Gifts- Not trying to sound greedy, just want to be prepared...

Allisonz0312 · March 2013

I will be truely grateful for any gifts we recieve and and for anyone who chooses to help us prepare for baby in anyway. I am just curious what you're experiences were, (I am an OCD planner!) and I also realize everyone's situation is different, but...

What did you purchase yourself as opposed to putting on the registry?

Did you feel like you got more or the smaller/larger things you registered for?

Did you go on a buying rampage and wish you had waited until after your shower?

What type of items do YOU like to purchase as babyshower gifts? (I've only been to one!)

I keep seeing deals on things I want, but I don't know whether to hold off or not. I know it's early but I just like to be prepared. Thanks guys!

ravenclaw1 · March 2013

I can't answer most questions, as a FTM. But I will answer the "what do I buy as gifts"

I actually make quilts for baby gifts, which everyone I've given one to absolutely loves. Other than that, I buy off registry or just cute clothes. I usually don't buy smaller than 6 months.

jkuns7ty · March 2013

We purchased all the big things ourselves - crib, stroller, carseat, etc. I wasn't comfortable putting big ticket items on a registry. It seemed like it was our decision to have a child, we should be financially responsible for it. But, I know some families really want to pitch in on the bigger stuff, so each situation is different. Smaller stuff we registered for, bathtub, clothing, swaddle blankets, etc. There was still PLENTY of stuff to register for without putting the big items on there.

kje120 · March 2013

What did you purchase yourself as opposed to putting on the registry? We bought our crib, bedding and travel system (although MIL gave us $$ for Christmas to buy the crib so really she got it for us).

Did you feel like you got more or the smaller/larger things you registered for? We got our pack n play, glider, and high chair as big items and then a lot of smaller items (bumbo, playmat, bath toys, clothes, etc)

Did you go on a buying rampage and wish you had waited until after your shower? No, but our shower wasn't til I was 36 weeks (he was born right before 38 weeks). I wouldn't say I went on a rampage, but I did buy little things here and there and then finished up with the items we needed from our registry after the shower.

What type of items do YOU like to purchase as babyshower gifts? (I've only been to one!) I haven't been to many, but I normally like to buy a lot of the little items from their registry and make a nice gift basket with it.

ETA: We also got a LOT of hand me downs from my sister and some friends (bassinet, swing, baby tub) so I didn't register for any of that.

Allisonz0312 · March 2013

Wow, I just reread my horrible grammar. I'm blaming it on not being able to find anything I want for breakfast.

michelle7482 · March 2013

We had all our large items purchased for us: crib, dresser, travel system, convertible car seat, bassinet, pack and play, swing, bouncer, jumperoo and some smaller items too. I mostly had to buy sheets, blankets, bottle accessories. I had a big shower so I was fortunate. I wouldn't buy anything until after the shower. If you do, save your receipts!

SweetPeaK26 · March 2013

We didn't register. We didn't get any duplicates on anything either! I feel like its our choice to have a baby so we should assume the responsibility of all purchases. Anything anyone wants to get us is totally from them, not something we preselected for them to get us. That's just me.

I usually GIVE a mommy pampering set :lotion, slippers, bubble bath, salts, etc: as we'll as some cloth diapers :to use as burp cloths: white baby hangers, and a few books. I think these are things that people always need, but don't always think to register for!

magdalina.h · March 2013

We purchased the big ticket items like the dresser and the glider.

It's normal to get a lot of the smaller things.

Nope. We didn't have to buy clothes because a co-worker has 3 boys and she passed down all of their clothes. What I did buy was things I knew wouldn't be bought for me such as pumping supplies.

I like to get an outfit and then necessities.

kje120 · March 2013

auroraloo:
I put everything on the registry to start, then purchased from it as we went. It was a nice in-one-place list that way. We purchased the crib and several other things before the registry was shared with anyone.
But put it all on, IMO, you never know what people will want to buy, go in on a big gift together, etc.
And then, after your shower(s), you get a discount on the remaining stuffs. win.

