Do you ever look at someone's registry...

[lurknomore]

...and think to yourself how "wrong" it is?!?!  I'm looking at a friend's registry and I can't help but critique it in my head.  Oh she doesn't want that one.  Oh she needs this.  She registered for what?!?!?!  She's a first time mom and to me, is missing so much stuff its unbelievable.  And she registered for stuff I can't imagine needing.  LOL.  Then, the stuff that has been purchase (shower is this weekend, registry is online only) is so random and mostly not useful.  But...I got her something off her registry.  And it is hardly baby related at all.  So who am I to talk!

[ilikedonuts]

All the time. I'm very nosey hahaha

[Deleted]

YES. We have friends who are due with their 1st in a few months. 
PDQ and I will edit the details.

[pooh8402]

I would love specifics. although I mainly worked off Lucie's List for my registry.

[Deleted]

Mar 2, 2015 15:21:46 GMT -5 pooh8402 said:

I would love specifics. although I mainly worked off Lucie's List for my registry.

Lucie's List was good but Baby Bargains became like my new bible.

I wouldn't have had a clue about a jumperoo, a playmat, etc. without that book. I would have gotten whatever was the cheapest.

That said, I have a big(ger) 3 level house and we wanted a containment device on each floor, so we have a RnP, PnP, bassinet, etc.

[ilikedonuts]

The people registering for multiple convertible car seats and booster seats is always one that makes me go ehhhhh. Because yes while the completion discount is nice, so much can change in a year (what car you have, the type of seat you need, etc). Plus you can then have a carseat that expires 1-2 years earlier then if you had just waited.

[simpsongal]

Yup, for a good friend I email and offer them other suggestions. I also offer to loan them short term things (e.g., jumperoo)

[linz]

Yes but they'll figure it out. I'm sure some people thought some of my items were dumb. My SIL didn't understand why I didn't buy a bottle warmer. How on earth would my kids eat!! Pretty sure they drink room temp milk just fine.

[ladygrey]

Yes. I put a lot of thought and research into my registry choices, so I'm always surprised when I see registries filled with crap - tons of clothes, wipe warmers, full crib bedding sets (bumpers, quilts, etc.), and other completely random stuff (toilet paper, dog food, candy, video games - yes, I've seen all of these on Target baby registries).

[linz]

Mar 2, 2015 15:27:22 GMT -5 @this said:

Sometimes if I know a person is pregnant, I go look at their registry just to critique it in my head.

Even if we're not friends and I won't be invited to the shower.

Me too! I've done it for wedding registries too. Mainly because I get curious how people decorate.

[Deleted]

Flameful:
I considered sending the friends in my post above a copy of Baby Bargains and Baby 411 so they can make changes before the shower invites go out.  :-# In my defense, friend's mom (my parents' next door neighbor and very close friend) is beside herself over what's lacking on the registry... probably b/c she's comparing it to mine.

[ilikedonuts]

Mar 2, 2015 15:27:22 GMT -5 @this said:

Sometimes if I know a person is pregnant, I go look at their registry just to critique it in my head.

Even if we're not friends and I won't be invited to the shower.

Like I just did with all the random people I went to high school and college with that are due this summer. lol

[Deleted]

Mar 2, 2015 15:29:30 GMT -5 linz said:

Mar 2, 2015 15:27:22 GMT -5 @this said:

Sometimes if I know a person is pregnant, I go look at their registry just to critique it in my head.

Even if we're not friends and I won't be invited to the shower.

Me too! I've done it for wedding registries too. Mainly because I get curious how people decorate.

Ditto.

[cinco]

I'm more shaking my cane thinking we didn't have those back in my day. Baby stuff seems much cooler now.

[Deleted]

There's no doubt I judge. However, if I made a registry you'd all judge it to the heavens and back..lol.
I'm definitely the weird one. I don't see the need for a lot of stuff people say is essential. I only love and own about 1/4 the baby gear you all deem necessary. I love some of the craziest stuff you all hate.

[pooh8402]

Mar 2, 2015 15:23:44 GMT -5 @mrsspunky said:

Mar 2, 2015 15:21:46 GMT -5 pooh8402 said:

I would love specifics. although I mainly worked off Lucie's List for my registry.

