We’re less than 30 days from the launch of my first book, The Baby Cheapskate Guide to Bargains. Huzzah!
During April I’ll be publishing a series of excerpts in an effort to get YOU just as excited about it as I am. The first one, below, offers tips on saving on baby stuff through creating a registry. I hope you enjoy it!
Be Smart: Register for the Essentials
My very best tip for creating a registry is to focus on the items on the “need” list you created based on the tips in the last chapter. Especially important to include on your registry are items that you don’t think you’ll be getting for free or purchasing secondhand. That includes things like car seats, along with diapers, wipes, and other not-so-glamorous items. A case (or five) of diapers may not have the same “Awwwwww” factor as a tiny pink dress, buy you’ll be glad later to have the diapers.
By registering for essentials, you won’t be stuck handing over money for items you can’t live without while you have a closetful of adorable newborn clothes that will be outgrown in two weeks and rattles that your baby may or may not ever give a shake about. Skip the War and Peace–sized registry checklists offered by retailers. They’re packed with nonessentials.
10 Baby “Needs” Worth Registering For
- Crib
- Crib mattress
- Crib bedding
- Diapers (cloth or disposable)/wipes
- Formula (if you plan to use it)
- Breast pump
- Bottles
- Disposable or washable breast pads
- Car seat
- Baby thermometer
If you’re not into scouting for secondhand items, consider adding some of these popular big-ticket extras, like strollers, to your registry so that you won’t have to pay for them out of pocket later. Friends and family can go in together on items that would be too expensive otherwise. We’ll talk about these big-ticket extras—cribs, strollers, and so on—in more detail later in the book.
10 Popular Extras Worth Registering For
- Baby carrier
- Stroller
- Portable play yard
- Bouncer
- Swing
- Diaper bag
- Diaper pail
- Baby monitor
- Nursing cover
- Swaddling blankets or swaddling gowns
If (and only if) you have the room to store them, it’s also helpful to register for things you’ll need a few months down the road, like a high chair. If you’re short on space, consider adding gift cards to your registry so that you can pick up gear and other items as your baby reaches the age where she can use them.
Look for another excerpt next week! Want to be one of the first to get it? The book (paper and Kindle version) is available for preorder now.
We are on our second kid using the diaper bag we got with the first. It is a huge blessing to remember the dear couple that gave it to us.
I wouldn’t recommend putting gift cards on the registry. That’s like asking for money and is off-putting to a reader of registries. I know I can buy a gift card for the store they are registered at if I don’t find something on the list.. I have done that. If they had registered for a gift card, I’d be more likely to buy a Lamaze toy or a book off-registry. Because I don’t want to encourage that behavior.
The only crib bedding that is needed is sheets — and a breathable bumper. The breathable bumper is nice to have on hand the first time your kid gets a limb stuck between the poles and is terrified to go back to sleep.
I guess some may be put off by having gift cards on the registry, but I think even more will understand just how handy they are for those unexpected baby expenses.
And I agree– sheets are really the only bedding you need. The breathable bumper came in really handy for us later for the same reason, too. Thanks for chiming in!
For me, it didn’t really matter that I had registered for the essentials, everyone just got me clothes. Cute clothes, but I had to go buy the essentials myself.
People purchased a LOT of clothes for me too, and baby toys. I ended taking 90% of it back and using that money to purchase my essential items. At least everyone had Included the gift receipts.
i bought A TON of breastpads- both washable and disposable because i found great deals on them. however, i almost never leak and now i have all this stuff! i guess i can give it away but still…i wish i hadn’t bought them!