Baby Registry = OVERWHELMING

yjahrling · October 2010

So.......DH and I were out last night and he suggests that we pop over to Target and start thinking about making our registry. I'm absurdly giddy over this, and we go, but upon arrival the whole baby department seems overwhelming. This will be my first, and so we have nothing baby-related and I have NO idea what to get, or how many of things to get, or what company/brands are better or safer...

Any advice? Are there websites where I can check this out? Anyone on this board already a mom who can help out a very overwhelmed first-timer? I just don't want to make any wrong choices and wish I had something else afterwards!

jl_nc · October 2010

babies r us has a checklist of the essentials that you should register for and may want to register for. essentials are things as car seat, base, stroller, crib, diapers, clothes etc. then you can build from there. with DD we waited to go until i was 24 weeks (so we knew that she was a girl) to save some time to get things itemized and then we were in and out in 1.5 hours. just start compiling a list of what you think you need and what you want and then build from there. put anything on there that comes to mind, b/c a lot of registries give you an extra 10% off near your EDD to get the things off there that you may not have received yet.

Mrs.Saxy · October 2010

I bought BABY BARGAINS with my DS and got an updated version for this pregnancy.

It ranks everything....cribs, strollers, baby monitors (my fave and best is Sony Baby Call), high chairs.....everything.

You can pop on over to the Tri boards 0-3 and 4-6 and ask them to recommend their stuff.

If you want info based on experience...I bought the Fisher Price Rainforest high chair and gave it away after DS was done with it. We're going to buy the space saver that basically converts to a toddler booster. We love our Baby's Dream crib but it was pricey. Right now for #2 we're looking at the Davinci brand. I'm sure others prefer certain strollers but we also love our Graco Metrolite stroller and snugride infant carseat.

Mrs.Saxy · October 2010

oh, and.....if you're having a shower you might want to hold off on buying clothes, towels, and bibs because you may get tons.

scootRN · October 2010

Also, on an unrelated to baby note...Have you ever registered at Target? We did for our wedding, and they have the most absurd return policy.

If you try to return something without a receipt, which you often don't get with presents, they will not take it back. Even if it is Target brand.

It was infuriating. Target has adorable things, but not enough to tempt me to register there again.

Alwaysusie · October 2010

scootRN:

Also, on an unrelated to baby note...Have you ever registered at Target? We did for our wedding, and they have the most absurd return policy.

If you try to return something without a receipt, which you often don't get with presents, they will not take it back. Even if it is Target brand.

It was infuriating. Target has adorable things, but not enough to tempt me to register there again.

Just as an FYI, this is not in accordance with thier policy. If someone bought you something off of your registry, all you have to do is print out your registry, have them scan it, and then it should recognize that the thing you are returning was purchased. I only know this because I registered there for my wedding and returned a set of corning ware off of my registry without a receipt. I remembered thinking that that was a great policy because so many people don't give gift receipts, or they end up getting lost in the shuffle, etc.

That's such a pain that whoever you went to didn't let you do that - I can understand the frustration.

Mrs.VanMus · October 2010

I wish we had registered for older toddler toys. We ended up focusing in immediate baby stuff and then had more than what we knew to do with at the time. Bottle cleaners, warmers, diaper warms, etc...it's all fluff. Sometimes nice, but usually a pain in the arse.

A GOOD diaper bag, register for some diapers and wipes, a couple varieties of bottles (if you are not BFing), and other like basics are great!

So don't get sucked in by all the accessories, but keep an eye out for toys and gear for 1+ too

jeffrae · October 2010

I second baby bargains.

It is overwhelming at first...but it gets easier. I actually just went to BRU with a good friend of mine who is 28 weeks pg. I walked her through everything - what to look for, things to consider, what is just wasted $$, etc. Do you have someone who can do that with you?

