One of your to-dos while anticipating the arrival of baby may be to create a registry. Many people do this somewhere around the middle of the second trimester, but, as always, do what works for your family. Some people can’t wait to tackle this task, while others dread it.
Wherever you are starting from, we hope that our perspective and ideas can help make your registry process as easy as possible. Because, after all, your registry should be a vehicle through which your friends, family, and community can shower you with love and care.
Our Favorite Registries
Most registries offer you some sort of gift upon registering, and there are usually discounts for buying gifts of your registry upon completion. So wherever you register, look out for these bonuses!
- Be Her Village: BeHerVillage is a gift registry for support, not stuff. BeHerVillage helps parents access funds to pay for doulas, lactation support, maternity leave, pelvic floor care, midwifery care, and other types of support that is often not covered by insurance and out of reach for so many people. Create a BeHerVillage registry and you can fill it with support services like mine! Be Her Village registries are free, and the gift funds will be transferred directly into your bank account, so you can pay your support team.
- Babylist: Babylist is a universal registry, which means you link multiple registries in one place to keep it easy for your family and friends (and prevent duplicates). Folks can also contribute to a cash fund, which you can designate for any gift/service/need your family wishes. Additionally, you can add “help and favors,” to incorporate acts of care such as meals, baby sitting, housecleaning, and items that you are open to receiving used or secondhand. (Read more about secondhand registry tips here.)
- Amazon: If you’re hoping to pick just one site to build your registry on, Amazon is the easiest. Plus, most people are familiar with using Amazon. You’ll find items in all the big, popular brands, as well as off-brand options that can be more cost effective for things you feel less precious about.
- Target: Target has the baby and postpartum niche pretty well covered! We’ve been impressed by their selection and find their app easy to use. Returns at Target are typically incredibly easy, especially if there’s a location near you.
- MealTrain: While this is not a typical registry, it feels important to include this great resource in this list. This is an easy way for your community to tend to you after baby is here. Local folks can drop food off, and faraway friends can send gift cards or order delivery. You can to specify a schedule that works for you, dietary preferences and restrictions, and give a shoutout to your favorite foods and/or restaurants.
What to Include on Your Registry
The range of things you want and need as you prepare for baby is quite big. There are lots of difficult categories to consider as you make your list. There are some cute lists out there, like this one on Etsy, that can help you stay focused and sort things by category or check out our extensive list here. If this is your first baby, you might like to run through a list of anticipated items with someone who has been through the process before. They might have meaningful edits, suggestions, and additions to include!
In our blog Top 6 Items to Have For Baby, we link to our favorite white noise machines, baby beds, swaddles, bottles, pacifiers, and cleaning tools. This is a great starting point for baby care items.
It probably goes without saying that we highly encourage you to include yourself in your registry. Examples include: using Be Her Village to build your birth and support team, adding the Frida Mom postpartum recovery supplies to your list, including books you want to read during pregnancy and/or postpartum, and requests for meals or other supports during early postpartum.
ABG is Here for You
We are here to support your growing family! Join us in class or reach out about in-home postpartum services in Austin and Asheville! It’s an honor to support your growing family.
*Photo credit: Ömürden Cengiz on Unsplash
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