Registry Tips/Tricks?

MrsSinner402

Goooood morning, bumpies! DH and I are going to start our baby registries today. We're registering at Target and Toys R Us. I wondered, for those of you that have BTDT, any tips and tricks? Anything I needn't bother with? Anything I absolutely have to have? We're using a checklist from Target and Toys R Us for baby registries, but I don't want to ask for things if they're going to collect dust and/or not be used much. Any help is appreciated! And to start your day off right, an adorable kitten gif.

MrsSinner402

FamousEa said:

Avoid the "registry lists" that the store provides you with, it contains SO MUCH CRAP. so much. We did the list with our first one and had too much shit we didn't even use. The one thing I do not like is a wipe warmer, most of them require that you add water to them, then you plug it in. I never remembered to add the water and half the time the wipes dried out simply putting a wipe in my hand for a few seconds took the chill off but half the time DD never noticed the cold anyways. Oh and diaper stackers, stupid as well. We had a dresser that was waist high and served as our changing table, we used cute baskets to hold diapers, wipes etc.

Thanks! I knew about the wipe warmer being a waste, but I wasn't sure about the diaper stacker. We have a HUUUUGE dresser (from a hotel) that we're painting and using in the nursery along with the smaller dresser that comes with the nursery set we like. So we will have plenty of storage for that type of thing. I'm thinking about plopping the changing pad on top of the big dresser and having the diapers/wipes in the drawer right below. I do like the idea of the Diaper Genie, though.

ADH0906

We went to Babies R Us last week and got ours started...what an exhausting process!

I'm a FTM, but I basically just used Lucies List as my Bible. It's a blog that I found to be really helpful for weeding out what I didn't need. Lurking around the new mom BMBs (like January thru April) was helpful to me too, because a lot of those convos are about what's working and what's not. There's also a baby hear/nurseries specialty board.

Also, lots of people recommend Baby Bargains (book or paid online subscription). I just got my book yesterday and it's a super dense review of pretty much everything. We used the BRU list as a starter, ignored what I knew we didn't need, and I'm working my way through Baby Bargains and editing it online.

Good luck!! And if you go into BRU to start the registry, try not to giggle at the 'registry concierge'. Ours took his job very, veeeery seriously.

MrsSinner402

ADH0906 said:

We went to Babies R Us last week and got ours started...what an exhausting process! I'm a FTM, but I basically just used Lucies List as my Bible. It's a blog that I found to be really helpful for weeding out what I didn't need. Lurking around the new mom BMBs (like January thru April) was helpful to me too, because a lot of those convos are about what's working and what's not. There's also a baby hear/nurseries specialty board. Also, lots of people recommend Baby Bargains (book or paid online subscription). I just got my book yesterday and it's a super dense review of pretty much everything. We used the BRU list as a starter, ignored what I knew we didn't need, and I'm working my way through Baby Bargains and editing it online. Good luck!! And if you go into BRU to start the registry, try not to giggle at the 'registry concierge'. Ours took his job very, veeeery seriously.

Lol! We don't have a Babies R Us, just a Toys R Us with a baby section. The closes Babies R Us is three hours away! But I know they're sort of one in the same as far as registries. So hopefully our Toys R Us doesn't have a concierge. We had one at Bed Bath and Beyond for our wedding and it was hilarious. He was so over the top!

Emerald27

My non negotiables from DS:

Car seat
Diapers & Wipes
Clothes
Breast Friend or Boppy
Baby carrier
If returning to work, bottles, etc.

Everything else is really just nice to have, IMO, but not really necessary. We donated, sold, and gave away so much baby stuff that really just took up space. It's really true that all baby "needs" is loving arms, diapers, and boobs. :P

Have fun making your registry! Don't stress too much because you can always return/exchange things. Honestly, putting things you know you won't need/use on your registry can be good because 1. It gives shower guests more gift options, and 2. It allows for exchanging things for what you need instead of buying.

MrsSinner402

Emerald27 said:

My non negotiables from DS: Car seat Diapers & Wipes Clothes Breast Friend or Boppy Baby carrier If returning to work, bottles, etc. Everything else is really just nice to have, IMO, but not really necessary. We donated, sold, and gave away so much baby stuff that really just took up space. It's really true that all baby "needs" is loving arms, diapers, and boobs. :P Have fun making your registry! Don't stress too much because you can always return/exchange things. Honestly, putting things you know you won't need/use on your registry can be good because 1. It gives shower guests more gift options, and 2. It allows for exchanging things for what you need instead of buying.

I agree on the exchanging things! A lot of things on the registry are quite expensive, so I don't expect to get much outside of the norms. Bottles, clothing, etc.

vrj0522

Try to add things that you feel are essential and fewer of the nice to haves. If you receive as gifts all the nice to haves and few of the essentials, you might be returning some stuff or buying essentials out of pocket. I ended up exchanging about half of the gifts I received because what I really wanted were some of the other things on my list that I didn't get, so sometimes less is more. On that note though, before you have the baby but maybe after your shower, make sure to add all the things that you would consider buying so you can get the complete-it discount on them. 

Jennifer18131

FTM but I've been asking this question to the moms I know IRL. To save space, we're going to pass on a swing and bouncer seat and just get the Rock n Play. I've had 3 people swear by it.

I'm a little unsure about bottle situation. I've seen posts on here (likely another board) and heard a pediatrician at a presentation say to get a couple different brands of bottles and nipples and try them out to see what baby likes best. But that makes it very hard to register. Any input?

MrsSinner402

FamousEa said:

beezbeez said:

I wouldn't worry too much about putting some big ticket items on your registry. Many times my friends and I have all chipped in on things like expensive strollers for baby showers.

