How to Build a Baby Registry That Helps Your Family Save Money
Give them gift ideas they’ll love and afford. Your family (and budget) will thank you.
By
Your Babylist registry is the first stop for your friends and family when they’re shopping for the perfect gift to celebrate the arrival of your new baby. And while we encourage you to add the products you truly want to your registry, baby products are notoriously pricey, which can be a financial hurdle for some.
To help your gift givers cut costs on the baby products you really want, you can use these simple tips to build a registry that makes it easier for your support system to find a gift within their budget, save on an products that’s typically pricey or find other ways to contribute if a financial contribution isn’t possible.
Use the Note Feature to Communicate Sales and Deals
Your friends and family don’t have to spend what’s on the sticker. There are tons of sales happening at any given time that can help make even the most high-ticket baby products more affordable. Whether it’s a major sale like Prime Day and Black Friday or a random price markdown, baby items are discounted all throughout the year. If you come across a deal on an item that’s on your registry, you can use the note section to alert your family and friends.
For example, say your dream stroller is 30% off for Black Friday, and you want to make sure your gift givers know about the possible savings. In the note section, add a line that says something like “this item is on sale at the Babylist Shop”. The link will already be there, so all they have to do is click and shop. If you want to stay ahead of the deals happening at any given time, make sure you bookmark our weekly deals guide. That’s where we cover all of the worthwhile deals on baby products (and beyond).
Consider the Group Gifting Feature
We regularly poll and chat with Babylist registrants and parents-to-be, and they’ve told us that they’re apprehensive about adding pricier items to their registry (especially when there are less expensive options on the market). To that we say: group gifting. Group gifting helps to reduce the price of a spendy gift by letting your gift givers go in on it together and split the cost. When you click the group gifting button, your friends and family can contribute any dollar amount they’d like and the funds are given to you in the form of a Babylist Shop gift card.
You can adjust the group gifting fund amount ( we suggest the actual dollar amount of the item + 10% for tax). Although this doesn’t necessarily help them save money directly, it does allow your gift givers to stay within their personal budget while contributing towards a pricey gift you requested.
Be Open to Secondhand
Let your gift givers know that you’re open to receiving gently used baby gear as a gift by clicking “Open to secondhand” on your registry. Some pieces of baby gear, like bouncers and bassinets, have a short lifespan and won’t be used beyond the first six months of your baby’s life. So, if your friend happens to own the same bassinet you registered for and is happy to pass it down, they can save the money and and you’ll get the item you want (plus, recycling is eco-friendly). If you’re unsure about which items are the best (and safest) to receive as a hand-me-down, here’s our guide on safe secondhand baby items.
Sprinkle in Lower-Priced Items to Your Registry
Not all of the items you register for are going to be shiny, exciting baby gear. Your baby will actually need a ton of smaller items that are also conveniently well-priced (many landing under $20). Baby products like nail clippers, snot suckers, baby socks and crib sheets are relatively inexpensive, giving your supporters an à la carte type of shopping experience where they can pick either a single item or a few that fit their budget. Need ideas of inexpensive items that you’ll actually need for baby? Check out these two guides: Best Under $25 Baby Products to Add to Your Registry and The Best Baby Products Under $50.
Add Help-based Gifts And Favors to Your Registry
There are several ways your friends and family can show up for you in lieu of a gift and you can let them know that with your registry. In the favors and cash funds section of the Babylist Shop, you can add favors like used baby clothes and books, babysitting, house cleaning, meal trains and even dog walking. If none of those resonate with a need you’d have, you can just register for a general help and favor card and fill it in with what you want.
