Registering--How Many?

MuffinMom14 · June 2014

So, a few questions.

1) How many of certain things did you register for? I had one person tell me 100 onesies and 100 bibs. YES, 100 bibs. That is RIDICULOUS (she's a foster mother). My friend gave us a ton of clothes already, and I'm having a baby girl, so I've been warned that no one is even going to look at my registry because they get excited to buy dresses, and I'm somewhat stressed about that, but there's nothing I can do. So, How many bibs? How many receiving blankets? How many wash cloths? How many swaddle blankets/halo sleepsacks, etc? There are lists online but I don't trust that shit.

2) My mom is a crazy person and told me to take half the stuff off of my Target registry and put it on WalMart because HER people will not be going to Target, it's 40 minutes away, and WalMart is right in town. Well a) even if I do register at WalMart, I hate their stuff--I liked what I picked at Target and b) don't many people go online anyway? SO anyway, I did but now I have this fear that people will just go to WalMart first, see that I hardly registered for anything and just buy what they want, and never even looking at the Target one (which is the one I LIKE).

3) I did register for a few clothing items, all in gender neutral things (I don't know if we'll have a boy the next time around), but should I just forget it and take all the clothes off, considering people are going to do what they want? I'm really tired of pink. $:\$

lct2008 · June 2014

1) (this is from the first time so I'm trying to remember) we registered for like 10 bibs, two packs of receiving blankets, I think we registered for one or two packs of washcloths, 2 swaddlemes- and no sleep sacks but we were on south tx and it was hot as heck even in October. We ended up with plenty of all of these things.

2) unfortunately people will probably go to Walmart. Lots of people just go shopping the day of the shower so it's normally from the closest place. Some people are considerate enough to look at the other registries and see what you want and go there. But there isn't much you can do about it. At least with having a registry at walmart you have given them some guidance. Other wise they still would probably be going there and just getting whatever jumps out at them.

3) I probably wouldn't put any clothes on the registry personally. Especially since you know it's a girl if you want some gender neutral things you'll probably just have to purchase them because I highly doubt anyone else will.

bsschroeder · June 2014

100 bibs and onsies is excessive. I prob have 30 bibs because I hate laundry.. I bought 2 packs of green sprouts bibs myself on Amazon and they are awesome. I feel like my 4 pack of aden and anis swaddle/receiving blankets was enough. I have wash cloths but didn't use them. I had 2 sleep sacks but didn't use them. I plan too this time.

People are going to buy what they want no matter where they shop. So make her happy, make a walmart one. I found that often I could find the same item as at target for a few bucks cheaper... if not the exact same print could find one with the same features that I liked just as well.

I was never gifted clothes from the registry..People tend to pick what they like as far as clothes go. But if you like them keep them maybe someone will buy them...

IrishHoney123 · June 2014

What @theresat8858 said. And just to prepare you, people like to buy what they want anyway, no matter where you register. There is no strategy to get them to buy what you want. It's the nature of a gift, my friend!

angeltennis3 · June 2014

I just put one package of bibs on our registry and only some "specialty" clothes (pink sports teams onesies for our baby girl to wear watching a couple of key games with her dad - I am so pumped for these pictures!).

I also second registering where people will shop locally. I usually order gifts offline for showers because finding them in the store is a pain sometimes...and I like to have a wide variety of choices in my price range so I usually do it as soon as I get a shower invitation! However I am in the extreme minority! Most people will want to stop on their way to your shower. I would never drive 40 minutes to go to a store to buy something off someone's registry...and definitely the older generation won't shop online nearly as much.

atraveller · June 2014

My friend gave me a ton of bibs and then my mom bought a bunch more because she did my whole layette. I probably have 15 or so. My mom bought so much clothing that I only have a few newborn/0-3 month stuff on my registry - someone advised me to actually put 3-6 month and 6 month stuff on there as the little ones get to those sizes faster than you think (this is my 1st so I can't speak from experience) - just to remind people not to only buy newborn stuff - I though that made sense and threw on a few larger sizes. I agree with other PP's - people will ultimately buy from where they want regardless of registry. And I've told folks feel free to buy of registry if they want - just to use it as guideline for things I need. Worst case if there is duplication or things not needed, that is what exchanges are for.

