Building a baby registry for the first time is such a fun experience, but it can also be overwhelming. There are so many options and you’re making decisions with little to no experience. I compared products, read all the reviews and blogs, and asked around for opinions. But sometimes there was conflicting advice and I had no idea if I was choosing the right items. It turns out, I didn’t choose correctly for many items. Which meant more expenses later when I had to buy something new. Whoops! Here are a few things I wish I had known while building my baby registry that I learned along the way.
1. Focus on the First Four Months
You will learn so much about your child and yourself in the first month or two of being a parent. You’ll form opinions about what you like and don’t like. And you may have different preferences than the friends and family who gave you advice for your baby registry. The baby items you want to own and use may change with experience as well. It seems like a good idea to register for the items you will need later in your baby’s life, and it often is. But prioritize the items you’ll use in the next 2-4 months so you’re not stuck with lots of baby gear for a six month old that you’ll never use. There’s plenty you will need for those first four months, so start there.
2. Use the Registry to Figure Out Your Favorite Products and Brands
Your baby registry is an opportunity to figure out what products you like and don’t like. For some items, like burp cloths, onesies, swaddles, and sleep sacks, you will need more in the newborn or 0-3 size than any other size. Those first few months have a lot of laundry! Register for a few different brands in the basics so you know what to get in larger sizes later. I tried out many different brands for onesies, footed pajamas, baby socks, and sleep sacks during the first two months. Once I found my favorites (Goumi, Burt’s Bees Baby, Hanna Anderson, Primary), I didn’t really want to use other brands going forward.
3. Choose Organic Cotton
Before having a baby, I never really understood the difference between organic cotton and regular cotton. It’s definitely not necessary to buy organic, but I was shocked at how much softer organic cotton is than regular non-organic cotton. Also, organic cotton has less chemicals.
I found myself always reaching for the soft organic cotton baby clothes. The rest of the clothes I accumulated didn’t get as much use. The one exception to this is Target. Most of the Target baby clothes I have are very soft and comfortable.
In addition to clothes, also consider choosing organic cotton for washcloths, sheets, swaddles, sleep sacks, socks, and burp cloths. Some of my favorite brands that use organic cotton are Goumi, Primary, Hanna Anderson, Burt’s Bees Baby, Pottery Barn Kids, and Pehr.
4. Make It Easy
Websites like Babylist are great for building a registry because you can register at so many websites. But it is not always easy for your friends and family to shop for you on these websites. I would suggest setting up an Amazon baby registry. You can add items from other websites, but the bulk of your items can ship for free and be purchased directly through Amazon. Amazon also sends you a welcome box and gives you 10% off items on your registry after a certain date which is a huge help for those big items (stroller, car seat, crib, high chair).
5. Register for Clothing Basics
You will definitely get some cute baby clothes from family and friends. But you will also want to pick out your own special outfits along the way. Use your registry to stock up on some cute basics – t-shirt onesies, long-sleeve onesies, footed pajamas, baby booties, leggings.
6. Register for Basics in Larger Sizes
Most people will gift you clothes in newborn or 0-3 month sizes. Which is great. You need them! But you’ll also want some things for the next few sizes. We ran out of all our registry and gifted clothes by 6-9 months. Some items, like sweaters and footless PJs, can be worn a little big as well.
7. Share Your Registry
People love buying cute baby things and will want to contribute to your growing family. And preparing for a baby is expensive. Don’t feel bad sharing your registry with family and friends, they appreciate the chance to gift you something special that you need and want.
8. Think About Each Stage and Age
This is where I made a lot of mistakes. I need a baby carrier. Easy. I registered for one. Well the one I chose didn’t work for newborns (not enough head support). So I had to buy another one myself. Babies grow and change so quickly. It’s hard to know what will work best for each stage when you haven’t lived it yet.
When registering for baby gear, like a carrier or stroller, try to think about how it will work at different ages. With strollers, for example, you may want to start with a bassinet topper, then be able to switch so your baby can sit upright later on. Or you may find a stroller that works for every stage.
9. Use the Registry to Stay Organized
There are so many baby things to keep track of! You need things for bath time, feeding, play, diapering, sleeping, the nursery, and lots of clothes. I didn’t want to seem greedy by registering for a lot of different items, so at first I kept my registry small. But I couldn’t remember what I already owned, what I still needed, and what I should budget for before the baby comes.
Once I added everything to my registry, it was much easier to stay organized. As I purchased items, I marked it off as “already purchased” on the baby registry. Also, as I learned about different products and brands over time, I was able to change and update the items that had not yet been purchased. I even still go back to my registry now and then to order the leftover items I didn’t purchase or receive as a gift.
10. Don’t Be Afraid to Splurge a Little
If this is your first baby and you’re considering having more than one child, your baby items will get a lot of use. The number one piece of advice I got from friends with more than one child is to buy the nicer product with the first kid, not the third. I did this with some items and I am so happy I did. For other items, I bought the cheaper option and ended up rebuying the better product after my baby arrived. I did this for the stroller, high chair, and baby carrier. Whoops! You will save yourself money later by sticking with reputable brands made with quality materials. I have found that these brands usually have unique features that make life with a baby easier. Some of my favorites are Baby Bjorn, Pottery Barn, Skip Hop, and Stokke.
What advice or questions do you have about creating a baby registry? Share in comments!
P.S. My favorite newborn essentials and the baby registry I wish I had the first time.
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