While I love to buy people gifts, and usually have lots of ideas, I have a hard time coming up with things I want. So, this year I decided to tell my family to get me things for the baby for Christmas. I am also a huge fan of researching things so, I decided that I should do some research and register before Christmas so people would have ideas of what it was that we want.
I have been babysitting for 12 years and love newborns so I had lots of ideas of things that I find are really useful and things I find to be a waste of time/money. It's been great working with so many different families as it's given me to chance to try out different products through out the years.
Justin and I, ok mostly me, were trying to decide where to register between Target, Babies R us, and BuyBuy Baby. We decided to start by registering at Target, I then went on to register at Babies R us and BuyBuy baby.
Here are my pro and cons for all 3 places:
TARGET:
I LOVE Target! They have all sorts of things, great price on groceries and are really convenient to where we live. But to the baby registry.
When you register at Target, just like at all other places, you get a goody bag.
In the bag we got, a reusable shopping bag, tons of coupons, diaper samples and what I am most excited about a $20 Gift Card to Snapfish to use for baby announcements.
Pros:
Really easy to register with, not at all overwhelming!!
Easy to use online system, really simple to add/remove items from the registry.
They have the all organic baby mattress online which I am passionate about getting. I highly suggest reading Carra's blog about SIDS and Mattresses
Good for everyday basics
They have a decent amount of options for car seats, and the one we wanted
Great prices
Cons:
No Seventh Generation products
Not a lot options when it comes to bigger ticket items like furniture, pumps, etc.
Overall I would highly recommend registering with Target! They have plenty of options for everyday things.
BABIES R US:
Pretty easy to register with, only took a few minutes before they let me run around the store to start registering. While they have tons of options the store is not overwhelming at all.
Goody bag: More coupons, lots of samples including rash creams, lotions, etc. Bottle carrier, baby magazines, etc.
Pros:
Got a $10 gift card just for registering
Because I registered in the store instead of online we get 15% off everything left on our registry when we close the registry after the baby is here
They have lots of things I was looking for: Dr. Brown's glass bottles, Seventh Generation products, Snap and Go stroller and extra car seat base (the car seat we registered for only takes a specific base)
Lots of neutral things for baby's room, we are going with browns and greens.
The price match and send you coupons all the time
When you register they sign you up for their rewards program and whenever someone buys something from your registry you get the points.
Easy to use online registry, and the registry is also available at Toys R us
Cons:
The registry will only stay open for 90 days after the due date
BuyBuy Baby:
Goody bag: not as many coupons as target but some great goodies including: Avent bottle, full size johnson's head-to-toe baby lotion (which smells great!), bpa free pacifier, seventh generation wipes and dish liquid as well as several different types of creams for mommies needs.
Cons: Takes forever to register in person! The store is really overwhelming. There are stuff from floor to ceiling everywhere!
Pros:
Lots of options!
Tons of great child proofing things, they have a huge selection of pretty much anything you can think of to child proof your house they have it
The registry will stay open for 2 years after the due date, so they suggest registering for everything you need/want for at least the first year of the baby's life. As the registry will stay open past the baby's first birthday you can register to give people ideas of what you think your baby would like for his/her first birthday.
They take bed bath and beyond coupons, which we get in the mail every week so that's a plus!
Overall BuyBuy baby is great for child proofing you house and if you are looking for the top of the line things like strollers, car seats. But, it can be pretty over whelming!
My overall review of registering for baby:
You should have an idea of what you want/need before you go. If you don't have much baby experience talk to people who do before you go so you don't get over whelmed. All store will give you lists of suggestions of things you should register for but those can be pretty ridiculous. There were something like 200 items on the BuyBuy Baby list.
Have fun with your registry! If there is something you really want register for it! You never know what people will want to get you. Make sure you pick items of all price ranges. Babies need tons of things, especially if it's your first, and those things range for a couple dollars to hundreds of dollars or more.
Remember you don't have to buy everything new! Baby sales are a great way to get some of the bigger items and often you can borrow things from friends who already have kids.
You don't have to buy the most expensive things for your baby, especially when it comes to car seats! They all have to pass the same safety inspections so it doesn't make a difference, safety wise, if you go with the $100 carseat or the $600 one.
My one complaint it that none of the stores had all the baby books I was looking for. They also don't have a lot of neutral clothing but that's ok. Once the baby is here will go out and stock up on clothes, for now we'll stick to a few basics.
Ok, I think that's more information than any of you cared to know!
Thanks for reading!
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