Registries?

[nurserachel22]

Hopefully we are far enough along to discuss this topic now! What are the most important things you will be choosing/ have chosen to put on your registry list for your baby shower? I am grateful for anything, but just wanted to see where everyone's head is at! I have seen registry lists, but sometimes they can be a little over the top. Want to hear from my real peeps.

[beebe918]

I'm a FTM so have nothing baby related. I think the most important (in terms of most needed) things I put on my registry would be the car-seat and crib. Although I tried to only put things I really want on the registry so in a way everything is equally important because I will probably buy most if not all of things that aren't gifted to me.

I love looking at real people's registries. I tried to search just generic names like Jane Smith on different sites so I could see what people had on their registries/what people bought off the registries but I almost all the ones I could find had nothing purchased even if the due date had passed.

[mpiemont]

The registry list from BRU is the most asinine document ever. Please don't register for everything they tell you that you will need.

I haven't made a registry since late 2010 so I'm probably not the best person to ask specifics, but I do remember not registering for even half of the stuff they tell you to.

[mlbrooks]

I registered this past weekend and a friend who has a 1.5 yr old went with me. I felt like I only registered for pretty much necessities but it was still really overwhelming. My most important things I currently need are: stroller/car seat, crib mattress. My mom is buying us the crib. I've got furniture (table/dresser, glider chair, swing) that I bought second hand.

[Poppy]

I agree, BRUs list was massive. She also said to register for 7 things per shower guest I just chosen favorite thing from each department. And a million sheets because they were so cute. We have a lot of large items on the registry but we plan on buying them ourselves and using the completion discount.

[mariisz]

I have not chosen a place to register yet. I am using the app BabyList to just gather everything I want for now. I get overwhelmed though with all the things they suggest! I am sticking to the basics.

[smilesp]

Jan 21, 2015 22:01:28 GMT -5 beebe918 said:

I'm a FTM so have nothing baby related. I think the most important (in terms of most needed) things I put on my registry would be the car-seat and crib. Although I tried to only put things I really want on the registry so in a way everything is equally important because I will probably buy most if not all of things that aren't gifted to me.

I love looking at real people's registries. I tried to search just generic names like Jane Smith on different sites so I could see what people had on their registries/what people bought off the registries but I almost all the ones I could find had nothing purchased even if the due date had passed.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who looks at random registries!

[viola]

Those registry lists are obnoxious.
I'm registered for things like our carseat, crib, crib mattress, stroller, sheets and mattress pad, aden and anais swaddlers, a rock n play, some books, a few cloth diaper necessities (snappis, workhorses, and wet bags), and a baby k'tan
I didn't see the point in registering for anything like clothes, toys, or bath stuff because you're going to get that stuff from people (if you have a shower) anyways.
My registry is mostly for the coupon and so I don't forget the stuff I've researched and picked out. I have little hope of getting a shower.

[nurserachel22]

Jesslfar I think it bothers ME more putting larger ticket items on. I'm kind of like... Who will really buy us a travel system? Lol, maybe someone will... I just don't really see it.

[laur1020]

nurserachel22 I'd add a few big items like a stroller, car seat, pack n play. I think sometimes the grandparents or a group of friends/siblings chip in and buy large items together. I remember my mom and aunts doing this whenever someone in the family had a baby.

[lezzie82]

Make sure you register in all price categories.. from expensive to 10 to 15 bucks. This way even the broke friends can get you something, .therwise I just registered stuff I thought i would use and a few things I thought were cute.

A lot of people bought me things off registry and I actually liked the surprise of it all! You can't go wrong, you can aways return. Either way it's an amazing gift,

[slane]

Target has a good registry list to go by, they include it in their welcome package you get at customer service after you start your registry. It also includes a mam pacifier, a munchkin latch bottle that sells for 8-10$, a diaper and wipes travel clutch, a lotion sample, a few breast milk pouches and nursing pads and $1 coupon off a Starbucks drink. I was jealous when I went with a friend of mine who is pregnant, she did her registry there and online, when the lady at customer service saw both of us she gave me a bag too. It was a nice little surprise since its #3 and I am not doing a registry or shower.

[cbrandt1]

Honestly, we looked at our registry as more of a list of things we need to buy. It has items in every price point. We chose to register at Amazon because it's a universal registry. Their set up guide was great too, it listed the (maybe ten) necessary items and then you added from there based off what you think you'll need. I think I actually got a helping hand from Baby Centers (?) registry list. I can't 100% remember.

Ours did turn out to be incredibly long, but I'm not expecting to receive all of it. And the completion discount on what's left will be incredibly helpful! I also had to realize that we are choosing to cloth diaper and we registered for a variety of those and things that go with them, whereas people who use disposables wouldn't put diapers on their registry. It was basically my way of saying, " hey, we are CDing so no need to gift regular diapers" for those family members who don't necessarily ask those kinds of specifics.

