The Ultimate Guide to Baby Registries - from Anita, The Baby and New Parent Expert

What is a Baby Registry?

A baby registry is a list of everything parents need (or hope for!) for their baby’s arrival. It’s a simple, organised way to share your list with friends, family and colleagues. A new baby is one of life’s major joys and you’ll be amazed by the generosity of your circle, who will often ask what you need and how they can help.

A baby registry makes gift-giving easy for everyone. Nowadays, we all want to spend our money wisely, and by setting up a gift registry, you are not only sharing the joy and the cost with your friends and family, but you are also giving them a budget-friendly solution to buy you something which you really need. Win win!

Here’s how it works:

Expectant parents create a list of products they’d love.

You'll then be able to share the registry with your friends and family, usually alongside a password to access it.

Registry guests can browse the list, purchase gifts, and have them sent directly to the registry hosts.

Many registries allow gift messages, notifications for purchases, and tracking of what’s been bought.

A baby registry isn’t just about receiving gifts anymore - it’s a way to plan for everything you’ll need. By focusing on essentials, you reduce waste, save money, and ensure every item is used.

Key Products for Your Baby Registry

When setting up your registry, start with a complete list of everything you need—you’ll be surprised how many make fantastic gifts!

Essential Registry Must-Haves:

👕 Clothing: Classic white bodies, babygros, beanies, bibs and scratch mitts (lifesavers in those first few months!) and a couple of cardigans or jumpers; I love the temperature-regulating merino wool which also, crucially, goes in the washing machine. People love buying clothes for a baby so you can always include some gorgeous extras but try not to go overboard here on the newborn sizes. Tempting as it is, clothes will always be bought first, and you don’t want to have any doubling up. Think about including different sizes for your clothes which will be season appropriate, if you were to include more clothes than those essential newborn ones!

🛏️ Sleep Time: Swaddle bags and muslins, cellular blankets, white noise machines, and baby monitors.

🚼 Nappy changing: Nappy bins (yes, one of the most gifted items!), changing mats and nappy caddies for storing all your nappy changing bits and bobs.

🧸 Playtime: Playmats, bouncers, sensory and developmental toys.

🍼 Feeding: Sterilisers, bottle warmers, bottles and highchairs.

Bigger ticket items that friends and family can club together to buy for you, or that grandparents might want to consider:

🚗 On-the-Go: Car seats, pushchairs, baby carriers, and changing bags.

👶 Nursery: Moses baskets, cribs, cot beds, mattresses, changing tables.

Although it might feel a little strange to ask, your friends and family really will want to help you in this way! Whether it’s a bottle brush or a big-ticket pushchair, every gift will give your gift-giver a lot of joy in the knowledge that their gift will be making your life a little easier in that moment!

Top Tips for Setting Up Your Registry

✅ Include a range of price points - Give friends and family options to suit their budget.

✅ Separate big-ticket items if needed - Some people, like grandparents or work colleagues, may want to contribute to a larger gift.

✅ Expect a few gifting waves - Gifts are usually bought when you share your registry, and again around the time of your potential baby shower. Alternatively, it might be your due date or even after your baby has arrived.

✅ Think about timing – Given that not everybody will buy from your registry before your baby arrives, do think about setting yourself an end date for you to buy your essentials from your list yourself to ensure you have everything you need for when your baby arrives. Your friends and family won’t always be on the same timeline as you and the most important thing is that your registry should help with you feeling calm and prepared.

✅ Don’t forget thank-you notes! - Anita’s List even has a handy tick-box to keep track of who you’ve thanked.

Why Choose Anita’s List for Your Registry?

Anita’s List takes the stress out of creating your baby registry. I have helped over 12,000 expectant parents choose everything they need for their babies over the past 20 years, and we have created a seamless shopping experience which is a great way to prepare for your little one’s arrival. Learn more here.

Key Benefits of Using Anita’s List

✔️ Curated Products – Every item is handpicked and approved by me, so you don’t have to worry about what’s best.

✔️ Expert Advice – Get bite-sized videos, quizzes, and tips to help make your decisions with confidence.

✔️ Smart Organisation – Build a complete checklist of everything you need, then decide which items to add to your shared registry.

✔️ Secure & Private - We’ve enhanced security and privacy with a uniquely generated access code for each registry, and gift givers receive their own personal login for easy and secure access"

✔️ Easy Shopping - Buy from trusted brands like Natural Baby Shower, with access to their best deals and customer service.

✔️ Guest Accounts - Friends and family can create an account to easily return to the registry anytime.

With Anita’s List, creating your dream baby registry is stress-free, simple, and tailored to what you truly need. Ready to start? Build your perfect registry today! 🚼✨