The Great Registry and Baby Shower Thread

rivercitynik

Here's a place for us to chat about our registries and baby showers/sprinkles! A few topic ideas to get us started:

• Where is everyone registering?
• What's the number one thing you hope to get off your registry?
• STM+, what's one thing you think everyone should have on their registry and what's one thing you got but never used?
• What's your favorite shower game/activity? 

radiohd18

If I register, it might be with Amazon but not sure yet. 

I wouldn't mind financial help purchasing a good stroller/car seat but I am not really stressed about it at this point.

I remember registering for these fancy pacifiers my first pregnancy. I got them and then DD hated them and ended up loving the free ones that Motherhood Maternity gave me. I guess the moral of that story is, just because it's fancy doesn't mean your LO will love it.

I think the easy things people could give but don't always think of are diapers (if you are doing disposable), nursing materials (like nipple creams and My Brest Friend- of course if you plan on nursing) and just gift cards! I had gift cards that lasted me almost a year after DD was born and they came in handy for all kinds of things I didn't know I needed (until I needed it). 

ziggymama06

@rivercitynik Thanks for starting this!!  Love Schitts Creek!  

I'm planning to register at Buy Buy Baby and also Amazon.  When is the completion discount?  Can I not get a discount before that?  I'm thinking I'll buy the big stuff like furniture and stroller (since I want the Uppababy), and definitely don't want to wait until the last minute.  TBH I haven't even started my registry... well actually I have one item on Amazon which is the little taco baby toy that @psychobutthead shared      I guess I just need to get my butt in gear and head to the store.

RedBaramid

I'm only using Amazon... the people who will want to send us gifts (the few there are) will be thankful for Amazon's handiness and I'm going for that 20% diapers for the first year. We're using to to stock a list of things we're gonna end up buying anyway too. Honestly a lot of the clothes and stuff on my registry right now is late night window shopping and "aww babies are so cute!" stuff anyway. We'll likely share the link with close family and friends after we find out what kind of genitals this child will have and make more solid plans about where we intend on living. 

kdale2613

Registered on Amazon. It's mostly a list for us, but there for family and friends who wish to get is something. There are only a couple big ticket items on there, but honestly we will probably purchase those ourselves here in the next few weeks. With my first I didn't get to do all the fun baby stuff. In a much better place now. So if i found something cute that I wanted to splurge on, I put it on there. I won't be heartbroken if i don't get some of them. But it would be a nice surprise if someone chose one of those items. 
Registry is full of infant meds, gripe water, hand sanitizer, baby safe cleaning products, nipple cream/pads, soft towels/washcloths and such. The little stuff really adds up, and it's not stuff that people ever think about gifting. But it's soooo helpful! 

rivercitynik

@radiohd18 that's such a good reminder about how babies how like different things and more $ doesn't necessarily mean better!

@ziggymama06 I think all of the places have different dates for when they give you the completion discount, but the one at Target looks like it's available about two months before my due date, and the Buy Buy Baby website says a few weeks before? Not certain on this!

I'm a little OOC (out of control) on the registry front, but I find it fun! I'm using Babylist as the main site, and I like it bc it allows you to add items from smaller companies that might not be in the big box stores, but also connects to other registries that you have, so I have mine linked to my Amazon and Target registry. I think a lot of people in my life will order from Amazon, but I've tried to put things that can be found in both spots on the Target one, both b/c I know some family members still like going to the store, and b/c I personally find returns easier at to do at Target vs. needing to mail something in through Amazon. 

I ALSO have registries at Buy Buy Baby and Crate & Barrel that are just for me/my parents, and this is where I put the big ticket items (stroller, crib, etc). I set the due date earlier so I can get the completion discount sooner. 

The item that I'm probably most excited for on my registry is the Lovevery play gym. I'd really love to get it, but it feels like the kind of thing that if someone didn't purchase it for me, I might try just borrow/buy a play mat second hand since it's pricey and not a "necessity" (or at least it's not a necessity to have one that fancy). 

