Baby Registry Advice

Kommentare

• u/AutoModerator·1·01.08.2026, 14:33

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• u/BakerStreet693·1·01.08.2026, 14:39

  vasectomy donations are the most anticonsumerist thing possible

• u/Sad-Fruit-1490·1·01.08.2026, 14:44

  Can you request the big important things on the registry (crib, car seat, maybe stroller) or have one of the fund amounts so people can contribute towards them in smaller increments? And then specify “hey we don’t want xyz kind of items (toys, decor, etc). If you want to purchase anything else, please get X brand of disposable/cloth diapers or thrift some clothes or books. We’d also love any hand-me-downs from kids that are outgrown!” Like be explicitly clear where you want items to come from. You can be as much anti consumption as you want (fully cloth diapering, second hand everything) but some items aren’t good secondhand for fear of hidden safety concerns (notably, car seat). Some people really like to buy things 🙄 so telling them where is acceptable (their closets, thrift store) is more helpful than telling them not to buy.

• u/robotscantrecaptcha·1·01.08.2026, 14:45

  The amount of stuff baby companies convince new parents they need is honestly shocking. Do you have friends with kids? I'd honestly start there to ask what they would be willing to gift you, lend you, or sell you to get you started. Then also check Buy Nothing as well. One of my friends saved their actual baby registry just for family members with the most important stuff like crib, stroller, car seat etc. For a lot of the big stuff (not including the car seat which should be new and from a reliable source), they indicated on the registry that they were open to secondhand. There are a few 'minimalist baby registry' lists floating around reddit. For friends, they asked for 'pre-loved' items such as hand-me-downs from their friends kids (clothes, toys, and books for ages <1 yr) or thrifted items (there is a chain of kid specific thrift stores in the US). They also said that diapers would be a great gift as well. The diapers they did not use in each size were donated to a baby focused non-profit's diaper closet in our city. A note about car seats; I work with kids and folks would be appalled about how often parents accidentally buy a fake car seat online or get someone else's car seat that has been recalled. The hospital will run the registration when you are discharging and will literally make you buy a new one prior to taking the baby home.

  • u/1Shadow179·1·01.08.2026, 14:52

    This website can help you avoid buying a fake car seat. Fake car seats can shatter in the event of a crash.

• u/VintageFemmeWithWifi·1·01.08.2026, 14:46

  Does your city have a cloth diaper service? Maybe folks would like to chip in for a few months of not worrying about diapers?

• u/chrisinator9393·1·01.08.2026, 14:49

  Go with brands like Graco that have been around forever. We got a Graco high chair. It lasted until my kid was able to eat at a table. They are extremely easy to clean and the padding is machine washable.

• u/Sea-Statistician6377·1·01.08.2026, 14:53

  Instead of using a registry service, which makes their money by linking to the likes of Amazon or Wal-Mart, you could simply share a Google sheet or doc with a list of what you want/need, and ask people to only buy used. Some people will have a lot of fun with this, going to garage/estate sales or second-hand stores. For people who aren't into buying used, you could ask for donations to your child's college fund or just straight-up ask for money, that way you get to choose how to spend it.

  • u/robotscantrecaptcha·1·01.08.2026, 15:03

    That's a really good idea!

• u/bicycle_mice·1·01.08.2026, 14:54

  I got most stuff secondhand on marketplace or from friends. Car seat I bought a birth to 10 year old rotating seat, so no need for a bucket seat then convertible seat then booster seat. Less plastic in the landfill AND I didn’t have to haul a heavy plastic seat around and leave my baby sitting in an unsafe position. I just wore baby to and from the car (also purchased secondhand!). I have done the all in one car seat with both my kids and it worked great. Crib was secondhand. All clothes weee secondhand. I told family members what I needed and asked to please only go to consignment shops. For a shower you can ask for diapers (cloth or disposable whatever you want) and books! Let people know you are happy to receive secondhand books. Ask for funds for a house cleaner or if people will sign up to deliver a meal postpartum. Ask for some nice coffee beans or tea of choice!  Let people know clearly what you DO NOT need. “We have plenty of clothes 0-6 months! We have crib and lots of gear but would appreciate contributions for a car seat and any secondhand books!”

• u/Southern-Long-3438·1·01.08.2026, 14:57

  I didn't have a baby registry. I didn't have a baby shower. After she was born, I sent out birth notices. Some relatives and friends sent gifts. I didn't ask for gifts, because I think that is my own responsibility, but some gifts were useful.

  Two things that I bought when I had a baby that I didn't use:

  1. Baby monitor. My house is too small to need that. You just hear the baby anyway.

  2. Snuggle pack, meant for carrying a baby. I put it on, looked in the mirror, and thought, "this is embarrassing." Thus, I never used it. I only used the stroller. Get a sturdy stroller for a baby. A cheap folding stroller is not supportive of a baby's need for a gentle ride.

  Buy two cribs. One is solid, for your house. The other is a compact crib, to set up in your mom's house.

• u/Door_Number_Four·1·01.08.2026, 15:06

  Here it is from a day of four kids over 24 years: Things you need brand new: Car seat Crib mattress Changing table pads Bottle nipples Chew nubbies Cloth diapers, if you go that route. Things you don’t have to buy new if you look hard enough: Bassinet Crib/toddler bed combo Dresser/dipper changing station Strollers (Just look for recalls) The first six month, white onesies are your best friends. Wash on hot, easy to toss if they are destroyed. Lots of cute baby clothes at the theist store and consignment

• u/Well_ImTrying·1·01.08.2026, 15:08

  This topic comes up frequently in r/moderatelygranolamoms if you search there. You can make a registry on whatever website to help guide people to the correct store. I recommend putting everything you think you will acquire for your baby on the registry. Many things you can get for cheap or free used, and you can mark them off as you get them so people know you already have something and don’t go off-registry to get you a third baby bathtub. There are certain things you want to buy new. Toiletries, medicines, Car seats, car seat bases, crib mattresses, pump parts, bottle nipples, and pacifiers should be new, and they can be expensive. Most registries allow you to split purchases so no one person has to spend $500 on a flame-retardant free 50 lb rear facing weight limit car seat. With my registry, things that only got partially purchased became store credit to be used however I wanted. I would make sure there are a range of items in terms of price and cuteness. Some people want to buy the super cute baby onesies. So find some good quality cutest socks, sleep sack, or ceremonial garment of your culture (baptism gown, hanbok, etc). to put on your registry so aunties have something cute. Keep in mind you don’t really know what you need until your baby gets here and you understand their needs and preferences. I’m clutter-phobic and had a minimal registry, and ended up impulse purchasing quite a few items after my first was born. I used the heck out of them, but then didn’t even touch them for my second. I live in a city, so it was easy to acquire stuff 24/7. If that applies to you, you can ask for a cash fund and buy items as you need them.