bsschroeder · June 2014

^^ yes to Bigger clothes! My son has never followed his age/size..always up a size from his age. And was in newborn for maybe 2 weeks! he lived in sleepers until he was like 3 months! They are so easy! If we went somewhere I MIGHT put real clothes on
Him but heck real clothes on me were even a struggle! LOL

MrMrsandBaby · June 2014

My experience is all I have to go on so take it with a grain of salt:

Don't register for clothing, not only will people get you stuff anyway but it is almost impossible to find the item off the registry if they are looking.

One pack of 10-12 bibs is plenty.

Blankets will come, same as clothes, so unless you really love a pattern I would keep those off your registry too.

The biggest thing - be prepared to get almost NOTHING from your actual registry. I had three showers (yup, three) with my first and only about 10% of my registries were fulfilled. People get excited about babies and want to buy the cute stuff, not the practical stuff. You will have some awesome guests who get you great items from the registry, but you will likely get 45670 stuffed animals and blanket and clothes and picture frames and knicknacks. So be ready to buy the necessitates on your own.

SusieBW · June 2014

MrMrsandBaby said:

My experience is all I have to go on so take it with a grain of salt:

Don't register for clothing, not only will people get you stuff anyway but it is almost impossible to find the item off the registry if they are looking.

One pack of 10-12 bibs is plenty.

Blankets will come, same as clothes, so unless you really love a pattern I would keep those off your registry too.

The biggest thing - be prepared to get almost NOTHING from your actual registry. I had three showers (yup, three) with my first and only about 10% of my registries were fulfilled. People get excited about babies and want to buy the cute stuff, not the practical stuff. You will have some awesome guests who get you great items from the registry, but you will likely get 45670 stuffed animals and blanket and clothes and picture frames and knicknacks. So be ready to buy the necessitates on your own.

ITA with all of this. I didn't register for any bibs, blankets or clothing, but I had plenty of all of them. DD has more stuffed animals than I even know what to do with. I can't stand them. Fortunately, we did receive most of the practical stuff from our registry as gifts, but we also received a million things that weren't on there as well. People buy what they like, regardless of registry. I would just register where you like for what you like.

LightBright515 · June 2014

I feel like my registry is all practical stuff. I go back and forth about the clothes I put on there, but they are pretty basic items.

I want to do another registry at BBB but it's not close to majority of the people I'm inviting. They just have a fee items there that I love. Oh well.

MuffinMom14 · June 2014

Thanks for the help, guys!

100 bibs. SERIOUSLY. She's a crazy person, and thanks for confirming that.

I think I'm going to take the Walmart registry down. If people aren't going to use a registry anyway, on the off chance that they do, I'd want them to use Target, which actually has essentials. All I could find at Walmart were things like diapers/wipes/bottles, which I just moved over from Target. Also, Target is cheaper for almost everything I picked for some reason.

This shower thing is so awkward for me. I'm not looking forward to it, and hearing over and over that all you get are dresses and stuffed animals makes me not want to have it, but my mom is really excited and forcing the issue. I just hope people leave tags on and have gift receipts. I know that sounds awful. That should be my FFFC.

IrishHoney123 · June 2014

MrMrsandBaby said:

My experience is all I have to go on so take it with a grain of salt:

Don't register for clothing, not only will people get you stuff anyway but it is almost impossible to find the item off the registry if they are looking.

One pack of 10-12 bibs is plenty.

Blankets will come, same as clothes, so unless you really love a pattern I would keep those off your registry too.

The biggest thing - be prepared to get almost NOTHING from your actual registry. I had three showers (yup, three) with my first and only about 10% of my registries were fulfilled. People get excited about babies and want to buy the cute stuff, not the practical stuff. You will have some awesome guests who get you great items from the registry, but you will likely get 45670 stuffed animals and blanket and clothes and picture frames and knicknacks. So be ready to buy the necessitates on your own.

