NWR: Baby Shower Etiquette

Re: NWR: Baby Shower Etiquette

• mrscaty member

  

  July 2014

  I'd register for what you need. Our wedding registry has a $350 KitchenAid and a $3 can opener. As long as you have a range of price points, I don't see anything wrong with registering for a crib, dresser, etc. It's a request not an obligation. Additionally, sometimes you will get a registry completion discount so if someone doesn't buy you a big ticket item you will get a good discount when you buy it yourself.  

  
  

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• OliveOilsMom member

  

  July 2014

  Ditto PP.  Register for what you need.  Maybe if you have a choice between a $20 and a $50 items that is basically the same, go with the $20 item.  If you don't know where to start, try searching for the lists that Babys R Us would give out.
  

  

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• offensivekitten2 member

  

  July 2014

  It's no different than a wedding registry in how you approach it. Get a range of items on there in a range of prices. If someone wants to drop premium dollar, they can get you a stroller. If they want to be conservative, have a cloth book up on there for them.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

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• theartistformerlyknownas member

  

  July 2014 edited July 2014

  Get what you need. Some people will buy several things in a gift basket (for FI's cousin's shower coming up I got a bottle, sippy, swaddle blankets, plus a 4/pack of onesies and two jammies off registry). Others will buy one $30-75 thing like a bouncy seat. Others will chip in toward a car seat system. Don't just add crap because the price is right because your hues will fill up WAY too fast for that.
  
  I recommend not registering for a lot of clothes, books and toys cuz people will buy those anyway. Keep the registry to essentials.

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• banana468 member

  

  July 2014

  Definetly register for the equipment! You may not get it OR you may find people who chip in on a big purchase. Plus, Babies R Us offered a completion discount for the things left that you'll need to buy.
  
  Also read Baby Bargains and look up Consumer Reports ratings for the stuff. It helps to know what to avoid and what's a great buy.

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• BMoreBride6 member

  

  July 2014

  Thank you everyone!  I appreciate it.  As incredibly and wonderfully exciting this is, having our first child is insanely overwhelming.  I'm finding that personal product recommendations are the best starting point. 
  

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• jacques27 member

  

  July 2014 edited July 2014

  Just wanted to add - do keep it reasonable, especially if the registry is intended for work/church friends throwing the shower.  Just heard of someone putting on a $500 jogging stroller and pretty much every is giving the side-eye on that one and the general consensus amongst people in this group is that is the sort of special gift the grandparents would go in on and get - not work friends.
  
  Keep it simple for things you would actually use though (can never have too many onesies and washclothes) and your moderately expensive useful things (monitor, high chair, etc.).   And please don't dictate clothes (as in the cutesy going out clothes, not the utilitarian onesies and socks stuff), stuffed animals, or books on your registry. 
  
  1) I guarantee you will get TONS of it unsolicited already.  People will buy the baby monitor or the onesies off your registry and then see an adorable outfit or toy and ADD it into the gift to cute it up. 
  
  2) Dictating that stuff really sucks the fun out of it for people who want to give you that stuff.  It's not like your wedding registry where you don't want four toasters and there's one specific brand you really like and only spot on the counter where it will fit.  For people who just eat up that cute baby stuff (not me, but most other people), they live for picking out cute stuff for your kid and even for those of us who aren't as enthusiastic, it's still a little fun to do it on our own.
  

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• MobKaz member

  

  July 2014

  My daughter is expecting her first baby any day now.  She asked me for registry help and suggestions.  I was able to address the basic and common sense issues, but when it came to specific products, it was all foreign to me.  The insane wealth of product choices and price points are overwhelming.  Many products on the shelves today didn't even exist when I had kids. 
  
  I agree that speaking with parental peers for recommendations is the best place to start.  I, too, found some of the price points initially alarming.  However, I soon realized that many of the products morph into so many other things.  My stroller only.....strolled.  These strollers convert from strollers to car seats to beds.  There is a reason some of these price points exist. 
  
  The registry is not meant for one group of people.  Work or church people may look at it, but family will as well.  Grandma may be the one that purchases a high end gift, but she needs to know which one the parents want.  I have no issue disregarding price points on someone's registry because I am under no obligation to make the purchase. 
  
  I also agree that for a baby shower, people will shop "off registry" more than they would a wedding shower.  My biggest issue/concern for anyone that gives a gift for any occasion is that they include the gift receipt.  Those receipts are important for reasons beyond exchanges or returns.  Sometimes a gift will be damaged or incomplete. 
  
  Finally, as an FYI from a rookie in this era of babies, DD was just informed that the breast pump she registered for will be covered by her insurance.  That is a HUGE relief because those puppies are indeed pricey!
  

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• Ashes_3 member

  

  July 2014 edited July 2014

  Just do a broad price registry of the items you want. My parents and in laws went in jointly to buy our entire crib and accessory set. Then both parents bought one other large item, like my stroller car seat set combo, and electric vibrating swing. My sisters, in laws bought her the $500.00 stroller she had on her registry. Our parents bought her crib since she didn't want the matching set due to having other furniture. Research what you want and then just go for it.

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