Who has started a baby registry? « Back to Group Discussions

[poppyseed2012]

Is it too early? When do people usually start these? I'll likely have a shower in March or April.

[janellody]

I started ours before Christmas so the grandparents (hehe I like calling them that) could get the little guy some Christmas stuff.  I also wanted to compile a list for my own personal sanity because we are first time parents and I don't know what I need, so I wanted plenty of time to think of what we needed.  I haven't shown it to many other people but start one whenever you want!  When someone throws you a baby shower you will have it all ready to go , but until then do whatever you wanna do!

[casmer]

I think we're going to go within the next couple of weeks to start one.  I figure this way, I'm giving myself plenty of time and I can also add and change items as needed.

[shastalily]

I started one on Amazon.com yesterday.  I'm trying to figure out what we're going to need and was getting tired holding all the info in my head.  lol  We will probably be having the baby shower in March.  I might go to Target or Baby Depot and register there too sometime before the invites for the shower get sent out.

[JynxGirl]

Dh and I have a lot of friends and family across the globe, so we started ours about three weeks ago, and used an online service to do it. I just went to myregistry.com which is free and lets me add from any website, which helped a lot. 

He's supposed to be translating it into Indonesian for everyone in his family, but he hasn't yet... we'll see if he does.

[maryamrose]

mine is done. I don't think I'll be needing most of the stuff on there, and I don't think we'll be getting too many gifts in general, but it's been a nice exercise in thinking of what I might potentially need. at worst, I have an Amazon registry I can buy stuff off of on the fly and have it delivered in a day or two once the baby is here.

I started mine early because my shower back home (in DC) is at the end of January because I happen to be visiting then. I don't know if my lab mates are planning a shower for me, but I honestly don't expect presents from them - grad students don't have much disposable income.

some of the more specialized stuff (like wraps, prefolds, etc.) I'm buying myself. I also bought a beautiful moses basket off Craigslist a couple weeks ago. I'm hoping to get a lot of stuff used for this baby.

[Kamiro]

I'm thinking of doing amazon...

[cristeen]

I did Amazon with DS, and his registry stayed active (they don't disable them), so when I got pg again, I just went in and changed the EDD info on it and added more stuff.  I hid it until the whole family had been told (probably not necessary), but it's been active since Christmas. 

Mostly I found that the online registry was for me though.  With DS I think only 2 or 3 things got purchased off of it by other people.  Mostly it was just a convenient shopping list for me to use to keep track of things I wanted. 

[persephassa]

i have an amazon registry, too. mostly i use it to keep track of things we need, but i add frivolous things to it, too, like stuffed animals and books. but it's useful for keeping track of essential items we need to get! plus i love the free 2 day shipping with amazon mom :)

[ozzy]

On Amazon you can download a button that lets you put anything on the web into your baby registry. I am wondering if I will get much off of it since I assume most family mambers are not online shoppers, but like everyone has mentioned it's also a good exercise in keeping track of needed/wanted items.

[forestmushroom]

I have one on Amazon, too... that way I can track what we need; I also tell people who ask that this is a type of thing that I want, and note if I want a specific brand/color style of one.  But if they find one 2nd hand, or have one gently used, that that is perfect too!  And then I'll just cross it off my list. 

We don't need a ton of stuff, but I gave away a lot after our last baby thinking he was our last.... I know, silly me!

[BubbleMa]

Originally Posted by ozzy 

On Amazon you can download a button that lets you put anything on the web into your baby registry. I am wondering if I will get much off of it since I assume most family mambers are not online shoppers, but like everyone has mentioned it's also a good exercise in keeping track of needed/wanted items.

Where would I find that?  I just started a registry on Amazon, and so far the two things I've looked for...they don't have.  Grrr...

[persephassa]

BubbleMa, i think this should work: http://www.amazon.com/registry/get-button

[MLog]

My friends (with kids) keep suggesting over and over to put lots of things on the registry.

I started one on Amazon but haven't made it public.  I also did Target, specifically putting things on there that people can get in the store for those who don't do online.

