One of the most fun, but often most daunting tasks you?ll take on during pregnancy is creating the perfect baby registry.
Pregnancy is a special and exciting time and everyone loves the opportunity to celebrate you and the new life that will soon be joining your family.
With all that love and excitement often comes a lot of gift giving! Whether you have a baby shower or not, the people around you are undoubtedly showering you with gifts.
Having a thorough and complete baby registry to share with others will help you get what you really need for baby instead of another cute baby outfit.
But a lot goes into making a baby registry!
Where should you register?
When should you start your baby registry?
What should you add to your registry?
How do you pick products that are the most natural and safe for baby?
Well, mama, with this complete baby registry guide you?ll be ready to create a registry with confidence.
You?ll know you?ve thought of everything which will help you feel more prepared and ready to care for that sweet bundle of joy when they arrive.
You really can?t start your registry too early in pregnancy.
Some mamas begin as soon as they get their positive test, or right after they hit 12 weeks and the chance of miscarriage declines significantly. Creating a baby registry does take time, so getting an early start isn?t as crazy as it may sound.
If you aren?t one of the ones that gets started right away, you should aim to begin your baby registry around week 20. This is when you can find out your baby?s gender (if you choose to) which will make building a registry a little easier.
You?ll also have plenty of time to complete your registry before your shower, which most mamas have in their third trimester.
If you?re the kind of mama that likes the pressure of a deadline and wants to tackle the registry in one or two sittings, just make sure your baby registry is complete before your baby shower invites go out.
This is important so that your baby shower hostess can include your registry info and your guests can shower you with the things you actually want and need.
The last piece of advice?
Many baby registries offer what are known as completion discounts. This gives you the ability to buy any remaining items on your registry at a discounted rate.
However, to get the discount, many require you buy the items around two months before your expected due date. This is something to keep in mind when planning your baby shower date.
Where to register for your baby
So you?re ready to get started! But where should you register for your baby?
When picking a place to register, you may want to browse around on some popular baby registry sites.
Check to see if they have products that fit your lifestyle and needs.
Next, make sure they offer a range of products that are natural, nontoxic and organic. It wouldn?t make sense to register with a site that has mainly conventional options, because you won?t find what you?re looking for.
Keep in mind that lots of mamas decide to register at more than one place. This is completely fine and becoming more and more of the norm. Some registry sites even allow you to add items from other stores, so check for a universal registry option.
Lastly, choosing to do your baby registry on a site that offers a completion discount can be an added benefit. This way, if everything on your registry isn?t purchased or given as a gift, you have the option of buying the remaining items at a discounted price.
Let?s take a look at some popular baby registry options.
Amazon
Amazon baby registries are by and by the most common and popular because of the huge product selection and ability to view ratings and reviews on thousands of baby products. It can be a one-stop registry because almost everything you?ll need is available on the site.
Amazon Baby Registry benefits:
Over 270,000 baby products to choose from
A completion discount of 10% (15% for Prime members), if purchased 60 days prior to your due date
90-day returns
Ability to create and manage your registry via Mobile
Free Welcome Box
Up to 20% off diapers and baby food
Target
Target is another excellent baby registry choice. They also have a huge selection of baby products and can serve as a complete registry eliminating the need for registering at various places.
Let?s take a look at some of the features.
Target Baby Registry benefits:
Baby registry checklist to help you stay organized and on track
Free Welcome Kit
A 15% completion discount, valid until 8 weeks before your due date
Returns for up to one year
A registry app that allows you to scan barcodes in-store or register for items online
Group gifting feature for guests to contribute to larger items
Buy Buy Baby
Buy Buy Baby is a store that specializes in baby gear, and baby gear alone. For this reason, you will have a huge selection of curated items and access to industry experts.
Choosing to register at Buy Buy Baby gives you the freedom to create a registry in-store or online. This is a great option because sometimes you need to see items in person to really get a sense of the quality.
Buy Buy Baby Registry benefits:
Free Goody Bag
15% completion discount
Generated thank you list
Registry analyzer and checklist features
Feature for friends and family to suggest items they loved
Access to in-store registry experts
Pottery Barn Kids
Pottery Barn Kids is another great baby registry choice because of their wide offering of items that are non-toxic, organic, and natural. They also offer high quality pieces that will last through more than one child.
Pottery Barn certainly specializes in items for the nursery, but has a wider range of curated baby gear products than you might expect.
Pottery Barn Kids Registry benefits:
Compile items from their family of brands into one registry. Includes: West Elm, Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn Kids
Generous 20% registry completion discount
Entire all-natural collections with Greenguard Gold Certified furniture and organic bedding
Easy for gift givers to personalize with in-house monogramming
Access to registry experts
App allows for mobile registering
Crate&kids
Crate&kids is the baby and children?s store associated with Crate&Barrel. They are another registry option that offers excellent quality baby gear that will last through multiple children.
Many think of Crate&Kids as a nursery shop, but they also have a good offering of baby gear, too. You?ll find many organic and all natural options at Crate&kids to complete the safest registry.
