Family · 11 recordsMake a baby registry

Baby registries fill up with gadgets because many lists online are written by somebody selling something. This separates what is needed at the birth from what can wait, checks what friends and family will pass on, chooses the few bigger items carefully, and shares the registry early enough that gifts arrive before the last month.

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Goal

A registry of things we will actually use Month 2

Needed by the birth first, bigger items chosen carefully, shared in time.

Decide what we need Week 3

Before looking at a single shop's list.

  • List what is needed by the birth, and what can waitDo firstDay 5
  • Ask family and friends what they can pass onDo firstDay 10
  • Research the bigger items: car seat, pram, cotDo firstWeek 3

Build and share it Month 2

Early enough that gifts arrive before the last month.

  • Choose a registry that lets us add items from several shopsDo firstWeek 3
  • Add the items, marking the most neededDo firstWeek 4
  • Share the registryDo firstWeek 5
  • Buy whatever is left by the third trimesterDo firstWeek 8
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Needed by the birth

Sleep: a cot or crib with a firm, flat mattress, and fitted sheets Travel: a car seat, fitted properly, and a pram or carrier Nappies: newborn nappies, wipes, barrier cream Clothes: a few bodysuits and sleepsuits, and a hat Feeding: supplies for how we plan to feed Health: a thermometer and nail clippers

Things that can wait: most toys, a high chair, baby food makers, and anything marketed as essential that we have never heard of.

Questions

Make a baby registry, answered.

Around the middle of the pregnancy, and share it by about the third trimester. That gives time for a shower or gifts to arrive and for you to buy what is left before the last month, which is the least predictable.
A safe place to sleep, a car seat if you drive, nappies and wipes, a few sets of clothes, feeding supplies for how you plan to feed, a way to carry the baby, and basic bath and health items. Most other things can wait until you know you need them.
Clothes, carriers, bouncers and many other items are great second hand. Car seats are the main exception unless you know their full history, because a seat that has been in an accident or is past its expiry date may not protect properly.
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