As soon as you find out you’re pregnant, suddenly a lot of things need to get done — and they all feel like they carry so much weight. Choosing a name, decorating a nursery, figuring out your maternity leave, and planning for childcare? All huge, stressful decisions … and even in the middle of all the fun of planning a baby shower, figuring out what to put on your baby registry can be just as overwhelming.
There are so many different baby products out there, and it’s hard to know what will work for your baby — after all, you haven’t even met them yet. And with all the different registries to choose from, how can you be sure you’re getting all the benefits you can? Sometimes, it can feel impossible to even know where to start.
Fortunately, moms who have been there shared their best baby registry hacks, tips, and tricks with Mom.com to make this part of your pregnancy journey just a little bit easier.
Register at multiple stores at once
Rather than just registering at one big-box store, several moms recommend using websites like BabyList or MyRegistry, which allow you to select products from basically any website. It will simplify your life and the life of your shower guests, while also allowing you to choose one-of-a-kind gifts from websites like Etsy.
“I could link many registries together and get all the discounts that way,” mom Rebecca A. said.
Don't commit to one brand
This goes for items like diapers, wipes, bottles, and pacifiers. It’s best to register for multiple brands and types of these items, because trust us — your baby will have a preference. It might take some trial and error to find your favorites, so start testing things right off the bat.
“Register for a variety of brands of everything (including bottles), or get a brand sample pack because you never know what brand your baby is going to like until you are IN IT,” Rachel K. said.
Don't buy too much of one thing
Don’t go overboard on any one product. Instead, start with just a few of each item until you figure out what you need. It doesn’t make sense to register for five boxes of newborn diapers only to have a big baby who immediately fits into size one.
“I had a ton of friends who needed a ton of swaddles, so I registered for a bunch of swaddles. Turns out my kid actually slept (unlike theirs) but spit up all the time (unlike theirs),” Alicia H. said. “I didn’t need a ton of swaddles; I needed burp cloths and bibs, which I had very little of. I learned to get nothing in large numbers. No two babies are the same. A little of everything, just enough to cover you until you figure out that you don’t need swaddles, you need burp cloths.”
Avoid panic-buying too early
Even if your shower has come and gone, have a little patience!
“I learned that most people will wait until the baby comes to send a gift, so don’t panic right before and buy a million things,” said Joanna D. “Make sure you have the necessities, and then wait a few weeks after the baby’s arrival to fill in gaps.”
Register for the future, not just now
Several moms also recommend buying items that your baby will use in the future, instead of just right away, because it will end up saving you money when they do finally start eating solids or need a bigger carseat — and even if no one buys them for you, you can still use your registry completion discount on them when the time comes.
“I added some expensive big-ticket items that we would need later — like three convertible car seats for my car, my husband’s truck, and my mom’s car — to our registry so that I could use the completion discount on those. So basically, before you use your completion discount, think ahead!” said Maria G.
Focus on convenience over style
And remember that simplicity is key, especially when it comes to middle-of-the-night diaper changes.
“Double zip jammies save lives,” said Jessica H. “You do not want to be hustling up buttons half awake at 3 a.m. I don’t care how fashionable the piece is … if it’s not easy, it’s not going on at night!”
Avoid double gifts
“If you want to or plan to buy certain items secondhand, still add them (or something similar) to your registry and then immediately mark it as ‘purchased.’ This will help cut down on the ‘I noticed you didn’t register for X, so I got you one,'” said Christy M.
This will help you avoid making too many returns and encourage your guests to buy the other items you need from your registry instead.
Prepare for postpartum
You won’t just be caring for a new baby when you come home from the hospital — you’ll be caring for yourself after a major medical event, too, so register for items that will help make your postpartum experience more pleasant.
“Make sure you add things for your postpartum self too,” said Katie H. “I had a vaginal birth, so healing spray was a huge help.”
Don't just register for baby items
In case you didn’t already know, on many registries it’s possible to add household items, bras, comfy clothing, and other things you might need that you can later get a discount on.
“We added non-baby household items to our Target registry so we could use the completion discount for it all. We just told people not to buy any of that stuff,” Maple V. said.
Make use of those registry discounts
While some registries offer a one-time use completion code, others let you use it as many times as you want within a certain amount of time after your due date.
“We did a big purchase right before she was born, then another after her birth but within the window, with all of the stuff we didn’t know we needed,” Amy W. said.
Mom Gina G. also added, “Mark the due date for a month earlier than it actually is, so you have time to buy what you need before baby arrives.”
