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how to create a baby registry (880)

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when to make a baby registry (590)

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how does a baby registry work (480)

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This topic should cover what a baby registry is in general, why is it useful to create it, when do people usually start preparing it. With this article we would like to help with tips on how to build a baby registry. Include interlink to product and article pages as well.

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<h1> What is a Baby Registry and When Do you Make it? <h1>

Generic Intro copy

Yay! You’re having a baby! So… what now? Don’t worry, whether you’re pregnant, partnering with a surrogate, adopting, or are supporting your partner having a baby -- we got you. We have you covered from the prenatal [https://dreft.com/en-us/your-baby/prenatal] stage all the way up to when they’re quite literally running [https://dreft.com/en-us/your-baby/active-baby] you around in circles. But where do you start? Our Baby Essentials Checklist [Dreft Baby Essentials Checklist– new article/hyperlink tbd] is a great place. It lists out all your must haves including our Stage 1: Newborn Liquid Detergent [Link to product page] to get you started. But let’s back up and break this registry thing down [link to TLDR section of same article]. What’s the point of a baby registry?

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What is a baby registry and how does it work? [anchor link to respective section]

How to create a baby registry? [anchor link to respective section]

When is the best time to start a baby registry? [anchor link to respective section]

When to make a baby registry public? [anchor link to respective section]

Tips for building a baby registry [anchor link to respective section]

Frequently Asked Questions About Baby Registry [anchor link to respective section]

 

<h2> What is a baby registry and how does it work? </h2>

• Explain what a baby registry is

• Explain how it works

• Why creating a registry is useful?

• When moms-to-be will receive the items that were put on the list?
  
  What is a Baby Registry and how does it work?

Technically, a baby registry is just a list – a list used to tell your friends and family what gifts you’d like to get at a baby shower [https://dreft.com/en-us/baby-101/preparing-for-baby/baby-shower-ideas]. But really, it’s your to-do list. A source of organization in the chaos of planning for a baby, and your best friend who tells the rest of your friends that no, you don’t actually want a baby wipe warmer for every room in the house, even if some swear by the convenience. So even if you’re not planning on having a baby shower, we still suggest creating one.

 

• These days, baby registries mostly live online or in apps, or both. We personally like the convenience of a registry that has both a website and an app [Tips section of this same article hyperlink]. That way you can add items to your registry from your couch while binge-watching the latest trending streaming show, or while bouncing from aisle to aisle in your favorite store stocking up binge-worthy snacks [https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/pregnancy-snacks].

 

• Use your registry to organize your wish list [Dreft Baby Registry Checklist– new article/hyperlink tbd] for at least the first year, or even a little past that if you’re a planner like some of us. Keeping it all in one spot will help you keep track of what have and what you still need as you go on the wild ride of prepping for baby. It will also keep your friends and loved ones connected by letting them know what’s been gifted to you already, so you don’t end up with a baby wipe warmer for every room in the house unintentionally. Most sites and apps even update this in real time!

 

• So when will you get the goods? Heads up, sometimes people like to gift items before the baby shower for the convenience (less to carry into the party!) or because they won’t be able to make it to your shower. We know having random packages arrive in the middle of your nesting [Dreft Nesting page – new article/hyperlink tbd] can mess with your flow. Don’t let yourself get overwhelmed by this sporadic arrival of gifts that may come once you’ve sent out your registry link. Really, any gifts that come early are a convenience because you’ll have less to bring home after the shower! Now that you know what a baby registry is and what to expect, let’s go over how to make one.

 

<h2> How to create a baby registry? </h2>

First step is to choose where you want to host your baby registry. A lot of people like to use a registry offered by their favorite store, like Amazon or Target. We mentioned earlier [link to What is a baby registry section of this same article] that we’d suggest registries that have a site and an app, but maybe more importantly, one that allows you to add items from any website or store so you’re not limited on options. Babylist [https://www.babylist.com/registry/new] is a great example of that, plus they have online guides for new parents [https://www.babylist.com/hello-baby/best-baby-detergent  Babylist guide that includes Dreft as one of their top 8 best baby detergents; named best “Classic Pick”] that can be great supplemental sources for first-time parent advice paired with our Baby 101 [https://dreft.com/en-us/baby-101].

To create your registry, if you already have an account with your registry choice, once you’re logged in you should be able to search “baby registry” on their site and it should guide you to their registry sign-up section. If you’re going with a site and/or app that has been specifically made for registries like MyRegistry or Babylist, simply visiting their homepage will point you in the right direction.

If you’re going old-school and would prefer to do your registry in-person you can just go to the store you choose and let customer service know you’d like to start one and they’ll be able to get you started. But when should you do this?

