Buying baby gear can be daunting for a first time parent, and purchases add up quickly. Therefore, it is imperative to begin the Baby Registry process knowing that you do not need everything under the sun for your baby. Besides, unless you are Kylie Jenner, you cannot afford all of this stuff, even with generous gift-givers.
It is also important to note that the vast majority of baby items can be found in gently used condition for significantly less at garage sales, consignment sales, on Craigslist, or—your best option—as hand-me-downs. It may seem like everything needs to be brand new right now, but believe me, you will feel differently in time as you see how quickly children grow out of expensive items.
Big Brother Knows When You Are Expecting
This doesn’t mean that you can’t have fun shopping for baby. Just go into the baby registry process with your eyes open. Having a baby is big business. Retailers salivate over pregnant women and expecting couples. Who is about to have her daily routine upended? Whose shopping habits are in major flux, and who might be so exhausted in the next year that she buys everything at one store?
As soon as an expecting mom goes to Walmart or Target and purchases cocoa butter, organic milk, and ginger ale, instead of conventional milk, coffee, and bleach, like she used to buy, corporate statisticians will forever target her, based on their expecting mommy algorithms. From this point onward, she can expect coupons, mail fliers, web advertisements, and all types of conscious and sub-conscious consumer cues to bombard her life, signaling her to “buy, buy, buy” for baby. Giving contact information or using a credit card at a maternity store, like Motherhood or Pea in the Pod, is also a surefire way to sound the baby alarms.
Now that you understand that you don’t need every baby product and that everybody wants your money, let’s discuss the pros and cons of a few popular baby registry options.
Retailer Options: Popular Baby Registry Stores and Online Offerings
Target (TGT)
Pros: This store is very convenient for gift givers and any gift cards or merchandise credit will be easy to use on store offerings beyond baby. Target supports Group Gifting, allowing friends or family members, to pool money for buying expensive items. Target also supports a Universal Registry. Just drag a button onto your bookmarks bar to start adding gifts from other sites onto your Target registry (i.e., a Pottery Barn Kids dresser could be added and managed from your Target registry, but must be purchased on the actual store’s website.)
Cons: The selection of baby items in-store is limited, and some parents complain that customer service is lacking. The return policy requires a gift receipt or a printed Gift Purchase Log, which stamps your gift giver’s item at the time of purchase.
Completion Discount: A physical 15% off baby registry completion coupon that is good for one day only should arrive in the mail approximately eight weeks prior to your due date. Using a Target RED card can take off another 5%. Download the Target app to your phone and add items to your baby registry without waiting in the customer service line.
Buy Buy Baby (BBBY)
Pros: This store, owned by Bed Bath and Beyond, contains a large selection of floor-to-ceiling baby merchandise, including designer strollers and high-end baby products. They also accept non-expired 20% off BBBY store coupons (with many brand restrictions), and they are generally willing to price-match a competitor on identical items. I would rate their customer service as excellent, too.
Cons: The biggest drawback for this option is limited store locations nationwide, forcing some gift givers to buy online. Prices for items are also typically higher because the store offers convenience, a large number of items, and a baby registry service.
Completion Discount: A 15% off all remaining items coupon should be sent in the mail roughly four weeks prior to your due date for in-store use, and a separate coupon code will be emailed to you for use online.
Amazon (AMZN)
Pros: This online-only option is mostly lower in prices, convenient, and tax-free in a few states. Shipping is free on qualified baby items over $25. Amazon also offers a universal registry, allowing items to be added to your registry from outside websites. The return policy includes a free prepaid mailing label to print and return eligible items for a full refund within 90 days of delivery. Returns outside of 90 days will deduct shipping costs. You get a free Welcome Box – a surprise box of items for parents and baby valued up to $35.
Cons: Amazon is the mother of all baby registries, unless you have lots of older relatives, or friends and family who would prefer to shop in a brick and mortar store. Many parents complain about multiple trips to the UPS store and printer issues making the return process frustrating. Amazon also has no way of regulating third party purchases from your gift givers, as third party members may have different return policies.
Completion Discount: A 10% discount, up to 15% for Amazon Prime members, compliments of Amazon Family, is offered on select items from your registry, 60 days before your child’s arrival date.
A link to redeem the discount will be displayed on your registry once you are eligible. Please note if your registry was created less than 14 days ago, you will not yet be eligible. You may join Amazon Prime any time prior to redeeming your discount to be eligible for 15%.
