Amazon Baby Registry Part 2: Best Products & Un-Tacky Ways to Share It
What’s the biggest problem you have when it comes to your baby gift registry?
For many women, it’s giving out and sharing their registry without feeling tacky. In this post, we’re letting you in on the secret ways to share your registry while still remaining humble. We’ll also include the must-have products to add today.
Did you miss part 1 of our Amazon Baby Registry post? Click here to learn about this registry’s benefits and secret tricks to setting up your account.
Tips to Maximize Your Amazon Baby Registry
Before we get into the products we recommend, below are a few general tips to keep in mind while choosing items.
Big-Ticket Items. Don’t be afraid to add expensive items from Amazon to your baby registry. Some women may worry, “If I add this big item, people are going to think I expect them to spend this much. They may think I’m greedy.”
However, there is one huge advantage to adding expensive items: If no one buys it for you, you get 10% off the item. As we mentioned in Part 1 of this post, you’ll receive a 10% discount on items still left on the registry 60 days before your due date. Even if you know no one will get you that $300 stroller, add it anyway. You’ll get $30 off after.
If you’re still nervous about what others will think about expensive items, you can add your reasoning for it in your registry greeting.
- Example: “You may notice that we added some expensive items. We do not expect anyone to get us these. We only added them because Amazon gives us a discount on registry items afterwards.”
Small ticket items. Although we’re encouraging you to include high-priced items, it’s also important to add some cheaper items. This way, someone who can only afford a $15 gift won’t need to overextend themselves. Plus, people’s favorite gifts to buy are often cute baby clothes and toys. These items are often found at lower prices.
Plan for the future. If you only have a few friends and family members, it’s probably best to mostly add the “need” items that you’ll use immediately. However, if you have a larger group of people who you suspect will buy gifts, it’s worth adding products you can use in the future. For example, instead of just adding infant products, add items you’ll use as your baby grows into a toddler. Thinking ahead can save you money.
Include more than just baby items. The items in your registry are meant to make your life easier—this includes products for yourself after pregnancy. For example, maybe you need a new coffee maker to make it through the day after your 2-hour sleep. Perhaps you want stretchy pants for comfort or a smartphone camera lens kit to take beautiful photos of your baby. We’re not telling you to add a designer handbag, but items that will make your post-pregnancy life better are allowed.
Baby Registry Products: The Must-Haves
Adding products to your registry can be overwhelming at first. You have a rough idea of what you need, but there are so many options.
The Needs
When adding all the “needs” to your registry, we recommend using the Amazon checklist we talked about in last week’s post. If you haven’t already created a list of what you need, Amazon has done it for you. However, there are a few need items that stand out.
Simple Wishes Signature Hands Free Pumping Bra
If you’re breastfeeding, you’ll want a hands-free pumping bra. Although some may argue this is more of a “want” than a “need,” this product is only $35 and will make your life a lot easier.
Promising review: “Struggling with implementation of breast feeding a newborn usually means an insane schedule of attempting to nurse/supplement and then pumping 24 hours a day. There was no way I’d have been able to do that and still get any fraction of other things done without this hands free bra. Please do yourself a favor and make this purchase. I’m buying a second one since I literally have no time to wash and let it air dry before it’s needed again.”
These adjustable and warm swaddle blankets are sure to put your baby to sleep. For those that want to swaddle their baby but worry about loose blankets in the crib, these are the solution! They wrap tightly around your baby and can withstand their wiggling. The grey 3-pack is an excellent choice whether you’re having a boy or girl.
Promising review: “One thing I never thought about with a newborn is the amount of time we would spend swaddling. With a month old girl, my wife is a master at it, but I’m not. The Ziggy Baby swaddle blanket makes it so easy for us. Our baby also can’t squirm her way out of them while she sleeps. I can’t recommend them enough. Plus, they’re very soft and comfortable.”
Why spend money on two items when you can just buy one? This cool product works as a crib, toddler bed, daybed and even converts into a full bed with a headboard and footboard. You’ll have to buy the mattress separately or select the option that comes with a mattress.
Promising review: “We love this crib. I have had it for a few months now. My daughter sleeps well in it. It has been sturdy, and very easy to install.”