We went a couple of times and used the wand to register for multiple items...then I would go home and research it and either keep or delete from registry. I recommend a carrier (moby wrap, ergo baby, etc), stroller (we have a maclaren and a BOB), car seat (you can try out the car seat in your car - highly recommend it), base, jumperoo, activity playmat, boppy pillow, brest friend (if you bf), nursing cover, diaper pail (we have the decker), high chair (but not necessary for a while), bed set, some toys (love the whoozit, sofie), sheets, bath (we have whale of a tub - LOVE it).

croberts22 · October 2010

I"m with you on this. I'm so overwhelmed with the idea of registering. BUT, I know I want to register at BRU and Target. They both have lists of needed and nice to have items, plus I have one in my Pregnancy Organizer. I'm going to print off all 3 lists and compare and create one big list. I don't really have anyone close to me that has had a baby recently so I don't have anyone that could take me to the store and show me what's good or not. I know they have books you can buy that recommend the good stuff, or at least rate it.

janice74 · October 2010

Baby Bargains really helped a lot. I started the registry online pretty early and just added a bit at a time as I heard about something I should get. Later on, my DH and I went in person and registered and it wasn't so overwhelming.

four tips:

1.Register for toys, even some that you may not give to the baby until they are a year old. People LOVE to buy toys. The accessories and all the little baby gear can overwhelm non-baby people trying to buy gifts for you.

2. Don't register for clothing. It is seasonal, and can be hard to locate a specific piece, plus people are going to buy you clothes anyways.

3. People tend to NOT shop from the registry, so don't be surprised if you get a lot of items you didn't ask for. The girls on the Bump who seemed to get mostly stuff from the registry are team Green and didn't tell anyone the sex of the baby. I guess it scares people away from buying clothing!

4. BRU and Target give you a discount so that you can finish out your registry. The coupon doesn't arrive until just before or after your due date. Tell them your due date is at least a month before it really is, so you get that coupon early.

tokenhoser · October 2010

The library also often has Baby Bargains. That's my plan.

I think you will inevitably end up with some of the "wrong" stuff, unless you wait to buy it until after the baby has arrived and you can discern some of their likes and dislikes. One baby's nirvanna is not another's.

Mrs.Saxy · October 2010

jeffrae:
boppy pillow, brest friend (if you bf), nursing cover, diaper pail (we have the decker), high chair (but not necessary for a while), bed set, some toys (love the whoozit, sofie), sheets, bath (we have whale of a tub - LOVE it).

I had my breast friend and returned it. The boppy worked enough for us. I didn't worry about the bed set but what I loved and already bought some for the new baby is https://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3763008 the ultimate crib sheet. This is awesome (I have 2) because you put it over the existing sheets so if baby has an accident you just take this off the bed instead of undoing the whole crib....which is a pain in the butt at 2am.

also, to save space we did not get a baby bath tub but we got the baby bath seat which is mesh and allows maximum safety from slipping (imo).

what you're going to find is a bunch of preferences...just have to figure out what you think is going to work out for you.

SMR924 · October 2010

Bring a friend that has recently had a baby to help you. I say recently because I went with a friend that had a 2 year old and I don't think she remembered all the stuff she put on my registery that you end up never using. I feel like I got so much stuff I never opened and wish I had added some older toddler stuff. And diapers of all sizes and wipes!

shanlubey · October 2010

Seems like such a daunting task. I cannot even think about this right now!

mmkaye · October 2010

Alwaysusie:
scootRN:

Also, on an unrelated to baby note...Have you ever registered at Target? We did for our wedding, and they have the most absurd return policy.

If you try to return something without a receipt, which you often don't get with presents, they will not take it back. Even if it is Target brand.

It was infuriating. Target has adorable things, but not enough to tempt me to register there again.

Just as an FYI, this is not in accordance with thier policy. If someone bought you something off of your registry, all you have to do is print out your registry, have them scan it, and then it should recognize that the thing you are returning was purchased. I only know this because I registered there for my wedding and returned a set of corning ware off of my registry without a receipt. I remembered thinking that that was a great policy because so many people don't give gift receipts, or they end up getting lost in the shuffle, etc.

That's such a pain that whoever you went to didn't let you do that - I can understand the frustration.

I agree with this. I had no problems returning things to Target that were on my registry.

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Baby Registry = OVERWHELMING

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