Lucie's List was good but Baby Bargains became like my new bible.

I wouldn't have had a clue about a jumperoo, a playmat, etc. without that book. I would have gotten whatever was the cheapest.

That said, I have a big(ger) 3 level house and we wanted a containment device on each floor, so we have a RnP, PnP, bassinet, etc.

okay, so I'm looking at the current Baby Bargains, and I see that a new one is coming out for April 18. my main shower is May 2. I should probably get the current one, right?

[Deleted]

My SIL had baby #4 in November and her registry was the most ridiculous thing in the world. And she has 3 children, so I know she had to know this!

[Deleted]

Mar 2, 2015 15:32:11 GMT -5 @abbycobb said:

Yeah, but I'm sure people thought that about mine too. As much as I tried to research, I found registering really overwhelming. I also got a lot of stuff secondhand from my SIL, so I'm sure I was "missing" stuff.

Kudos to my friend who went off-registry and got me a rock n play though - I had no idea how magical that thing would be.

I agree with this. I had handmedowns. I didn't register for stuff I didn't really know I'd need (I bought it with cash and gift cards later if needed). 

I'm also not that fussy/particular. If you want to give it to me, fine by me.  
Some of the best gifts I got weren't things I'd have ever thought of/off registry.

[lillaguma]

I found registering overwhelming, too. I used Lucie's List a lot. A friend did tell me she thought my registry was too small which made me a little self-conscious about it, but we live in such a small apartment and I have fortunately been giving some good things second hand from people nearby, so I'm sure that accounts for some of the holes. I've had one shower and will be having one more here in a few weeks- but most of the things we got at the first shower were not from the registry. In fact, most of what we were given was clothing. I'm guessing people just think it's fun to pick that out.

[spk926]

Yep, all the time!

[Deleted]

Mar 2, 2015 15:27:22 GMT -5 @this said:

Sometimes if I know a person is pregnant, I go look at their registry just to critique it in my head.

Even if we're not friends and I won't be invited to the shower.

I do this same thing with wedding registries, although those aren't as much fun anyone as baby ones. 

[Deleted]

Mar 2, 2015 15:37:29 GMT -5 @this said:

Mar 2, 2015 15:34:28 GMT -5 @justdairy said:

There's no doubt I judge. However, if I made a registry you'd all judge it to the heavens and back..lol.
I'm definitely the weird one. I don't see the need for a lot of stuff people say is essential. I only love and own about 1/4 the baby gear you all deem necessary. I love some of the craziest stuff you all hate.

*drums fingers*

LOL. Nothing real exciting. Let's just say I wouldn't b*tch if someone sent me J&J babywash (and would happily use it) instead of the CA baby. I have a $200.00 diaper bag I'll take to the grave with me. I hate plastic high chairs. If I wasn't done with kids I'd own a baby Brezza...haha. I don't have complaints about the clothes people buy my kids. Baby bucket seats are a giant PITA to me. My baby bjorn was the only carrier my kids liked (and now they're scarred for life). I can't figure out the half of those wraps you're supposed to put babies in..haha.

I should maybe rephrase it to I hate the stuff you all love. Like I got 18 swaddleMes and A&A blankets and 17 of them are still in the package. I don't get the love for super pricey bottles. I don't own a baby bath tub. I don't have a RNP. I don't get the point of a Wubbanub. 

Basically, I'm weird. And a baby gear minimalist. 

[Deleted]

Mar 2, 2015 15:34:41 GMT -5 pooh8402 said:

Mar 2, 2015 15:23:44 GMT -5 @mrsspunky said:

Lucie's List was good but Baby Bargains became like my new bible.

I wouldn't have had a clue about a jumperoo, a playmat, etc. without that book. I would have gotten whatever was the cheapest.

That said, I have a big(ger) 3 level house and we wanted a containment device on each floor, so we have a RnP, PnP, bassinet, etc.

okay, so I'm looking at the current Baby Bargains, and I see that a new one is coming out for April 18. my main shower is May 2. I should probably get the current one, right?

I'd get whatever is out right now.

[bowies]

Yep.

My H's cousin had over 500 things on her registry. I saw that people bought older baby things. I mentally shook my head at her, but then again, this is the one who didn't write a single thank you for wedding gifts. She's a committed gift grabber so I felt some good schadenfreude that she'd shell out for practical things on her own.