This is another 2-in-1 product to save money. This stroller is lightweight, easy to move and easy to disassemble. The car seat fits children from 4-35 lbs. and is rollover tested.
Promising review: “Works for what I need it for. My son seems comfortable inside and sleeps during car rides. The stroller is easy to assemble, took 2 minutes and I was done.”
The Nice-to-Haves
These are a few products that you don’t necessarily need, but we think will make your life a whole lot easier.
This device heats up breast milk, formula and even baby food jars. As opposed to using warm tap water, this product works quickly. It will fit a variety of bottles and heats using steam, so you don’t need to worry about your milk boiling.
Promising review: “This bottle warmer has been a life saver for my husband and I. I breastfed during the day and pumped at night. That gave my husband a chance to bond with baby while he fed him with a bottle. This helped get the bottles ready in a snap! Would recommend to other parents!”
This award-winning ergonomic baby carrier allows you to carry your baby in the front, back or on the hip. If you plan to use it right away, you’ll need to buy the newborn insert.
Promising review: “One of the best things we’ve bought for our son. Super easy to wear, it’s surprisingly comfortable, and our son just loves being in it.”
What’s my baby doing back there? With this back seat mirror, you won’t have to worry about your baby while driving.
Promising review: “As much as I love this mirror, it seems like the baby loves it even more. She frequently looks at mom and dad in the front seat through the mirror. She also loves to make faces, play peek-a-boo, or just stare into the mirror. I hardly ever have to put toys in the car seat with her because she is so easily entertained by the mirror (she is 11 months old right now).”
No more stinky diapers! Of course, you can throw diapers in a regular garbage can—but this one is designed to trap the smell using Arm and Hammer’s odor-eliminating baking soda. Make sure to buy refill bags too!
Promising review: “I have never ONCE smelled a dirty diaper in the nursery and there have been some disgusting diapers in there. I also wrap the poop diapers with regular dog poop bags but I don’t tie them or anything.”
We’ve included a bonus must-have item at the end of this post. Scroll down to find out!
How to Promote Your Amazon Gift Registry
If you have a tight budget, sharing your gift registry is an important tip that can save you a lot of money. We understand that sometimes people feel shy about sharing their registry. They don’t want to seem like they’re begging for gifts. Here are a few tips to promoting your gift registry without being tacky.
Use the share buttons. On your Amazon baby registry menu, click “share your registry.” Here, you have the choice to share the link on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or by email. Alternatively, you can also copy the link in the “Share with link” section.
Comment on the link. Instead of simply sharing the link, add an explanation. If you feel weird about sharing the registry, here are a few things you could say:
- “A few kind friends have asked us to share the link for our baby registry. So here it is! But please know that your kind words and visits are generous enough.”
- “Some generous people have been asking us what we need for the baby. We thought it may be easiest to share this link instead. Thanks to everyone for your support! We’re so excited to welcome baby Carrie this year.”
- “Brian and I feared that sharing our baby registry on Facebook might be tacky, but a few friends have convinced us otherwise. We’re so grateful for the support.”
- Note: Even if your friends didn’t convince you to post it online, you can still use these ideas. It’s likely no one will know and it makes you sound more humble.
Get someone else to share your link. If you still feel uncomfortable posting the link all over social media, get someone else to do it for you! Pick a friend or family member that you have many mutual friends with. Have them share the link with a note such as, “Emily is too shy to share her registry herself, so I’m posting it here for anyone who wants to help out with the baby.” This way, your registry reaches everyone and you’re still the same humble person.
Include it in your baby shower invitations. You may send invitations in the mail or online. Some people simply choose to make a private Facebook group for everyone invited. Whatever your method of invitation, make sure to include your baby registry link! Again, you can add a note such as, “For those wondering what we need for the baby, we’ve set up a gift registry. However, your presence at the baby shower is more than enough.”
What products have you added to your registry? Do you have any unique ways to promote it? Comment your tips below! If you have any pregnant friends, share this article to help them too!
P.S. We saved the best and coolest item for last. Our fetal dopplers allow you to listen to your baby’s heartbeat while still inside the womb. This is a great item to add to your registry because you can use it in front of everyone at the baby shower! Check out the device here.