Creating a Baby Registry: Advice for the Mom-to-Be

A friend of mine recently asked me for some advice planning her baby registry.  I was honored to be a part of the occasion and quickly jumped at the chance to offer my guidance.  After all, it was just a few short years ago when I was planning for my 1^st.  I’m certainly not an expert, but I’ll tell you that I’ve learned much since I was in her shoes.

Mission Impossible?

Even before we were expecting, I heard many friends say that creating a baby shower registry could be a rather daunting task.  Being  the extreme planner that I am, I was actually excited to embark upon that mission. That was right up my over-analyzing, over-thinking, hyper-planning alley.

What was helpful

I spent a ton of time talking to my friends about what products they loved, what they could not live without, what they wished they could have had, etc.  Seeking advice from seasoned mamas is always a blessing.  Someone that’s “been there, done that” can offer us new moms guidance in so many areas.  If you have those people in your life, seek them out. If you haven’t found that community yet, we have a huge community of mamas within Des Moines Moms Blog that would be more than happy to encourage you throughout your walk. There are many local businesses like Little Padded Seats that offer registry services as well.

What was NOT helpful

I should have taken the advice from friends and called it good.  Decided upon the items and finalized the list. But instead, I started researching…

I can’t tell you the countless hours spent shopping, going online comparing websites, evaluating the same products on different websites, checking prices, reading reviews, identifying options and wow – is there anything in life that offers you more options that anything ‘baby’?

I thought a baby mattress was just a baby mattress.  But actually, there’s organic, there’s certified organic, there’s latex, there’s buckwheat filled, there’s cotton, there’s PUL, there’s some that you use for a short time and others you can use for a toddler bed…are you KIDDING ME?  As if I am not overwhelmed enough with the physical changes happening to my body.

That said, my researching turned into a crazy obsession.  I actually committed myself to creating the most detailed crazy spreadsheets of all time.

I had over 20 categories with multiple items in each, columns indicating colors, sizes, and consumer reviews.  If an item (i.e. baby bed) had different components to it (i.e. mattress, mattress protector, sheets, bedding), there was an equally divided category.   It was THAT crazy. I share this so you’ll learn from my inexperience of what NOT to do.

Baby’s Arrival and What I’ve Learned

Ironically, my daughter came 2 months early so many of the things I insisted on having I didn’t even need and most often I ended up having to buy quickly without one ounce of energy or dedicated research.  So much for my planning, analyzing, categorizing and energizing.

As I am learning and growing as a Mother, I am learning that my child needs my presence and attention more than any time I spend researching the next developmental milestone or finding the ‘best’ resources.  My time is better spent talking to others. Learning what worked and didn’t. Praying about what is best for our family, not what everyone else says I should do, say, or try.

I must admit I’m still analyzing and researching on occasion, but I know where my heart and priorities need to be!  No more crazy spreadsheets.  (Well…except for the menu planning and lesson schedule for those of you that don’t actually believe I have been cured of my strong personality traits).  Wink wink.

Help me create a perfect list for that  first time mama will you? Comment below:

• What are the absolute must-haves on a baby registry? 
• What are your favorite items to have upon bringing baby home? 
• What CAN you live without? 
• What CAN’T you live without? 
• What is the best advice you can share with the mama-to-be?