Perks, Freebies, and More: How to Choose a Baby Registry

What is a Baby Registry?

A baby registry is a compilation of products that a new parent “registers” for with a store so that other can people can buy gifts for your baby –or babies! if you’re expecting twins or multiples–off of your list. Some stores offer some kind of perks, like discounts for registering with them, or coupons for any items that go unpurchased.

Baby registries can be created online, or you can go to the store in-person and scan the items to your registry. Anyone buying off your registry also has the option to order gifts online and have them shipped directly to the address you set up, or they can also shop in-person if they prefer.

Overall, a baby registry provides a convenient way to create a list of all of the baby items you will need to become a new parent. (And trust us, there’s a lot!)

Who Needs a Baby Registry?

First, let’s talk about who gets a baby registry. If you’re expecting a baby—whether you’re pregnant, have a surrogate, or adopting—you deserve a baby registry. And just in case there was any confusion: you absolutely do not have to have a baby shower to create a baby registry.

Sure, sending embossed invitations may increase your chances of completing your registry, but whether you live far away from your support system or it’s baby number four and no one has offered to throw you a shower this time around, baby registries are a great way to allow friends and family to support you.

When Should You Create Your Baby Registry?

While there’s nothing stopping you from registering for your baby the moment the pregnancy test reads positive, many parents wait until they’re further along in their pregnancies or until they’ve learned their baby’s gender, if they chose to.

This is simply to give you time to do your research and choose the baby products that you want. Registering too early might leave you with loads of products you’ve changed your mind about, or a cart full or gender-neutral onesies when your heart is really hoping for those pink ones.

It’s always a good idea to get input from other parents about baby products too. For instance, a mom in your Lamaze class might turn you on to cloth diapering or your favorite influencer might share their must-have car seat, and since our online shopping options have never been better, building your registry over time is also easier than ever before.

What to Add to Your Baby Registry

When choosing which baby products to add to your registry, think both big and small. If this is your first baby, you will need all the major items like car seats, strollers, and bassinets. But there also are a myriad of smaller items that add up with a new baby as well, so don’t overlook those.

For instance, babies tend to repeatedly destroy their diapers, and those gorgeous swaddling blankets that double as burp rags have higher price tags than you might expect. Allow your friends and family to help you with these costs by adding them to your registry.

Additionally, don’t feel limited to just registering for the baby. At this point in your parenting journey, you might be running low on maternity pants or feeling anxious about the dwindling time you have left with your partner as just a couple. Don’t be shy about registering for Lanolin for your new-to-breastfeeding-nipples or adding gift cards to your favorite restaurant.

Friends and family might forget about the new parents in their excitement over the arrival of a baby, but once reminded, they always appreciate the opportunity to help.

In general, here are some must-haves to add to your baby registry:

• Infant car seat
• Convertible car seat for when your baby outgrows the infant bucket seat
• Diapers, diapers, and more diapers
• Wet wipes
• Changing table or changing table cushion
• Bassinet
• Nursery glider
• Humidifier
• Crib or mini crib
• Boppy pillow or other nursing pillow
• Pregnancy pillow
• Stroller that’s compatible with your infant bucket seat
• A lightweight stroller
• A jogging stroller if you’re the active type
• Baby play mat or play gym (better yet, both!)
• Baby play yard
• Infant swing
• Infant bouncy seat
• Babyproofing supplies like a baby safety gate and outlet covers
• Breast pump
• Bottles
• Bottle accessories, like cleaning supplies, sterilizers, drying rack, and breast milk storage bags
• Baby clothes
• Baby wrap and carrier
• Baby monitor

Where Should You Register?

Choosing where to create your baby registry is obviously a very personal choice, but you may want to consider things like ease of returns, the retailer’s accessibility for your friends and family, and of course, those tempting incentives. So, let’s talk the juicy stuff: what stores give you free gifts when you do a baby registry?

Incentive programs (i.e. the way stores try to entice you to host your registry with them because it = big bucks for them!) range from goodie bags stuffed with samples, coupons, and free gifts to the convenience of a universal registry.

A major incentive to consider when choosing where you register is the completion discount. You’re eligible for completion discount after your baby is due—the retailer will offer you significant discounts on any remaining items on your list for a certain period. This is a great way to save on several boxes of diapers and an absolute lifesaver if you still need to buy your glider and crib set.

Here are some of the most popular choices for baby registries, along with what perks you can expect.

Baby Registry Options

MyRegistry.com

If you’re leaning towards a universal baby registry experience, many parents go with MyRegistry.com. MyRegistry.com is not limited to online shopping, meaning, if you add items from Buy Buy Baby to your registry, your guests can still make purchases in-store, but you will need to download the app. While MyRegistry.com doesn’t offer many perks specific to them, the stores you choose to register from such as Target, Walmart, or Amazon, will still offer their own respective perks.

MyRegistry.com is also a great option if what you really need is cash but you feel tacky just asking for it, but keep in mind there are fees associated with their Baby Fund option.

Target Baby Registry

• Perks: With Target, it’s all about the incentives. When you register with Target, you get a goodie bag valued at $100.
• Completion discount: You don’t even have to wait until your due date to get your completion discount with Target—you can start completing your registry 8 weeks prior to your baby’s ETA and nab a 15% discount.
• Accessibility: As far as accessibility, your friends and family members probably don’t live far from Target, and even if they do, Target’s online shopping experience is user-friendly and their prices are affordable.
• Returns: Returns with Target are easy—If it’s on your registry, they’ll take it back without a receipt.
• Universal registry: Yes. Target does have a universal registry feature. That’s right—you can register at Target without registering for only Target products. This enables you to go ahead and add items you find at other places while simplifying things for your friends and family  by keeping it all in one familiar place.

Crate and Barrel Baby Registry

• Perks: Crate and Barrel is another popular registry choice for many parents-to-be, and with a range of beautiful and exclusive baby items, one can easily understand why. You get a convenient app, a helpful checklist feature, and a group gifting option. And although the site doesn’t advertise any physical freebies, registering will give you access to the store’s expert design services to help you create the perfect nursery for your baby.
• Completion discount: Crate and Barrel offers a 15% completion discount for 3 months
• Accessibility: With higher than average prices and only 89 locations in the US, registering exclusively with Crate and Barrel may not be the most accessible option.
• Returns: Full returns with gift registry number and/or gift receipt in the form of merchandise credit.
• University baby registry: Nope.