- The Completion Discount begins 60 days prior to the Baby Arrival Date you entered in your Baby Registry and expires 60 days after the Baby Arrival Date. Amazon reserves the right to modify or cancel the Completion Discount at any time.
- To receive a 15% discount, you must be an Amazon Prime member at the time you redeem your registry completion discount and the primary registrant.
- The Completion Discount may be used on up to two orders of up to an aggregate of $2,000 USD (a maximum discount of up to $300 USD with Prime Membership).
- Only eligible items displayed in the Completion Discount View in your Baby Registry qualify for the Completion Discount.
- The Completion Discount may only be redeemed through the Amazon account of primary registrant of the Baby Registry.
- You may not use another Completion Discount for 8 consecutive months following the complete redemption of a Completion Discount.
- If you return any of the items purchased using the Completion Discount, we will subtract the value of Completion Discount from your return credit.
- Does not apply to orders placed with 1-Click.
- Void where prohibited.
- Shipping and handling charges apply to all products.
- This promotion may not be combined with other offers.
- The Completion Discount is for personal use only and not for the purpose of reselling products. Please note your registry must be active for at least 14 days before you are eligible.
Walmart (WMT)
Pros: Walmart is nearly impossible to beat on pricing for a brick and mortar store. Much of the country shops at Walmart for groceries and everyday items, so it may make sense to have your baby registry here. Walmart also offers a free welcome box that includes baby-related product samples.
Cons: Because Walmart sells such huge volumes of products, such as 30% of all diapers sold in the U.S., the executives in Bentonville have enormous power over suppliers. They are notorious for twisting the arms of manufacturers into drastic cost-cutting measures, which means lower prices and lower-quality baby products for you. It is common practice for name-brand companies to make cheaper versions of their products to be sold only in Walmart.
Completion Discount: There is no completion discount at Walmart.
Universal gift registry online
Pros: This option allows you to register for gifts on different web sites, combining products from Amazon, Etsy, IKEA, Land of Nod, Costco, etc. Popular companies that offer a universal baby registry are BabyList and MyRegistry. Web-based companies change rapidly; however, BabyList is currently at the top of the class, receiving excellent reviews for its crisp design and easy-to-navigate user interface. BabyList also offers creative registry items and solutions for things you really need, such as allowing people to pool money for a doula or cloth diaper service, or to offer a homemade meal after birth.
Cons: Dealing with multiple return policies with a universal gift registry can be a pain. For creative or modern gifts, such as a doula, expect at least one snarky relative to consider a cash-like gift coupon as tacky. For this reason, I would not select the “Donate to Baby’s College Fund” option, as it tacitly implies money-grubbing. However, a healthy, homemade meal is a pretty good deal for any tired new parent.
Baby Registry Product Considerations
Now that we’ve covered some options for your registry, let’s get into the meat of the matter— narrowing down these products. Before you zap too many items into your virtual cart, I recommend asking a few pertinent questions (the answers will help you decide on the price range and quality required for each product.)
- What are the safety considerations for this product?
- How long will this product be used? Months or years?
- How often will this product be used? Daily or occasionally?
- What are my priorities and lifestyle needs?
- What baby registry items can I do without?
Note: Prices are subject to change. For example, if a car seat or stroller is listed online for significantly less than the MSRP/List price for the manufacturer, it is probably a previous year or discontinued model.
Keep It Simple
Prioritizing Big Budget Items
If you add up the average cost for baby’s first year, using moderately-priced baby registry items and day care, you can expect to exceed $10,000. If you hire a full-time nanny and select top-of-the-line baby gear and eco-friendly products, you can expect to top $20,000/year. Moral of the story: You have to cut costs somewhere. Costly baby gear, which may only last a few months, is a good place to start. To help you prioritize, or cut out, some of the most expensive items in your baby registry, I asked hundreds of parents to rank the following baby gear items, in order of importance (excluding a car seat and crib, which are perhaps the most important items).
Top Expensive Baby Products to Prioritize (as ranked by hundreds of parents)
1 is most important and 10 is least important
- Stroller
- Baby carrier (Ergobaby, Baby Bjorn)
- Portable crib (Pack ‘n Play)
- Baby swing
- Bouncer seat
- Activity mat or play gym
- Stationary entertainer, ExerSaucer, or Jumperoo
- Baby sling or wrap
- Bumbo seat
- Doorway jumper