6 Tips For Building A Strategic Baby Registry
If you’re currently expecting, you are probably being bombarded with tips, must-have lists, and sponsored products. You are also probably getting tons of advice that might be conflicting, outdated, or simply not relevant to you. I’m here to tell you that all of this information is just noise, marketing, and confusion. External factors when preparing for baby (aside from medical guidance) can often leave you feeling more confused than ever.
As a baby planner, I work with families entering the baby prep process with varying knowledge of baby gear and the products they need or might want in that first year. I often hear, “maybe we won’t register because we want to keep things minimal.” Being minimal is great, in fact, babies don’t actually need all that much, BUT skipping a registry all together might have the opposite impact. Here are a few reasons to consider a baby registry.
People will send gifts —Yup, you heard it here first. Friends, family, colleagues, loose acquaintances, are going to send you things (things you might not even want), so controlling the process and selecting what they send, or at a minimum selecting the store you will get store credit from as you return, ultimately is a better recipe for keeping things minimal.
Even minimalists need diapers — Things like diaper funds or diaper subscriptions make great registry options that are 100% useful.
Product selection is harder when you’re tired — Being selective and thoughtful is nearly impossible in the middle of the night when you suddenly discover you need a baby product.
Gift funds — While baby won’t need all that much, you may, and accepting support in the early days of parenthood is paramount. Healing from birth isn’t always easy, so allowing people to contribute cash to a fund for extra support (hi doulas!) or extra pads (ugh postpartum bleeding) is always welcome.
Have I convinced you to register yet? Okay great! Now, here are my top tips for registering strategically so you get what you need and skip what you don’t.
Start with your lifestyle
The best place to begin your baby registry, in a strategic way, is by thinking critically about your lifestyle and having conversations with your partner about how you envision life with baby. Discuss your priorities, align on what you’d like parenting to look like, before you dive into the abyss that is the baby gear market.
Avoid Crowdsourcing
All those well meaning opinions often leave you more confused. What worked for “Suzie” might not work for you. Every family, baby, and living situation is different and requires different products.
Ask An Expert
The marketers and merchandisers behind the products or a mom that used it don’t count. Need help with feeding, ask lactation consultants. Need help with swaddles and soothing, ask a sleep consultant. Need help with it all, ask a baby planner. Yes, it’s a shameless plug, but the point is, many products are about marketing and nothing is more frustrating than spending money on something and later learning is unsafe and not recommended by experts. Gaining this knowledge prior to buying is extremely helpful. You might still want it, and that’s fine! BUT having the facts to make that decision is better than getting them later.
Test Drive IRL
I know it sounds old fashioned, but you need to push your stroller, sit in your rocker etc. These are investments and items that should make your life easier, not more challenging. Test items in real life as much as you can.
Use the phased approach: Your parenting style and your baby will adapt and change with the passing months so don’t overcommit. Take bite sized chunks out of your list and register/shop in stages. Before baby, 0-3 months, then 3-6, then 6-12. Lots of development happens for both of you over that first year and you’ll have a better idea of what is actually needed.
Prioritize YOU: Don’t forget to register for you! Most of these items ultimately are for your convenience and help support your motherhood journey. Select what you like and what will ease your transition physically and mentally!
Looking for personalized product recommendations and a guide through the entire process? Visit preppingforpeanut.com to book a complimentary intro consult and learn how working with a baby planner can save you time, money, and stress as you prep for baby.
For more tips and tricks be sure to follow @prepping.for.peanut on IG.