A good friend of mine asked for advice so I loaned her Baby Bargains and told her about the wonders of a RNP and to stay away from bumpers. Her MIL had to run out for a RNP on her first day home from the hospital but she bought the full crib bedding package ahead of time. She also decorated because she knew it was a boy. It was a girl. (They were Team Green.) NBD to me, I thought it still worked but she wanted pink in there. Uhhhh OK. She's normally such a pragmatic person that I'm just chalking it up to baby brain.

[purplecow0206]

I have a baby shower for a friend and I didn't even look at her registry (though I may now, just to look at and mock) and put together a medicine/essentials kit, including Tylenol, Advil, Desitin, petroleum jelly, etc. I wanted stuff I knew she'd use and may forget until it's 2:00 and your 4 month old has a fever.

[Deleted]

Mar 2, 2015 15:45:11 GMT -5 @this said:

Mar 2, 2015 15:43:04 GMT -5 @justdairy said:

LOL. Nothing real exciting. Let's just say I wouldn't b*tch if someone sent me J&J babywash (and would happily use it) instead of the CA baby. I have a $200.00 diaper bag I'll take to the grave with me. I hate plastic high chairs. If I wasn't done with kids I'd own a baby Brezza...haha. I don't have complaints about the clothes people buy my kids. Baby bucket seats are a giant PITA to me. 

I should maybe rephrase it to I hate the stuff you all love. Like I got 18 swaddleMes and A&A blankets and 17 of them are still in the package. I don't get the love for super pricey bottles. I don't own a baby bath tub. I don't have a RNP. I don't get the point of a Wubbanub. 

Basically, I'm weird. And a baby gear minimalist. 

I agree with you on 90% of that. Specifically loving the formula keurig and hating wubbanubs. lol

The Baby Brezza was THE BEST purchase we made. @justdairy

[Deleted]

Mar 2, 2015 15:45:11 GMT -5 @this said:

Mar 2, 2015 15:43:04 GMT -5 @justdairy said:

LOL. Nothing real exciting. Let's just say I wouldn't b*tch if someone sent me J&J babywash (and would happily use it) instead of the CA baby. I have a $200.00 diaper bag I'll take to the grave with me. I hate plastic high chairs. If I wasn't done with kids I'd own a baby Brezza...haha. I don't have complaints about the clothes people buy my kids. Baby bucket seats are a giant PITA to me. 

I should maybe rephrase it to I hate the stuff you all love. Like I got 18 swaddleMes and A&A blankets and 17 of them are still in the package. I don't get the love for super pricey bottles. I don't own a baby bath tub. I don't have a RNP. I don't get the point of a Wubbanub. 

Basically, I'm weird. And a baby gear minimalist. 

I agree with you on 90% of that. Specifically loving the formula keurig and hating wubbanubs. lol

So that does that make me normal then. Haha. 

To each their own. It's only a registry. It's fun to judge..but whatever. 
It's just blissful first time parents. Kind of like brides to be who register for 355423 kitchen things because they have grand dreams of cooking elaborate dinners every night and entertaining multiple times on the weekend. Turns out their eating frozen pizza six months in like the rest of us.

[rootbeerfloat]

I "get" the point of a Wubbanub. But they look ridiculous and have a dumb name, lol.

(They didn't exist when mine were little, and neither took a paci anyway, haha.)

[rbp]

Mar 2, 2015 15:20:41 GMT -5 deej said:

I have had two friends in the last year register for so many shoes, clothes, and hairbows that I feel bad. Another one followed the stores advice to register for every size of diapers - they were living in a small apartment at the time with no storage space.

 I am hyperventilating at the thought of having hundreds of diapers IN EVERY SIZE. Some that M won't wear for TWO YEARS. OMG. 

I really, really appreciated having a bunch of size 1s around, and NB size is tricky as some newborns are born too big. But I certainly wouldn't want a bunch of size 2 and beyond.

Stores give terrible advice. BBB told me to register for like 200 items?  ^o)

[bowies]

I'm also with you @justdairy, save for the RNP. I still don't know what I'm supposed to use those A&A blankets for. They aren't big enough/thick enough for playmats.