I'm not big in to shopping or registries and I find it overwhelming so I started several weeks ago to have time to make decisions, do research, change my mind 100 times.  I really don't care if people go off the registry or not.  But like others said it does help keep track of what I think I need.

[BubbleMa]

Originally Posted by persephassa 

BubbleMa, i think this should work: http://www.amazon.com/registry/get-button

Thank you!! :D

[hollyann]

We started our amazon registry right away, also just to keep track of things, but made it public a few weeks ago.  We would love to have our families shop on our amazon registry, but my Mother and MIL are wanting us to register at Babies R Us as well (for older aunties who don't understand computers).  We went in there last week and were pretty disappointed, They don't seem to be very nature friendly, everything seemed to be plastic and buzzy, which we are trying to avoid for our little one. We thought about buy buy baby, which is convenient in NYC but the two locations near my family are about 30-45 min away.  Our concern with only doing Amazon is that those who can't use it might give us random things that we might not use, sans gift receipts. Are any of you doing a second registry for people who aren't computer savvy ?

[casmer]

Originally Posted by hollyann 

We started our amazon registry right away, also just to keep track of things, but made it public a few weeks ago.  We would love to have our families shop on our amazon registry, but my Mother and MIL are wanting us to register at Babies R Us as well (for older aunties who don't understand computers).  We went in there last week and were pretty disappointed, They don't seem to be very nature friendly, everything seemed to be plastic and buzzy, which we are trying to avoid for our little one. We thought about buy buy baby, which is convenient in NYC but the two locations near my family are about 30-45 min away.  Our concern with only doing Amazon is that those who can't use it might give us random things that we might not use, sans gift receipts. Are any of you doing a second registry for people who aren't computer savvy ?

I feel for you.  I didn't find a whole lot of stuff I saw that I wanted to register for at Babies R Us (or at Target our second store choice).  I'm hoping our more computer-savy friends will order off of Amazon, but I'm not holding our breath that any family will use it.  Who knows maybe they will surprise me.  "Back Home" there is no Babies R Us or Target locally, the closest is about 30 minutes away.  I have a feeling someone is going to complain that we didn't register at Wal-Mart, but I never shop there so why do it.  At least with Target, we go there occasionally.

[hollyann]

Yeah, I think we will just do BRU as well and just register for any of the items from Amazon that they also carry, worst case scenario, I can return things and buy a breast pump or car seat :P

[BubbleMa]

Originally Posted by hollyann 

Yeah, I think we will just do BRU as well and just register for any of the items from Amazon that they also carry, worst case scenario, I can return things and buy a breast pump or car seat :P

Why not put a breast pump and carseat on your registry?

[cristeen]

BRU is good for the bigger things - crib, mattress (if you're doing those), changing table, rocking chair, car seat, stroller, breastpump, etc.  They also have a decent selection of the smaller things, like Boppy, BF things (like breastpads, lanolin, breast chillers), blankets, humidifiers, child safety things (furniture straps, cabinet locks, outlet plugs, gates), if you're struggling for things to put on your registry, wander over to the feeding section and add some kid utensils, a few fun plates, some children's cups, a mesh feeder if you want one, a foodmill if you plan to do purees.  And don't forget the high chair while you're at it - all things you'll probably use the first year. 

Toy wise, they don't have a great selection that isn't mainstream, but the one (that used to be) here had a decent selection of the peripherals, plus clothes.  If your local one doesn't have that, you can also use their online registry and people in other areas can access it from the store.  Or they can go into the store and order something that store doesn't have available, which is handy for those people who don't do the internet. 

But if you're struggling, think beyond the first 6 months to the 2nd 6 months.  When they're crawling, and they need more interactive toys (something like a couple balls, and some bath toys were important in our house), when they start eating solids, the things you might want then, when they start pulling up and trying to walk, is there anything you'd want then.  They don't stay tiny immobile creatures very long.

And for those of us who already have most everything they need - there's always books. 

Oh, and don't forget to wander down the "medical" aisle - a non-invasive thermometer (we have a temple thermometer), some infant Motrin (dye-free... flourescent red spit up stains), a Nose Frida.  I hate baby nail clippers, but there's any number of other little things that you may find useful down there.