Oh, and I haven't really explored this (and not sure I will), but the Babylist registry also let's you "register" for things like house cleaning services, pet care, meal delivery (I think these may be more like coupons you give your friends for something you'd do for them later v. an actual paid service). Something like this could be great for STM+ or people who just are more minimalist. 

riatortillaxo

I have an Amazon registry but I don't think I will share it besides with maybe our parents who will want to contribute something. It's sort of a running list of things we might need and maybe a few splurges that I would use the completion discount for. 
I'm still toying with the idea of a double stroller. That is the one big thing that is sort of a want more than a need. 
I never used those little newborn mittins. Lots of sleepers have the little folds on the sleeves if you need to cover baby's sharp nails. I got soooooo many baby clothes at my shower and I did not register for any since I had heard that I would get a lot anyways. People just can't resist little baby outfits! I sort of wish people would have stuck more to the registry because there were some little things that we could have used more than clothes but the clothes certainly were used too! 
Something I wished I would've registered for were more nice swaddle sacks. I got 3 and I feel like I had to wash them constantly. I also didn't know about the zutano booties (or equally wonderful off brand versions). They are so great. We will have late summer babies but they will come in handy in late fall and winter. If you plan to breastfeed then a haakaa was one of my favorite baby items, and I recommend having at least 2. I also will second what someone mentioned about gift cards. I always was happy about gift cards because there was always something that popped up that we found that we needed as he got older and changed. Babies can be fickle and may not like what you register for- like the pacifier example that someone mentioned. One example was bottles. I registered for 1 bottle of a few types since I didn't know what the baby would like. Once I found the one, I used gift cards to get a whole bunch. Hopefully this baby likes that brand! 🤞

marfi236

We're not having a shower as this is our second but we still plan to do registries at target, amazon, and buy buy baby for the completion discounts!

ziggymama06

@rivercitynik I've seen Babylist but haven't explored it.  If I were to register there and link Amazon and Buy Buy Baby and someone went into Buy Buy Baby and made a purchase, it would carry over to Babylist?  That sounds awesome!  I have a lot of older relatives that will definitely want to go to the store vs. ordering online.

roo_baby

I did Amazon, Target and BBB last time and will probably do the same minus BBB. Older people seemed to enjoy shopping in person for gifts and used the target and BBB registries (or went completely off registry). 

Amazon now has a feature that allows people to contribute to larger gifts but you don’t even have to buy that gift when you collect the money, you can use it for anything on amazon. Thought that was a nice way to complete with the honey fund type registries. 

Baby list is a great resource for what to register for, and I would consider registering with them. It’s a good way to register for small shops, but technically you can also do it through Amazon. 

When we move to PG or FB I’m happy to do registry reviews for people. 

rivercitynik

@ziggymama06 the way it looks on mine it actually takes you to the amazon and target registry so it tracks everything and I don't think there is a risk of duplicates being purchased unless you register for something in multiple places

@roo_baby ohh I would totally take you up on this!

gomillis

for our registry with DS, we used babygearlab.com as a guide for what we needed, and was happy with almost everything we got based off their recommendations. 

One thing we didn’t register for but ended but being a lifesaver was a Woombie sleep sack. 

One thing we registered for that ended up being kind of a waste was a Fisher Price swing. It worked for getting DS to nap maybe like 3 times and then never again. I’d definitely recommend borrowing or going second hand for swings.

psychobutthead

@ziggymama06 😆 i love that you added it! My 5 year old won't leave it alone.

• Where is everyone registering?

I am registered on amazon. But the list is really for me. Mainly a checklist of what I still need.

• What's the number one thing you hope to get off your registry?

I doubt anyone I know will care about my registry. No one has ever gotten my previous 2 kids any large ticket items to help. It would be cool if someone got me the carseat stroller combo but I won't hold my breath.

• STM+, what's one thing you think everyone should have on their registry and what's one thing you got but never used?

