No shower/registry question

karynste19 · October 2015

It looks as though I am not having a shower. My aunt offered but my mom turned her down. Im not quite sure why. And it seems as though in-laws are on the same mindset. (Both families are THRILLED about the baby but they don't like the gift grabbing feeling of showers)

A good friend at work suggested that I register anyway to take advantage of discounts. Is that weird? I feel very odd registering for nothing. That said, I could use all the store discounts I can get (we are buying a house and finances are incredibly tight).

I'm concerned that if I register it will make our families upset about the lack of shower. I don't want the registry to make anyone feel badly nor would I expect anything from anyone it would simply be to take advantage of the savings. I am probably overthinking but I have never been in this situation before.

If you would register, would you mind telling me some stores with registry perks? I live in the northeast of that makes a difference.

Thanks for any advice!

(Edited for grammar)

Buehler99 · October 2015

Target - I get a 15% off coupon every few weeks. Plus, after your due date, they will send you a coupon to "finish" out your registry. If you do register, put your due date a month early. They'll send you the above mentioned coupon, and you can get all the important stuff you'll need to start you and baby off before he/she gets there. I'm sorry your family doesn't think it's important enough... It's always important!! It's not about the gifts; it's about showering you and your baby with love!

ChrissyD1203 · October 2015

Babies r us and buy buy baby have completion codes and Babies r us also gives $$ back per amount you spend. I think you can make the registry private so no one would even see you did it!

willashbaby · October 2015

Non one will know you register unless you tell them so I'm not sure why that would be an issue. It depends on where you shop but If I were you I would do amazon, if you have prime you'll get 15% off anything on the list 60 days before the date you put in. Also if you do one at Babies R Us and you have a rewards number you can add whatever you need to the list, buy it yourself using price match from amazon or any competitor coupons (like buy buy baby 20% off) AND you will get 10% BACK of whatever is spent on a gift card. Don't feel bad about it, they still make plenty of money. I worked in retail for a loooooong time and I say get the best bang for your buck!

ccoleeman · October 2015

I second the PPS with Target, Babies R Us and Buy Buy Baby. Only thing I would say is don't worry about your family being upset if you make a registry for yourself, especially since they were the ones who decided not to throw a shower. You have every right to create one for yourself and use it as a checklist/discount.

ntyravgsp · October 2015

Also not sure if anyone is aware, but you can set the registry at Target to private, so even if someone searches for it they won't see it. Not sure if it works that way for any of the others but I'd imagine they offer that feature too.

Ebiejay · October 2015

I made a registry just for the completion discount through Amazon, since it's convenient, easy to compare prices and comes with a 15% completion discount if you have Prime or Mom (10% without). I won't be sharing the link to anyone unless they specifically ask to see my registry, so there will be no hard feelings from anyone.

Definitely make yourself a registry! It's fun to do, a good place to list and store ideas of what you want/need, and the discount will always help!

ondabianca · October 2015

It's a nice way to keep track of things you need and what you have left plus you do get discount codes. Plus, you never know...maybe a friend or someone from work will throw you a shower:)

BarrettJ89 · October 2015

I'm on my second baby in a year. We aren't having a shower for this one, even though we have a boy and this baby is a girl.
I did a registry simply as a list to help keep my own scattered brain together as to what we need. Plus, you usually get some sort of a gift bag with neat goodies. And last but not least, if we are going to have to buy everything ourselves anyways, we might as well use the discounts/completion codes to do so! If anyone asks for things we need, I can give them the registry info, but I refuse to ask, especially so soon after having a baby.

tamarasue1106 · October 2015

I am most likely not going to have a baby shower however I did make a registry to reap the discounts. Im a little picky because I'm having a boy & have had a few friends ask how they're going to be able to shop for me? I just let them know where I'm registered and let them do with that info what they want. I still may end up just doing a small lunch at a restaurant with close family and very close friends (my mom is disappointed I don't want a shower) to help people feel involved.

wassuphoes · October 2015

A quick heads up, Target has a very wonky registry system. It shouldn't be as big an issue for you because guests won't be using it, but don't be surprised if items disappear from it.