[Deleted]

I registered at BRU mostly and Target as a secondary (mostly for the goodie bag, but it is more convenient for the little stuff I'll buy myself), and my BRU registry is mostly the big stuff. I told my mom's best friend, who was asking me all about when my shower was and what she should buy me, that big items - travel system, pack and play, monitor - are all on the list and we would really appreciate group gifts. She thought that was totally reasonable and will probably pass it around to Mom's other close friends who will be coming to the shower (which is, if you haven't guessed, being thrown by my mom). But I would never say anything about registry gifts to anyone unless they ask - if I don't get the travel system at the shower, I can still buy it with the completion discount.

Smaller items we registered for are the baby tub (my mom says they're so much warmer if they're in their own contained tub) and towels/wash cloths, 4 bedsheets, swaddled blankets and sleep sacks, a few bottles and bottle cleaning stuff (but not the huge sterilization one), the "practical stuff," and a few outfits that we couldn't resist.

Definitely agree with PPs that the BRU list is outrageous.

[beebe918]

Jan 22, 2015 1:09:26 GMT -5 slane said:

Target has a good registry list to go by, they include it in their welcome package you get at customer service after you start your registry. It also includes a mam pacifier, a munchkin latch bottle that sells for 8-10$, a diaper and wipes travel clutch, a lotion sample, a few breast milk pouches and nursing pads and $1 coupon off a Starbucks drink. I was jealous when I went with a friend of mine who is pregnant, she did her registry there and online, when the lady at customer service saw both of us she gave me a bag too. It was a nice little surprise since its #3 and I am not doing a registry or shower.

That's an awesome goodie bag! If I had a Target near me I would register there just for that.

[Deleted]

FTM here and I felt so overwhelmed about the whole registry thing.  The registry we did was primarily for us to get the completion coupon.  Some of my friends who live out of state have asked where we are registered and I think my mom's friends are throwing a party "in my honor" and sending me gifts (weird I know...I told them I was fine with no shower but I guess they love a reason to party?) so if they ask I will tell them about our registry.

But we ended up registering on Amazon! I liked that because like PP said they give you a "checklist" of about 12 or so items that are necessities like carseat/stroller, bedding, diapering, etc. It is also a universal registry so I have some things on there from BRU and KellysCloset for the CD inserts I need. I googled a bunch of "registry necessities" lists to see what the general consensus was on things we actually need. We already have a crib, glider, and pack n play that we got secondhand. So at this point the only "big" item on our registry is our travel system--but again that is primarily for us to get with the completion coupon. If somebody buys it for us great, but not counting on it. I think we also have a more expensive baby carrier on there too, as well as rock n play and bouncer. The smaller things on our list are bath tub, towels/washcloths, sheets/bedding stuff, receiving blankets, a "bottle kit" that comes with a few bottles and brush cleaner (I want to BF primarily), other "practical stuff" and a changing pad with covers.

It can be overwhelming--some ladies on here used Lucie's List to help them and I ended up checking it out myself. I would definitely recommend it--she breaks down the necessities and gives you reviews of the top picks in value and function.

[mayflowers]

I did PBK and BRU for shower guests and am doing one in Amazon prime to use for stuff I don't get. With Amazon mom you get a 15% completion discount and the prices are already lower AND that's the only place I can get the britax travel system with the elite 35 car seat (more cushy @texasmama check it out!!)

[t1green]

I'm a FTM and have nothing for the baby other than a few onesies and some bibs. I'm really hoping someone purchases the car seat, stroller, high chair, dresser, glider, pack and play, and mamaroo. It would be nice to have everything purchased but these are the big ticket items that I'm hoping to get. My boyfriend's sisters did say that they would get us the car seat and stroller if someone else doesn't purchase them so I'm pretty confident that we'll at least get those checked off the list.

[nurserachel22]

mayflowers that's a good plan you have going there!! Thanks for the ideas.

t1green I'm FTM too we have been picking up things here and there. Only big purchase we have done is the crib. I think I'll put some things on registry just to do it and I from there! Thanks everyone for their responses so far

[jerseyakl]

I am a FTM and a big planner/researcher so I totally took it as a challenge. Nerd.

We bought our stroller already because of a sale.

Main registry is Buy Buy Baby and we have a good mix of everything listed by PP. The other is Pottery Barn Kids for bedding and some other decor. These are the two being shared with shower guests if they want it.

The car seat we want is only at BRU so we have a registry there but we will likely get it ourselves. I am thinking of deleting the registry and just buying it because when people Google me, this registry shows up and it looks like we are registered at both.

We also have a secret Amazon registry (not visible to anyone) that has duplicates of things AND all of the necessary baby stuff that I would not put on a registry (breast pads, for example). This way we can buy things we don't get and the necessary stuff with the 15% Amazon mom discount. Our carrier and monitor are there and not at Buy Buy Baby so we will likely get those ourselves.

I had a friend "grade" my registry to see what was missing and it was so helpful!

[rivers714]

I'm a stm. So I'm not getting anything ...

But being in a budget this is my essentials list:
Breast pump ( insurance thank you!)
Avent bottle starter kit with two pacifiers
Boppy
Pak n play with bassinet
Travel system
About 10 newborn outfits
Diapers wipes bathing stuff

Bam! Baby on a budget!