A bouncey seat that rocks. Anytime someone has a baby I always buy that off their registry. They are usually mid range price wise. Parents get tons of use from them! Its so nice to sit your baby up in it while you shower, do dishes, or cook. That way they arent just always laying.

I don't think anyone needs a diaper genie, wipe warmer unless you live in cold climates and your heat is prone go going out, or a bottle warmer. You also don't need baby shoes and most likely wont have time to fill out a baby book.

• What's your favorite shower game/activity

I don't go to many showers. Most family I have live out of state so I stick to registries. I only remember one shower having games and it was which baby picture is which celebrity.
Also at my baby shower they played the guess how big the mom is woth toilet paper. That is not a fun game. Refuse to let people play that. That game can be very hurtful. You are already hormonal and uncomfortable and people want to guess how big you are. Just no! Say no to that game.

[Deleted User]

Just a heads up, some of my family members found babylist confusing. 🤷. So they saw the item and purchased it, but it didn't look like it till I marked it for them.

I also noticed recently for a family member I had to go into her babylist and mark items purchased because she had a separate Amazon registry and they didn't sync.

rivercitynik

@BusinessWife that's good to know! Maybe I'll buy a small thing off mine to see how it works so I can make sure to manage it well when others start buying off it.

gomillis

Re: Fun shower games

At my shower, we played Mad Libs where the guests each filled in a mad lib of “my” birth story. We were all laughing hysterically. This one is especially great because it doesn’t involve embarrassing anyone or pretending to eat poop 😝

coldlife

I made a Target registry, but mainly so I could get another registry bag. I don't intend to share it. I put on a bunch of things that'd be nice to have and I'd like, but I mostly will make do without if we don't get it. Also, lots of stuff is left off here because I have most things already. 

-Mattress protectors 
-Crib sheets
-Baby monitor (non wifi)
-A different style of nursing cover
-burp cloths
-nursing pads
-size 1 disposables
-nursing pads
-diaper cream
-a different convertible car seat, since I HATE ours
-a bucket car seat cover since we live where it's cold
-car window shades
-some new CD stuff
-cloth swim diapers
-a travel changing mat

kimbo262

Registering on Amazon to get that diaper discount! Not planning to share it, but I guess the number one thing I hope to get (I.e. will be purchasing myself) is a car seat to bring baby home. Haha.

Top things we loved- our Uppababy stroller (we bought it when baby was ~9 months, but I wish we had purchased it sooner) and a good glider. We have a Dutailier glider and while it was on the pricier side, it was a lifesaver. 

Things we didn’t use: bottles (baby preferred from the source and pumping didn’t work out for me 😞) and a Rock n Play (I don’t think they sell these anymore? We got it instead of a swing, but I think the swing would have been much much better.) 

WishesSheCouldCook

@kimbo262 we love our dutailier glider too! I got one that reclines and has the nursing stool. Well worth the splurge! Several of my friends that got ones from baby’s r us or target said they started squeaking within the year. Our glider is 4 years old and is a smooth and quiet as ever.

kimbo262

@WishesSheCouldCook Yes! The reclining and foot stool are a must! My husband uses it as his recliner in his office. 😂 We got ours from BBB and I’m pretty sure we used the 20% off coupon too! 

roo_baby

Does anyone know of any good registry incentives besides the amazon welcome box and the target gift bag?

[Deleted User]

@roo_baby babylist has one I remember not being too bad!  There were a lot of coupons I didn't use, but also a lot of things I did ;)

rivercitynik

@roo_baby I actually just requested the Babylist one so I can report back on what's in it currently. It cost $10 but then you get a $10 credit to their store. I was lurking on the June board 😂 and someone there posted about getting one from Grove Collaborative, but I poked around their site and it wasn't immediately clear to me how to get it. 

roo_baby

@rivercitynik yes keep us updated! I don’t need to register for much, but I want all the goodies. 

whl1013

I actually just received the Welcome Box from Babylist. I have no idea how it compares to other gifts from registries as it’s the only one I’ve used, but it has some Pampers swaddles, samples of wipes and diapers, pacifiers, nursing pads, coupons, etc. I was pretty excited about it! 

