Registering for your precious new arrival (whether it’s your first or third) can be overwhelming! With so many options for where to register and what to buy, it’s a challenge to figure out where to start or what to select. When I was expecting my first baby, I wanted to make sure that I included all of the essentials on my baby registry and some of the amazing new luxury items that would make my life a bit easier with a newborn.
In today’s blog, I’m sharing some of the best tips I received about creating a baby registry, along with our favorite retailers and baby products, to help you get you started!
1. Evaluate your home.
Your home decor and layout will definitely change once the baby arrives, but you don’t want your entire home overrun with baby gear. If you’re working with a smaller space, register for space-saving items or evaluate if it’s necessary to have that item at all. Remember: there are certain things babies only use for short periods of time, and then the storage of all the gear begins!
2. Think about your lifestyle.
Do you and your partner travel frequently or spend a lot of time outdoors? Babies can tag along to a lot more places than you may think! Register for some items that fit your lifestyle before the baby so that your new bundle of joy can join you in doing things you already love. Consider baby carriers, bike seats, and a travel stroller to make adventures with your little one a little easier.
3. Do your research- before selecting items.
There are an overwhelming number of options when it comes to baby gear. Invest time in researching brands and products before heading to your local retailer. Our team of Real Moms has the scoop on all the latest baby products! Online reviews and ratings are informative when deciding between different brands of the same product type. Also, consulting family and friends in a similar life stage can be helpful. They may even let you borrow or test out an item!
4. Pick out items at different price points.
Choosing items at varying price points is important so all your friends and family have something special to pick for your growing family. Besides, there aren’t many other times in life when your loved ones are willing to splurge on your own hand-picked items! With that being said, those who are on a budget want to help too! So, make sure there’s something for everyone. (These are our favorites under $25!)
5. Don’t forget about yourself.
While baby registries are primarily about your baby, think about what you may need in those first couple of weeks and add them. Anything from nursing bras to a soft robe for postpartum days is appropriate to put on your baby registry. Mom needs to be comfy and prepared, too!
Our Favorite Baby Registry Retailers
Here are some of our top baby registry sites that make registering and receiving gifts a breeze:
Target
With Target, creating a baby registry is easy to do both in-store and online. Simply enter your personal information, and your registry will be created and ready to share! Target’s baby registry offers benefits such as a free welcome kit, easy returns, and exclusive deals. These deals include a 15% off storewide offer that can be redeemed twice when your registry is close to the event date. One huge plus Target offers us in this very virtual world we live in is the ability to go into a store and see, touch, and compare the items you might want for you and your baby in person. Gift-givers who prefer shopping in person will appreciate this, too!
By far, my favorite baby item from Target is my Ingenuity SmartClean Trio Elite 3-in-1 High Chair. This versatile piece converts from a high chair to a booster seat to a toddler seat, and it’s easy to clean because there’s no fabric on the chair!
Amazon
Amazon is constantly finding new ways to make our lives easier, and its baby registry is no different. I knew my friends and family would love shopping on Amazon because of fast and free Prime shipping. When you create your registry, Amazon will send you a welcome box filled with products worth $35! One of my favorite things about Amazon is the robust review section–Amazon users often share pictures and videos of the product with lots of details. If you change your mind about an item after receiving it, Amazon gives you 365 days after your shipment date to make a return. And once your baby arrives, you’ll receive a 15% completion discount for all remaining items on your registry. Amazon also offers subscription services to make ordering diapers, wipes, formula, and much more a cinch!
We got so much use out of our Fisher-Price Sit-Me-Up Floor Seat when my baby was too small to sit up on his own. It folds up and travels well, too. With over 25,000 five-star reviews, you don’t want to miss out!
Walmart
Registering with Walmart ensures that you will have a huge selection of everything needed to welcome your new bundle of joy. Creating and managing your registry on the go is easy to do with the Walmart registry app. They carry all the top brands, and you get a special welcome box with a $40 value! Returns are easy and are accepted for one year after purchase. With so many locations, Walmart is accessible to almost anyone who wants to shop around for the perfect items to fill their registry, as well as to givers who prefer to buy in person.
My favorite Hello Bello Products are sold exclusively at Walmart, along with many other natural and organic products that keep babies healthy and happy.
Crate&kids
Crate & Barrel’s baby line, Crate&Kids, is full of fashionable and classic pieces for your baby registry. They have the latest bedding, furniture, and decor styles to help you create a beautiful and functional nursery. Their registry app allows you to track and manage all gifts, and you can enjoy a 10% completion discount for all items left on your registry! If you have your eye on furniture, gear, or other big-ticket items, Crate&Kids offers group gifting so guests can split the cost with other givers. What sets Crate&Kids apart is its Design Desk, where you can meet with an interior designer virtually or in person to get photorealistic renderings, floor plan ideas, and styling tips for your nursery.
Crate&kids has beautiful crib bedding options, and many of them are organic, too! We decided to go with a neutral bedding set that will last for many years (and many babies!) to come!
Bloomingdale’s and Macy’s
We are also excited to announce that Bloomies and Macy’s have launched baby registry services this year. These are some of our favorite stores for wedding registry services, so we know they will be great for baby registries, too!
Get Started Today!
The Create a Registry page, where we list the perks of our favorite baby retailers, makes it easy to get started. Our experienced moms at RegistryFinder.com have curated our own list of the best places to register, along with baby must-haves to keep in mind when registering. And don’t forget to grab our baby registry checklist to help you create the perfect baby registry!