[psmomma718]

Jan 22, 2015 8:09:30 GMT -5 beebe918 said:

Jan 22, 2015 1:09:26 GMT -5 slane said:

Target has a good registry list to go by, they include it in their welcome package you get at customer service after you start your registry. It also includes a mam pacifier, a munchkin latch bottle that sells for 8-10$, a diaper and wipes travel clutch, a lotion sample, a few breast milk pouches and nursing pads and $1 coupon off a Starbucks drink. I was jealous when I went with a friend of mine who is pregnant, she did her registry there and online, when the lady at customer service saw both of us she gave me a bag too. It was a nice little surprise since its #3 and I am not doing a registry or shower.

That's an awesome goodie bag! If I had a Target near me I would register there just for that.

Seriously.  I'm tempted to go start a registry just for the swag! I have to agree with PPs about BRU's registry. I helped my cousin with her registry there last year and it was pretty over the top. I kept telling her, "you don't need that... you don't need that.."

[CaptainLeela]

Because of Christmas we've already gotten most of the big stuff. Crib, dresser, stroller, car seat, and MamaRoo have already been purchased. And I bought a rocking chair off of Craigslist. The other stuff that I'm really hoping to get from our registry are the things I think we'll really NEED: some breast feeding supplies (boppy, manual pump, a few bottles, storage bags, etc), a Pack 'n Play, a baby bath tub, and a carrier. Those are the items that we can't find here in town easily so I really want to have them on hand before she arrives. There are a bunch of other random things on there too like a car seat cover, burp cloths, changing pad, etc. Some are items that we really will need but are able to easily pick up ourselves at the local store, others are just "nice to have."

[kmkd19]

Jan 23, 2015 6:19:56 GMT -5 jerseyakl said:

I am a FTM and a big planner/researcher so I totally took it as a challenge. Nerd.

We bought our stroller already because of a sale.

Main registry is Buy Buy Baby and we have a good mix of everything listed by PP. The other is Pottery Barn Kids for bedding and some other decor. These are the two being shared with shower guests if they want it.

The car seat we want is only at BRU so we have a registry there but we will likely get it ourselves. I am thinking of deleting the registry and just buying it because when people Google me, this registry shows up and it looks like we are registered at both.

We also have a secret Amazon registry (not visible to anyone) that has duplicates of things AND all of the necessary baby stuff that I would not put on a registry (breast pads, for example). This way we can buy things we don't get and the necessary stuff with the 15% Amazon mom discount. Our carrier and monitor are there and not at Buy Buy Baby so we will likely get those ourselves.

I had a friend "grade" my registry to see what was missing and it was so helpful!

I could have written this. I did all of the above, exactly.

[CaptainLeela]

Does anyone know if you register online at Target if they will send you the gift bag in the mail? I'm sad I didn't think about this the last time I traveled to a place with a Target. I want free stuff!

[nd38]

I put the big ticket items on my registry just for the extra 15% off items not purchased. I made sure to register for lots of little things to have the wide price range for people. My best friends mom actually bought us the travel system. She called me to let me know it was coming. I was so shocked! She was a second mom to me growing up. Another friend that I haven't seen in a year because I moved several states away bought us the car seat. You might be surprised how generous people are!

I do wish I had registered at Amazon though. Things are a lot cheaper for quests and you can almost always get free shipping.

[staccajaye]

Jan 21, 2015 22:10:01 GMT -5 mariisz said:

I have not chosen a place to register yet. I am using the app BabyList to just gather everything I want for now. I get overwhelmed though with all the things they suggest! I am sticking to the basics.

Thanks.... Downloading as we speak
This is exactly what I need

[RustyGirl3]

I am a 3rd time Mom, but there are quite a few things we need.

I want to register to get the completion discount coupon plus BRU has another cool reward where they give you a percentage of what was purchased off your registry onto a Gift Card.

I think I may go to Target just for the swag though...love free stuff!!! 

[brittneysandra]

So as a FTM Im using Lucie's List (I read it on here earlier tonight) and its really working for me.
Its easy to read and Im learning a lot of good ideas to save some money and also what I will really need.

[seventythree]

Jan 22, 2015 1:15:20 GMT -5 cbrandt1 said:

Honestly, we looked at our registry as more of a list of things we need to buy. It has items in every price point. We chose to register at Amazon because it's a universal registry. Their set up guide was great too, it listed the (maybe ten) necessary items and then you added from there based off what you think you'll need. I think I actually got a helping hand from Baby Centers (?) registry list. I can't 100% remember.

Ours did turn out to be incredibly long, but I'm not expecting to receive all of it. And the completion discount on what's left will be incredibly helpful! I also had to realize that we are choosing to cloth diaper and we registered for a variety of those and things that go with them, whereas people who use disposables wouldn't put diapers on their registry. It was basically my way of saying, " hey, we are CDing so no need to gift regular diapers" for those family members who don't necessarily ask those kinds of specifics.

That actually hadn't occurred to me! Making a note to register for some CD-related stuff so people will (hopefully) get the memo. It likely won't even occur to most people that we might be making this choice, and while in all reality I don't know that we will NEVER wind up using disposables, it's a nice indirect way to send the message that I don't want people to spend money on 10 boxes of Huggies or whatever.