What is a baby registry?
A baby registry brings together everything you’ll need to welcome your baby: equipment, clothes, everyday items and little treats. Your loved ones use it to choose a useful gift, instead of guessing. It answers the question you’ll be asked dozens of times during pregnancy: “What would make you happy?”
An online baby registry goes further than a simple paper list. It’s shared with one link, updates in real time and shows what’s already reserved. Everyone gives the right item, at the right time, with no duplicates.
When should you create your baby registry?
Most parents-to-be start their registry around the fifth month of pregnancy, after the second-trimester scan. It’s the right time to do some research, visit baby shops and ask friends who are already parents for advice.
Ideally, share it two months before your due date. Your loved ones have time to order, and big items like the pushchair, cot or car seat are delivered before baby arrives. For twins, who are often in a hurry to be born, move this timeline forward by a month. Nothing is set in stone: you can add to the registry after the birth, once your real needs become clearer.
What should you put on a baby registry?
Think in terms of moments in the day rather than shop aisles. For a first child, a balanced registry covers six main needs:
- Sleep: cot or co-sleeping crib, firm mattress, fitted sheets, sleeping bags, baby monitor.
- Mealtimes: nursing pillow or bottles, bibs, burp cloths, high chair for later.
- Bathtime and changing: changing table, baby bath, bath towels, thermometer.
- Outings: pushchair, i-Size car seat, baby carrier, changing bag.
- Clothes: bodysuits, sleepsuits, hats, ideally in 3 to 6 month sizes.
- Playtime: activity mat, comforter, rattles, cloth books.
Mix up the budgets so everyone can find something that suits them, from booties worth a few euros to a group gift for the pushchair. Our guide what to put on a baby registry covers every item in detail, and our sample registry saves you precious time.
Big items: think about group gifts
Pushchair, car seat, cot bed, ergonomic baby carrier: these items often make up most of the budget for a new baby. Few loved ones can afford them alone, but many would like to contribute.
Group gifts answer this need. Open up contributions on the item: grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends or colleagues chip in whatever they like, and the organiser tracks the progress of the fund. Once the amount is reached, they buy the gift from the shop of their choice. No one feels obliged, and you get the item you really wanted.
Multi-store registry or single-store registry?
Registries offered by baby shops are convenient, but they limit you to their catalogue and force your loved ones to buy from them. A multi-store baby registry brings together everything you want, no matter where it comes from: a big chain, a designer brand, a second-hand site, a bookshop or a small local shop.
Your loved ones remain free to buy wherever they like, in-store or online, at the best price or from their usual shop. You can even add wishes with no link: a newborn photo session, a few hours of housekeeping, or a family heirloom to restore.
How do you share your baby registry?
A single link is all it takes. Drop it into the family chat, send it by text, WhatsApp or email, or add it to your baby shower invitation. Your loved ones don’t need an account: they open the registry, choose an item, enter their first name and reserve it.
After the birth, the online birth announcement shares baby’s arrival with a photo, weight and height, and links back to your registry for anyone who hasn’t given a gift yet. If you set up a baby pool, the winners’ rankings appear at the same time.
How much does a baby registry cost?
Creating and sharing your registry is free: no cost for you, none for your loved ones. The site is partly funded through affiliate links, at no extra cost to the buyer.
As for the gifts themselves, vary the prices. A good registry offers small, easy gifts for colleagues, mid-range items for close friends, and a few big items open to group gifts. That way, your loved ones can choose according to their budget, with no awkwardness.
Mistakes to avoid
The first common mistake: filling the registry with newborn-size clothes. These are given spontaneously in abundance and only fit for a few weeks. Go for sizes 3, 6 and 12 months instead, and specify the season.
The second mistake: forgetting the details. A car seat needs to fit your car, a mattress needs to match the cot’s dimensions, a pushchair needs to fit in your lift. Note the exact model, colour and size in each item’s description: your loved ones will buy without hesitation.
The third mistake: a registry that’s too expensive or too short. If everything costs over a hundred euros, many loved ones won’t dare reserve anything. Keep at least half of the items as small treats, and leave big items open to group gifts. Finally, don’t wait until the last month to share it: baby might decide to arrive early.
Managing your registry as a couple
A baby registry is often put together as a couple, and everyone has their own ideas. With a free account, invite your partner to co-manage the registry: you can each add, edit and sort items from your own phone, and see the same information everywhere. Grandparents can even help you spot good deals, simply by sending you links to add.
Expecting twins, or a second child?
For twins, one registry is enough: add several children and assign each item to one or the other. Some equipment needs to be doubled (car seats, sleeping arrangements), while other items can be shared (changing table, baby bath). Our guide baby registry for twins can help you sort it out.
For a second child, the registry is often shorter: you already have the essentials. Focus it on what’s missing or worn out, on a double pushchair if the age gap is small, and on gifts for the older sibling, who is also going through a big change.
A more eco-friendly baby registry
Babies grow fast, and many items are only used for a few months. Mark “second-hand welcome” on clothes, toys or furniture, and save new purchases for the car seat and mattress. Discover our tips for a second-hand baby registry.
Baby registry and baby shower
A baby shower is the perfect occasion to share your registry. Add the link to the invitation: each guest reserves what they’re bringing, or chips in with others for a big gift. A baby pool also makes a great activity. Find all our tips in our guide organising a baby shower.
Don’t forget the new parents
The first few weeks with a newborn are as wonderful as they are exhausting. Don’t hesitate to add gifts for yourselves to the registry: prepared or delivered meals, a few hours of housekeeping, an osteopathy session, a post-natal massage, a subscription to a grocery delivery service. These treats, with no shop link, can be added just like any other item, with a description. Your loved ones are often delighted to know how they can help you in practical ways, beyond just baby items.
Thanking your loved ones after the birth
With a newborn, there’s never enough time for thank-you notes. Your registry keeps track of who gave what (unless you prefer the surprise), and the messages left by your loved ones are revealed at the birth, making for lovely reading during those first nights. The online birth announcement then lets you thank everyone in a single message, along with baby’s first photo.