I had five showers with my first, and this was my experience as well! I feel sympathetic to the FTM's stressing over their registry, but the fact remains that there are few things you TRULY NEED, and you may have to get them yourself. Not worth the stress! Use it as your own guide, and if others get things off of it great!!

yella726 · June 2014

MrMrsandBaby said:

The biggest thing - be prepared to get almost NOTHING from your actual registry. I had three showers (yup, three) with my first and only about 10% of my registries were fulfilled.

THIS is what I'm worried about. We're cloth diapering and so we have a good deal of CDs/prefolds/liners and I feel (scratch that, I KNOW) we won't be getting much from guests off of our registry.

That said, here is a quick breakdown of what we have (specifically re: clothes/bibs) on our 3 registries (Amazon, BuyBuyBaby, Babies R Us):

2 sets of (2-pack) bibs
4 Sleepsacks (2 fleece, 1 cotton, 1 muslin)
2 packs of socks (9 altogether)
7 L/S onesies
3 outfit sets (s/s onesie, pants, l/s onesie)
1 3-piece set of mitts
2 Burb Cloths
2 4-pack muslin swaddles

I know that we will get a LOT of clothes but I wanted to make sure I had several on my registry that I actually want.

MuffinMom14 · June 2014

Happyin14 said:

For the how many question, just do the best you can. 100 bibs IS way too many... Register for a couple of those packages you like and everyone else will buy you funny ones anyway as a little bit of an extra in a package. For anything else, just register and keep tags on EVERYTHING. Because who knows what your kid will need. DS was a ridiculously clean eater from day 1 and we barely used bibs. honestly. Receiving blankets - same thing, didn't use a ton of them.

I vote to register where you want. People will figure it out. And as PP have said, some people will just buy whatever they want anyway and wherever they want. I had a bunch of people look at my BRU registry and then buy the same things at Target or wherever. It might have screwed up my registry numbers a tad, but oh well. You can always return.

I registered at BRU and BBB and got so many things from Carter's it was crazy. You'll get things from everywhere.

Also keep in mind the OTHER reason to register. Completion coupons. So if there are gender neutral outfits you want, put them there and you can buy them for cheap after. OR - even return something someone bought that you didn't like and get it with the completion coupon. I think putting it there so that people see what you actually want is helpful. Even if they don't buy that actual thing, someone will say "Oh - she wants a couple of gender neutral outfits too... let me find some."

You're correct about that part. I actually moved up my due date a month so I'd be able to "complete" the registry before the baby's here if there are essentials I need that no one got. Cheating.

[Deleted User] · June 2014

SPurp13 said:

Happyin14 said:

For the how many question, just do the best you can. 100 bibs IS way too many... Register for a couple of those packages you like and everyone else will buy you funny ones anyway as a little bit of an extra in a package. For anything else, just register and keep tags on EVERYTHING. Because who knows what your kid will need. DS was a ridiculously clean eater from day 1 and we barely used bibs. honestly. Receiving blankets - same thing, didn't use a ton of them.

I vote to register where you want. People will figure it out. And as PP have said, some people will just buy whatever they want anyway and wherever they want. I had a bunch of people look at my BRU registry and then buy the same things at Target or wherever. It might have screwed up my registry numbers a tad, but oh well. You can always return.

I registered at BRU and BBB and got so many things from Carter's it was crazy. You'll get things from everywhere.

Also keep in mind the OTHER reason to register. Completion coupons. So if there are gender neutral outfits you want, put them there and you can buy them for cheap after. OR - even return something someone bought that you didn't like and get it with the completion coupon. I think putting it there so that people see what you actually want is helpful. Even if they don't buy that actual thing, someone will say "Oh - she wants a couple of gender neutral outfits too... let me find some."

You're correct about that part. I actually moved up my due date a month so I'd be able to "complete" the registry before the baby's here if there are essentials I need that no one got. Cheating.

Wait, how does the completion coupon thing work? Do you only get the discount/coupon after your due date? My shower is likely going to be almost 2 months before my due date...

pnwlover12 · June 2014

I know you already got a ton of responses but here is my two cents

100 bibs is ridiculous...but I disagree with PP who have said bibs aren't necessary at first. For me, they totally were. My LO was constantly spitting up and/or drooling so it was either she wear a bib or I change her outfit 9 zillion times a day. I'd say we had about 15-20 bibs and I did laundry constantly. But all babies are different.

