43. Creating a Baby Registry: A Simple Guide for Expecting Moms

Are you having a baby shower and stuck deciding what to add to your baby registry?

Join me as I share insights on streamlining your list, avoiding unnecessary items, and focusing on what truly matters.  

In this episode we'll dive into:

• Prioritizing the essential items to reduce overwhelm, expenses, and time researching...
• How to align with the minimalist approach where simplicity equals less stress...
• Enhancing functionality without overwhelming your living space...
• Avoiding non-critical items that clutter your home...
• Items that serve multiple purposes, saving time, money, and space...
• ...and a few other things you don't want to forget about!

Creating a baby registry is a personal choice. There's no one-size-fits-all list, but finding the balance that suits your family is key.

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👋 WHO AM I?

Welcome, friends! I am Beth, a certified nurse midwife, doula, and childbirth educator. My philosophy is rooted in autonomy, informed decision making, and positive mindset to help expecting parents plan for a beautiful, stress-free birth. I am here to provide value to YOU through tips and practical advice, either to guide you through pregnancy or to help you prepare for childbirth, postpartum and beyond. There’s no fluff here - only info that adds to your positive experience and saves you stress and uncertainty.

Transcript

Hello and welcome back to episode 43. Today we are going to be talking about a topic that many new moms find both exciting and completely overwhelming, which is creating a baby registry. And I want to specifically talk about creating a list of must-haves without registering for crazy unnecessary things that you aren’t going to use, because I definitely did that with my first and now being pregnant with baby #3 and really not needing anything at all, I have a good idea of what I used for my first two and anticipating what I’ll need again, and I promise you it is way way less than you probably think.

And if you’re interested in some of my recommendations, there is no financial tie to recommending any of these products, just simply are my favorites, but you can download my free baby registry guide that includes essentials for mom and baby, favorite items for pregnancy, labor, and postpartum, and then a list of popular but often unnecessary items so you can save your money! You can find this list at bethconnors.com/checklist and you will get the PDF with links to each product and a short description of why I think each item is helpful, so hopefully it saves you hours and hours of time and a lot of headaches and uncertainty. 

So let’s get into all the details for moms wanting to simplify their baby registry and not have this sometimes daunting task take longer than it needs to. Because I’ll also talk about a few things that are even more helpful in preparing for baby that aren’t these baby products.

So before you head on over to babylist or amazon or target and just add everything that seems helpful or cute to your list, to then figure out what you actualy need later, I want to talk about how a minimalistic baby registry can be a complete game-changer.

The first thing is that less items means less overwhelm, less expenses, less time researching products, and more time enjoying your pregnancy and preparing for baby and your transition to being a parent in other ways. But it’s definitely easy to get caught up in the adorable baby outfits and gear and super cute nursery themes, I totally get that and I’m not saying you shouldn’t at all, just being mindful of what is really going to help you prepare for your baby, rather than just false security of a beautiful nursery being completed and checking that off your list as if it’s the main thing to prepare. But then when baby comes you aren’t actually using the nursery or many of the items in it like you had thought, which is something that I hear all the time from new moms that they wish they would have prepared in other ways too. So simplifying things is great to give you more time to prepare for postpartum and for baby and for your changing relationship with your partner too are all huge benefits.

A minimalist approach to your registry also aligns with the idea of “less is more” which as a mom of two young girls and another on the way, I appreciate simplicity so much. It’s less to worry about, less to clean, less to organize and keep track of when you’re already so busy with other responsibilities. And babies really don’t need much, especially when they are newborns, so allowing yourself to focus on more high-quality, essential items that truly add value to your parenting journey would be a top recommendation. 

Okay, so now moving on to some more practical tips for creating your baby registry.

One of the first steps in creating a minimalistic baby registry is to assess your lifestyle and the available space that you have. Consider the size of your home, your daily routine, and whether you have limits on what you will be able to store. This will help you prioritize what you truly need and avoid accumulating items that may end up unused and in basement totes or storage closets. It also helps you choose items that fit your space the best and keep your space functional without feeling like all things baby are completely taking over, which when you have kids that does kind of happen, but limiting nonessential items I think is helpful. I know for me things like a baby walker or bouncer or designated floor mat for baby, things like that I chose not to get just because they aren’t used for long and there are other alternatives that were multifuncitonal or that took up less space like a blanket for playtime and a swing or carrier if I wanted my handsfree. Those worked great for me and limited other items.

The next thing I would recommend is focusing on the essentials, or the items that you truly cannot live without. Some examples of this would be a safe crib, a reliable stroller, and baby clothes. By focusing on what's necessary, you'll avoid getting caught up in the excitement of less critical items that may clutter your home and are more of an asethetic or cute baby accessory. I definitely don’t judge if you want to buy these things, I know I purchased many unnecessary items probably because I got caught up in the marketing of everything and either thought it was cute or would somehow make my life easier. Most of the things that could maybe make my life easier were also items that needed upkeep like extra cleaning or would clutter my home which for me creates more stress, and doesn’t make my life easier in the end. The items that come to my mind are a bottle warmer or sterilizer, wipe warmer, things like that. So figuring out what is really important first and registering for those things is a great way to start. That way too if you do have a baby shower and guests are purchasing gifts, they are able to actually give you something that is useful and helpful for you or baby because you prioritized the things you really wanted. 

