Do You Need a Registry?
By Felicity Leach, PharmD, CLC — Founder of Steamboat Lactation & Sleep
If you're expecting, chances are someone has already asked you, "Have you started your registry yet?" It can feel like one of the first official steps of pregnancy, right up there with picking a due date app and googling "is it normal to be this tired."
But here's a question worth asking first: do you actually need one?
Why Registries Exist (and Why They Can Backfire)
Registries were built to solve a real problem: babies need a lot of gear in a short amount of time, and it's hard for friends and family to know what to get without guidance. But in practice, they can also turn into a checklist of things you're told you need, whether you actually do or not. I remember scrolling through recommended items with my first baby, adding things because they showed up on someone else's "must have" list, not because I had any evidence I would use them. Some of those items never left the box.
What to Ask Before You Add Something
Instead of starting with a generic checklist, ask yourself a few honest questions:
Do I know how I plan to feed my baby, and does this item support that?
Do I have the space and lifestyle for it, or am I buying for a hypothetical version of my life?
Could I borrow, buy secondhand, or wait until after baby arrives to decide?
Is this solving a problem I actually expect to have?
A registry built around your real life, rather than a template, tends to be shorter and a lot more useful.
The Discount Perk Nobody Talks About
Here's one real reason to set up a registry even if you don't need many gifted items: both Amazon and Target reward you with a completion discount, typically around 15% off whatever's left on your registry, usable in the weeks around your due date.
That means if you're planning to buy things like a car seat, diapers, or wipes anyway, you can add them to your registry and get a discount simply for ordering items you already needed. It's not a reason to build a registry full of extras, but it is a good reason to have one set up, even a short one.
You'll also see both retailers advertise a free "welcome box" of samples for hitting a small purchase minimum. In my opinion, it's not worth much. The samples tend to be small and generic, so treat it as a nice little bonus if it shows up, not a real perk.
What About Baby Showers?
If you're having a baby shower, a registry does serve a real purpose here: it gives your guests a concrete way to get you something you'll actually use, instead of guessing. I felt pressured into making one for my own shower, and honestly, it backfired a bit. One family member bought nearly everything on my list before the shower even happened, which meant I had to go back and add more items so guests would have something left to give. It was more stressful than helpful in the moment.
If you do register for a shower, know that you're allowed to keep the list short and specific, and it's okay if it gets picked clean fast. That's not a failure, that just means people were generous.
A registry also isn't the only way to ask for help before baby arrives. Some alternative ideas that can feel more useful:
Ask for specific used or borrowed items you still need, rather than a store list. Friends or family with older kids may already have exactly what you're looking for.
Simply ask people to bring diapers in different sizes instead of registry gifts. Diapers are something every family goes through fast, and they never go to waste.
Ask for gift cards to places you know you'll use, like your local grocery store or a meal delivery service, so you have flexibility for whatever comes up postpartum.
You're Allowed to Wait
One thing I wish I had known: you don't have to have everything figured out before baby arrives. Some of the most useful gear decisions I made came after I understood my baby's actual needs and my own routines, not before. There is no prize for having a fully stocked nursery on day one.
If you do want a registry, keep it centered on genuine needs, and treat the rest of your product decisions as things you can revisit later, once you know what you're actually working with.
Local Ways to Fill the Gaps
If you're local to Steamboat, you have more options than a registry before you ever open your wallet:
Newborn Network's baby group is a great place to meet other local moms and ask what they actually used and loved.
Lift Up often has used baby gear and clothes available.
Mothers of Steamboat Springs hosts a free clothing swap twice a year, which is a great way to stock up on gently used baby clothes at no cost.
Facebook Marketplace is full of local listings for gently used gear at a fraction of retail price.
And don't underestimate just asking your friends. Most parents have a closet or garage full of gear they'd love to pass along to someone who will actually use it.
Where This Leaves You
A registry can be a helpful tool, but it's not a requirement, and it's not a test of how prepared you are. Between your community, secondhand finds, and a shorter, more intentional list, you may need far less than you think.