I agree that registries are pointless at times, because people will buy what they want to buy for you. At my shower, I received easily 20 blankets. I didn't register for any

DreadGamerWife · June 2014

The only clothing we listed was a few sleep sacks. Aside from that, most of the clothing carried has such a rapid turn over that it isn't worth trying to pick out specific pieces now only to have to replace them in a month or two as they are no longer available.

However, we are planning on creating a private Target registry closer to the due date and listing clothing, bibs, post maternity supplies, etc on that registry - specifically so we can get the completion discount.

Liss1481 · June 2014

pnwlover12 said:

I know you already got a ton of responses but here is my two cents

100 bibs is ridiculous...but I disagree with PP who have said bibs aren't necessary at first. For me, they totally were. My LO was constantly spitting up and/or drooling so it was either she wear a bib or I change her outfit 9 zillion times a day. I'd say we had about 15-20 bibs and I did laundry constantly. But all babies are different.

I agree that registries are pointless at times, because people will buy what they want to buy for you. At my shower, I received easily 20 blankets. I didn't register for any

+1 this. DS drooled constantly. For months. So bibs were definitely a must for us as well. But 100 is an insane number.

ETA: Oh and we didn't register for any clothing or blankets (except the Aden+Anais) muslim swaddles, but we received a lot of clothes and receiving blankets anyway.

Lauren1184 · June 2014

The only clothing I registered for was some basic white onesies and a few sleepsacks/footsie pajamas. I did put some burp clothes and receiving blankets on there too. I didn't register for socks, bibs, other clothing, I figured I can wait until after the shower to see what I have and go from there. I'm a FTM so I have no experience, but like PP have said, I'm assuming people will give me whatever they want, so I'll see what I end up with and fill in the rest.

Concerning where to register, I registered at BBB because that's what I like. We have people from all over coming to the shower, so if there isn't one near them, they can shop online, give a gift card, or get the same item from another store or something. They'll figure it out, I hope.

MuffinMom14 · June 2014

noonandj04 said:

SPurp13 said:

Happyin14 said:

For the how many question, just do the best you can. 100 bibs IS way too many... Register for a couple of those packages you like and everyone else will buy you funny ones anyway as a little bit of an extra in a package. For anything else, just register and keep tags on EVERYTHING. Because who knows what your kid will need. DS was a ridiculously clean eater from day 1 and we barely used bibs. honestly. Receiving blankets - same thing, didn't use a ton of them.

I vote to register where you want. People will figure it out. And as PP have said, some people will just buy whatever they want anyway and wherever they want. I had a bunch of people look at my BRU registry and then buy the same things at Target or wherever. It might have screwed up my registry numbers a tad, but oh well. You can always return.

I registered at BRU and BBB and got so many things from Carter's it was crazy. You'll get things from everywhere.

Also keep in mind the OTHER reason to register. Completion coupons. So if there are gender neutral outfits you want, put them there and you can buy them for cheap after. OR - even return something someone bought that you didn't like and get it with the completion coupon. I think putting it there so that people see what you actually want is helpful. Even if they don't buy that actual thing, someone will say "Oh - she wants a couple of gender neutral outfits too... let me find some."

You're correct about that part. I actually moved up my due date a month so I'd be able to "complete" the registry before the baby's here if there are essentials I need that no one got. Cheating.

Wait, how does the completion coupon thing work? Do you only get the discount/coupon after your due date? My shower is likely going to be almost 2 months before my due date...

I think it's 2-3 weeks BEFORE your due date, if I read the Target thing correctly, which is why I moved my due date up. I wanted those coupons right after my shower.

MrMrsandBaby · June 2014

erawka said:

yella726 said:

MrMrsandBaby said:

The biggest thing - be prepared to get almost NOTHING from your actual registry. I had three showers (yup, three) with my first and only about 10% of my registries were fulfilled.

Ok follow-up question for those of you who've BTDT. Do people usually include gift receipts? Or is there a polite way to request that?

