Baby registry is basically a list of all the required products for your baby that you would like to collect from a retail store, in order to prepare for your little one’s arrival. This list can include everything, be it smaller items like thermometers, onesies etc to the bigger ones like strollers and cribs. After the list is done, you can present the baby registry to your family or friends or anyone willing to get gifts for the parents-to-be.
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Tips for Your Baby Registry
Where to register for baby?
Well, happily you have got enormous number of options to build your baby registry. It completely depends on you as to what your style choice and price range is. We have listed below some of the best places for you to register your baby.
The bump
The bump baby registry syncs your registry from all your favourite stores within just 24 hours. This will then make it a lot easier for you to share a single registry with all the guests.
Amazon
Amazon never fails to provide us with endless number of options. Universal as it is, we can choose from any number of items from any retailer all over. And now that we also have Amazon Prime, you can also get some exciting discounts thereon.
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Target
Are you looking for colourful clothing and fun nursery accents? This is the place you have been looking for! In fact, their universal feature also enables you to add items from other retailers. And finally, you will get a 15 percent discount on the remaining registry essentials.
Pottery barn kids
Want to create a sweet nursery décor for your little one? Here, you will get all of them like boho-inspired quilts, organic collections and much more. Indeed, in case you want to make an addition to something, you are always welcome to do that. And if you are purchasing for multiples, you will also get 10% discount.
Buy Buy baby
You will be getting a goody bag of samples and coupons when you will register with buy buy baby. Here, you can get anything like cleaning materials, clothes and car seats etc. Does your friend have a suggestion to make? He/she is always welcome to do that!
Crate & kids
They have got all the designed items in tons and also offer to provide free nursery design services. And you have got discounts and 10% discount on registry completion.
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What to register?
Oh well, this one is pretty hard and probably the toughest part of the job. Of course, it is completely up to you as to what you want to pick and add to the registry for your little one. But during this time, there is nothing like a wrong answer or a correct answer. Apart from what you personally wish to add to the list, there are certain items that are commonly important to all. Let’s get them all below:
- Bottles
- A breast pump (in case of breastfeeding)
- Formula (if not breastfeeding)
- Baby bouncer
- Stroller or baby carrier
- Infant car seat
- Bibs and burps cloths
- Cloth or disposable diapers and wipes
- Baby first aid kit
- Mattress cover and crib sheets
- Baby monitor
- Layette (set of new-born clothing)
What if you are going to have a second or a third baby? Then, you will need to add even more items to the list in addition to the ones that you have saved from your first baby. I know you can not reuse all the stuff that you have saved but there are certain items that are considered to be safe for reuse. Such items are:
- Cribs
- Cloth diapers
- Strollers
- Bouncers
- Baby monitor
- Blankets
- Clothes
- Glass bottles
- Toys
Although we have covered a major part of the checklist but there are still certain items that you will be needing for your little one. for instance:
- Disposable diapers and wipes
- Bottle nipples
- Pacifiers
- Car seat
- Bath supplies
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Baby items that you can skip to add to the registry
I know you have got a number of items that you want to add to your baby registry but there are always certain items that you can actually skip. Some of these items are listed below:
Wipe warmers
What matters is that the baby’s bottom should be clean regardless of the fact if the wiper is warm or cold. You can hold the wipe between your hands to heat it up, if you feel that it is too chilly for the baby.
Shoes
I can understand that shoes majorly contribute to the baby’s cuteness but what’s the need of shoes actually? After all the baby isn’t yet walking anywhere. Thus, for now you can just get some socks.
Infant chairs
There are two reasons why I would not recommend this. First is the price that is considerably very high because trust me, these chairs are going to be of no use in the first couple of months and secondly, as per research these are not considered to be good for the baby’s hip development. But then, Completely your choice.
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Books
Without any doubt, you are going to be gifted a number of them. But do you really think that you are going to get that much time in the first few days to actually read them? No, right!
Baby cloths
Whether you add them to the checklist or not, you are going to get them the most. Almost every next person will get baby cloths. So, you can just skin them in any case.
