Registering Advice

Ok... so I'm not exactly the shower type.... my husband and I neither one have ever done a shower/registry. So we are definate first timers. I've registered at BabiesRUs for what it tells me to register for and then gone online to edit it to include twins, but other than that.... I feel like I have NO CLUE what I'm doing. I've read that other moms hate Target for their returns policy.

Do people usually register at more than one place?
Where do you register?
Do you register for big items (like travel sets and PnP)?
How do you tell people where you are registered?
Do you look at your registry regularly?

Thanks... as ANY advice is greatly appreciated.

Dominique

 

I registered at Target & Babies R Us.
I have registered for big items, people could go together to buys such items, but I do make sure that most of the items on there are very reasonably priced.
YOu can tell through word of mouth or through a shower invite. They will give you little cards to hand out.
I :blush: stalk my registry to see what has been bought. :blush:

 

I registered at Babies R Us only. I thought they had a great selection and were easy to find in the area.

We registered for everything with the exception of cribs and nursery furniture, because my mom bought that for us.

We registered for :

Big Items ...
1 PNP
2 High Chairs
Double Stroller Duoglider Travel System (2 infant seats and double stroller)
Snap and Go Double Stroller
2 Swings
2 Bouncy Seats
1 Exersaucer
Bedding
Monitors

Small Items
Bottles, Bibs, Sheets, Room Accessories, Bath Towels and wash cloths

I made sure to have things in every price range ... from $6 items to my bigger more expensive items ... I didn't register for clothes, because every store has different stuff, so I wouldn't bother with that. Plus people will just pick out cute stuff anyway.

My suggestion is register for EVERYTHING, but only open the stuff you really want to keep. We got both our bouncy seats and swings at my shower, but we only open up one of each. We figured if they hated them, or if only one like them, we could return the other one. Our happened to enjoy both, so we opened them when it was age appropriate to use them.

I remember being SO overwhelmed ... it seems like so much stuff, and it is! But keep coming back and asking questions ... everyone has a different experience with stuff, so while some kids (mine!) loved their swings, some kids never use them ...

Good luck!

ETA: To answer your other questions! We got the cards from Babies R Us saying that you are registered there and they went into the invitations. Supposedly it's bad etiquette, but I think it's stupid. This day and age most people register, and I think it's a lot more annoying for a guest to have to track down where the person is registered, or have the family who are throwing the party have to field a million phone calls about where they are registered.

And I am guilty of checking my registry a lot ... Mostly because I was always adding stuff to it, and I could see what was bought!

 

I also registered at Target & Babies R Us. (Though Target has the WORST return policy in the world....beware!)
I was a stalker to my registry too I would check it all the time to see what was bought!
Definitely register for bigger items as well as smaller ones. People may surprise you - I know that I received almost all my big items as gifts.
My friends & family passed the word along about where I was registered and it was also on the invitations so the guests knew.
Have fun!!!

 

I did register at both Target and BRU with my previous pregnancy. I had to do both because I have some family that live where there is no BRU (and they don't shop online). So I did stalk the registries so that if something was bought off one I would delete it off the other so I wouldn't get duplicates. I did register for big things... anything I needed. Work went in together to get my P&P and a group of friends went in together to get my stroller travel system. It is appropriate/expected to put a note in the shower invitation stating where you are registered.

 

Hi!
I agree it can be soo overwhelming.

I did something a little different. I registered at 'myregistry.com'. It was a bit tricky at first, but I liked that I could find anything I wanted (they can do a search for you)

For example I was looking for a specific color stroller, BRU/Target/Walmart didn't have it, but Amazon did...plus it lets you pick from the cheapest place that's selling it..

My sister (who also has twins) recommended registering for everything...if people don't want to buy it, that's fine...it's a great way for me to keep a list of what we need aswell.

All of my friends and family have had no problems viewing it.

Be advised they offer to set up a 'fund' if you choose. I tried it out (started a diaper fund) and they have a minimum of $25 and charge the person about $5 for using it...I didn't like that...so I put that I wanted gift certificates from diapers.com (they also have a $25 min, but no fee to buy one)....

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions!

Oh and Congrats! and Good Luck!!
reb

 

QUOTE(Dominique @ Aug 27 2008, 11:36 AM) [snapback]949838[/snapback]
Ok... so I'm not exactly the shower type.... my husband and I neither one have ever done a shower/registry. So we are definate first timers. I've registered at BabiesRUs for what it tells me to register for and then gone online to edit it to include twins, but other than that.... I feel like I have NO CLUE what I'm doing. I've read that other moms hate Target for their returns policy.

Do people usually register at more than one place?
I only registered at babies R us
Where do you register?
Do you register for big items (like travel sets and PnP)?
I registered for all my big items and got them all :good:
How do you tell people where you are registered?
Babies R Us gives out registry cards with your name on them to hand out with the invitations.
Do you look at your registry regularly?
I looked at my registry every day :blush: I wouldn't recommend that though LOL no surprises.