I don't want to sound ungrateful, but as an allergy sufferer, a bazillion stuffed animals are my nightmare.

Most of my bigger items came with a gift receipt. But the stuffed animals and blankets mostly didn't (figures right!). I think if you can figure out where they bought it you can take it back but you will likely get the lowest sale price...in store credit.

jesslinnn · June 2014

MrMrsandBaby said:

My experience is all I have to go on so take it with a grain of salt:

Don't register for clothing, not only will people get you stuff anyway but it is almost impossible to find the item off the registry if they are looking.

One pack of 10-12 bibs is plenty.

Blankets will come, same as clothes, so unless you really love a pattern I would keep those off your registry too.

The biggest thing - be prepared to get almost NOTHING from your actual registry. I had three showers (yup, three) with my first and only about 10% of my registries were fulfilled. People get excited about babies and want to buy the cute stuff, not the practical stuff. You will have some awesome guests who get you great items from the registry, but you will likely get 45670 stuffed animals and blanket and clothes and picture frames and knicknacks. So be ready to buy the necessitates on your own.

This. I was lucky though, because my side of the family loves to follow the registry, so they pretty much covered the neccesities, which was awesome!! DH's family on the other hand, bought very few things off the registry, so they covered the "cute stuff" (blankets, clothes, bibs, stuffed animals, etc). It worked out quite nicely.

MuffinMom14 · June 2014

Nicb13 said:

erawka said:

yella726 said:

MrMrsandBaby said:

The biggest thing - be prepared to get almost NOTHING from your actual registry. I had three showers (yup, three) with my first and only about 10% of my registries were fulfilled.

Ok follow-up question for those of you who've BTDT. Do people usually include gift receipts? Or is there a polite way to request that?

I don't want to sound ungrateful, but as an allergy sufferer, a bazillion stuffed animals are my nightmare.

It will come across that way so don't mention anything about wanting gift receipts. Either people will include them or they won't. Either way, if the tags are on, I'm sure the store will exchange them.

Oh my god, no. I wouldn't say that to anyone. Someone on this board actually recommended that I put that on the invitations--to include gift receipts. Um. No.

MuffinMom14 · June 2014

Nicb13 said:

SPurp13 said:

Thanks for the help, guys!

100 bibs. SERIOUSLY. She's a crazy person, and thanks for confirming that.

I think I'm going to take the Walmart registry down. If people aren't going to use a registry anyway, on the off chance that they do, I'd want them to use Target, which actually has essentials. All I could find at Walmart were things like diapers/wipes/bottles, which I just moved over from Target. Also, Target is cheaper for almost everything I picked for some reason.

This shower thing is so awkward for me. I'm not looking forward to it, and hearing over and over that all you get are dresses and stuffed animals makes me not want to have it, but my mom is really excited and forcing the issue. I just hope people leave tags on and have gift receipts. I know that sounds awful. That should be my FFFC.

You've mentioned this before - that you aren't looking forward to your shower so I urge you to try and be positive about it. No one has to get you anything but they will, because people care about you and this baby. Plan on providing the necessities for your kid and if you happen to get what you NEED out of the shower, then that's a bonus

Yes, the underlined portion is brutally honest but does sound bad. Don't assume you're just going to get a bunch of crap. People might surprise you!

I just hate being the center of attention, and I did not enjoy my bridal shower. People were so kind and thoughtful--the guests were wonderful, but the stress of dealing with my mother is the main issue. I begged for a small shower at my house. Nope. The guest list will be over 100 people, some that I don't even know. And just going with it is really my only option. This is the last time I cave, so I'mi giving her her last hoorah for attention, which is what this is. It's not about me. It's about HER. So, it's probably more a mom issue than a shower issue (with the whole not loving attention thing thrown in).

MuffinMom14 · June 2014

Just to elaborate, too, is that I have this thing about feeling guilty when we waste things. That goes for food, for things, for gifts, for money. We really don't need a shower at all (no one does, I suppose), we can get the essentials. But, I think having too many clothes that we will never even take the tags off of will be really difficult for me to swallow. Like, I kid that I'm just a smidge short of being a hoarder. I HATE to waste things. I'll feel so bad if we have all these clothes but could have used something practical instead.