The bolded is why we put our glider on the registry. I never expected someone to actually buy it for us - I just wanted to use the discount after.

kakhmama · March 2013

jkuns7ty:
We purchased all the big things ourselves crib, stroller, carseat, etc. I wasn't comfortable putting big ticket items on a registry. It seemed like it was our decision to have a child, we should be financially responsible for it. But, I know some families really want to pitch in on the bigger stuff, so each situation is different. Smaller stuff we registered for, bathtub, clothing, swaddle blankets, etc. There was still PLENTY of stuff to register for without putting the big items on there.

This was us exactly!

kdv77 · March 2013

We purchased cloth diapers, orbit stroller, toddler carseat, all furniture, crib mattress, bedding, etc.

Family bought is a few medium/larger pieces - swing, pack n play, etc. Friends mostly bought $50 and under gifts or made blankets, etc.

We made an excel sheet of wants and needs and their corresponding prices. I kind of knew what was likely to be purchased as a shower gift and what wouldn't, so I never regretted any of my purchases.

I like to either to a basket of similar items - tub with towels, washcloths, shampoo, etc or 1 bigger item. I usually do $50 range unless its someone super close.

When I saw a great deal, I went for it. Just take it off your registry. There will be plenty for people to buy still, plus some buy off the registry.

cvl105 · March 2013

We bought all the furniture for the bedroom. I pretty much registered for everything else and just bought what wasn't bought for my showers.

I like to either pick something off the registry or get white onesies (usually on the registry) and get the monthly stickers for taking LOs picture monthly.

stephosu2 · March 2013

First, put everything on your registry even if no one would purchase it because you'll get a completion coupon code as you approach your due date. Even if you purchase something yourself the registry acts as a receipt. Most people bought smaller items however a few people would get together to get a larger item on the registry. I waited until after my showers to purchase anything and then used my completion codes for anything else on my registry I wanted.

missmuffin87 · March 2013

I got pretty much my entire registry as shower gifts. My immediate family bought the larger items. I bought the crib, but it was only $60, so not even that "big" of a purchase.

I got a whole mix of big things and little things. Some people bought a whole bunch of the little things and did gift basket type things. A lot of people gave clothes.

I didn't buy anything that was on my registry till after the shower. Don't freak out when 2 days before your shower nothing on your registry has been purchased. People will go the day before or the morning of.

When i attend a shower I ALWAYS purchase from the registry. I look at their registry and decide what the most useful small items will be and buy those. I do not buy clothes because I know everyone else will. The only time I stray from the registry is if I see they haven't registered for some really useful product that they might not even know about, like the Carter's newborn bubble socks. I'll buy those in addition to my gift off their registry.

sprocketsmom · March 2013

Allisonz0312:
What did you purchase yourself as opposed to putting on the registry?
Crib, car seat, pack n play, recliner, all the large items were left off the registry.
Did you feel like you got more or the smaller/larger things you registered for?
We literally got three things from our registry. High chair, Cloud B Sleep Sheep, and a waterproof crib mattress cover.
Did you go on a buying rampage and wish you had waited until after your shower? We waited until after our shower and finished buying all the little stuff we needed like crib sheets, clothes, etc. We got tons of receiving blankets, clothes, washcloths, those sorts of things.
What type of items do YOU like to purchase as babyshower gifts? I've only been to one! I really try to stick to the registry unless there's nothing left in my price range. I don't necessarily have a go to gift.
I keep seeing deals on things I want, but I don't know whether to hold off or not. I know it's early but I just like to be prepared. Thanks guys!
I would say, think about the family and friends who would be at you shower, and how they normally gift. For us, I knew from our wedding that pretty much no one would buy off our registry, and give random or handmade items. The registry was more for us to stay organized and to get the ten percent off discount. We knew we'd be buying pretty much everything ourselves.

ETA ah! Sorry the formatting! I'm on my phone. Eff you mobile bump.