Thanks... as ANY advice is greatly appreciated.

Dominique

 

I registered at Babies R Us and Walmart; I heard a lot of negative things about returns at Target. At Babies R Us, they give you preprinted cards that tell people where you are registered at that can be included in shower invitations. Or if someone throws a shower for you, they can write on the invitation where you are registered at. I registered for everything, big and small and was very fortunate to get pretty much everything. If you register at somewhere like Walmart and get things you don't need or duplicates, you can take them back without a receipt and have the money put on a gift card. I found that to be so handy! That way you can get the things you didn't get or you can save it for later purchases like more diapers or whatever you need.

 

You definently NEED 2 boppys', ( to prop up bottles for little babies and bottles). And definently get a diaper caddy! I love ours, although its' time for a new one. You can put about 10+ diapers, wipes and we have the one from BRU and it has a drawer good for oinments, hairbrush, nailclippers, etc. They can be pricey,so hope someone gets it for you. I also found those flannel like recieving blankets sux! I love anything a little bigger and stretchy. Good for swadeling, even when they get bigger. Also they longer terry cloth burping pads are great for baths, boys and girls. dip in water and put on belly and weiny(for the boys), it helps keep them warm! And get the BIGGEST diaper bag you can find. I got on ebag and its perfect for everything(Debbie Rott leather with studs) and its so cute not at all like a diaper bag! Good luck And make sure you ask for giftreciepts esp. from Target, yeah their policy bites, but they have cute stuff!

 

I would register at Target for sure because there are more Targets then BRU so it will make it a little easier for gift givers Register for what YOU think you will need for your babies, those charts aren't always accurate. Bigger items like PNP or cribs, crib bedding sets etc. are great for group gifts so register away

MJ

 

Register wherever is closest to you. We don't have a target incredibly close so we registered at wal-mart and I did an online registry at babies r us which nobody went to! lol. Everybody went to wal-mart or to department stores for clothes because that is what we have where I live. I registered for everything I needed. Most people will buy you diapers anyway, we didn't register for any and got a ton. We got a couple of bigger items (bouncers and swings) that people went in together and purchased. I really enjoyed my showers! I will warn though, I don't know if you have a K-Mart, but we got a few things from there from people and they will take back NOTHING without a receipt! Wal-mart will take anything, lol. I don't really care for that store (k-mart)... Hope you have fun!

 

Babies R Us online has a great list to get you started for ideas on what to register for.

We registered at BRU and Target. We did Target because they had the bedding we wanted and BRU was everything else. My advice is to skip the little things such as clothes and little toys. Things like that are SO hard to find. Register for things you might think are even too pricey, some people might go in on a joint gift.

 

I have registered at BRU if you want to take a look here is my registry number to help u out 94967604.

Hope this helps! Try not to stress out!

 

Before you register, try to get on the mailing lists of the stores where you want to register. Ask about incentives for registering. I got a $10 gift card for registering at BRU and a $20 gift card for registering at Target. You have to register in person to get these discounts, but you can add most things afterward from the web.

BRU and Baby Depot offer a twin discount on certain items purchased in quantities of 2 or more. This may help out anyone buying you gifts in those quantities. This will definitely help you. Twin discount only applies to purchases made in-store, not online, unfortunately.

Put down your due date as at least a month before your real 40-week due date. Many places offer a discount on items not purchased from your registry by the time you come due - they give you the discount about 2-3 weeks prior to the due date you put down. The problem with this, if you're honest about your due date, is that you'll either have delivered by then or you'll be too uncomfortable and physically unable to shop or put stuff together and get it organized.

Like the others said, register for everything you will want or need. Don't worry about it being too inexpensive or too expensive. It's good to have a variety. You'll be grateful for those that buy a bunch of the little things to put together into one gift and if anyone wants to pool money together or go on their own to buy you a big gift, it will help them to know your desires. Also, the registry is a good way for keeping a list for yourself so you know what you have and what you still need to get before the babies come. An added plus is that you will get a discount on the items not purchased - so that's an additional reason to include the large items.

 

I also wanted to add that I agree with the other poster about clothing. I wouldn't bother registering for clothes. People will buy them for you anyway. We didn't register for clothes and we now have been given so many outfits (used and new) that our babies can probably wear unique clothing every day for at least a month without my having to do laundry. I love it, but I don't know where to put it all!

Register for the specific swaddling blankets you want. You'll get a lot of the felt ones, anyway, so you don't need to register for those. I agree with the other poster, as well, about the blankets. Try to find some good stretchy ones. BRU has some muslin ones I have my eyes on: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3017952

I hope all that helps!