Last updated on July 9th, 2024 at 02:05 pm
I don’t know about you, but I love creating baby registries! This was one of my favorite parts about my wedding and I often offered to help with my sisters and friends when they were creating there. There is just something about doing all the research and shopping around that is so exciting to me!
When it came time to put one together before my baby shower I was equally as thrilled. This is great way for you to take the time to figure out what you want for you baby and give your loved ones ideas for helping get ready for your little one. And it also can help reduce the financial burden of having a baby.
There are tons of great places to start a baby registry, all with their own perks and benefits. Below we will talk about some of the more popular store (both online and brick-and-mortar store) that have registries you should consider.
First let’s touch on some of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to baby registries.
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Why should I create a baby registry?
A baby registry is an easy way for friends and family to get you the perfect baby shower gift without needed to guess what you would like. It will help avoid you receiving several of the same items that you don’t need. When other look on your registry they can see what has already been purchased making it less likely you will receive duplicates. This saves time and effort of returning items to the store in your last months of pregnancy.
I’m not having a baby shower, should I still make a baby registry?
Yes of course! Chances are friends, family, and coworkers may ask you what you need to prepare for your little one even if you are not having a shower. A baby registry is a simple way to direct them to a list of items you wanting to buy.
How do I know which baby registry site to choose?
Before you get started there are several different factors to consider when choosing which registry or registries are right for you:
- Product Selection— What each retailer has to offer is very important when choosing where to register. If you have a certain style or preference, make sure to express that in your baby registry to helped your loved one choose items you know you will like. For example, if you prefer all organic or eco friendly products, it may be better for you to register where they have an ample selection of these products.
- Convenience—This is important for both those purchasing gifts and for you after your baby shower. Is it more convenient for your friends and family to have an easy online option like Amazon, or do you prefer in person like Target that is close by you. You have to keep in mind the ease of both purchasing and returns.
- Return Policy —on the same lane you want to make sure that items from your registry are easily returnable. It is likely that you will receive duplicates of items or something you like more than the option listed on your registry. While stores usually provide a more flexible return policy for items off a baby registry, you will be in your last months of pregnancy so you will want to make this as easy as possible. Also check and see how long you have to return gifts from your registry. Many understand that you are having a shower potentially months prior to having your baby and extend the return policy. This allows you to see which items you may use after your baby arrives and which you do not.
- Completion Discount — many sites will offer a discount on the items that were not purchased off your registry as it gets close to you baby’s birth. This can be a huge factor in determining where to register for purchasing items you will need to get yourself. I personally used my registry to add a lot of the big-ticket items such as my crib and stroller that I did not expect anyone to purchase for me so I could get a discount.
- Price Match Policy—A price match policy for the retailer is important because it ensures that you and your friends and family receive the best pricing possible.
- Freebies—while I don’t think this should be the most important factor, free stuff is always great! Lots of sites or stores will give you a free welcome bag/box containing gifts, samples, and coupons once you create a registry with them.
How many baby registries should I create?
I personally recommend creating 1-2 registries. This will allow you to have all of your baby registry items condensed in fewer places and make it easy to share with friends and family. It can also be overwhelming to keep track of where all the items come from if you have several. I would pick one to be your main baby registry and potentially a back up registry for most specific items. A great example of this is to pick a widely known retailed like Target or Amazon that many people shop at accompanied with a more specific registry for just furniture or organic products. Or use one of the universal registries like Babylist to compile your favorite items from all the different stores.
Can you register at several just to take advantage of the discounts? Absolutely! I definitely did this with my son to get the most of completion discounts and freebies.
There is no limit to how many you create or how you go about this. It is YOUR baby registry. You do what fits best for you and your circumstances.
Hopefully that helped answer several of your questions. Now let’s get into all the places you can register for your baby!
How could I start talking about baby registry sites without starting with the mega giant Amazon. Amazon really is one of the best places to register for your baby. It carries practically every baby brand you can think of and frequently offers the best deals. Chances are your friends and family are already frequent Amazon users so why not make baby shopping easy for them.
Not an Amazon Prime member? Start a free 30-day trial today and try it out for yourself. Amazon Prime members get even more baby registry benefits like a 15% completion discount (compared to 10% for non-members), free 2-day shipping, and discounts for subscription purchases on things like diapers and wipes.
Amazon also provides a baby registry checklist to guide you and shows you the most registered products. That way you won’t miss a thing!
Pros:
- Super easy to make returns
- One-time registry discount
- Huge selection of brands and products
- Group gifting options at any price point
- Optional diaper fund for up $550
Cons:
- Cannot connect to other stores
- Non-Prime members don’t receive as many benefits
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Babylist is the ultimate universal baby registry to combine all your favorites in one place! You can choose items from Etsy, Target, Amazon, Walmart, and many more, and they will all appear on one convenient registry. And the prices will be shown at each retailer making it easy for your gift-givers to get the best deal! You family and friends can also register for things not found in stores such as cash contributions, home-cooked meals, and other service gifts.
To make it easier for you to add gifts, Babylist has a chrome extension that you can simply click on while shopping online at different retailers and they will add it to your baby registry. I will be honest, while this is super user friendly for gift-givers, as the registry maker it took some time to figure out how to make it work. But once you do it’s a great option to please everyone!
