baby essentials

Bet you didn’t know that it’s really normal to make some big baby registry mistakes or stumble into some common shopping pitfalls if you’re a first time parent.  No worries, Gugu Guru’s here to help you steer clear of some common missteps that you can make when building your registry. Since launching Gugu Guru in 2015, we have been fortunate enough to help thousands of families with registering. By learning about big baby registry mistakes to avoid, you can reduce the likelihood of cluttering your home, dissatisfaction with products, and returns or exchanges. So here they are…

Mistake #1: Registering for Way Too Much

One of the most common big baby registry mistakes is putting everything under the sun on your registry. It’s easy to get overwhelmed – especially when you’re selecting products for baby as a first time parent. You’d be surprised by how little baby actually needs and aside from savings and an uncluttered home, another benefit to registering for just the essentials is that you’re reducing your footprint as a consumer.  One easy thing to avoid is buying way too much in one size – especially newborn size.  Babies grow and they grow quickly. If you purchase tons of newborn size clothes and launder them, you’ll inevitably be stuck with a bunch of unworn clothes in a short amount of time. Same goes with newborn size diapers – definitely register for one jumbo box but register for a box of size 1 as well. If your baby is still in size NB diapers when you’ve gone through that initial box, then you can always buy more. Check out our minimalist registry picks for more tips on building a baby registry of just the bare essentials.

Mistake #2: Thinking It will Cost a Fortune

Luckily for brands like Infantino or Target’s Cat and Jack (check out the new baby subscription box), you definitely do not have to either sacrifice quality nor break the bank when it comes to registering for baby. We are also living the age of local BTS (Buy Trade Sell) groups on sites like Facebook or awesome consignment sites like ThredUp. But buyer beware: while clothing is generally safe to get as hand-me-downs (though make sure to check for loose buttons or other infant hazards), there are certainly some items that you may want to avoid getting second hand such as car seats (they expire!), strollers or cribs. Check out our budget registry picks for more tips on how to build an economical baby registry.

Mistake #3: Underestimating the Value of a Few Investment Pieces

On the flip side, if you are too penny-wise when building your baby registry, it can come back to haunt you. There is nothing more frustrating or more money-wasting than crappy baby gear.  If you register for an umbrella stroller that’s priced at just a few dollars – expect to be replacing it probably more than once and also expect to be frustrated when you can’t open it, or when the wheels won’t turn or when a wheel pops off. Trust us when we say that sometimes a cheap price tag isn’t worth the agony nor is it worth a potential safety hazard for baby.  Another thing to keep in mind is if you’re planning to have more children close together in age. It may be worth to register for a stroller that will convert to a double now versus having to pay for a double stroller later on. There are other investment items we recommend like a mattress, bouncer and other items that will get lots of use.

Mistake #4: Registering for Too Many Bottles, Pacifiers or Diapers

Newsflash! You will find out that your baby has preferences and that you also have preferences when it comes to products. One big baby registry mistake that you’ll want to avoid is just assuming that your baby will like a product just because it’s popular with mommy Instagrammers or because your best friend’s baby likes it. Sometimes baby will not accept a pacifier – no matter how cute it is or how many brands you try. Other times, you may have to try a few different bottles because baby has a nipple preference or maybe the one you read so many great reviews about doesn’t fit in that formula maker you purchased, has too many parts or it leaks (the worst!) Preferences come into play with diapers too – particular brands can be popular but the fit is just not right for your baby. It may take a few trials of brands and sizes before you find the right diaper for your baby. Play it safe and register for some retailer gift cards just in case you have to do some shopping around with these particular items. If you get it right on the first time with the pacifier / bottle / diaper brand you choose, then the gift cards can go to other necessities as baby grows – of which there will be plenty!

Mistake #5: Asking a Friend or Family Member What to Register For

This is the queen mother of all big baby registry mistakes – asking your friend or family member what to register for. We say this all the time at Gugu Guru: the products that work for  – even those products considered as “can’t live without” by – your bff or your sister may not be the right products for YOU.  As much as you have in common with your besties, your respective home décor and wardrobes probably look a lot different and that will be the same for the products you choose for parenting.  Even more so, a year in the baby gear market is like dog years. New products and up-and-coming brands are a constant, and if you’re not staying on top of things and only going for what your friend used for her baby she delivered 6 months ago, you may just miss the perfect products for you.  This is why we came up with Gugu Guru, which delivers free, personalized recommendations and then ultimately Gugu Concierge – our “white glove” service that gives you the MOST personalized help preparing for baby. Gugu Concierge helps you with baby registry and beyond so you can avoid all these mistakes, cut through the noise and get things right on your very first try. P.S. Get 10% OFF any Concierge Package using code GUGUGUIDE10 at check-out (valid on Concierge Packages only.)

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