Baby Registry

There is such an array of baby products available, and selecting what you want to purchase, or put on a baby registry, can be a lot of fun—or it can be utterly confusing. How do you make sure you have the items YOU and your baby need? There are plenty of great products out there—and a lot of mediocre ones, but there is no one magic list—it depends on your needs.

Do you want to keep down the clutter and only buy the essentials?
Are your family and friends really generous and want to buy the best quality for you?
Are you working on a budget but want to get the best quality you can afford?
Are you confused by all the new tech products out there and want to be sure they work for you?
How can you narrow down the choices of strollers, car seats, high chairs to be sure they fit YOUR lifestyle?

After working with lots of different products, and researching dozens more, I can help you adapt your baby registry choices—or your own personal purchases, to suit your specific needs.

Although we call this “Baby Registry,” the focus really is on getting the products you need for your baby. It may be gifts from a registry, or it could be products you search for secondhand. You don’t need everything the day the baby comes home from the hospital, but it makes your life much easier if you are prepared for the first 9 months.

Helpful Ideas

Places to register

Rather than register at one specific store, there are several good sites that allow you to add items from several different stores, and even request non-tangible gifts. A few of these are babylist.com and amazon.com.

Set your baby up for successful sleep

If you haven’t been around a lot a babies lately, you may not know about swaddling to help your baby to sleep. It is definitely a trend worth adopting. You’ll want to register for both swaddling cloths and sleep sacks for when they start rolling over.

Sound machines, “loveys” and pacifiers are also great to help establish sleep habits.

Need more items on your registry?

If someone is throwing you a shower, they may pressure you to register for more items than you really want or need. Is your family the type that might contribute to a 529 educational fund? How about a baby photography session? Some sites allow you to register for friends to bring over meals, or babysit so you can have a night out.

Some people like to give more practical gifts. Register for lots of supplies like bath accessories, or maybe safety plugs, and certainly for diapers.

Big ticket items: Rely on friends’ advice—up to a point

You may have been to a friend’s baby shower where the prospective parents got so many presents they almost needed a U-haul to get everything home. And then where did they put it all? Talk to your friends. See what items they REALLY found useful. Don’t just register for every possible item on the big box list. Even if your family and friends—or you—don’t mind splurging on your baby, think about if you really want all that extra gear in your home. Register for items you will really use—and get the best quality you can afford to save disappointment later.

Be careful when evaluating your friends’ choices. Their favorite stroller model may work great for them because they live in the city, but you may need one that easily collapses to fit in your small trunk. Or you may want one that allows the baby to go on a jog with you. Think through YOUR future lifestyle with this new baby before registering and be sure to do your research. (And I am happy to help!)

Are you a traveling family? You may want to register for a variety of items that will help you travel with your little one, without having to take tons of extra suitcases. There are lots of ultra-portable sleeping options and fold-up high chairs that could work either at Grandma’s or a hotel in Europe.

Set yourself up for successful breastfeeding

If you are hoping to breast feed, don’t forget to register for pumping gear. (Check your insurance first—often pumps are included.) Items such as nursing bras, nursing pads, and a hands free pumping bra may not be glamorous gifts, but you will want to buy them yourself if you don’t register for them.