[Deleted User]

@whl1013 what is that little bottle in the right?

whl1013

@BusinessWife it’s an Evenflo bottle.

blackgirlmagic

Something we learned about late into my daughters infant life, was velcro swaddle me. They are a freaking life saver. My husband was good swaddling her with a blanket, but I failed each time. I have several of those on register, size 0-3 and 3-6 months. 

When you register for bibs, make sure that they are some type of water resistant/proof. The straight fabric type bibs are such a water. Anytime liquid gets on it, its just trash, imo. 

I prefer the reusable nursing pads that you can wash. The disposable one's always bothered my nipples and just felt uncomfortable. 

A helpful item for the carseat is a little cover that goes over the baby/top of the carseat. I would follow 'Car Seats for the Littles' on facebook. The people in that group are a wealth of information. If you are having trouble finding a car seats that fits your car properly they can help you. I would also go to the store, like BBB, and ask them if you can take the care seat you are interested in to your car to see how it fits. We did that with our first and we test it out with my husband and I sitting in both the front seats and we also tested out how the stroller fits in our trunk as well.

If you are a FTM I know it's super exciting to buy things in the "gender color" of your baby, but I'm so happy that my big ticket items, stroller, car seat crib, etc, were all gender neutral colors. This is the number one reason why I don't need any additional big ticket items except for my pnp, see below. You can always dress things around those items to make it look like a girl/boy item.

Where is everyone registering?
Amazon. I find BBB to be on the expensive side. It's great to go there to look at things in person since BRU is no longer around.

Once you know the type of pump your insurance is giving you, I would register or buy extra part for the pump. You never know when something may break and you need to pump. I also had to use a nipple shield to help me nurse and I plan on getting two or three extra of those. The hospital gave me my first one and I could only buy extras on-line, so I plan to be prepared this time around. 

What's the number one thing you hope to get off your registry?
Since this is my second I don't need any big ticket items except for a pnp. I let me brother borrow mine and he told me that he has to buy me a new one.

STM+, what's one thing you think everyone should have on their registry and what's one thing you got but never used?
Have: velrco swaddle me, nipple soothing gel pads if you plan to nurse, those were a life saver, water resisten/proof bibs, hands free pump bra, a sound machine for sure!, and after having a "traditional" diaper bag, I'm going for a back pack this time around. I hated the feeling of being uneven or trying to hold up the diaper bag while carrying the carseat. 

Never buy: wipe warmer, if you plan on making your own baby food, you don't need to buy a special blender for that. 

What's your favorite shower game/activity? 
Honestly, I;m not a fan of bay shower games, but I recently went to a baby shower and my friend played a game of asking people questions about her and the pregnancy. That was really fun. 


I'm sure I'll think of more things later. 

riatortillaxo

I have to second the recommendation for a backpack diaper bag! Definitely frees up your hands better. 
I also thought of something while reading about the nursing suggestions. I found out last time that pump replacement parts and some other nursing tools qualify to be purchased with your HSA or flexible spending money. If you have that set aside through your insurance, you can use that to purchase some extra pump parts if they aren't purchased off your registry. I do recommend that you have extras! Especially if you plan to pump at work.

RedBaramid

BAH!!! I wanna piggy back really fast on something @blackgirlmagic touched on about making your own baby food. I made my own food for DD almost exclusively for her first year of life. It was so easy and so much cheaper than jar stuff.  (I got nothing against jars guys, I'm just frugal AF about stuff). Use your own dang blender and food processor you don't need that specialty stuff and just buy yourself some silicone bottomed ice cube trays like these: Link to Amazon. You don't need the fancy ones labeled for baby food, but I did find ones with lids were helpful (but not entirely necessary if you are careful about freezer placement). You want the silicone bottoms at the very least because it's so much easier to get the food out later. 

coldlife

I made all my own baby food for my first and 99% of it for #2. With 2, I have bought a few snack things like fruit and veggie melts and cheerios. Everything else, I make. I pretty much grind up whatever we're having.

