How Does a Baby Registry Work?

TL;DR : A baby registry is the polite and appropriate way to let your family and friends know what you would prefer to receive as gifts for your baby.  

If you (or your loved ones) are expecting a baby, congratulations!

Having a baby is one of the most exciting things that can happen, and your friends and family will want to celebrate with you by showering you with gifts for your baby.

While some will ask what you want, others may choose on their own, and it won't always fit what you need or want.

So how do you politely suggest what a good gift for your new baby will be?

The answer is a baby registry.

Guaranteeing your aunt and your mom don’t accidentally buy you the same gift, starting a family feud

There are online registries, in store registries, and even financial registries for your baby’s long term savings, and they all work the same way with three easy steps.

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Baby Registry Benefits

A baby registry provides a practical way to let your family and friends what you'd prefer to receive as gifts.

It has many benefits for everyone involved, and doesn't cost any money to sign up.

Family and friends that want to give gifts don't need to guess what you want. Instead, they can see exactly what you need.

You don't receive repetitive gifts, and don't need to bother with returning or changing gifts. You get exactly what you wanted.

You can even share financial goals and allow friends and family to invest in your baby's financial future with baby funds.

On top of the convenience, some registries offer additional benefits and perks.

Greatest Gift provides guides, tools, and tips on starting to save and invest for your baby.

One typical benefit stores offer is the completion discount - a discount given to the parents on anything they wanted to get but didn't.

Another benefit is flexible return policies.

Many registries, including Amazon and Target's registries, provide a flexible return policy with up to one year of return period.

Finally, some registries give welcome gifts just for signing up!

Let's find out how to set up a baby registry.

1) Sign up and pick all the things you want and need for your baby

There are a few factors to consider when choosing a baby registry, but the best baby registry will answer most of your needs, have a baby fund option, offer good discounts, and a flexible return policy.

Remember you can mix-and-match multiple registries to cover all of your needs.

Create a registry on a website or at a store of your choice and start picking out all the things you want and need to welcome your baby home.

Think of all the basics and essentials you’ll need for your baby: feeding supplies, clothes and bath gear.

Add some of the things that are nice to have – books, toys, monitors.

To kickstart your baby’s financial future, add a baby fund registry for financial goals like college savings, financial independence, baby’s first crypto coin, or your first family trip to Disney.

Remember that different people have different budgets. Make sure to add options from different price tags, so each person can comfortably decide how much to spend on the baby shower gift.

2) Share your baby registry with your family, friends and baby shower guests

Once you have a list of the things you want and need, it’s time to share it with your group of family and friends so that they know what to get you in celebration of the happy occasion.

The easiest way to share your registry is by creating a digital invitation to your baby shower and adding a link to your registry.

Your circle of family and friends will want to support you and shower you with gifts for your new baby.

If you plan on sending physical invitations, you can write your registry’s website URL on the invitation.

Your loved ones may still want to give gifts, even if you don’t plan on having a shower! You can send out a baby announcement with a link to your registry or wait for them to ask what they can get you and refer them to your registry.

If you already have all the things that you need and want to focus on setting your baby up for the future, you can ask for money as gifts for a baby shower.

Remember, most likely your circle of family and friends will want to support you and shower you with gifts for your new baby.

Creating a registry and sharing it with them will provide guidance and make their lives a little bit easier.

3) Receive gifts that your friends and family picked out from your registry

Your friends and family can now go through your list and pick things to buy for your baby.

Every time a gift is picked out, it is removed from the registry.

This makes sure your aunt and your mom don’t accidentally buy you the same gift, starting a family feud (and we're not talking about the one with Steve Harvey, that would be pretty cool!).

When using online registries, gifts can get shipped directly to you and save your guests the hassle of delivering the gifts themselves.

Now comes the fun part – time to receive your gifts and unwrap them!

Lastly, don’t forget to say thank you – a simple thank you goes a long way. Some registries like Greatest Gift offer thank you notes built in to their platform and make things easier for you.

That’s it!

Now that you know what a baby registry is and how it works, it’s time to choose the best baby registry for you and welcome your little one into the world.

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When to Create a Baby Registry

Most parents-to-be prefer to create their baby registry during the second trimester.

That means parents wait for the twelve week mark.

However, there is no wrong timing.

Some parents choose to wait until they can know the sex of their baby.

Ideally, couples should take enough time ahead to plan and figure out what they need and want for their baby.

Creating a wishlist is important and helps plan ahead. It also helps to prepare financially for the baby.

Building your wishlist and checking it twice can take a couple of weeks. It's recommended to start working on your list at least a few weeks before your baby shower.

Baby Registry Must Haves 2024

There are some things that a baby registry just isn't complete without.

When making your list, you want to make sure there are items at different price ranges. Different people have different budgets.

Adding a financial gifting option provides the most flexible gifting option.

It's also great for anyone looking for a last minute gift before your shower.

Feel free to add anything you may want or need.

Creating a long list gives potential gift givers options to choose from.

These are the baby registry must haves:

Diaper and Diaper Funds

Diapers, diapers, and diapers.

Parents will need hundreds of diapers to care for their little one.

You can register for diaper packs, or even diaper subscriptions.

If you prefer to purchase your own diapers, it's common to ask for cash gifts. Simply add a Diaper Fund to your registry.

Diaper funds can typically be used to buy anything else other than diapers.

Financial Goals and Cash Gifts

By setting financial goals for your baby, you can allow friends and family to invest in your baby's future.

Greatest Gift's baby registry lets you set and share financial goals. It turns a regular cash gift into a gift of purpose.

Monetary gifts give you flexibility and let you choose how to spend the funds.

Other registries have their own version of a cash fund.

Babylist offers a cash fund to help you ask for cash, checks, or paypal donations.

Amazon has their own diaper fund, although it has some limitations.

Equipment and Gear

Baby equipment and gear is typically in the mid-range in terms of pricing.

Examples include car seats, diaper bags, baby carriers, and baby monitors.

Pick your favorite items and add them to your list.

Baby Basics

Baby basics and essentials are a must have for every baby registry.

These include onesies, bottles, pacifiers, bathing supplies, burp cloths, feeding supplies, and many many more.

Shower guests can choose a few items or combine many into a baby gift box.

Big Ticket Items

For your closest circle of friends and family, include the big ticket items.

Some of your shower guest may want to buy a group gift together as well.

Big ticket items to include in your registry list are dressers, cribs, stroller, and other nursery furniture.