Your Baby Registry

I've written about baby showers before, so most of you know by now that I love these gatherings of gals. I don't need to tell you that if someone is hosting a shower for you, it's a good idea to register for gifts. The last thing a new mom needs cluttering up her nest is extra diaper Genies, twin portable cribs or triplet baby monitors (unless she's expecting multiples, in which case what she really needs is an extra set of hands).

Almost all of the large discount retailers and big-box baby stores offer in-store registries. Target, Wal-Mart, and Babies R Us are the most popular shopping destinations for Moms 2B where I live outside Boston. Entering one of the baby stores to register can be absolutely overwhelming. Within minutes you'll be asking yourself, "What does this do? Do I need one?"

It's always good to register with the help of an experienced mom. And that's where the Internet is, once again, a Mom 2B's best friend. User reviews from other parents are far more valuable to you than any sales clerk. Chances are good that once you get into the store, you'll start registering for things you never knew you needed and will never use again once baby arrives.

That's why I am a fan of online registries. I like Amazon's baby registry for its user reviews (bonus: the prices are often better than retail). Amazon also offers a baby registry essentials list, with a handful of selections from each of the following categories: car seats, strollers, cribs, changing tables, layette, bathing, bottle feeding, breast feeding, diapering, and gear.

Go through the site and read what other parents are saying about the gear they find most helpful. Start a registry with the basics and then compare reviews on the big-ticket items like car seats and strollers. This is time well spent. A bum stroller or car seat that is too heavy to lift in and out of the car is going to make your first few weeks unbearable. Once you've narrowed down the list to your top two or three in a category, get in the store and try them out! Bring along your user recommendations and be sure to have the manufacturer's model and style numbers. These can change quite frequently so reviews you've read could be based on older models. It's always good to double check.

Have you started your baby registry yet? If you're an experienced mom, what's the one item you'd recommend to a first time mom?
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