Baby Registries...
… and things you might not need after all
Ask any parent, and they likely will have a list of favourite items they used when their baby first joined the family. Maybe they will talk about certain gifts or just purchases they made themselves that made their parenting journey a little easier or better.
And these parents are often just as enthusiastic to share the items they thought for sure they would need (and put on their own baby registry), but that really weren’t necessary after all.
And, if you ask multiple parents, you will also find that what one person considered essential, another thought was unnecessary. So, while there may be no true consensus, we wanted to share a few items that we feel could probably be omitted from the baby registry.
What NOT to put on your baby registry:
Clothing
We understand. You want to add some cute outfits to the list. People love buying clothes for your little one, but the truth is, they are likely going to buy them anyway so you don’t need to add them to your list. Plus, when you see things go on sale, forget waiting for a gift, pick up items like zipper sleepers (not buttons!) to have ready to go - most babies live in these during their first year because they are so easy! The other issue with clothes? You don’t exactly know the size you’ll be using in the first few months. No need to add them to the list.
Blankets
Like clothes, the reality is you will probably be gifted blankets, or end up with some being passed along to you. Not all will be able to be used until the baby is older, for safety reasons, but having blankets will come in handy as floor mats, feeding wipes and more. You just might not need to specifically request them as a gift.
Wipe Warmer
Sorry little one, but room temperature wipes are just going to have to work. They may be a bit cooler than expected, but we don’t think a wipe warmer is a must. Extra wash cloths? For sure! Often a warm cloth will help after an extra big diaper blow out. Try using a combination of wash cloths and wipes instead.
Baby Shoes
For the first many months, your baby won’t need any shoes (even though those little baby Nike shoes are SO adorable!). Eventually, you’ll probably want a little slipper style shoe but it’s best to wait until you know what you need, what style you want, and have them fit for the proper size. Skip adding them to your registry list.
Anything unsafe
This may feel like an obvious statement, but it’s tempting to ask for products like crib bumpers even though they aren’t recommended and usually aren’t even necessary. And it’s the same for certain rockers or sleep positioners that aren’t safe for sleep. Skip anything that may be cute for the nursery but is not actually safe for sleeping. Read more about safe sleep products on the Health Canada website.
Don’t stress out about your baby registry. Even though we’ve listed some ‘do not add’ items, there are many gifts and baby items that you’ll need as new parents and that others may want to give. Register for those products while considering skipping the things on our list!
Further reading: Read our blog post about what to prepare in your hospital/birth centre bag!
Interested in joining us? Our classes are a great way to meet other new parents. Fitmama Strong Online has been operating classes online from our virtual studio since 2020. Our community is a thriving and welcoming space for you and your littles.
Our New On-Demand Prenatal Fitness and Yoga Series of classes is a great ways to stay active during your pregnancy. Each week has tons of information about prenatal fitness, labour, delivery and the postpartum period, curated especially for our prenatal population.
If you’re new to Fitmama Strong Online, try our 7-Day Free Trial Membership! You can use it at any of our Live, Online Express Strong, Express Elevate and Express Flow classes or you can try some workouts from our On-Demand Library. It doesn’t matter if your baby was born 6 weeks ago or 6 years ago, we have something for all postnatal members! Already been to Fitmama Strong classes? Grab a monthly membership and keep moving along with us:)
Finally, we offer in-person Stroller Fitness and Babywearing Fitness through our Durham Region and Ottawa locations. We can’t wait to have you join us!
We can’t wait for you to #startwithus and #growwithus. Find your Fitmama Strong Location!