Did you find creating your baby registry to be overwhelming? I did too. As I look back on it now, I wish that I had a like-minded mom friend go with me. Instead, I took the sheet from the local baby store, and scanned like a mad woman. What did I end up with? Several items that were returned – and the headache of having to return items without receipts, too.
5 Things not to include on your baby registry
- A warmer for baby wipes. You don’t want your newborn getting used to a warm wipe, how will baby react when you’re away from home and have to do a diaper change?
- Baby clothes. You’ll get so much cute stuff your baby won’t even have the chance to wear it all!
- A true bassinet. Baby will grow quickly, and a true bassinet will be a waste of money. Honestly, you’ll only get to use it for three months or so. Purchase a more affordable Moses basket, or use the bassinet that is included with your stroller.
- A changing table. While you’ll need a place to change baby, you don’t necessarily need a changing table. We purchased a dresser from Ikea that had a changing table attachment. Although the attachment was sold separately, it was a great investment for us as The Boy will be able to use the dresser for many years. Another option is to simply velcro a changing pad on top of an existing dresser.
- Baby blankets. Well meaning friends will gift you plenty of these, so adding them to your registry is a wasted effort.
When it comes time to welcome the arrival of a new baby, please don’t gift any of these items to the new parents, either. Give them a gift card or select something else from their registry!
If you had it to do all over again, what are some items that you would not include on your registry?
This is part of series of posts titled Motherhood Mondays where I’ll be sharing my parenting experiences, tips and advice. If there is a specific topic you would like to see in the coming weeks, please email me with Motherhood Mondays in the subject line.
I only did blankets and a bassinet… so I did okay! 😉
The bassinet was actually for our second, who I wanted to keep upstairs with us (both kids’ bedrooms are downstairs, and we are up) until he was older… so I’m okay with that, but truthfully could have used the pack-n-play we already had!
I think people should register for tons and tons of diapers and wipes… cause really that’s what you’ll need the most!
This is a cute post, and oh so true!
You do need a lot of diapers and wipes – if you’re going the disposable route. It may be a good idea to register for a specific brand you’ll know you want to use. I was gifted a huge case of “traditional” disposables, but used a more eco-conscious brand. I had to return those diapers – which was a pain because the box was big & I had no receipt.
Perhaps the next topic in the series will be “what you SHOULD register for”!
Thanks so much for stopping by, have a great day!
I wouldn’t add a seat for the sink/tub.
So easy to just hold the baby or wipe down with a wash cloth.
They grow too fast for it and barely got used!
I was happy to have a bassinet, but thankful that I got it from a garage sale instead of having to spend $ on it!
We didn’t use an infant tub, either. The one that we received leaked all over the place the first time we tried to use it! What a waste of money that was. When The Boy was about 6 months old we purchased a yellow inflatable duck tub, he loved it! It went in our bathtub. It was hysterical! It was about 5 bucks, and we certainly got our money out of that!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
I agree with all of these. I wouldn’t have registered for a bottle warmer either. 🙂
A bottle warmer does seem unnecessary. Room temperature is best for babies. I breastfed, so that didn’t cross my mind. I did pump and give bottles sometimes – I had a tough time choosing one. Not because The Boy wouldn’t take a certain brand, there were just too many features too choose from. In total, we had about 6 bottles. I can’t imagine how I would have decided if we were exclusively using a bottle. That must be stressful!
Thanks so much for sharing your comments!
Emily I am going to pass this list on to a friend of mine who is planning her registry now.
Thanks for this.
Lisa
Thanks, Lisa. I hope she finds this helpful. It’s so easy to think that we NEED all of these things.
I never understood the necessity of a wipe warmer. We didn’t use a bassinet for my first, but did for our second, but that had more to do with her particular willingness to sleep. And I completely agree with the changing table. We had/have one, but it was mine from when I was a baby and isn’t a stand alone “changing table”. It’s a dresser with the back & side built up slightly. And since it’s been used & around our families’ homes for almost forty years, I think it might be the most used piece of furniture we have…but, only because it’s also a dresser! Great share! :>
Hopping by from SITS Spring Fling! :>
That’s amazing that your family has passed around a “changing table” for so many years. I love hearing stories about family heirlooms – my mother has a bedroom set in her guest room that was my great-grandparents. Funny how well things that were made so long ago last forever!
Thanks for stopping by to visit!
I completely agree with every single thing you posted.
Stopping by from SITS Spring Fling!
Thanks, Missy, for stopping by!
I would not have included blankets or a wipes warmer. I live in Florida so it’s never really cold. The warmer takes up too much space and I don’t use it anyway.
Oh I miss living in sunshiny Florida!
Thanks so much for stopping by today.
I have a post very similar to this ready to go up later this week! Be prepared there are a couple of the same items on it – wipe warmers and changing tables are totally overrated but I know some people swear by them.
I was just thinking of you this morning. So happy you stopped by. Hope you are well! I’ll be on the lookout for your post, too.
You are right! I have 60 onesies in my attic that my son wore 1 or 2 times before outgrowing them! I never used the wipe warmer, he wouldn’t sleep in the bassinette, he outgrew the flimsy little changing table within a year and lets not even talk about blankets LOL!
This is great info for a Mom to be! Thanks for sharing!
I’m in the same boat, Sara! We have tons of infant clothing, I can’t bear to give it away “just in case” and partly because I’m holding on to the memories of when he was an itty bitty. It’s tough to let go!
Agree with all your picks. I never had/used a changing table or wipe warmer, and my little ones still survived their formative years LOL Agree with Emily, too, and infant tub is a waste. I would add, don’t put lotion/baby wash or small toys (like teethers/rattles) on the list either- the babies will get plenty!
That’s funny you mention lotions and potions, would you believe that I did not receive any?! Isn’t that funny!
Thanks so much for stopping!
That is funny! I don’t think I’ve been a baby shower yet where the mother hasn’t received buckets full of baby lotion… mainly via a gift set. Although wipes and diapers are becoming more and more popular gifts, which is great to see.
Could be because I choose organic, non-toxic items and no one knew what to buy!
I agree with them all except the baby wipe warmer — I love mine!
We use cloth wipes and the warmer keeps the wipes nice and toasty!
I completely agree about the baby food maker. I got the mill to grind down what you made for dinner to give to your toddler and I think I used it once. It was a total waste. I made my baby food exactly as you described above. Great post.