Congrats, you’re having a baby! You’ve probably heard that close to a million times since you’ve announced to your family and friends that you’re expecting a little bundle of joy (and will probably hear it a million more!). People just get so excited when they envision a newborn joining the family, and it is hard to resist handing out a "congratulations"... or ten. Everyone wants to celebrate this important milestone, and do you know what that means? That's right... baby shower! Baby showers are the perfect way to celebrate your pregnancy with those that matter the most in your life. And with a baby shower comes the baby shower registry. It’s fun to think about all the things you’ll put on your registry, but some parents find it a bit hard to get started. There are so many different places to register, items you may need (or want), and brands to discover, so the team at littlebeam is helping to get you started with our guide of baby shower must-haves!
First thing you’ll have to decide is where you would like to register. Be sure to keep in mind your style and price range when picking a place to register. Another thing to note is that different places have different incentives and perks for registering with them. For example, Target’s registry offers a group gift giving feature to allow multiple people to pitch in on that bigger gift. Another popular site is Buy Buy Baby, which gives all registry members a free goody bag filled with samples and coupons! Added bonus? Buy Buy Baby now carries the littlebeam nursing pillow, so you can add it to your registry with the click of a mouse! Our advice? Look around at the options and see which place speaks to you!
Now that you've figured out who you want to register with, it is time to pick the items in your registry, and when. Given the number of items that new parents need, this is probably going to take a little longer than a day or two. Many parents start their registry around 12 weeks so that they can slowly build onto it up until a couple of weeks before the shower. Pregnancy is stressful enough - no need to be filling out an entire registry the day before your shower! Hopefully planning to begin the registry early can ensure that everything you need is on there, but if you're stuck at where to start here's our list of the basics:
Things you may need in the registry:
- Crib, bassinet or pack-n-play appropriate for infant to sleep in
- Baby mattress and fitted sheets
- Car seat for newborn
- Stroller and/or carrier
- Clothing and socks (Remember, they will grow out of newborn clothing before you know it. Be sure to also get sizes that they can grow into!) and clothing storage
- Baby bottle starter kit, breastpump and/or formula
- Nursing pillow (you know which one is our favorite!) and other nursing accessories
- Proper milk storage and preparation appliances
- Changing table
- Diapers, diapers, and more diapers! And their best friend, wipes!
- Baby bathtub, towels and washcloths
- First aid for babies
- Blankets
Things you may want in the registry:
- Nightlight for those late nights
- Comfortable chair
- littlebeam Nursing Pillow
- Baby hats
- Swaddles
- Pacifier
- Humidifier
- Entertainment for mom and dad - Music, iPad, Netflix, eBooks, you name it!
Hopefully this list can help you narrow down what you want to add to your registry. Some things, like the littlebeam Nursing Pillow or a nightlight, you may consider a necessity over a ‘want’ and that’s okay! Our list, as with any other list you stumble upon, is not set in stone so don’t worry if your registry looks a bit different from someone else’s. Your baby shower is a celebration of you and the soon-to-be new addition to your family, so have a little fun with it!
Congratulations - you’re having a baby! (We told you you’d hear it a million more times!)
