.  

3. Beauty Fridge

Purpose: Bottle refrigeration 

For less than $100, you can purchase a little refrigerator to hold your baby’s bottles. Those middle of the night feedings are tiresome! I live in a two-story house. When my baby would wake, I would have to carry her downstairs to retrieve her bottle from the fridge. After she fed, I had to carry her back up the steps like a ninja so she wouldn’t wake up. All of that changed when my sister gave me a mini fridge that I could place in the nursery. Instead of walking all the way downstairs, I could walk a few steps down the hall.

According to Enfamil’s website, premixed baby formula can be stored for up to 24 hours in a refrigerator at 35 – 40 degrees Fahrenheit as long as the baby has not drunk from the bottle. Make sure your mini fridge cools at this range. Many “beauty fridges” do not, so check carefully! 

Here’s a fridge that can cool your baby bottles safely and comes in different shades to match your nursery: 

Hot Tip: Babies do not need warm bottles. In fact, mine drinks her cold from the fridge. This eases them to transitioning to cold cow’s milk later in life and taking the rotavirus vaccine, which is stored cold and given orally.

If you don’t end up using bottles, put a bottle of your own favorite beverage in there to stay chilled and have handy for breastfeeding sessions.

4. Motion Nightlights

Purpose: Nighttime feedings

Speaking of nighttime feedings…it is a great idea to purchase motion-sensing night lights and place them in hallways, near stairs and anywhere you will be walking during the night. They’re bright enough to make walking at night safely without disturbing your baby. They also allow you to have both hands on your sweet baby instead of fumbling for a switch. 

I like these nightlights because they can be removed from the base and used as a flashlight during a power outage and I know right where to locate them!

Purpose: Air purification and white noise 

As a parent we want to strive to create the most perfect environment for our fragile babies. An air purifier filters out allergens and allow for cleaner air. I already had air purifiers before I became pregnant, however, I realized after Berry was born that they can double as white noise when set to high setting! Babies, especially infants, LOVE white noise! This product will serve as double duty and save you from buying a separate white noise machine!

I really like this model, because it’s slim and has a UV light to kill germs in the air. It’s more affordable than some brands and I can tell when changing the filter that it does a good job! 

Purpose: Baby crawling and playtime

Hardwood floors are all the rage but may leave bruises on a crawling baby! You can purchase baby knee pads, but if you want to provide comfort and transform your space at the same time, investing in an area rug or two will do the trick! 

7. Extra Outdoor Trash Can

If you set your trash on the curb for pickup, investing in an extra trash can is a good idea when expecting if your can(s) are currently already filling up.

I had so much trash accumulation during my pregnancy. There was so much packaging that needed discarded from everything ordered for the baby, especially large items like the nursery furniture. Trash day after the baby shower was insane!

Hot Tip: Save the actual product boxes for baby items you will consider reselling or passing on when no longer needed.

You will find with an extra person in the house, your garbage volume will increase. It’s not the most fun purchase but will definitely be of use!