Another tip is to look for items that serve multiple purposes. Think of the things you’re buying now as an investment for later on in your child’s life or even if you plan on having more children in the future. Planning for higher quality, multi-functional items can save you time, money, and space which can be very helpful. For example, a convertible crib is a popular choice that can later become a toddler bed, or a stroller that also functions as a car seat. 

The stroller was a big deal when I was pregnant with my first, because I knew we wanted more children so I wanted something durable, long-lasting, and could have multiple configurations to become a double stroller or accommodate children of different ages. I think my husband and I spent like 4 hours one day at Buy Buy Baby making our registry and a majority of that time was testing strollers and car seats. I’m not sure if that makes me indecisive or just really thorough in my decisions, but we did go with the Baby Jogger City Select Lux at the time and it’s been one of my favorite baby purchases. So I definitely recommend that one if you’re also having a hard time comparing all the strollers.

The last tip I have is when it comes to baby items, I really think quality is key. Invest in well-made products that will last long enough for your baby to be safe as they grow while limiting the need for constant replacements. I think this is one that is challenging especially for those of us on a budget, but finding certain items that you are okay splurging on because of the value they bring your baby or your family I think is helpful. My splurge items with my second baby after learning with my first was a quality nursery glider, that is for sure my number one with the amount of time I was feeding or rocking my baby in the night just needing to be comfortable; others are a car seat, stroller, crib and mattress, breast pump, diaper bag, and high chair. These are all things that are often used at least every day, so we wanted them to withstand that constant use and messes that babies of course make too. So high quality and easy to clean is something to consider too. 

The last tip as a bonus I do want to mention is many registry creation webistes have a limited time completion discount. I know for Amazon it’s 15% off any items left unpurchased starting 60 days before your due date and ending 90 days after your due date. And this is nice because you can add pretty much anything you want and use this completion discount and get that discount on items that usually don’t go on sale. I know I took advantage of this and you can save up to $300 this way. So something worth considering too. Also, many webistes like Babylist, Amazon, and Target have freebies they send you when you create a registry with them, so even if you don’t use it as your primary registry list, you can still create an account to get several free samples which is cool. I know I got a couple onesies, burp cloths, I think between the webistes like 5 different kinds of baby bottles, nipple cream samples, disposable nursing pads, formula samples, things like that. Also, lots of coupons in those free packs as well. So hopefull that is helpful!

And one last piece that I did want to include while talking about baby registries is that the mom and baby products are not the most important part about preparing for a new baby and postpartum. The most important step is feeling supported during pregnancy, feeling confident and informed going into your labor and birth so you have a good experience, then being prepared for postpartum and what to actually do with this little human when they are born! I hear so often at the end of pregnancies that moms are like I spent so much time preparing the nursery or making sure my hospital bag is packed and I have all the things ready, but I don’t know what to actually do when I go into labor and even less on what to expect of a newborn when they are here. 

So I have several tips about this which I should probably put into another episode but they also fit here too. And these are:

Consider taking a prenatal course or joining a class to become more informed about childbirth, breastfeeding, postpartum care. Knowledge and preparation can greatly reduce anxiety and impact your experieince, so I definitely would proritize this one!

If you’re looking for more info or support, I am hosting a virtual pregnancy support group starting in a few weeks where we will have weekly Zoom calls with a small group of women to learn about all of these things and have time to ask questions, and you’ll also have time outside of these meetings to go through my self-paced online course called Fearless Birth Academy. There will be additional interactions in a private community space too, so lots of opportunity for support and information to be sure all of your questions are answered!

Also, consider hiring a postpartum doula or arranging postpartum support services. If you’re able to have someone come help with household tasks and baby care, and even friends or family there for emotional support as you are newly navigating parenthood is so helpful.

Preparing and having a stock of frozen meals or arranging for a meal delivery service for the first few weeks postpartum can be a huge relief. Nutrient-rich meals are crucial during recovery.

Lactation consultant services.

Postpartum fitness or yoga classes can help with physical recovery and provide a supportive community.

And then another really important one is quality time with your partner. Prioritzing spending time together before your baby arrives and also having time to talk about how to tackle the responsilbites with a new baby and normal routines are completely different.

These things I mentioned too are all able to be included in baby registries as well and it’s becoming more common which I’m so exited about. There is a webiste called BeHerVillage where you register for services and family and friends can contribute this way to help get the funds needed to afford what you need and deserve. It’s a really cool organization that you should definitely check out in addition to the other items you know you ned too.

So as we wrap up today's episode, I want to emphasize that creating a minimalistic baby registry is a personal choice and there is no one-size fits all checklist for everyone. The most important thing is finding the balance that works for you and your family and if you want a bit of  a headstart to get some ideas, the free download that I offer to all of my clients and many couples have found helpful, can be found at bethconnors.com/checklist. 

Thank you for joining me today. If you found this episode helpful, please follow the show, leave a review, and share it with fellow moms. I will be back next Tuesday with more practical tips for pregnancy, birth, and for preparing for your parenting journey. Bye everyone!