Registering Tips

Registering for baby gear can be an overwhelming task. There are so many choices and so many things that I am clueless about. Just walking into Babies R Us is intimidating. So what do you do as a new, clueless parent? Before you walk into Babies R Us or where ever you decide to register, here are a few things you can do to help the process run smoothly:

Enlist the help of mommy friends

Who else to give you advice on what to register for and what gadgets are actually useless pieces of junk than other mothers. I brought two of my closest friends who have 5 children between them. Their experience with breast pumps, feeding accessories, bottle warmers, etc. was invaluable. Each had different experiences with different items and some different opinions on some things, so it was definitely nice to have to information as I attempted to make my decisions. (I will have to bring Papa Bear to the store in a few weeks to look at bigger items to make sure they also work out for him. But he really wouldn't have been very helpful when it came to something like breast pads, bottles, or layettes, nor would he have cared.)

Do your research beforehand

If you don't have any mommy friends yet (remember I also have a close group of girlfriends where I will be the first to have a baby) this is where the research comes in really handy. Research is key (says the researcher) whether or not you have mommy friends. For many things you will want to research for safety ratings (i.e., infant car seats and stroller). Research any recalls of cribs and other baby gear. There are many forums and websites that give you reviews by experts and other mothers. Websites like ConsumerSearch (provides great reviews for many items beyond baby gear) and Babies R Us (you will find parent reviews for most items they sell) have been very helpful.

Baby Bargains: Secrets to Saving 20% to 50% on baby furniture, gear, clothes, toys, maternity wear and much more! by Denise and Alan Fields is a great book to have as a resource. The book reviews a ton of baby gear brands and even grades them. They give helpful information on what they believe to be wastes of money. Whether or not it will help you to save money is yet to be determined for me, but the reviews and advice is extremely helpful as you look at the plethora of choices in each category. This is a great book for first time parents to make sure you are spending your money (and the money of family and friends who are showering you with gifts) on quality and necessities vs. frivolities. For me, this has been a great place to look at reviews for baby gear. Parents want the best for their babies and also the best bang for their buck. This book helps you to make decisions about where you need to spend a little more and where you can save.

I'll post some of my registry items later.