How many months worth to register for?

[VillainV]

We didn't register for, nor are we buying, anything that won't be used in the first 4-5 months. But we're doing an international move at 4-5 months, so this is mostly to kep us from having to store and move stuff that we won't be using anyway. When we're back in the US, we'll buy the stuff we need then.

As for clothing, people have given us some 6-12 stuff, but it's entirely possible that a larger baby will fit into that size before or during the time we move -- I know different brands fit differently.

For anyone else, I would say that as long as you know for sure what you want and have room to store stuff you won't use right away, then go for it. You can always return/exchange things later.

[vmars]

I registered for a high chair, but did not get it. I didn't register for any of those other items. I got a bunch of stuff I needed right away (bouncer, swing, car seats, etc), but still had to buy a few things on my own ($1k worth of stuff). In retrospect, I am glad I got things I needed immediately before things I needed later. I got a bunch of checks & cash after he was born so I will use that money towards items he needs later.

[forthelove959]

First time mom here, so take this with a grain of salt.
The lady at BRU told us to register for items for the first year. We registered for a high chair, and some items that will help in the transition to solids/baby food. We didn't register for clothes too far out though. I think 3-6 is as big as we went. Diapers , I think we may have registered up to size 4.

Another thing she suggested was to register for approximately 4 items for every guest you plan to invite to your shower. She said it gives people lots of variety to choose from, a lot of price points to choose from, and that a lot of people like to make gift baskets so it gives them a lot to pick from for those as well.

[bowies]

I can't remember if it was Lucie's List or Baby Bargains, but one of them said to just register for immediate needs. We're not even planning on purchasing or registering for a bouncer or swing (beyond the rock and play) until the baby arrives. We also won't be registering for clothes since people are going to buy what they're going to buy in that regard. The only things that will make the registry will be things we need and that we have a brand preference on. Oh, and that we wouldn't purchase ahead of time ourselves. Breastfeeding supplies, car seat/stroller, furniture etc. won't make the cut.

This will be what works for us since we have small families and a small circle of friends. We're prepared to purchase most supplies ourselves.

[andthentherewere10]

The lady at BRU said register for approximately 200 items so that the buyers feel like they can choose and buy you something they WANT to buy you rather than something you are asking for. I though 200 was overkill, though.

I took a friend with a 6 month old with me to register and she recommended some items for the first 7-8 months just so you could have some stuff on hand (sippy cups, bowls) to try before committing to buying a lot of a brand.

[teeah22]

A high chair is pretty normal to register for, I don't think I've ever seen a potty seat on a registry though. I'd skip registering for clothes, people just buy whatever they think is cute (which may not be what you think is cute). I don't remember registering for solid feeding stuff but I probably just wasn't thinking about it, I'm sure that stuff is fine.

[chicago]

Feb 16, 2014 7:56:56 GMT -5 vmars said:

I registered for a high chair, but did not get it. I didn't register for any of those other items. I got a bunch of stuff I needed right away (bouncer, swing, car seats, etc), but still had to buy a few things on my own ($1k worth of stuff). In retrospect, I am glad I got things I needed immediately before things I needed later.

Same with us.

[shelbyann]

I didn't really register for anything we won't use within the first six months - so no high chair or solid feeding stuff. I felt overwhelmed enough by figuring out the basics, I just couldn't handle researching and choosing stuff we wouldn't be using right away!

Didn't register for clothes, but we got a ton of 0-3 and 3-6 stuff, with some 6-9. Which was fine with me!

[Yankees21]

I registered for a high chair and convertible car seat, but nothing else really that was for later on. I guess I figured that most of the stuff you need is for the beginning (also the pricy stuff-car seats, strollers, swings, etc) and I'd prefer to just buy stuff like solid feeding supplies at the time instead of storing it for months.

[VillainV]

Feb 16, 2014 8:48:32 GMT -5 bowies said:

I can't remember if it was Lucie's List or Baby Bargains, but one of them said to just register for immediate needs. We're not even planning on purchasing or registering for a bouncer or swing (beyond the rock and play) until the baby arrives. We also won't be registering for clothes since people are going to buy what they're going to buy in that regard. The only things that will make the registry will be things we need and that we have a brand preference on. Oh, and that we wouldn't purchase ahead of time ourselves. Breastfeeding supplies, car seat/stroller, furniture etc. won't make the cut.

This will be what works for us since we have small families and a small circle of friends. We're prepared to purchase most supplies ourselves.

I would recommend going back and registering for these items after your shower is over, just so you get the completion discount.  They are big-ticket items, so a discount is nice.  If you have an Amazon registry you get the completion discount code one month before your due date, but you can set your due date to whenever you want.  You can only use the completion code once, so it might mean making one BIG purchase, but for a breast pump and a snazzy stroller, it might be worth getting the discount.

[forthelove959]

This post reminds me that I need to call BCBS and see what kind of breast pump they cover, so I can go back and register for pumping supplies. That way, I can get the completion discount on those too.