Accepting gifts is difficult for me in either case. I think if it were something I know we'd use a lot, it would be easier for me to accept. I just always feel so weird accepting things from people. Like I can't thank them enough. Which is weird, because I LOVE giving gifts. LOVE it. I just feel very awkward in reverse.

LightBright515 · June 2014

In my experience, people still get quite a bit of the practical gifts they registered for.

I've had to actually pump my brakes on buying big stuff, so people can have a chance to purchase these items for my SO and I.

IrishHoney123 · June 2014

SPurp13 said:

Just to elaborate, too, is that I have this thing about feeling guilty when we waste things. That goes for food, for things, for gifts, for money. We really don't need a shower at all (no one does, I suppose), we can get the essentials. But, I think having too many clothes that we will never even take the tags off of will be really difficult for me to swallow. Like, I kid that I'm just a smidge short of being a hoarder. I HATE to waste things. I'll feel so bad if we have all these clothes but could have used something practical instead.

Accepting gifts is difficult for me in either case. I think if it were something I know we'd use a lot, it would be easier for me to accept. I just always feel so weird accepting things from people. Like I can't thank them enough. Which is weird, because I LOVE giving gifts. LOVE it. I just feel very awkward in reverse.

The shower is about celebrating you and baby. The gifts are whatever the giver wants to give! It bothers me that the tone of your replies sound kind of entitled...I hope you do have the shower, have a wonderful time, and are able to graciously accept gifts (many of which will NOT have tags/gift receipts). You can always donate all of those theoretical clothes to those who are less fortunate.

toomanycats1 · June 2014

IrishHoney123 said:

SPurp13 said:

Just to elaborate, too, is that I have this thing about feeling guilty when we waste things. That goes for food, for things, for gifts, for money. We really don't need a shower at all (no one does, I suppose), we can get the essentials. But, I think having too many clothes that we will never even take the tags off of will be really difficult for me to swallow. Like, I kid that I'm just a smidge short of being a hoarder. I HATE to waste things. I'll feel so bad if we have all these clothes but could have used something practical instead.

Accepting gifts is difficult for me in either case. I think if it were something I know we'd use a lot, it would be easier for me to accept. I just always feel so weird accepting things from people. Like I can't thank them enough. Which is weird, because I LOVE giving gifts. LOVE it. I just feel very awkward in reverse.

The shower is about celebrating you and baby. The gifts are whatever the giver wants to give! It bothers me that the tone of your replies sound kind of entitled...I hope you do have the shower, have a wonderful time, and are able to graciously accept gifts (many of which will NOT have tags/gift receipts). You can always donate all of those theoretical clothes to those who are less fortunate.

I have to agree. I don't think you're meaning to sound entitled though... more like a Type A person that is trying to "plan" and get control over things. Know what Luv... you can't. I can't tell you how many things my DS has been given over the years, that he just has no use for. Either they aren't something he's interested in (like tractor toys and snow gear) or they are outfits that he just doesn't get a chance to wear enough because they aren't his style or are too dressy for play clothes. I've come to terms with it. He's 7 now, and I just donate the things that don't get used to those that would need and appreciate it. It was hard to get used to, but once I learned to let it go, I was able to appreciate the fact that my family (the over-gifters) were buying so many things for DS because they love him, and think of him all the time. It comes from a good place. You can buy whatever you want for you LO, and I'm sure you will fill in any gaps that are leftover after the shower. Like previous posters said, you can exchange the outfits for 12 months+ ... and set them aside in a corner of the closet for when LO is bigger. This is what I did, and I really didn't have to buy much until DS was 18 months! I got so used to always having backup clothes, that it was weird to finally go out and buy stuff :P

I know it's hard, but try to relax. As a fellow planner (and near hoarder) I understand the anxiety that this is giving you, but you really can't do much about it. Please don't drive yourself crazy for the next few months worrying about something that you can't control. Also, please try to remember, there are bigger problems to have than people not buying off your registry!

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