When to Start Registering?

somelittleone

Hey Mamas!

Definitely new at this! I might have been a nanny for 5 kids but I certainly do not know what you are supposed to do and when to do it while being pregnant yourself. I was thinking that I would have the baby shower around 30 weeks, that way I will have everything set and ready to go before tiny Anastasia arrives! When do you start registering for baby gear and what are the "DO & DONT really  NEED" should I register for. I would like to make a list before I even start registering. Oh, and best places to register at=)! Thanks a bunch!!

Eknapp87

I'm having mine when I'm 34 weeks. I'm registering at Babies R Us and Target. I would go on Pinterest and look at sample baby registry lists, I printed one, and I'm taking it with me when I go register this Saturday. Good luck!!

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oneblessedmess

Lucie's List has great guidelines as far as what you REALLY need. I used that site pretty much as my registry bible. We started registering for the big stuff (stroller, car seat, crib) when we hit second tri. We wanted those items to be gender neutral. Around 20 weeks, after we found out the sex, we rounded out the registry with the smaller stuff. I'm 22 weeks and pretty much done with the registry.

BRU gets a lot of hate, but I like the one by us. They price match too. We don't have a Buy Buy Baby near us and I've found that their stuff is more expensive than BRU. I also thought about registering at Target but decided I wanted to keep it simple with one store.

As far as shower dates, I'm having two. My mom and sister are throwing the first one and it will happen when I'm 28 weeks. No set date for the second one yet but probably early June, I will be around 32 weeks. Like PP said, the date is really up to your shower host.

jerseygirl227

I registered at Babies R Us and amazon.com.  Did both registries online because I didn't want any pressure doing it in the store.  (Not sure there would have been any pressure, but didn't want to take the chance.)  Most of my family lives out of state so I wanted to make things easy for them if they wanted to send something, which is why I went with amazon, too. I finished our registry about a week ago (I'm 24 weeks today), but find myself adding a few things here and there every so often.

I anticipate that my sister and/or sister-in-law to be will throw a shower at some point, but I have no idea when.  I know the ladies I work with are planning something as well.  This is our first LO so everyone is super excited.

LullabyF360

I created a registry at a few places early on and just put the basics on it (water proof crib pads, bottles, burp cloths, bath towels, anything consider gender neutral colors) and now that I know it's a boy, I've been adding more specific items. My baby shower will be when I'm 27 weeks in May. Most say that is too early, but that was the only time when everyone's schedule was free. Despite the baby shower, I have been buying a lot of things at thrift stores and flea markets.

brittblaz

I am using amazingregistry.com which will combine all of your registries, no matter where, into one. Its been wonderful because they also have an app you can download onto your computer browser, in case there is an item at a store that does not do registries, it will let you add that item to your registry on the amazing registry website anyway. There is also an app for your phone to keep track of items as you are out and about. It also has a scan feature in case you see something while you are shopping that you love. Im registered at about 5 places so far, so this registry site has been great. And to those family members or friends wary of online shopping, they can still go into the store to buy at the places I am registered for on that website, which I know is a concern to some. 

As far as when to register, thats just when you are comfortable. I started with bigger items around the start of my second trimester and chose more gender neutral colors (but that was just me). And my mother, who is throwing me the shower has been great at communicating with me so I know my shower will be the week I hit 30 weeks. Since I started my registry though I had my gender scan and so I have now completed my registry with some gender specific items I was holding off on until that scan. Can't say that I am upset that I started early. Good luck!

kjs08

I started mine about 6 weeks ago (I'll be 17w tomorrow) as my shower is going to be just past 25 weeks for me (my parents are travelling all summer which is why it's so early), otherwise I would've had it around 30 weeks. We registered at BuyBuyBaby and Babies R Us (BBB had a significantly better selection and super knowledgeable staff than BRU at the stores closest to us anyway). Both had registry lists that we used as guidelines, but ultimately went with what we felt we would use and would be practical. We live in a small apartment with a cat and dog so we don't have a ton of space to go crazy. We also didn't put a ton of clothes on as we won't know the gender for 5 more weeks, but we did put gender neutral clothes on it that could go boy or girls. If you have friends who went through it, talk to them about what they did or didn't need as they can give insight, but do what works for you. 

