So you are getting ready for your little ones arrival and are so excited to create your baby registry for all the fun things (and some necessities) that go with having a baby. That is, until you get to the store and are completely overwhelmed by the registry process! Here are some tips to help you through the mess!
1. Check other people's online registries - Go ahead, type in a generic last name into the registry search and see what other people have registered for. You may find things that you are completely missing! Look for baby registries where the baby has not been born yet as many people change their registries after the baby is born and eliminate items they already have.
2. Ask other moms what they found to be "must haves"- Other moms already went through it and can tell you what worked for them and what didn’t. This doesn't mean you need to register for everything they loved, but it will get your mind thinking!
3. Do not register for blankets- Unless there is a blanket you absolutely MUST have, do not register for cute blankets. People love to give baby blankets (without receipts) and you will end up with so many you won't know what to do with them. Of course, this does not apply to things like basic receiving blankets.
4. Do not register for large packs of bottles- Every baby is different and yours may not like the bottles in that family pack you registered for…now that they have been opened and used, you cannot return them! Register for small packages of 1 or 3 bottles.
5. Limit the amount of small toys and rattles you register for - These are another item that people love to just throw in with the gift, and you will end up with a lot of them!
6. Keep the gift receipts for EVERYTHING- Tape the gift receipts to everything, and resist the temptation to take everything out of the package. Wait until after your baby is born to open packages of non-essentials since you may want to return them. We did this and were so happy that we did. We ended up returning a lot after the baby was born!
7. Use the registry guide you get at the store as "suggestions" - Stores want to make money off of you so often you do not need as many of the items they suggest you need. When in doubt ask another mom!
8. Register for items that fit into a variety of price ranges - Many people cannot afford or will not want to pay for only larger priced items. That set of 4 burp rags with the adorable designs may look really cute, but for $30 it may be the only gift you get from someone. Perhaps a better option is to get the cloth diapers and use them as burp rags. Half the price for twice the rags, and a single person could afford to buy you more essentials.
9. Register for items you will need down the road - If you only register for newborn items, you may find yourself without the items you need within a few months of the birth. Clothing for past 0-3 months is a good option. Everyone likes to buy the small baby clothes so chances are you will get quite a bit of newborn or 0-3 month clothing as gifts when the baby arrives.
10. Stay gender neutral with bigger items - That is, unless you only want one child. Most people only have 1 baby shower. If you register for everything in pink, and you have a boy next, you may need to repurchase all of those big items so your little boy does not have to sleep in a pink crib or travel in a pink car seat.
Registering for a baby can be overwhelming, so don’t feel obligated to do it all at once. Take advantage of the online registries so you can alter your registry as you change your mind or decide on bigger items. Feel free to post comments with your own registry tips! The more the merrier!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment