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IS IT RUDE TO PUT EXPENSIVE ITEMS ON BABY REGISTRY?

By: Author Luci McQuitty Hindmarsh

Posted on Last updated:

Categories NEW MUM, BABY & PREGNANCY

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Are you wondering if it is rude to put expensive items on your baby registry? Are you worried that it isn’t good baby registry etiquette?

Well, I’m here to tell you that it is NOT rude to put expensive items on your baby registry and that it is actually a really smart move. 

is it rude to put expensive items on baby registry? IS IT OK TO PUT EXPENSIVE ITEMS ON BABY REGISTRY? WHAT IS BABY REGISTRY ETIQUETTE? SHOULD YOU PUT EXPENSIVE ITEMS ON BABY REGISTRY?

WHY IT’S NOT RUDE TO PUT EXPENSIVE ITEMS ON YOUR BABY REGISTRY

Is it rude to put expensive items on your baby registry? NO!! It’s not rude at all to add big-ticket items, in fact, you absolutely should put expensive items on it. Baby registries have evolved a lot over the last few years, with many of the best baby registries allowing group gifting and offering a completion discount on anything left on the registry. 

Group gifting allows more than one person to contribute towards the cost of an item on the list. Completion discounts usually kick in around 60 days before your due date and last for a good period of time after your due date. 

So adding expensive items to your registry is a good way to enable friends and family to contribute towards the cost of the things you really want and a great way for you to save money and keep on budget. 

BEST BABY REGISTRY: 

I’ve done a whole lot of research to pinpoint the best baby registry and I believe it is the Amazon Baby Registry. So, if you have yet to start your registry, I suggest you get an Amazon registry started right now. The Amazon baby registry is brilliant because you can… Add products from ANY WEBSITE. Get a FREE WELCOME BOX worth $35. Get a 10% COMPLETION DISCOUNT (15% for PRIME members) and there is a 365-day return policy. Start Amazon Baby Registry.

EMPLOY A LITTLE BABY REGISTRY ETIQUETTE

Try to remember that the average gift-buyer wants to buy something that the recipient wants, needs and will use. So you are making life easier for them by putting together a comprehensive registry. 

The best way to make sure you don’t appear rude or grabby is to make sure you use some good baby registry etiquette. Here’s a quick rundown of some basics. 

  • Include items at a range of price points so there is something for everyone
  • Personalize your registry with a welcome note that mentions that explains you fully expect that gift-buyers will group together to contribute to the cost of big ticket items
  • Include your baby registry details as an insert or footnote with your baby shower invite
  • Include gift cards as an option for those that don’t feel comfortable group gifting

You can also pop over to the Baby Registry Etiquette section on my Ultimate Baby Registry Guide for a full primer on etiquette.

STILL FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE ADDING BIG TICKET ITEMS? THEN HAVE TWO REGISTRIES!

Did you know that nearly 60% of moms-to-be have more than one registry? Well you do now!! So if you don’t feel comfortable adding expensive items to a baby registry that you share with everyone, simply start a second registry. 

Have one registry for close friends and family, who you know will want to buy you bigger ticket items or with whom you feel comfortable sharing a registry with big ticket items that they can group buy. 

Then have a second that you share with everyone else. This will allow you the best chance to get bought all the big ticket items and to still make the most of the completion discount. 

HOW MANY ITEMS SHOULD YOU HAVE ON YOUR BABY REGISTRY?

The average Babylist registry has 121 items on it. But don’t get too hung up on numbers, first-time moms will need more stuff on their list than second and third-time moms. 

Just make sure you do spend some time working out the stuff you actually need and want, you can use my Newborn Baby Shopping List to help you, I’ve put together a checklist, based on my own experiences as a mom, of all the different categories of things you will need and I’ve listed the most important things to buy in each category. I’ve even included links to best-sellers on Amazon, so you can add them straight onto your Amazon Baby Registry.

BIG TICKET BABY ITEMS WORTH ADDING TO YOUR BABY REGISTRY

Wondering what the most expensive items to put on your baby registry actually are? If you want a super quick guide to the big ticket baby items worth adding, they are:

IS IT RUDE TO PUT EXPENSIVE ITEMS ON BABY REGISTRY?IS IT OK TO PUT EXPENSIVE ITEMS ON BABY REGISTRY? The Doona Car Seat Stroller is my suggested big-ticket item to add to baby registry
Doona Car Seat Stroller – My Favorite expensive baby registry item!!

DOS AND DON’TS OF WHAT TO PUT ON A BABY REGISTRY

 And finally, now I’ve reassured you that it is not rude to put expensive items on your baby registry, I thought I’d end by giving you some other dos and don’ts for creating your baby registry. 

  • Do add big-ticket items to your registry!!!!!
  • Add a range of price points so there is something for everyone to buy or contribute towards
  • Do register with a universal registry like Amazon, even if you start a second registry, it is so useful for keeping track 
  • Do ask other moms for advice on what to add to your baby registry (or check out my newborn baby shopping list)
  • It’s fine to add everyday baby necessities – see my top money-saving tip on diapers below!!
  • Resist the temptation to constantly check your registry ahead of your baby shower, it’s nice to be genuinely surprised!
  • Do check whether your medical insurance allows for the cost of a breast pump – and which breast pumps qualify
  • Do add new-mom postpartum care necessities like nursing bras and nipple cream. See my checklist of things you need after giving birth.
  • Don’t register for stuffed animals, people who are likely to buy these will want to choose their own
  • Just register for baby clothes basics like onesies, you can never have enough onesies, but leave people to choose their own baby outfit gifts
  • Do include things for the nursery, even if your newborn will be sleeping in your room at first
  • Don’t forget to add baby safety items like stair gates and toilet seat locks 
  • Do remember to keep track of who bought/contributed to what, so you can thank them. The best baby registries like Amazon and BabyList have discreet gift-tracking to help with this

TOP TIP: Diapers will be one of your biggest expenses. If you sign up to the Amazon Baby Registry and spend $500 you will get 20% off diapers for your baby’s first year. Plus you can combine your discount with up to a further 20% discount: Amazon Prime members can sign up for Amazon Family and get an extra 20% discount or sign up to Subscribe & Save and get up to 20% discount

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Is it rude to put expensive items on baby registry? Is it ok to put expensive items on baby registry? WHY IT'S OK TO PUT EXPENSIVE ITEMS ON YOUR BABY REGISTRY, what is good baby registry etiquette?