 

<h2> When is the best time to start a baby registry? </h2>

• Reference article w/info to include: https://www.pampers.com/en-us/pregnancy/baby-shower/article/when-to-start-baby-registry

• Also, include when to start it if you don’t know the gender yet

Honestly, this is completely up to you and can be dependent on your lifestyle, personality type, whether-or-not this is your first rodeo, and even your personal relationship and history with pregnancy. Most parents-to-be start researching baby products, like which detergent to start with [Dreft Baby Detergent Lineup Overview – link tbd – new article], pretty early into the pregnancy, but will wait until the beginning of the second trimester to actually start creating their registry. Some also wait until the 20-week mark to start (that’s when many find out the sex of the baby, which can make it easier to shop).

If you want to start putting your list together early but aren’t comfortable sharing your registry yet, most registries offer a private mode so you can decide when to make your registry public.

If you plan on being surprised by the sex of your new baby or you just don’t know yet, you can still start your registry! There are a ton of gender-neutral options [Dreft – Baby Clothes article? If it has a section about gender neutral clothing – or any other Dreft article that mentions gender neutral baby products] for items that are commonly genderized, and a lot of baby necessities [Dreft Baby Essentials Checklist– new article/hyperlink tbd] that aren’t dependent on the sex of the baby.

If you were hoping for a bit more guidance here, a good idea is to create your registry once you’re comfortable sharing the exciting news that your family is growing. When that is, is completely up to you, but here’s some great advice [https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/when-to-announce-your-pregnancy#TOC_TITLE_HDR_1] to help you decide. Now you’re probably wondering, “Okay, so when do I send this thing out?”

 

<h2> When to make a baby registry public? </h2>

• Reference article: https://www.babylist.com/hello-baby/how-to-create-a-baby-registry

This one again is completely up to you. However, if you’re having a baby shower, you’ll want to make sure your registry is up and running by the time your invitations hit inboxes and mailboxes. Many parents wait until the end of the second trimester to share their registry, which is a good “rule of thumb” if you’re not having a baby shower to use as an indicator of when to make your registry public.

 

<h2> Tips for building a baby registry </h2>

<h3> 1. Choose your baby registry platform wisely </h3>

• Online vs offline

• Make it easy on family and friends

• Include the most popular choices in the USA

Tips for building a baby registry

Choose your baby registry platform wisely, and choose it for you

• Online or offline – online meaning a registry platform that is purely focused on gift registries and doesn’t have any brick and mortar locations, like Amazon, MyRegistry, or Babylist. Offline meaning a registry that technically has an offline option -- like retailer registries where people can go in-store, give your name to customer service, and get a list to shop from. Think about your circle and the people most likely to shop from a registry when making this decision.

• Make it easy on family and friends -- If everyone you plan on sending your registry to knows how to shop online easily, then we vote for something like Babylist, Amazon, or MyRegistry because you’ll be able to add items from more stores that way. If your circle is more split down the middle or includes a handful of people that have difficulty shopping online, you may want to consider a registry that offers an offline option.

• Our suggestions – there are a lot of options for registries these days, it can truly be overwhelming. So here are our top three picks for places to host your registry to help make it a little bit easier.

  • Babylist – a great option that specifically makes it easier for parents to create, collaborate, and share their registry. When you initially sign up for Babylist, you’ll be asked a series of questions about baby and yourself so that your recommendations are customized based on your lifestyle, personality, and preferences. It’s like a Buzzfeed, “Which princess are you?” quiz except a lot more useful. It also allows you to collaborate with your partner through the app so you can both add items and can view what the other has added (so you can reiterate for the millionth time… no honey, we really don’t need that many baby wipe warmers)!

  • Amazon – let’s be real, Amazon is the largest retailer in the world (yes, even bigger than Walmart according to the New York Times [https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/17/technology/amazon-walmart.html] as of 2021), so it’s probably safe to say a majority of the people you’ll be sending your registry to will know how to shop on Amazon. However, ALL of them might not, so that would be something to consider when deciding on a registry. Also to note, while Amazon has recently updated their registry to allow you to add products from any website, this feature is only available on desktop (as of February 2022).

  • Target – Who doesn’t love Target? Seriously, everyone loves and spends probably too much time at Target (but is there really such a thing?!), which is why it’s also a top pick of ours. It’s convenient for both online shoppers and in-store shoppers so if your everyone on your invite list isn’t online-saavy, this may be the way to go to keep it easy for everyone.
     

<h3> 2. Ask for gender neutral items </h3>

• Some items can be expensive, so when someone considers a second child, it is wiser to choose neutral colors.
   