For a lot of stuff like bananas, boiled eggs, broccoli, carrots, potatoes, you can just mash with a fork. Personally, I do that as much as possible. It's easy, and there's nothing extra to clean. Additionally, I have nothing to really back this up, but I just kind of feel that having some texture to the food rather than completely puréed is a good thing. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Baby-led weaners would probably agree with me, although we don't really follow that very much. Along with that, for food I can't use a fork with, I use a small hand grinder, which also leaves more texture than a blender would. 

At the least, DON'T buy apple baby food! Regular unsweetened applesauce is literally the exact same thing as apple baby food (ingredients for both are typically apples, ascorbic acid/vitamin C and sometimes water), but they charge way more for the baby food version. 

psychobutthead

@coldlife same with baby juice that they sell. Ladies don't buy juice labeled to baby and infants. If you feel your baby needs help with constipation so you give them juice just buy normal juice and water it down.

rivercitynik

So I think someone on here (maybe @BusinessWife) mentioned they had trouble tracking things with Babylist... can you share more about that? I noticed the other day one of my items had been "reserved" by a friend, but then a few days later it wasn't. I'm not sure if this means they thought about getting it and changed their mind, or maybe they actually got it and for some reason the registry isn't tracking it. 

ziggymama06

@rivercitynik A close friend of mine used Babylist recently and I sent her some gifts from the registry.  The site lets you reserve the gift, then will prompt you to visit the actual website to order the gift (Amazon, BBB, etc.).  Then, the gifter will need to mark that they purchased the item to remove it from the registry.  If they didn't purchase the gift, they can remove the reservation of it, like if they changed their mind and decided to purchase a different item instead.  The site isn't very intuitive, esp those not super tech savvy.  I recall being a bit confused.  But Babylist did prompt me after purchasing the items to mark that I had purchased them, as initially I hadn't done that.

rivercitynik

Thanks @ziggymama06! I might buy something off my BL registry just to see how it all works. I wonder if maybe someone doesn't confirm a purchase within a certain amount of time if they take it off reserved status. Which site did you decide to use for your registry? 

strawberryfields82

Maybe I am wrong but I saw some restrictions on the Amazon 20% off. I think you can't apply it to the big ticket item brands like Graco etc. 

ziggymama06

@rivercitynik That's a good idea to test out a purchase.  I went with Buy Buy Baby and Amazon.  It was tough to limit it. I found a few things at Pottery Barn that I fell in love with (crib skirt and organic crib sheet) that I had to have so I just bought them.  🤷‍♀️

viola_mama

@rivercitynik Thanks for the heads up. I finally started our registry last night and chose Babylist because I like being able to add stuff from any website I want and I’m too lazy to do multiple registries.

wednesdaygirl1019

@ziggymama06 what skirt and sheet did you pick from PB? I have been dying over the Peter Rabbit crib sheet, but I hate how expensive that store is!

ziggymama06

@wednesdaygirl1019 I saw those and they are adorable!!  I had an old William's Sonoma gift card that I used for a portion.  Even though we are having some touches of Winnie the Pooh, we are still having a classical girl's room... and I know we'll need more than one crib sheet 😂

ETA The prices are ridiculous... that's why I couldn't ask someone to spend so much on a dang crib skirt and just bought it myself 🤦‍♀️

riatortillaxo

I get emails every so often from babycenter. I usually delete them. One I got last week had the subject line "virtual baby showers". I am not doing a shower since this is my second, so I didn't read it. I thought it was nice that there are some platforms out there to help with ideas and games for how to make it work! Hopefully we will be able to have gatherings this summer, but in case it would ease anyone's mind, I thought I would throw it out there! Might be worth a quick Google!