JocelynB0911 · March 2013

We got all the big stuff (travel system, swing, bouncer, crib) as we felt that even if we did put it on our registry we didnt expect people to spend that much on our baby. I always get little outfits or a gift card for baby showers. We were on clothes overload and gift cards wouldve been better IMO since we still needed things.

andy711 · March 2013

Allisonz0312:
I will be truely grateful for any gifts we recieve and and for anyone who chooses to help us prepare for baby in anyway. I am just curious what you're experiences were, (I am an OCD planner!) and I also realize everyone's situation is different, but...
What did you purchase yourself as opposed to putting on the registry? We purchased our crib/mattress, dresser and glider. Well our parents helped with the purchase of the crib and dresses as well. We bought our monitor off items that we had to return. We also took care of our bedding and room accessories.
Did you feel like you got more or the smaller/larger things you registered for? We got a mixture. We had some family member or certain groups of friends go in on things like the car seats, and stroller, swing, etc...so I wouldn't be afraid to register for those items.
Did you go on a buying rampage and wish you had waited until after your shower? ,we did not do so. It was hard to hold out on some items but I guess it depends on your situation and if you see a great deal on something and don't expect anyone is going to go in on something for you, like your stroller, then why not!
What type of items do YOU like to purchase as babyshower gifts? (I've only been to one!) I usually try for one item that would end up around $40-$50 after coupon, like the Rock N Play or a play mat, but if I go in with someone we usually get a ton of the bath items or feeding items and make a basket.
I keep seeing deals on things I want, but I don't know whether to hold off or not. I know it's early but I just like to be prepared. Thanks guys!

TristaD81 · March 2013

What did you purchase yourself as opposed to putting on the registry? I put everything on the registry. We ended up using gift cards to purchase the breast pump and the crib. We bought a lot of other smaller things too.

Did you feel like you got more or the smaller/larger things you registered for? It was a good mix. Some family members went in together to buy bigger things like my city mini stroller, high chair, etc. I am convinced that being Team Green helped me get things off of my registry instead of getting a ton of little clothes.

Did you go on a buying rampage and wish you had waited until after your shower? I waited until after my showers. We had two, one in my hometown and one where I live currently. Our family and friends were so generous I'm glad I waited.

What type of items do YOU like to purchase as babyshower gifts? (I've only been to one!) Now that I'm a BTDT, I have a lot of items that I think are really useful to have but that people don't buy. So, I'll typically pick one or two things off the regsitry and then get a bunch of things I think they'll need: boogie wipes, face wipes, baby tylenol, gas drops, desitin, etc. I refuse to buy baby bath stuff for showers now. I've noticed that people really like to buy that stuff, little towels and soap and lotion and crap. I STILL have baby soap from my showers and my DD is 19 months old! And the little towels are not that useful for an extended period of time.

ETA: I completely agree with putting everything you want on the registry, even if you plan on purchasing the big items yourself. 1. You never know how generous people want to be, it's not about accepting responsibility for your decision to have a baby, it's that people love you and your baby and want to do something generous for your family and 2. You get a registry completion discount for any items left on your registry!! It is awesome!

Luckymomma4 · March 2013

With my first I put all of the things I needed on the registry. More of a way to keep track of everything. In laws and my mom bought some of the bigger stuff because they really wanted to. At my baby shower everyone else gave the baby clothes, blankets, towels, and diapers. I would hold off on buying all those little things right away.

kat81again2 · March 2013

What did you purchase yourself as opposed to putting on the registry?

We got a used crib, a hand-me-down dresser, and purchased a used changing table. We also ended up purchasing the breast pump (and ALL pumping supplies), the car seat and newborn-sized clothes (people are told not to get this size as a gift because the kid grows out of it fast and might come out too big for it, but our child was small and slow-growing for a while so he needed them for a while.) I think we also bought our bouncy seat ourselves.

Did you feel like you got more or the smaller/larger things you registered for?

Smaller, mostly, and off-registry items such as books. But someone did buy the pack & play and someone else bought a stroller. Each of those were $100-150 and the biggest things that people bought. We ended up having to buy the carseat and the breast pump. I was slightly annoyed at the off-registry purchases at first but was SO happy in the end to have such a big library for DS. Because we were team green we didn't get that many clothing gifts until after he was born, so that was good because books > clothes after a point (because too many people buy clothes).