Pros:
- 15% off products from Babylist
- Group Gifting
- Hello box filled with samples, coupons, and goodies (just pay shipping)
- Can sync already created registries from other sites
Cons
- Can be tricky to figure out at first
- Requires more time for you as the register to gather all your desired items in one place
- Items from other stores default to that store’s return policy
- No group gifting
One of my personal favorites, Target is a great place to register for your upcoming baby! With nearly 2,000 stores nationwide and an easy to use website, your gift givers will appreciate its convenience. Target has thousands of products from well known brands as well as their own high quality brand Cloud Island. My son lived in those zipper sleepers for the first 6 months! They have everything from car seats to furniture to clothes and more. You really could get everything you need under one roof.
Their app lets you walk around the store and add items to your baby registry right from your phone. Or you can use their registry checklist to make it all online. Either way this was one of the easiest registries to make when I had my son.
Pros:
- 15% coupon that can be used twice, once instore and once online
- One year return policy from all items on your registry
- A welcome kit full of coupons, samples, and other goodies worth $50
- Offers group gifting
- Can be turned into a universal registry
Cons:
- Group gifting only on item $100+
- Gifts can only be returned in store
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Buy Buy Baby is another great baby registry option if you are looking for the online and in-store experience combo. One of my favorite things about Buy Buy Baby that sets it apart from other stores is their registry consultant. That’s right, they have people designated to help you make the most of your registry. Just make an appointment at the store nearest you and you have access to your very own baby product expert!
Pros:
- They specialize in all things baby so they have a fantastic selection of products
- Registry consultant to help you making the best selections
- 90 day post due date return policy
- A completion discount
- Group gifting
- A goody bag with samples and coupons.
Cons:
- limited number of locations that may not be nearby where you or your guest live for instore purchases or meeting with a registry consultant.
Walmart is another great place to get just about everything you need for your baby. They have all the essentials including furniture, clothing, diapers and wipes, strollers, and toiletry supplies. Just like Amazon, you need it? Walmart’s go it. And with the ability to shop in store this could be a very convenient option for your friends and family.
One major draw back, however, is that it does not offer any baby registry completion discount and returns/exchanges have to be completed in store. If these aren’t a dealbreaker for you then Walmart may be the way to go!
Pros:
- Huge selection of baby products at affordable prices
- Both in store and online options
- Offers price match guarantee for items found at other retaiolers
- A welcome box with coupons and freebies
Cons
- No completion discount
- All items must be returned or exchanged instore
Pottery Barn Kids is the perfect baby registry site for all the chic baby furniture and décor. While the price point may be higher than other stores, they are known for their products being very durable, stylish, and sustainable. One of the highlights of Pottery Barn is all the monogrammed and personalized items for your new baby.
However, with its limits in the items they offer, Pottery Barn would be a great secondary or supplemental baby registry to compliment a more comprehensive one.
Pros:
- 20% completion discount
- Free nursery design services
- A registry app to make creation a breeze
Cons
- Does not sell all baby essentials
- No freebie bag
- Higher price point items
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Though an unlikely choice, IKEA is a great option for all types of baby necessities. They have changing tables, high chairs, cribs, and even a few baby toys. Most of their stuff is geared towards furniture and supplies so this would be a great option as a secondary baby registry. Especially if you prefer a more minimalist set up. It also is super economical with many items well under standard retail value. However, a downside is that unlike many of the other options listed, Ikea does not offer a baby registry completion discount. Though with their already low prices, this may not matter as much.
Pros:
- Very minimalist friendly
- Cost effective baby items
- Ability for group gifting in the form of “chip”
- Anyone who purchases items using your registry barcode will receive the IKEA family discount
Cons:
- Limited options for each item
- Caters mainly to furniture items so another registry would be need for other baby supplies such clothes, feeding supplies, and toys.
The Tot is not as widely known as other baby registries, but definitely not one that should be overlooked. It offers hand-picked products that are transparent about the materials used and where they are sourced from. If you are looking for an environmentally conscious company this is definitely the one for you!
By creating a baby registry, you will have access to “starter registries” that can guide you if you don’t know where to begin. These were created by experts through the Tot that will also be available to answer any questions you have. Each already created registry has a title to help get you going on the right one for you. If you are strapped for time this may be a great option!
Pro:
- Focus on safe, eco-friendly products
- A wide variety of products
- Starter registries from experts
- Registry experts available to answer questions
Cons:
- No group gifting
- May not carry everything you want
MyRegistry.com
MyRegistry.com is another option for a universal baby registry that allows you to collect items from various stores in one place. You can also combine registries from other sites you have already made by syncing them in one place.
To build your registry directly from the site they have an ultimate check list to help keep you organized. Just download their app and you can get started today!
Pro:
- Universal Registry
- A cash option for gift givers
- Lets you sync together with other registries
- Barcode scanner on app that can be used in brick-and-mortar stores
Cons
- Extra 5% handling fee for cash gifts
- No completion discount
- No group gifting
Preparing to bring a new baby home is quite an overwhelming experience. Creating a baby registry can be a fun, stress relieving activity for you and your partner. For me, starting to pick out everything my baby needed was when it all started to become real.
These popular baby registry platforms are a great way to start get the ball rolling and help your friends and family give you something special for your little one. Are there other sites you would have included on this list? Let me know in the comments below!
These are great ones!
Great post! Thanks for sharing!
This is a great list and super informative!
Great ideas. We made multiple registries and got tons of freebies and coupons this way as well. Target, Amazon, and my registry were our favorites! We made them for babies 2 and 3 as well so we could get more freebies and registry completion discounts even though we didn’t share them with many people that time around!