Registry & shower: what to expect?

wtfisup · January 2014

Now I know not entitled to anything and no one has to buy me stuff, etc. I'm just trying to get a sense of ... How this goes? Or how it went in your experience? I'm a pretty neurotic planner, so I'm just trying to get a scope.

We already have all the big stuff except the stroller and PackNPlay, so I filled the registry mostly with smaller items $6-40. I've added all I can think of and there are 35 items. We have 25 guests that are friends who will probably reference the registry, I think ? Plus family that may buy something, may not. I don't know if I should try to add more.

Okay, so how much of your registry stuff did you get? 50%? 70%?

And how much did you return for gift cards?

labooshki · January 2014

I got probably 80% of my registry, but you'd be surprised how many people buy you stuff that you didn't register for and def don't want. I got a ton of gc so whatever I didn't get, I just went to buy myself!!

chaysefaith · January 2014

I used to be a bridal consultant, baby registries are similar. I would say to add more to your registry and take a second look for any big ticket items you might be missing and add them. You never know who wants to spend a lot on you and you inadvertently make that hard on those people by not having higher priced items on your registry.

I can't answer your other questions, it's been way too long since I had a shower so I can't remember.

momof5sept18 · January 2014

I got about 90% of what was on my registry. And things I didn't put on there some family members bought anyway. Like I planned to get the crib, pack n play, travel system, etc. But my aunt asked the link of a travel system I liked and I showed her (about 3days after* my shower and she sent it to me), my mom got these points from boxes from her job where she was a chef, and used her points to get me a free pack n play of my choice out of three. And the crib my step grandfather bought because the one I had picked out wasn't real wood and he wanted it to last. So he bought it and told me its baby's first christmas present plus baby shower gift. I mainly had to buy clothes and even then some family sent me some and some sent me gift cards and cash to buy clothes, bottles, etc. I used Dr.Brown bottles with LO#1 so I used gift cards for them cause family wanted to make sure it is what I wanted. So I bought clothing, pacifiers, socks, diapers, wipes, and other random things. My mom bought the bouncer, play mat, and bedding set cause she seen it on sale and brought it then asked if it was okay. This all was with LO #1 and I haven't did a registry since. I reused everything for LO#2 and this time I plan to do it all on my own besides with DH of course

Luna C · January 2014

Tdonatoni said:

I would add more to the registry. As a FTM, I don't know how much you will get. As someone who has gifted at showers, if the items on the registery are low ticket items I tend to buy 2-3 of the items and then add in a cute (IMO) onesie for s&g's.

This is exactly what I have done in the past, too.

Luna C · January 2014

If you're out of ideas of what else to add, think of things you don't NEED: I put a ton of books on there (for the kid and some parenting books for me), some cute stuffed animals, a white noise machine, accessories for our stroller, and even a few prints for the nursery.

Those are the kinds of thing that are a lot more fun for the gift-giver to buy than, say, a wipe warmer or a tub of butt paste. And if I don't get them, no biggie. I can pick up them up with the completion discount coupon, or if I have enough other stuff I can forget about it.

Pepper6 · January 2014

Based on my sister's showers, they got most of their registries purchased, plus tons of clothes and giftcards. We already started our registry just to give us time to research the stuff we want, but I'm putting everything on there, even though we don't anticipate that most people will buy our big ticket items (there's a few that might though). This also makes it easier for us to buy everything else later because we'll get a 10% completion discount and be able to use any giftcards we receive.

clee2009 · January 2014

I would definitely register for more. I personally like to go in on gifts with friends to purchase big ticket items and then usually purchase small things I felt were useful. Think of not only what you need now but what you will need in the next year.

About 75% of what I received at my shower came from my registry and I was very thankful. I then purchased the remaining items with my registry completion discount. But as a warning...if you find out the sex of the baby and it just so happens to be a girl (I speak from experience) be prepared for lots of pink frilly outfits for the first 6 months of the babies life. I had so many clothes that DD could have worn something new everyday if she had wanted to. Also, it was a bummer when #2 was a boy and all I had was pink

A completely different subject but sometimes I think "Team Green" would have been the best route for #1. But DS did rock his hand me down PINK bouncy seat

LegalLadyBug · January 2014

It honestly depends on your guests. My shower with DD was when I was in law school. I didn't live near family and it was thrown by one of my friends from school, the attendees were also school friends. I got a bunch of bibs, onesies, and a baby bath tub.