Baby registry: the checklist
There would a lot of things coming to your mind at the time being but just know that you have to stick to the most important ones first. We will take a number of necessary items into consideration that are to be added to the checklist. Read below:
Baby clothes
- Onesies – 4 to 8
- Undershirts – 4 to 8
- Blanket sleepers – 2
- Jackets or sweaters – 1 to 3
- One-piece pajamas – 4 to 8
- Socks or botties- 4 to 7
- Hats – 1 to 3
- Rompers – 1 to 3
- Bunting bag
Baby bedding
- Washable crib mattress pads – 1 to 3
- Heavy blankets – 1 to 2
- Soft and light blankets – 1 to 2
- Fitted crib sheets – 2 to 4
Diapering
- Diaper bag
- Diaper cream
- Changing table
- Soft washcloths
- Cloth diapers – 6 to 10 dozen
- Diaper covers – 6 to 8
- Large boxes of disposable newborn size diapers – 2 to 3
- Unscented baby wipes
Feeding
- Bottles and nipples – 10 to 16, both 4- and 8- ounce
- Milk storage bags (if plan to breastfeed)
- Pump (if plan to breastfeed)
- Nursing pads (if plan to breastfeed)
- Nursing pillow (if plan to breastfeed)
- Nipple cream (if plan to breastfeed)
- Burp cloths
- Bottle brush
- Formula (if not nursing)
- Pacifiers – 2 to 4
- Bibs – 4 to 8
- Dishwasher basket
Baby gear
- Infant car seat
- Stroller
- High chair
- Bouncer
- Playard with bassinet
Health- related products
- First aid kit
- Thermometer
- Nail clippers
- Petroleum jelly and sterile gauze
Bath
- Soap
- Shampoo
- Bathtub
- Soft towels – 2 to 4
- Hairbrush
- Laundry detergent
- Soft washcloths
When to register?
It is completely your choice as to when you want to create a baby registry. Although, a number of moms-to-be begin with creating a baby registry when they are about 12 weeks. Some of you may find this too early but baby registry can take a lot of time. So, you have to start with it accordingly.
On the other side, some parents also wait for their baby’s arrival so that they can know their baby’s sex and accordingly make their colour and design choices. But you will need to wait for much longer for your baby’s arrival and you may not be able to create baby registry at the end moment. Thereby, make sure that you have got plenty of time to make thorough research and add the items to your baby registry.
Where to register?
Now, you have got two choices in this, online or in-store and it is completely dependent on you. Of course, creating multiple registries is going to create a lot of fuss and confusion among your friends and relatives. But do you think if you register at a particular store, all your relatives living far away can access the items? No, right? So, it is always a preferred choice of most of the moms-to-be to create registry both online as well as in store.
How to create a registry?
For parents
The parents are required to go to the store and create a registry. Generally, parents themselves enter their required information into a kiosk computer or they can also ask the store clerk to set up the registry. The bar code of all the items they wish to have are then scanned. These items are then downloaded into a computer file by the clerk and the registry is done.
If you are registering online, the parents can directly enter the information into a special section of the store’s website and all your friends and family will have access to the site.
For friends
When a friend or a family member decides to purchase a product, he/she goes to the store where the parents registered and print a copy of the registry from the kiosk. They can then find the item they want to purchase. The cashier scans the registry paper when anyone makes a purchase of the listed items and that particular items is removed from the registry. In case you have registered online, your friends and family can also use the registry on the store’s website to shop online.
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Do’s and don’ts
There are certain things that you should keep in mind while building up a registry for your baby. We will discuss a few do’s and don’ts that you should consider during the process:
Do’s
- First and foremost is the registration that you should make both online as well as in-store. This is because there are certain things that you can purchase online whereas, there are certain items that you would want to see and test personally before making a purchase. For instance, car seats, diaper bags etc.
- Pick those big as well as small items. Not everyone would want to spend too much buying the expensive stuff, so give them options.
- Remember, you are not just making a checklist for your guests but for yourself as well. This is an actual list of things that you need and not just a list of what you want others to buy for you. Show no hesitation in including items like diapers, baby shampoo, bottles etc.
- Include items that others may not consider. For instance, lullaby’s CDs, nursing supplies, book about infant care etc.
Don’ts
- Pick items that are only going to be of use in the short term. Rather pick those items that will also be useful after the first 3 months. Also, register seasonal items for your baby depending on the place you live in.
- Don’t stress yourself if you do not get all the required things at once. You will have plenty of time even after your baby is born. So, if all your friends just gift you those cute baby outfits and nothing else. Relax and let it be!
- Don’t register everything in abundance. Trust me, you are going to have it all in extras at the end because some people will not even refer to your registry and get things on their own.
- Don’t walk into a store without any prior research. Discuss about the items with your friends and family, read customer reviews, consider your needs and also involve your partner whenever possible. It’s going to be of no use if you just get into the store thinking you can pick up anything because at the end it will turn to be absolutely opposite.
Conclusion:
I hope the given information was of help to you. Remember, make a wise choice by registering items that are of use to you and your little one in the short as well as long term. Haven’t created a checklist yet? Go for it now!
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