This!! In our group of friends we like to chip in for big ticket items

Yes, my MIL said she thinks our big "family" from downstate will do something like this. They did the same thing for our wedding.

BeckyH05

How exciting! I was shopping for my DH's cousin a few weeks ago and started looking at a few things myself in BRU. I thought I knew what stroller and car seat I wanted based on browsing online (jogger made by Graco) but when I was playing with the straps and buttons in the store, they seemed difficult to release. I tried a few other brands and they seemed easier. Just a suggestion to look at the ease of adjustability. Have fun!

Maggie6424

We couldn't live without those open bottom sleepers. Looks like a nightgown, but has elastic around the bottom. Also, ds wanted to be swaddled so the velcro swaddlers were great. The sound machine whale was also amazing. It made waves sounds and a few other sounds. 
I used a boppy, but haven't tried the breast friend. I thought the boppy was fine.

Aarg

Put anuthjng and everything on your registry! For the items that haven't been purchased, you will get a coupon closer to your due date that will take anywhere from 10%-30% off your purchase!
My friend's parents waited until closer to her due date and they used her coupon and received 20% off her travel car seat stroller set!

DaniW1984

Jennifer18131 said:

FTM but I've been asking this question to the moms I know IRL. To save space, we're going to pass on a swing and bouncer seat and just get the Rock n Play. I've had 3 people swear by it.

I'm a little unsure about bottle situation. I've seen posts on here (likely another board) and heard a pediatrician at a presentation say to get a couple different brands of bottles and nipples and try them out to see what baby likes best. But that makes it very hard to register. Any input?

This - also asking my friends who are moms, and keeping it simple (I figure we can collect as they grow -e.g don't need a high chair at birth, etc).

Also unsure about bottles. Prefer glass bottles to plastic, any users of glass out there?



Edit: damn iPhone bumping

MrsSinner402

Oh my gosh I had so much fun and I couldn't help but register for ALL OF THE THINGS. There were a few things I knew we wouldn't need, but other than that I went crazy! DH and I had such a blast!

DanielleB27

Jennifer18131 said:

FTM but I've been asking this question to the moms I know IRL. To save space, we're going to pass on a swing and bouncer seat and just get the Rock n Play. I've had 3 people swear by it. I'm a little unsure about bottle situation. I've seen posts on here (likely another board) and heard a pediatrician at a presentation say to get a couple different brands of bottles and nipples and try them out to see what baby likes best. But that makes it very hard to register. Any input?

I would recommend waiting on getting a ton of one type of bottle. With DD, I think we went through 4-6 different types before we found one that worked. We also made the mistake of introducing the bottle, and not keeping it up. I thought, "she's got this!" Wrong! It took 8 weeks of fighting and crying (on both our parts) to get her to consistently take the bottle again. She would look at me like, "what the heck are you trying to do to me??"

As far as difficult to register, I didn't feel that we were lacking in items even though a lot of them were not bottles. Just one person's experience.

Littledeer84

I would just get a few of the bottles you like, and then wait to see how baby does. We also switched bottles after DD was born. For us it was a convenience thing...the first kind was tough to clean...like 5 parts per bottle. We ended up using the cheap bottles and that worked great for dd.

Littledeer84

White noise machine was a life saver for us. The swaddle me wraps. The long sleeve Gerber shirts that wrap around baby...loved those for a newborn. Aden and anais swaddle blankets too. I guess we liked the swaddle if you can't tell.

Staciefacie

FamousEa said:

Cantisa said:

Any BTDT moms have an opinion of my breast friend vs boppy???

I have heard good things about both but I had a boppy and really liked it so that is all I know.


I had a boppy and I loved it. The only criticism for me is I wish it was thicker. I sat on my bed a lot. So when I wasn't in an armed chair it was a little to low. I either had another pillow under it or my arm.

Littledeer84

Oh, also as you are putting furniture in the nursery, get some furniture straps, for dressers or other big pieces. We couldn't find them at home depot or lowes, only babies r us. But it might vary store to store. Really a peace of mind thing for when baby is a little older and might be climbing.

Saragoeswest

I made a registry on myregistry.com because it puts all of your registries in one location and you can add things from any store or website.

Liss1481

DaniW1984 said:

Jennifer18131 said:

FTM but I've been asking this question to the moms I know IRL. To save space, we're going to pass on a swing and bouncer seat and just get the Rock n Play. I've had 3 people swear by it.

I'm a little unsure about bottle situation. I've seen posts on here (likely another board) and heard a pediatrician at a presentation say to get a couple different brands of bottles and nipples and try them out to see what baby likes best. But that makes it very hard to register. Any input?

This - also asking my friends who are moms, and keeping it simple (I figure we can collect as they grow -e.g don't need a high chair at birth, etc).

Also unsure about bottles. Prefer glass bottles to plastic, any users of glass out there?



Edit: damn iPhone bumping

We used mostly glass bottles and loved them. They always seem to wash cleaner than plastic too

Emerald27

Cantisa said:

Any BTDT moms have an opinion of my breast friend vs boppy???

I have both, and definitely prefer the breast friend. Some mothers do prefer the boppy (it's really a personal preference thing), but the breast friend is so easy to use because it snaps on, and mothers tend to lean forward when using the boppy, bringing the breast to the baby instead of the other way around, which can hurt your back. If you stick a pillow under the breast friend, you can sit up straighter/more comfortably...IMO.

I bring the breast friend with me when I meet new moms, and more often than not they complain that the boppy hasn't been easy to use, and they try out the breast friend and love it.