mrsm224 · October 2015

I would absolutely register anyways! It gives you a good idea of what you need, and can serve as a checklist as you purchase items. And honestly, even if you're not having a shower, chances are some people will ask you where you are registered so they can get a gift for baby anyways. IMO, go with Babies R Us. We're registered there and they have awesome perks! 5% back on every purchase until you reach $200 I think? And then you start getting 10% back for everything after that. Also, anything you buy off your registry within 6 weeks of your due date, you get 10% off. Worth it in my opinion!

maureenmce · October 2015

I have no idea if we're having a shower or not yet. We're not due until 1/31 and that still seems so far away! We're registering on Amazon either way though, so we can get the discounts for our own shopping, especially for the larger items, like a crib and stroller. We moved up our due date a bit so we'll get the completion discount Nov 15th and we're planning on buying all of our big items that day. If someone does end up throwing us a shower, then we'll already have the registry done for the smaller items! It's a win win.

BarrettJ89 · October 2015

@wassuphoes Target was the biggest pain in my ass for my first pregnancy! Their computer systems never seem to be working, the scanner didn't work, items would appear and disappear randomly, it never told my guests what items had already been purchased, we spent close to 9 hours one day just trying to get the furniture... at the end, we got completion codes, but none of them worked! I was so beyond furious, and when we called them to discuss our disappointment with the entire process, they gave us two $3 coupons. That's it. Ridiculous.

lillianspencer15 · October 2015

Put everything your going to buy on the babies R Us registry depending on how much you spend you get either 5% or 10% back in a coupon like 12 weeks after the baby is born and they give you cute little coupons if you do it in store. I got 20 towards my shutteryfly order. 20% off my tiny prints order and 5 off of 25 for babies R Us

mullenixj · October 2015

As previous posters saud, go ahead and make a registry so you know you will have everything you need and get the discount. My best friend is pregnant with her second and is not having a shower but it has been 5 years since her daughter was born so she made a registry for some things to get the discounts and to have in case people ask her where she is registered.

kmo8986 · October 2015

I made an Amazon registry just for me and because several people (my family mostly) asked if there was anything we needed for baby 2. If it doesn't get purchased it was a good way to organize my thoughts on what we needed.

macattack15 · October 2015

that is sad they won't throw you a shower

violetigerlily · October 2015

Lurker from Nov15 here. I just had my shower last week and registered with multiple stores, even though I only gave out my Babies R Us and Amazon registries to family and friends. If I were you, I'd register anywhere that you might want to shop now or in the future so that you can pick up the goodie bags and completion coupons. We were registered at: BRU, Amazon, Target, and BuyBuyBaby. All of them gave me free samples and coupons for registering (overall I have 3 free bottles, some bottle cleaning brushes, lotion samples, packets of wipes etc) and manufacturers coupons for items. Amazon's does require that you jump through some hoops and purchase items before they send you a really nice goodie bag. Like PP's have said, Amazon gives you 10-15% off your registry 60 days from the "due date" you list, and around the same time period target gives you multiple 15% off entire purchase coupons for anything on your registry (and you can register for whatever, not just baby stuff), BRU gives you 10% off your entire registry purchase about a month before your "due date", plus 10% back on any dollar amount you spend over $300 in a gift card, and BBB a 10-15% off entire order plus lots of 20% off one item coupons every few weeks. Also, BRU and BBB price match other stores, including Amazon. If you want to shop early, just make your "due date/event date" earlier than it is.

It's really nice to have all those 15% off Target coupons for things like diapers. Once LO is here and I know what size and brands we like I can stock up. Their coupon lasts for months after the due date you give them so it might come in handy after we know what we really need.

I kind of like browsing the stores with a scanner, so it really was fun to register at the stores for me. You can also just do it online. None of my guests knew I registered all over the place, so I doubt they'll know unless you tell them. Also, remember you can add items at any time, so if you want to get the discount on an item you didn't originally register for just add it right before you buy it. Good luck.

Hrc724 · October 2015

I would register so you can take advantage of this discount. If you having a registry makes your family feel bad - then that's their issue, they could have given you a shower. You have to do what's in your best interest.

Want a personalized experience?

No shower/registry question

Re: No shower/registry question

Choose Another Board

Search Boards