Creating A Baby Gift Registry & What You Need
Creating a baby gift registry
Creating a baby registry at your favorite store is a great way of ensuring that you aren’t gifted the same item by multiple people.
It will also help that you receive items you will actually use. Don’t forget to check out the Baby Must Have Post when you’re finished reading here.
There are some obvious things to put on your list but some aren’t so obvious, and you will need to do a little bit of research before deciding which brand, style, size, etc you’d like of each item. There is a surprising amount of work behind the perfect registry!
It’s a good idea to purchase the big, essential items such as the crib, car seat, change table, wrap yourself and fill your registry with lots of toys, clothing, and accessories of varying prices to cater for everyone’s budget.
We asked some moms, and these were the items they couldn’t live without
• Sleeping Bags– You will probably receive a thousand baby blankets. Regardless if it is on your list. Yet sleeping bags are a much safer and more convenient option for babies to sleep in.
• Versatile Snap Suits– Be sure to match your requests to the season. A baby born in summer will need a few short-sleeved snap suits in the newborn. Whereas 3-month-old sizes, plus a few long-sleeved suits in 3 and 6-month-old sizes.
• Breast milk or Formula Storage and Bottles– Many brands of bottles will have matching storage containers, etc that work together.
• Cloths– Whether you prefer muslin squares, bamboo, or terry toweling, you will need a lot of these!
• Cloth diapers and/or Diapering Accessories such as liners, diaper pail, etc
• Bath and Laundry Products– If you plan to use a baby body wash/shampoo, lotion, baby powder, or specialized cloth diapering detergent. Then make sure your preferred brand is noted on your registry.
• Books and Sensory Toys– Whether you want them or not. You will somehow end up with enough plush toys to fill a room. So try to nudge people in a different direction if they want to buy your baby something to play with.
• Something for You!– Parents are often gifted with hundreds of items for their babies. After doing all this work, don’t you think you deserve something too? Sneak a movie or some music onto the list for yourself. You’ll be surprised how many people will want to get you that item. Or offer to buy you other thoughtful treats.
Some things to keep in mind when choosing
• Safety– Every country has safety regulations that manufacturers of goods meant for babies and children must meet; Always check the packaging for a symbol indicating that the product meets these regulations.
• Usefulness– A wipe warmer may seem like a neat idea, but will you really use it? The same thing goes for bottle-drying racks, pacifier savers, tiny baby shoes, and many decorative items.
• Longevity– Your baby will probably outgrow a baby bouncer that can only hold 20 lbs by 6 or 7 months of age but many brands make similar items that will grow with your baby into toddlerhood. This applies to some clothing, too. all-in-one suits with fold-down cuffs are a more economical option, than those with built-in booties. Your ever-growing baby will be able to get away with wearing them for a few weeks longer.
• Lack of Animal Products and Animal Testing– This one seems obvious but to well-meaning friends and family, it may not be. Ensure that anyone who is likely to buy gifts for your baby knows your preferred brand or what to look for on ingredient labels
• Easy to Clean– Once you have a little human to take care of, the last thing you will want to fuss about with is hard-to-clean clothing or toys. Basically, if you can’t just throw it in the washing machine, wipe it with a cloth, or sterilize it, you probably don’t want it!
• Environmentally Friendly– Usefulness, longevity, and lack of animal products will all contribute to how Eco-friendly an item is. Yet aim to also choose recycled products where possible. Look out for positive environmental impact statements on packaging. You can also encourage friends and family to give second-hand gifts. Many people are wary of doing this without the parents’ go-ahead, so make sure everyone knows where you stand.
At the end of the day. It’s very likely that you receive items that simply were not wanted. Connect with other parents to swap items and reduce waste where possible. Always be open to second-hand items, and donate or return what you can’t use or swap.