[redheadbaker]

I registered for stuff I'd need the first six-ish months: swing, bouncer, PnP, high chair ...

We didn't register for a potty chair. I didn't want to store it. We didn't register for a convertible seat, because there's no guarantee you'll get a just-manufactured one and since they expire, I didn't want to lose potentially a year of use just storing it.

You don't need any fancy puree-making equipment. Baking sheet, steamer pot, or microwaveable dish, and either a food processor or immersion blender. Ice cube trays, plastic freezer bags. They don't eat purees for long, and those baby-food-making gadgets are pretty useless after that.

I didn't register for any clothes, either. Stock turns over SO QUICKLY in stores, anything you'd register for would be gone by the time your shower comes around.

ETA: And I just realized I had clicked on the "Got Pregnant" board instead of the "Getting Pregnant" board. Oops! Sorry!

[browneyedgirl9]

I registered for a highchair, and bowls/spoons. I figured it was something that would be used in the first year.

I wouldn't bother registering for clothes, people are going to buy what they want for the baby. You will get a ton of clothing.

[SJ]

Feb 16, 2014 12:05:24 GMT -5 forthelove959 said:

This post reminds me that I need to call BCBS and see what kind of breast pump they cover, so I can go back and register for pumping supplies. That way, I can get the completion discount on those too.

Yes! I have to do this too!

[Deleted]

I registered for bouncer, pay mat, high chair, pNp, swaddle blankets, washrags, baby tub, lotion, shampoo, bumper, diapers and got all those.

Things I wanted and did not get was changing pad, changing pad cover, thermometer, baby grooming kit, wipes, diaper cream, PNP sheets.

[sh10]

Feb 16, 2014 10:12:58 GMT -5 MNH2013 said:

I have a private Amazon list with older stuff on it. A friend of mine works at Ikea and actually got us a ton of feeding stuff so I was grateful we didn't need to buy that. We had a high chair on our registry but we really put it on there so we could get the completion discount and buy ourselves. People ended up buying all our large items except the high chair so we don't have anything else to buy except for that.

We registered and got a high chair, but watch out for the registry completion at Amazon. It sucks. Anything added after you get the completion code is Not eligible for the discount, and it must be sold directly by amazon to get the discount. I'm sure it says that in the fine print but I was mad when I tried to finish shopping. Target and bru gave me the scan gun to add things the day we used our discount there.
Also, I would skip the potty chair and convertible car seat , I think you can pick up a potty seat used easily, and I personally want a convertible seat that has as late of a manufacture date to last though multiple kids.

[rbp]

I'm not sure I trust the SA at BRU to be looking out for my best interests

I am reading this post with great interest as we'll be registering in the next couple of months. Thanks for all the great ideas!

[amaristella]

I thought it was customary to register for anything you might need in the first year.

For clothes: I received a crap ton of 0-3. So much that anything that came with a receipt I exchanged for larger sizes. However, the place where I live right now has fairly constant weather year round. Plus we keep the house air conditioned to the same temperature year round. And I'm only buying clothes up till 24 months since I know that we're moving to somewhere completely different after a certain amount of time.

Anywhere else I wouldn't buy or register for much past 3-6 months size because you don't know what size your baby will be wearing when a particular season comes around so it's better to just wait and see. Maybe get a few good all season layering basics if you want.

Edit: Also with clothes you won't know what type of clothes you'll love/hate the most until your baby is here.

[ringstrue]

First 6 months is usually a good rule. It sucks to hold onto things you aren't using then having to trek out and shell out $$ for other things you need now.

I was soooo sick of researching features in Baby Bargains that I couldn't muster the energy to look into criteria I'd want until later.

You'll sorta know what kind of baby your baby is by 6 months or a little after. Like DD was lazy and didn't care to sit up much until she was almost 10 months, so I wasn't hard pressed to get a highchair very early. Or, you might have a big baby that grows out of a car seat by 1 year exactly and you'll need more $$ for new seats vs. other things that can wait.

You also might find that its too much of a hassle to register for smaller things like baby dish ware or bottle nipples, when you can just pick up stuff during your next Target trip.

[ringstrue]

Things like thermometers, lotion, shampoo - you could be getting a few version of before you find something that works for you and your kid the best. I'd hate for you or someone to spend 20+ on the "nice" version only for your baby to do better with another kind. I was given hugely enormous bottles of J&J lotion, shampoo, body wash, etc. and then DD was diagnosed with eczema so we couldn't use any of it.

[statlerwaldorf]

I would register for the first year. I ended up using my high chair before we started on solid foods. It was nice to have somewhere to put her when we ate and ours had a reclining feature. I wouldn't register for a potty chair, but I would register for first foods things. I wouldn't register for toddler stuff like sippy cups especially since some kids can be really picky.

I wouldn't spend a lot of time registering for clothes. They get discontinued fast, so I would stick to basics. I wouldn't register for larger sizes since not all babies grow at exactly the same rate and you don't want to end up with the wrong season. Plus most of the people that bought clothes for DD didn't buy off of the registry anyway.