When to start a baby registry

For such small people, babies need a lot of stuff. Creating a baby registry is a great way to make a dent in the shopping list. But when should you start one?

Well, there’s no set timeline for starting a baby registry. However, many parents-to-be like to wait until after the 12-week mark. After all, this is when you can generally start to relax into your pregnancy and get (even more!) excited for your little one’s arrival.

When should I make a baby registry?

There’s no set moment when you should make a baby registry. Rather, it’s all about what you feel comfortable with!

That said, most people like to wait until after the 12-week mark. Before this, you might be keeping your pregnancy on the down-low. Plus, it’s around this time that you’ll probably get your first scan to confirm that everything’s going well.

Once that first trimester is out of the way, all bets are off! You can start your baby registry whenever you like. However, here are some things to consider.

• There’s no rush. First things first, don’t pressure yourself to start earlier than you feel ready. You’ll generally be pregnant for a whole nine months, so you’ll have plenty of time to get started.

• There’s no such thing as too early. Equally, there’s no need to put off starting your baby registry if you’re chomping at the bit to get going! With Moonsift, you can start collating items as early as you fancy, and just send your registry over to family and friends when you feel ready.

• Have it ready for your baby shower. If you’re having a baby shower, it’ll probably be around four to six weeks before your due date. You’ll want to make sure your baby registry is ready at least a couple of weeks before this, so that friends and family have time to buy gifts.

• Spread out the workload. The earlier you start your baby registry, the more time you’ll have to collate the items you’re after. That way, you’ll be able to take your time choosing the right products for your baby rather than rushing to add any old thing. Moonsift allows you to add items from any online store, so it’s a great place to save everything you’re comparing before making your final decision and sending your collections round as a baby registry!

• Time it with your purchases. Adding newborn essentials to your baby registry can help you to financially prepare for a baby. But you’ll need to share your registry early enough so that you still have time to buy leftover items yourself before baby arrives (read our guide on when to buy baby stuff during pregnancy for more info). You can use Moonsift as a personal shopping list as well as a baby registry – in fact, we’ll even notify you if the price of any items you save drops!

What is the etiquette for a baby registry?

There are no set rules around baby registry etiquette, but there are a few things you can do to make sure your friends and family feel comfortable.

1. Include a variety of pricepoints. There’s no need to remove high-ticket items from your baby registry – after all, groups of friends might choose to pool together to get them for you! But including some lower-budget items will ensure that nobody is pressured into spending more than they’re comfortable with.

2. Add a cash fund. With Moonsift, you’ll soon be able to add a cash fund to your baby registry, so that people can contribute money instead of physical gifts. This can be a great way for them to help you with more expensive items, without going overboard.

3. Add things you really want. Adding realms of items to your baby registry can overwhelm guests and make it difficult for them to understand what you actually want. Narrow your list down to items you really need and you’ll make life a whole lot easier for everyone – our list of newborn essentials might help!

4. Don’t leave it last-minute. Your friends and family will need time to buy the items on your baby registry, so avoid sending it round last-minute – especially if you’re expecting them to buy gifts in time for a baby shower.

5. Write thank you cards. Everyone likes being thanked. By writing out personal thank you cards to everyone who buys you and your little one a gift, you’ll ensure they feel appreciated.

6. Send out one link. Registering with lots of different stores can confuse for your loved ones who’ll be faced with several links and too many options. Instead, Moonsift’s universal ‘save’ button will allow you to add items from any online store in the world, so you can collate everything you want in one easy-to-manage place.

How do you politely share a baby registry?

It can be awkward asking people for gifts, but there’s no need to feel embarrassed. People love buying baby items, and you’ll be surprised at the number of people who’ll come out of the woodwork to buy you and your newest addition a gift!

Here are some easy ways to share a baby registry without rubbing anyone up the wrong way.

1. Include the info on your baby shower invites. If you’re having a baby shower, share the details of your baby registry on your invites. Just make it clear that you don’t expect gifts – their presence is enough!

2. Email the link to loved ones. Sending your baby registry to loved ones in a group email can be a great way of letting people know it’s there. Add some pre-amble explaining that people have been asking for the link. Whether it’s true or not, it’ll probably help you to feel less awkward about it!

3. Wait to be asked. Once word gets around that you have a baby registry, people will flock to you asking for the link. There’ll also be no end of people asking what you want for the baby – pinging the link across is a great way to answer them!

Start a baby registry on Moonsift

It’s never too early (or too late!) to start a baby registry on Moonsift. With our universal ‘save’ button, you can add items you actually want from any online store in the world.

Collate items while you’re still choosing and then convert your collections into a gift registry once you’re ready. With one simple link, guests can quickly tick items off your list and even leave you a gift message. Easy!

Simply sign up to get started.