Did you go on a buying rampage and wish you had waited until after your shower?

Nope! The only "buying rampage" I went on was about two weeks before giving birth I realized there was a ton of stuff we needed (like the nb clothes) so I bought stuff then. After the shower. So glad I waited.

What type of items do YOU like to purchase as babyshower gifts? (I've only been to one!)

I know that no one wants to get things like a breast pump so I like to get stuff like that (well, maybe going in with someone because they're costly). Everyone wants to get cute things but I like to get something that the couple will need that isn't cute (diaper pail) because I know no one else will.

I keep seeing deals on things I want, but I don't know whether to hold off or not. I know it's early but I just like to be prepared.

Generally it's a good idea to wait. But some things go out of stock so if it's something you're deadset on you can get it. Also if there is a good (i.e. long) return policy then you could buy stuff now and return it later if need be. Or return the duplicate that someone else gets for you.

Still, though, I think it's for the most part a waste of time (and maybe money) to do too much shopping now.

1026pumpkin · March 2013

Allisonz0312:
What did you purchase yourself as opposed to putting on the registry? Furniture, car seat, stroller, and we picked up clothes when we saw amazing deals on clearance. I also received a lot of books, toys and clothes as hand me downs.
Did you feel like you got more or the smaller/larger things you registered for? We purchased almost all of the big things and I did get a complaint from my co-workers (who had all chipped in for a group gift hoping to buy 1 or 2 items and ended up purchasing many small ones) and my mom that there was nothing "good" on my registry.
Did you go on a buying rampage and wish you had waited until after your shower? Nope- I really wanted the nursery ready to go ahead of time because we were hoping to get DS used to sleeping in his own room early on and wanted everything set up and wanted time for all the fumes from the paint, furniture, etc. to disperse. I 100% wanted the car seat purchased and installed early in case of early labor and we got a phenomenal deal on a BOB, so snatched that right up too. I did buy a lot of clothes in various sizes from 3-12 months, and even though we got a lot of clothes as gifts, it wasn't enough for a full wardrobe- we still used the stuff I bought quite a bit- and I bought the practical stuff, not the mini santa outfits, etc.
What type of items do YOU like to purchase as babyshower gifts? (I've only been to one!): I always stick to the registry for the main items and then throw in a book we like and a cute little lovey or rattle as a topper. I also like to make diaper cakes. If it's a friend or aquaintance and my budget is $30ish, I will usually get their tub and some bath accessories or put together a basket of smaller items. For closer friends and family, I'll try to get something bigger like their pack and play or bouncer or high chair.
I keep seeing deals on things I want, but I don't know whether to hold off or not. I know it's early but I just like to be prepared: Keep an eye on sales- most stores have them frequently...if you see something on sale at a better than average price, snap it up; if not, you can probably wait. When you find out if you're having a shower and when it is, you can decide if it makes sense to wait for bigger items (like furniture with long delivery times and car seats for installation/inspection) or if you'd like to get it ready in advance. There are still plenty of things you'll be able to include on your registry.

diablesse · March 2013

I don't have anything to add. I'm a FTM. Just wanted say say these responses are very helpful. Thanks.

chanelsavoie · March 2013

This is my first, but I can answer two of your questions.

What did you purchase yourself as opposed to putting on the registry?

We are buying the nursery furniture and the theme set (classic winnie the pooh, hard to find and expensive). We will also purchase the baby monitors that we want and probably the stroller.

What type of items do YOU like to purchase as babyshower gifts?

It depends on my relationship with the person/ whether or not they have "cute" stuff on their registry. I prefer to buy something like one of those lay and play mats, or an adorable hooded bath towel.. something fun and cute. If Their registry is more simple, I will buy a diaper bag and stuff it with small useful things- fingernail clippers, baby thermometer, bottles, nuk, rash cream, changing pad, wipes, etc. and of course a pack of diapers.

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Gifts- Not trying to sound greedy, just want to be prepared...

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