Ask for gender neutral items

• This will allow you to get started earlier if you want to since there are so many baby necessities [Dreft Baby Essentials Checklist– new article/hyperlink tbd] that are truly gender neutral.

• In turn, this will allow your friends and family to shop sooner rather than later so you can be as prepared as possible.

• This is especially helpful if you plan on having more kids. Hand-me-downs for the win!

 

<h3> 3. Keep it simple </h3>

Keep it simple

• Organize your registry into categories and then try to narrow it down to just one option per need. Even if it’s SUPER hard to decide between the yellow or the teal crib… make yourself do it.

• Registering for too many things can cause duplicates and becoming unnecessarily overwhelmed!

 

1. <h3> 4. Include items at a variety of price points</h3>

Include items at a variety of price points

• Your list of people to send your registry to will likely include people from all aspects of your life; work, home, school friends, etc. Make sure to include options for everyone to get regardless of their budget.

• A variety of price points will also probably lead to more gifts, aka less baby shopping stress for you.

 

<h3> 5. Ask for things to grow with your child </h3>

• Include a list with some items to consider: e.g.: baby carrier, play house

Ask for things to grow with your child

• Don’t forget about toddlerhood! It may seem forever away now, but trust us – it will come faster than you can imagine. Adding in a few toddler learning toys like stacking rings, letter fridge magnets, or block puzzles will help you be prepared for the day you blink and suddenly baby is sneaking off to the pantry to stack cans of tomato sauce into leaning towers of pizza… ingredients.

• Plan even further into the future by creating a college savings account and adding the contribution link to your registry.

 

<h3> 6. Remember to register for you as well </h3>

• Include list of creative ideas: that can make a mom’s job easier: housecleaning service, food delivery etc.

Remember to register for you as well

• You deserve it! You’ve dealt with the stress and anxiety of prepping for baby – now make sure your transition into new-baby-life is as easy as possible. For example, it will be hard to keep up around the house so adding housekeeping gift certificates or food delivery gift cards can help make those first few months a little easier.

• Add a few things for your convenience. If you’re planning on breastfeeding, definitely add a haaka (A what?! It’s a little hand-pump thingymabobber that will catch all that spare liquid gold that falls from the opposite side you’re nursing on so you can split feeding duties with someone else through bottle feeding. If you’re not into bottle feeding, you could consider donating it!

• If you plan on bottle feeding, the Baby Brezza could become an essential addition to your kitchen counter just like our Dreft Stage 2: Active Baby Detergent will be for your laundry room once baby starts crawling around and spilling those bottles all over themselves. If you plan on breastfeeding and bottle feeding… register for a haaka and a Baby Brezza. YOLO right? Or whatever the kids are saying these days…

 

Summary of Frequently Asked Questions

• A baby registry is a shopping list for your friends; more importantly a shopping list that connects your friends so they know what has already been purchased from your wishlist so you don’t get a million of the same toys to wash [Dreft How To Wash Toys].

• Creating a baby registry will help you get organized, save yourself some sanity from this baby-prepping rollercoaster ride!

• Create your registry somewhere that works best for you and your circle. Tech-saavy circle? Go with a website/app like Babylist or MyRegistry. Wanna make your registry in person? Choose an option that has offline access like Target or Walmart.

• Many parents-to-be create their registry around the end of the second trimester (around the same time most share the exciting news); another popular time to do it is around the 20-week-mark, or whenever you find out the sex of the baby – since knowing that can make shopping easier.

• Most online registries have a private option, so you can choose when to share your registry with the world! Just make sure it’s out there by the time invitations go out if you’re having a baby shower.

• Prep for the future by adding toddler items, or way into the future with a tuition funding option. Seriously, running around will come so much sooner than you want it to! Add some block puzzles or learning toys for that moment when you blink and they’re suddenly a literal genius (okay fine maybe not, but it will feel like that).

• Create categories and a generic “need” list first; then fill in with the specific items you want for each of those needs. This will help you keep it simple for shoppers.

• Don’t forget you! Add things to your registry that are just for you or your convenience, not necessarily for baby’s comfort – like housekeeping gift certificates, massage gift cards, or create a “fund” people can contribute to (food delivery fund, babysitting fund, preschool tuition fund, etc.) to help you increase your savings [Dreft coupons page] during the hectic first year.

 

<Closing section>

Now that you know all there is to know about baby registries, let’s plan a party! [https://dreft.com/en-us/baby-101/preparing-for-baby/baby-shower-ideas] (Or at least grab some useful tips to pass onto someone else so they can plan a party for you.)