Crate&kids Baby Registry benefits:
15% completion discount for up to 3 months after your due date
Ability for friends and family to contribute to a larger group gift
Design services to help you plan and coordinate your offering
Good selection of organic linens
Personalize your registry page with a photo and story
What to add to your baby registry?
Now that you know when to get started and have an idea of where to register, let?s talk details!
The sheer number of baby products out there is seriously overwhelming. I had no idea where to start before my first was born.
Breaking down your registry into categories is a helpful way to make sure you aren?t forgetting any essentials.
It?s also important to keep your own lifestyle, needs and the season in mind when creating your registry.
For example, if where you live isn?t that walkable, don?t register for an expensive stroller you may rarely use, instead choose a great baby carrier.
Nursery
When choosing products for your nursery be sure to keep safety in mind. This means creating a sleep space for baby that follows safe sleep practices.
You should also register for organic linens and mattresses when possible, and look for furniture made of natural materials, like wood, or furniture that is Greenguard Gold certified.
Crib
Bassinet (for a safe sleep space in your room)
Organic crib mattress
Mattress protector
Organic fitted crib sheets
Organic bassinet sheets
Rocker or glider
Baby monitor
White noise machine
Dimmable night light
Baby books
Bookshelf or other storage systems
Changing table
Hamper
Baby gear
If this is your first baby and you plan to have more than one child, look for baby gear that is the best quality so that it will last for your family. Here are some the main baby gear items you might consider including in your registry.
Infant car seat
Stroller
Stroller or car seat buntings for winter babies
Baby carrier
Baby wrap
Diaper bag
Play yard
Baby swing
Baby seats or loungers
Diapering
Registering for diapering supplies is an absolute must! But the things you choose to register for will differ depending on if you choose to use cloth or disposable diapers. I?ve included supplies for both on this list.
Diaper pail
Wet bags for soiled cloth diapers
Travel wet bags
Cloth diapers
Cloth wipes
Other cloth diapering accessories (covers, clips, sprays, etc.)
Disposable diapers
Disposable wipes
Diaper rash cream
Diaper caddy
Changing table or dresser with changing table converter kit
Changing pad
Changing pad cover
Refillable disposable wipe holder
Health and safety
No registry is complete without health and safety baby care items.
Nail clipper and nail file
Soft bristle baby brush
Thermometer
Suction bulb/snot sucker
Infant fever reducer
Cotton pads
Feeding essentials
Whether you choose to breastfeed or bottle feed your baby, you will need a lot of feeding essentials.
Even though your baby won?t start eating solids until they?re around 6 months old, it?s beneficial to put feeding gear on your registry so that you have it ready to go when the time comes.
Like in other categories, but perhaps most important here, look for items made from wood, glass, silicone, or steel. Plastics, even those labeled BPA free, should be avoided at all costs.
Breast pump
Breast milk storage bags
Nursing pillow
Nursing bra
Nipple cream
Glass baby bottles and nipples
Bottle brushes
Bottle drying rack
Burp cloths
High chair
Tableware
Bibs
Sippy cups
Baby food storage containers
Stainless steel steaming basket
Bathing essentials
Bath time with your baby will be one of the best times of the day. It often relaxes and soothes baby and can be the perfect start to a regular bedtime routine.
Hooded towel
Baby bathtub
Baby safe shampoo and body wash
Washcloths
Baby lotion
Faucet cover
Bath toys (for later on)
Clothing
The clothing you register for is going to depend a lot on season.
I recommend keeping the clothing you register for to the essentials, because everyone loves to give baby clothes and you will probably get a lot of extras anyway.
Lastly, register for sizes throughout the first year so that you don?t wind up with a ton of stuff they outgrow right away.
Zip-up footed pajamas
Non-footed pajamas
Short-sleeved onesies
Long-sleeved onesies
Baby kimono-style shirts
Leggings/elastic-waist pants
Socks
Fleece booties
Soft-soled baby shoes
Winter hat/Sun hat (depending on the season)
Snow suit
Warm fleece suit
Baby mittens
Special outfit for coming home from the hospital
Sleep sacks
Swaddling blankets
Baby blankets
Play time
We can?t forget the fun!
Even though your newborn won?t exactly play right away, before you know it they?ll be smiling, laughing, and ready to really engage.
Activity mat
Long floor mirror
Soft baby books
Soft rattles and shakers
Wooden toys like teethers, rattles, blocks
Teething toys
Stuffed animals/loveys
Baby board books
Toy storage/organization baskets
Bouncer
Ready to make your baby registry?
In summary, you want to make sure your registry is complete before your baby shower, and you choose a place to register that has the best offering of the products you need.
With the help of the checklist in this article, you?ll know no item has been forgotten.
Most importantly, enjoy the process.
Creating a baby registry is a fun activity and a great way to get your partner involved and excited about baby, too.
AllNaturalMothering.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Disclaimer
All material provided on this website is for your information only and should not be construed as medical advice or instruction. Please consult with a medical professional regarding any matters related to the health and well-being of yourself or others. The information and opinions expressed here are believed to be accurate based on my best judgement. Readers who fail to consult with a medical professional assume the risk of any injuries.
