Tips on the Registering Process?

[SJ]

We are going to start dipping our toes in the registering pool this weekend. Plan is Buy Buy Baby & Land of Nod.

Any tips on the process? Are the salespeople helpful? Are we supposed to know what we want ahead of time, or is it easy to figure out in the store? Should we start online first? Are the two stores we listed ok?

I am overwhelmed by the research portion (but I do have the checklist from Lucie's List & we have Baby Bargains) and gear specifics, but any tips are very welcome.

[anna7602]

When I registered, I took a friend with me who had a baby. Everything she needed/used regularly was very fresh in her mind. She also had me do practical tests with the strollers I was considering- trying to fold it up one-handed, trying to push it while I was pretending to drink something or talk on the phone, etc. I would not have thought to do these kinds of things on my own to see whether a stroller was a good fit for us or not.

I also spent a lot of time browsing other people's registries after I had created mine to see what I had missed.

And all of this was after reading Baby Bargains and all that jazz.

[VillainV]

We had a good idea of what we wanted/needed when we went, but we also used a staff member at BBB to help us, and she was really knowledgeable. We didn't register for EVERYTHING at once, we mostly wanted to get the big stuff picked out (breast pump, monitor, stroller, baby carrier). Once we had that stuff picked out, we told the salesperson that we were fine to continue on our own, and we went around and picked out some fun stuff. We also added a bunch of stuff online afterward.

I highly recommend Baby Bargains and Lucie's List.

[D2M]

I went in by myself to BRU and spent 30 minutes setting up the registry, walking around the store, and zapping a few items with the registry gun. I then went home and combed through friends' recent registries and lists I'd made for myself noting must-have items. By then I'd finished Baby Bargains and so I updated the registry online. I have detailed notes about which strollers and car seats will be good for our needs but I haven't added them to our registry yet. I need to go back to test them in the store. I like anna7602's testing tips!

[speyedr]

BuyBuyBaby is awesome! I felt they were very helpful, although I started my registry online because I live 4 hours from the nearest store. When I went in though they have everything laid out so it is easy to get your hands on and try out. They have weighted sand babies so you can see how strollers navigate with weight in them.

[Yankees21]

We started in store, but I really preferred adding things online, it seemed less overwhelming. Definitely take your Lucie's List with you! The benefits to in store are being able to test out products if you haven't decided (strollers, for example) and that lots of people seem to shop in store, so you make sure you have things that aren't online only.

[Wonderwall]

2 words friend, Lucie's List. Friggen life saver

[Deleted]

Two huge tips for you...

Get the book Baby Bargains. It is like Consumer Reports for baby stuff
Shop at Buy Buy Baby

[speckledfrog]

Make a general list of stuff you want before you go. The salespeople will tell you to put like 200 things on your list but you'll end up with way less. Bring water, take breaks. We went on a scouting trip before actually registering and that was helpful for me.

[chicago]

H and I spent a weekend "preparing" by making a spreadsheet w what we needed, the most highly rated brands, price comparisons for Buy Buy Baby and Amazon. We used Lucie's List and Baby Bargains as well as Amazon reviews to make those decisions. I'd be happy to send it to you if you want it, even if it just gets you started.

We were still overwhelmed when we went to BBB, but they were super helpful and made it a positive experience. We spent a few hours there and did a lot of the big stuff, but then I came home and added the rest of the stuff online. I looked at other friends' registries to see if I had missed anything and, of course, read copious amounts of registry threads here.

[SJ]

Feb 16, 2014 12:10:05 GMT -5 chicago said:

H and I spent a weekend "preparing" by making a spreadsheet w what we needed, the most highly rated brands, price comparisons for Buy Buy Baby and Amazon. We used Lucie's List and Baby Bargains as well as Amazon reviews to make those decisions. I'd be happy to send it to you if you want it, even if it just gets you started.

We were still overwhelmed when we went to BBB, but they were super helpful and made it a positive experience. We spent a few hours there and did a lot of the big stuff, but then I came home and added the rest of the stuff online. I looked at other friends' registries to see if I had missed anything and, of course, read copious amounts of registry threads here.

Yes, thank you! I will pm you.

[chicago]

SJ, just emailed you!

[rbp]

Feb 15, 2014 15:15:17 GMT -5 vigurl said:

Two huge tips for you...

Get the book Baby Bargains. It is like Consumer Reports for baby stuff
Shop at Buy Buy Baby

Should we drive 30 minutes to register at BBB? It is not convenient for any of our family or friends, but I have heard so many good things that maybe it's worthwhile?

ETA: BRU is 20 minutes away. Why aren't any of these stores in the city?? 

[Deleted]

Feb 16, 2014 15:39:06 GMT -5 rbp said:

Feb 15, 2014 15:15:17 GMT -5 vigurl said:

Two huge tips for you...

Get the book Baby Bargains. It is like Consumer Reports for baby stuff
Shop at Buy Buy Baby

Should we drive 30 minutes to register at BBB? It is not convenient for any of our family or friends, but I have heard so many good things that maybe it's worthwhile?

ETA: BRU is 20 minutes away. Why aren't any of these stores in the city?? 

Even if you are not going to register there I highly suggest a trip to BBB.  The reps are very knowledgeable.  If they are not too busy (go on an off time) you can get one of the dept managers to walk you around.  They go to BBB University (not kidding) and they know everything about every product and can do a good job of narrowing down for based on your budget, needs, likes/dislike what to register for and what not to.  Then you can just go to BRU (gosh I hate that store) and register for the same things (since BRU seems to be on every street corner).

When I was pregnant with #1 the lady took like 2 hours and showed DH and I everything.  It was great!

[katinthehat]

It took probably five trips because I kept getting overwhelmed and crying. Ahhh, hormones.

Take a few trips just to explore and make them specific. Like, today, I'm going to look at strollers. That makes it more manageable. And like others have said, I found it a lot easier to do online than in stores. Don't take your hubs/partner. Take a good friend instead. I had my sister on the phone the whole time. Stuff I wanted DH's opinion on, I had him look online with me.

And add lots of little things in the $5-$15 range. It makes shopping for friends and family easier.

[sent]

Feb 16, 2014 15:39:06 GMT -5 rbp said:

Feb 15, 2014 15:15:17 GMT -5 vigurl said:

Two huge tips for you...

Get the book Baby Bargains. It is like Consumer Reports for baby stuff
Shop at Buy Buy Baby

Should we drive 30 minutes to register at BBB? It is not convenient for any of our family or friends, but I have heard so many good things that maybe it's worthwhile?

ETA: BRU is 20 minutes away. Why aren't any of these stores in the city?? 

Yes to BBB.  The sales people really are that helpful.  Our friends probably gave us 70% BRU 30% BBB stuff/gift cards because BBB was not convenient for most people.  But it was nice to be able to go to both stores.  And there are some lines that BBB carries but not BRU.  

[MrsDarcy]

Two tips:
-If you add things online, make sure they're available in store. Unless most of your guests live in remote places or prefer to shop online, most people want to go to the store and pick things out.

-I would not register for diapers up to a size four. My son is 2.5, and in a size four. I would probably go up to a two, and stop there.