On the other hand I have a friend who had showers for all three of her kids and always got a bunch of stuff...car seats, strollers, etc.

wtfisup · January 2014

Gah. Okay, I think I def need to add more. This would be easier if I were into the baby stuff. I just want the baby.

SecondTimeinMSU · January 2014

anyway to cut and paste a basic rundown of what you have or paste it with your contact info blacked out? Giving you ideas would be fun but I don't even know where to start

wtfisup · January 2014

I'll check when I'm on my laptop. Maybe?

tbmadeamistake · January 2014

A lot of online registries have registry builders, I know Target does, that gives ideas of what sections to be adding from. I basically went down the lists with my first, after I had added everything I really wanted, and added stuff that I might not have thought of, or didn't need but I guess it would nice to have. Like a diaper caddy for the top of the changing table. I didn't think I needed it but it looked like a cute way to organize. I got it and 20 months later I'm still using it and will purchase another one for this baby, as the first one will move upstairs with C.

You can also look outside the baby section of the store (if a Target or similar). I put lamps, curtains and rugs on their from the regular house section because I liked them better than what was in the nursery section. Branch out and see what you can find.

Gigi8212 · January 2014

I got pretty much all of the main items on my registry. The only items that were not popular were the cloth diapers, which didn't surprise me as no one I know IRL cloth diapers, and most of them thought I was nuts for doing it.

I did notice that my shower with my friends and co workers resulted in a lot of clothes and toys, whereas the shower thrown by my mom's friends had almost all stuff that was from my registry.

Rosebud2587 · January 2014

I didn't get much off of my registry, probably 20%. The majority of what I got was blankets and clothes, none of which I registered for. I didn't get any of the big ticket items. I think the most expensive thing I got off my registry was the Boppy pillow, so DH and I had to buy all the big ticket items ourselves. I hear all the time about people getting almost everything off their registries, including the big ticket items, but I guess my family and friends don't like to follow the registry.

sherita461972 · January 2014

Thank you for this post

IveGotWhateverItIs · January 2014

I think it depends on what you have on there. With my first I was so excited about baby crap that I registered for a bunch of stuff that I didn't need in addition to the stuff that I did. Then at my shower I got all the stuff that I really didn't need instead of the stuff that I did.

This time around I'm being more strategic. People will buy you what they want whether its on your registry or not. Friends and family that are moms will buy you what they think you need. I tried to follow the registry guides and registerd for X number of hooded towels. Well I left my shower with 20 hooded towels. Those things are crap btw, thin and a PITA to fold. Regular bath towels work just as good if not better. Hooded towels will not be on my registry at all this time but I'm sure I will get them regardless. That's just my opinion and I have many more usless item opinions that I will spare you.

I'm only registering for the necessities this time. If there's not enough on the registry people will usually go for a gift card or buy you something else.

ashquack · January 2014

This post is so helpful (and I think you def will benefit from adding more to your registry... No harm!!)

Susanbeth85 · January 2014

People will buy you what they want whether its on your registry or not.

FTM here, so not an expert, but I bet it will go like this. People will buy you want they want. I am planning on returning everything I don't want for store credit and getting what I do

I am team green mostly to avoid the massive amount of pink tutus or sports stuff you get with a girl or a boy. Hoping I get more practical stuff

Want a personalized experience?

Registry & shower: what to expect?

Re: Registry &amp; shower: what to expect?

Married DH 7/30/11

CSC arrived 5/7/12

CHC arrived 6/2/14

Choose Another Board

Search Boards

Want a personalized experience?

Registry &amp; shower: what to expect?

Re: Registry &amp;amp; shower: what to expect?

Married DH 7/30/11

CSC arrived 5/7/12

CHC arrived 6/2/14

Choose Another Board

Search Boards

Registry & shower: what to expect?

Re: Registry & shower: what to expect?