When Should You Start Your Baby Registry

When to Start a First Time Mom’s Baby Registry

By 12 Weeks: Start Your Baby’s Registry

Starting your baby registry around 12 weeks is ideal because you’ve probably had your first-trimester screening and have a good idea of ​​your due date. You can also find out your baby’s gender (if you choose to), with testing available as early as ten weeks.

Starting your registry around the 12-week mark gives you plenty of time to research products that fit your parenting style, such as breastfeeding or bottle-feeding items and other gear. that you will need for your daily work. Adding these essentials ahead of time gives your friends and family plenty of time to pick out the perfect gifts for your baby shower.

At 36 Weeks: Bathe Your Baby

At 36 weeks, your baby will likely descend into your pelvis, relieving some pressure on your diaphragm, making breathing easier so you can be more comfortable at your baby shower.

Additionally, at this point, you’ve had plenty of time to curate your registry and prepare for your newest arrival. Your guests will likely buy gifts from your registry and bring them to your shower, making sure you have everything you’ll need in the first few weeks after giving birth.

A baby shower at 36 weeks also ensures enough time for unexpected complications or early labor. Most early births happen between 37 and 38 weeks, so even if your baby arrives early, they probably won’t arrive during your baby shower.

By 38 Weeks: Set Up Your Nursery and Buy All the Remaining Needs

By 38 weeks, your baby is on the way, which is super exciting. However, you may feel uncomfortable and have low energy, making it difficult to complete your remaining tasks. However, if possible, try to organize your nursery and baby stuff before your child arrives – your future self will thank you!

For your nursery, you’ll need a few essentials, including a crib or bassinet with a firm mattress and blankets for sleeping and a table or pad for changing diapers. Other nursery items you may want are a rocking chair for feeding, a baby monitor for peace of mind, and blackout curtains to help your baby sleep.

In addition to setting up the nursery, you may need to purchase some remaining baby items, such as a car seat, stroller, and diapers. Having the essentials ready will make life easier when the baby arrives.

When to Start a Baby Registry for Twins

The best time to start a baby registry for twins is around 12 weeks because you will have plenty of time to research products, and your loved ones will have enough time to purchase items for those two little cuties!

When creating a baby registry for twins, it’s important to consider the unique needs of having two babies at once. You will need double the amount of diapers, bottles, and clothes. You will also need special equipment, such as a double stroller or dual changing table.

Since twins are twice as expensive as having a single baby, it’s doubly important for you to register early to make sure your loved ones have plenty of time to buy your essentials. of the baby, which will reduce your costs.

When to Start a Baby Registry if You Don’t Know the Gender Yet

It’s recommended to start your baby registry at (or before) the 12-week marker, even if you don’t know the gender yet. Some items – like strollers, cribs, and changing tables – are unisex, so your baby’s gender doesn’t matter. You can also add unisex onesies, socks, blankets, and other items that your baby can use, regardless of gender. You can easily update your registry to include gender-specific items once you know whether you’re having a boy or a girl.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Can You Start More Than One Baby Registry?

Yes, it is definitely possible to start some baby registrations. Sometimes, parents can only get some of what they want on a registry site, so they go to great lengths to make sure they receive everything they need for their new arrival.

Creating multiple registries can also help if you have different groups of people who want to buy you gifts. For example, you may want to create separate baby registries for your close friends, family, and coworkers.

When creating multiple registries, it’s important to keep track of which items you add to each list to avoid receiving duplicates. Many online retailers, like Babylist and My Registry, allow you to create and manage multiple registries, making it easier to keep track of all your items.

Deciding which baby registries are best can be difficult because there are so many options. To help you out, we’ve written an article that discusses the pros and cons of seven top baby registries. Hopefully, this will help you decide which registry (or registries) is right for you!

Q. How Many Items Should I Add to My Baby Registry?

Creating a baby registry is a balancing act. You don’t want to add too many items, but you also need to make sure you have all the essentials. Try to aim for 50 to 120 items, prioritizing essentials such as car seats, strollers, and cribs, along with plenty of clothes, diapers, and other everyday necessities.

You should include a combination of high-end and more affordable options to give friends and family options. If you need help determining what baby registry items you should add, check out this article, where we discuss the top registry items for parents in 2023.

Q. When Should I Make My Baby Registry Public?

There is no hard and fast rule about when to make your baby’s registry public. However, we recommend waiting until around 12 weeks as this gives you time to add items and make adjustments before sharing it with others.

If you plan to have a baby shower, we recommend making your registry public a few weeks before the event. Send your registry link to guests in their invitations so they can access your registry and purchase gifts before the event.

If you’re not planning a baby shower, there are other ways to announce your baby registry, such as having baby sprinkles or a virtual celebration on WebBabyShower. To learn more, check out this article.

Q. Is It Okay to Ask for Money?

Asking for money can be awkward because many new parents aren’t sure if it’s “disrespectful.” Today, however, many parents are asking for money, especially to help pay for large purchases, such as a crib or a down payment on a house.

At the end of the day, it is entirely up to you if you want to ask for money. It’s not rude to ask for money, especially if it’s what your growing family needs most!

Knowing HOW to ask for money, however, can be a challenge. To help with this, we’ve written an article discussing how to ask your loved ones for money, including specific wording examples, ways to ask for money in a baby fund, and more. We hope this article takes some of the stress away!

Q. Is it OK to Add a Large Purchase to My Baby Registry?

Adding big purchases to your baby registry, like strollers, car seats, cribs, and baby monitors, is perfectly acceptable. These things are expensive and can be a huge financial burden for new parents. By adding them to the registry, friends and family members can contribute to the cost, helping you with your latest (and cutest) expense!

Q. Should You Start a Baby Registry for Your Second Baby?

Whether you should start a baby registry for your second baby depends on when you had your first child. You may have given away or sold a lot of valuables if it’s been a few years. Additionally, if your second baby is of a different gender, or there is a large age gap between your children, you may need new items that better suit your baby’s needs.

However, if your second child arrives soon after your first born, you may already have the essentials. However, it can still be helpful to create a registry to ask for items you’ll need every day – like diapers and wipes – and items you’d like to upgrade, like a new stroller or crib.