First time mom - registry recommendations? - August 2024 Babies | Forums | What to Expect (2024)

FAQs

How far in advance should you make a baby registry? ›

Totally up to you! You can start early or wait. 20 weeks is a good rule of thumb if you're planning on adding gender-specific things.

By 12 weeks: Start your baby registry

But many families (my own included) have found that it's most helpful to start earlier than you might expect: During the first trimester. Here's why: Even though your due date might still seem (very!)

Anything you'd like can be included on your baby registry checklist, from smaller items like onesies and thermometers to big-ticket items like cribs and strollers. Just like a wedding registry, you can then share your baby registry with family, friends and baby shower guests eager to buy gifts.

Some parents start a registry toward the end of the first trimester, while others wait until they're a bit further along. Some parents kick off their registry shortly after finding out about baby but wait to begin adding items to it until around the 20 week mark, which is right around when the anatomy scan takes place.

It doesn't matter if the store provides them or your shower host hand writes them in calligraphy, mentioning a registry in your invitation is like directing guests to buy you a gift—and that is a definite no as far as etiquette goes. “Your registry should just be passed along by word of mouth,” advises Swann.

Most people agree that having more than 150 items on your baby registry is too much. Even if you are a first-time mom of twins, you shouldn't need so many things. And if you have limited space in a small apartment, you may want only a very few essentials to begin with.

We generally include 8-10 onesies for the newborn and early months sizes. We always include at least some long sleeve onesies in our sets for skin protection from the sun. Many new parents like to use kimono bodysuits for the first few weeks.

How many items should I put on my baby registry? There's really no right answer to this one, as what's right for one family isn't right for another. We do think it's helpful to know what other Babylist parents-to-be are up to, though. In 2018, Babylist users had an average of 121 items on their registry.

You can definitely add some baby clothes to your registry, especially if you have a style you gravitate to or have your eye on a specific coming-home outfit. Blankets are a good add, too, including a few swaddle options or something cozy to use in the stroller. But don't go overboard.

Conventional wisdom says to put whatever you want on your baby registry and not to worry about what other people think. If someone wants to buy an expensive gift, let them. If they don't, they can purchase something less expensive. Something else to consider is that people like to spend money to help out loved ones.

Should I put teethers on baby registry? ›

Teethers are vital to keep your little one happy as their teeth start coming in. Different textures of teethers can also help your child get used to different sensations in their mouth, which is a great preparation before starting foods! Our feeding therapists recommend these teethers: Nuby Silicone Teethe-Eez.

While most baby registries include the same types of items — many expectant parents ask for strollers, bedding, monitors, and yes, diapers, clothing, and wipes — there are dozens of other things you can ask for. Need shelving or a portable closet for the nursery? Put it on your list.

For a newborn, it's advisable to register for around 2-3 large packs of newborn size diapers, as babies can go through 8-10 diapers a day in their first weeks.

The number of bottles and nipples you'll need depends on whether you'll be mostly bottle-feeding or mostly breastfeeding. If you're mostly bottle-feeding, you'll probably want eight to ten bottles, and if you're mostly breastfeeding, three or four should be enough.

The answer to the question “How many newborn diapers do I need?” is fairly straightforward. Newborns may use up to 10 diapers per day. Of course, every child is different, and days can vary, so think about it in terms of weeks and plan for close to 70 diapers each week.

There is no limit to how many baby registries you can make, but for most people, I find that three baby registries is the perfect number; that way you get the benefits of having multiple registries, but it's not too much to maintain.

One of the questions people often ask is when is the correct time to register? The general answer is: anytime after you're engaged, but usually between 6-9 months before the wedding. An even better answer is: right now! The holidays are actually a great time to get your gift list in.