3 Baby Registry Mistakes to Avoid

Guest Post by Kimberly Jolasun, founder of Villie

To build a baby registry or not to build a baby registry— that is the question! When I found out I was pregnant with my son, I wasn’t sure if I would create a baby registry. Honestly, it felt a little selfish until I realized the importance and power of a baby registry, which should be considered more of a gifting guide for the generous gift-givers in your life.

3 Baby Registry Mistakes to Avoid

As a first-time mom then (now a mom of two), I prioritized registering for items that would make life more efficient with a newborn. I knew we’d need a ton of baby basics, plus everyday necessities like diapers, formulas, and products that would enable safe sleep. However, I made some baby registry mistakes along the way! So, from one mom to another, here are the three common mistakes you can avoid (trust me!)

1. Not having a registry at all

Not having a baby registry can be a huge mistake. Thankfully, creating a registry has never been easier. Previously, registries involved physically scanning products in-store (IRL) to create a list. But now, with our phones and the internet, creating a registry has never been easier!

Having a registry not only takes the guesswork out of gift-giving for friends and family but also ensures that you receive the items you need for your baby. While creating a registry can still take up a lot of time (up to 40 hours in some cases), it's worth it. For first-time moms, it's an excellent opportunity to discover all the unique and adorable baby products available. And for veteran moms, with baby products constantly evolving, creating a registry is a great way to stay up-to-date with the latest innovations and changes in the market.

2. Forgetting to add products for you!

It's important to remember that creating a baby registry isn't just about preparing for the baby's arrival; it's also an opportunity to add gifts for yourself. It's not selfish to prioritize your own needs and convenience, especially since new moms deserve all the care and support they can get.

When creating your registry, consider adding items that will make your life easier, but also things that you personally enjoy. It's essential to think carefully about what would make you happy and comfortable, especially during the early days of caring for a newborn.

Your registry should reflect both you and your baby's needs. To get inspired, check out Poppylist's "13 Non-Traditional Baby Registry Essentials” post. Remember, taking care of yourself is just as important as taking care of your little one.

3. Avoid the temptation of adding to many clothes

I personally know how easy it is to get carried away with the endless options and cute outfits available for our little ones. Especially with my daughter. Mom-daughter matching outfits anyone? However, I learned after my first baby to avoid the temptation of adding too many clothes to my baby registry. While it's important to have a few essential outfits for your baby, it's easy to go overboard and end up with a closet full of clothes that your baby may never have the chance to wear.

Consider including requests for baby clothes subscriptions whenever possible to your registry. One of my top recommendations is Rent-a-Romper where you can rent an endless wardrobe that grows with your little one.

Considerations before you build your baby registry:

Before you start building your baby registry, here are five questions to ask yourself in an effort to set you up for success:

1. Do I need this now or in a year?
2. Can I borrow this item instead?
3. Can I buy this item second-hand?
4. Do I have the space to store this item when I’m not using it?
5. Do I already have something like this from our first baby that I can reuse or re-purpose?

Once you’ve considered these questions and know which mistakes to avoid, you’ll be ready to build a baby registry to better prepare you for parenthood.

Five favorite baby registry sites:

1. Amazon Baby Registry is convenient and a platform that we’re all super familiar with. 
2. Poppylist Baby Registry is a curated, simplified registry platform which provides a seamless experience for gift-givers.
3. Babylist Baby Registry has a robust partner system and an unmatched universal registry tool.
4. Walmart Baby Registry has everything and price matches all other retailers, plus you can scan items in-story.
5. Buy Buy Baby Baby Registry is a big box registry store that carries the most popular baby brands, especially strollers and car seats.

Are two baby registries better than one?

When it comes to creating your baby registry, most of them offer a universal tool, which allows you to add any product from any e-commerce site, but you don’t have to limit yourself to  one platform.  In fact, it's common for moms to have two or more registries. If you plan on having more than one baby registry, we recommend using Villie to create a personalized baby website where you can conveniently list and track all of your registries in one place.

Additionally, Villie makes parenting easier by allowing you to: 

• Listing all your registries
• Collect funds for a baby bank or diaper fund
• Share updates with your loved ones all at once
• Keep track of events and milestones so your loved ones never miss any

And that's just the beginning! Create your own Villie to discover all the ways it can help you stay organized during this exciting time.