JustHyr

Make your registry whenever you like, but keep an eye on it.  Baby stuff has a really high turnover rate.  You may find a lot of what you register for now may not be available by your shower, or sometimes even next month.  

Peach&Dan

I registered at 5 months..... Babies R Us, Target and BuyBuyBaby.

CatsAreShady

I always started my registry after my anatomy scans. Those completion coupons are great. I choose babies r us and Amazon.com. I figured I'd do a brick and mortar place for those who like to shop in person and an online site fir those rare people who shop ahead of time.

Many baby items are not exactly necessary but some people find them helpful. For example, a diaper pail. I have my own system for dirty diapers but others swear by the pail.
Here are the basics:
-clothes at least up to 3-6 months. Babies grow like weeds. My 12 week old is now in size 6 month clothes. That growth is no joke.

- some place to sleep (crib, bassinet, cosleeper, etc) with the proper bedding (no pillows or anything that's a potential suffocation hazard.)

- feeding bottles (I suggest putting several different bottles on the registry because you may have to test then out to figure out which on baby likes.) Formula, or breastpump and storage bags.

- Bibs. Tons of bibs.

-Receiving blankets. They are the Swiss army knives of the baby world. They are handy for many things.

-Diapers. Keep that on your registry. In some places you can still buy off of it for up to a year.

-car seat and an extra car seat base if you have two cars.

- a boppy for feeding

-stroller/carriage

-to me, a carrier is a necessity. That may not be true for you. But I love being able to move around and get things done if baby doesn't want to be put down. Plus, if you breastfeed, it's AWESOME for when you're in public. I can feed my LO with ease and no one can tell.

- first aid kits. They sell those as sets. Don't forget gripe water or Gas drops.

-grooming set.

I might be forgetting somethings but I've been up with the baby and my mind is foggy. Good luck.

happylife7

For those of you registering at multiple stores, checkout myregistry.com. It will combine all of your registry items from different stores into one registry and will make it easy for your guest to see what items you registered for and where you can purchase them. I am registered at Babies R Us and Target but there are also a few items from Amazon that I like. There is a smartphone app for it as well that you can easily scan the barcode of an item to add to your registry. I love it and have found it helpful so thought I would share!  

kedbach

I'm a FTM so not experienced but hurt wanted to throw it out to yall who registered online only- if you register in-store, most places (target, babys r us, buy buy baby) give you a welcome gift full of amazing baby gifts, samples, and coupons! I wouldn't call myself frugal, in the least, but why wouldn't you want a few free pacifiers, bottles, and other goodies?!

babyvelasquez2015

I work in retail and would like to add... If you register too early, your desired items may be discontinued/clearanced out/gone by the time your shower comes around. Just something to consider. I see it all the time when people come in with baby registeries. Good luck!

lginnan

I started my registry at 16 weeks once I found it gender. Registered at land of nod, BRU, and Amazon. I'm thinking of it more as a checklist of what I need to get whether people purchase items for my shower or not. Was eye opening to look at all the options and realize how much this little guy will need!

NoSugarCoating

I started researching almost add soon as I found out I was pregnant (Baby Bargains book and Lucie's List site), but didn't actually register until we got good results at our anatomy scan.

rue:D

I've added things that I love from the beginning! If for nothing else - just so I have my own little checklist going. my shower has not been planned yet, but I want to do it kind of early (maybe July for an October birth) since I'm having twins and don't know what the future holds - bed rest, delivering early, etc. I'll finish my registry after my anatomy scan next week and we hopefully find out the sexes!

Annie121

From experience, don't do your registry to early, for my first, I did the registry in December, and didn't have my shower until March, when people went to go buy gifts half the stuff wasn't available in-store. This time around, I will do it when I send out the invites for the actual shower.