Registry anxiety

I'm so frustrated with registering and I've barely even begun. I feel so lost and confused. This isn't like my bridal shower registry last year where I just knew every single thing I wanted/needed. I knew what was necessary/what wasn't, what was crap/what wasn't, what was overyhyped and not worth it, etc. I just knew everything.

Now I feel like the complete opposite. And the thing that frustrates me the most is I'm not someone who has no experience with babies. I'm basically the last of my friends who have kids. I've helped plan all their showers, shopped off their registries, babysat for and spent ample time with their babies...I feel like I shouldn't be this clueless. It's just upsetting to me I guess.

I just emailed an SOS to my friends and told them that someone HAS to come with me this weekend because I can't do it alone, it's too overwhelming.

Whine over.

Re: Registry anxiety

It's VERY overwhelming. If it wasn't for my sister, I still wouldn't have a registry!

She just had a baby last year, and is a pediatrician herself, so it made it sooooooo easy to register (even though it took hours and hours and was so overwhelming!). She basically told me what to scan with the gun.

Definately go with someone who has already BTDT!

Re: Registry anxiety

I hear you......

I finally did it after weeks of my sister hounding me.....

I found BRU to be very overwhelming... We registered at a small boutique and amazon.

I made myself sit down in front of the computer with a few generic "lists" and jsut start putting stuff on the registry. Once you start diong it it gets easier....

And for the next few days I would re-evaluate things on there......

It was such a PITA.....

Re: Registry anxiety

I totally agree - I am procrastinating doing it b/c I know I will only feel overwhelmed when I get there!

Re: Registry anxiety

I was very overwhelmed and stressed about it.

I did a lot online since I just knew what I was getting. By the time we went to the store, I was just finishing up.

I also kept a list of all the items I wanted to add, then checked off once they were officially added with the specific item I selected.

I am so happy it's over with-- now I just hope people buy stuff off of it!

Re: Registry anxiety

aww poor girl. I felt the SAME WAY!!

It took me and dh and mom and sisters over a month to register.

we registered at buy buy baby and babies r us. if you want, send me an fm and i'll give you my full name and you can peek at what we registered for and that will give u some ideas.

its nuts right- you have to register for items that are safe and practical.. not just pretty and something you like!

Good luck!

Re: Registry anxiety

Thanks ladies! Glad I'm not alone on this. I'm being hounded to hurry up and register because I guess my shower is going to be very early January so they want to send out the invites after Thanksgiving so I need to get on it I know. I'm just dreading it and I wish I was more excited about it.

Re: Registry anxiety

I hated registering. I was the first of my friends to get pregnant so I had no one to ask. I found Baby Bargains, BRU reviews and LIF very helpful. I took Baby Bargains with me when I went to BRU. I narrowed down the big ticket items to 2-3 brands and then I looked at them in the store. I registered for a lot of the smaller items online. I also went back to BRu 1 or 2 more times to add a few more things. Don't do it all at once b/c then it will be really overwhelming. Good luck!

Re: Registry anxiety

oh, its a nightmare making all those decisions. I am so happy my shower was out of town since most people just gave me gift cards and I ended changing my mind on so many things.

Most of the stuff is unnecesary junk in my opinion.

Re: Registry anxiety

ITA! do it in small doses!

Message edited 11/18/2008 4:29:45 PM.

Re: Registry anxiety

It is completely overwhelming. At least you are the last one to have a baby so you have people to ask for advice. I'm the first amongst my friends so I have no one to ask for help.

Re: Registry anxiety

would anyone be willing to share their registry with me? i like to see what other people register for so i know what to work with when i start.

Re: Registry anxiety

I will never forget the first time I went to BRU to look around to see what I would register for. I walked out crying - and called up my friend who just had a baby. She told me all of the essentials that I would need and walked me through it all.

Now, since having DS - I have gone to help a few other people register. I love it. I know exactly what you need, may need, and will not need. You will get through it!

If you need any help at all we are very helpful on the Parenting board!

ETA: I found that doing the big stuff online made it much easier - things I knew I was getting based on recommendations (Pack and play, swing, bouncy, exercauser, highchair, jumperoo,) that way I wasn't doing it all there.

Message edited 11/18/2008 6:59:14 PM.

Re: Registry anxiety

i think we should all go register together!

Re: Registry anxiety

I was really overwhelmed when we registered for DD. I decided to do it in multiple trips and each trip we would make ONE major decision (stroller/highchair/PNP, etc.) and then add a few of the smaller things in that trip.

It made it much more managable and I would read up on whatever we were specifically going for that night (this way I didn't have a TON of info floating around in my head at once). It made it much more managable for me - and DH!

Re: Registry anxiety

I felt the same way. I was in tears every time at the store for some reason.

I bought Baby Bargains and Consumer Reports baby book.

After reading those, I actually felt I knew what everything was, what I needed, etc. So that's my suggestion to you. It all clicked after reading those.

I do understand how you feel, only I have ZERO baby experience.

Message edited 11/19/2008 9:32:36 AM.

Re: Registry anxiety

I hear ya - I just emailed my Mommy friends for help too !!

I would really prefer to have my selections narrowed down to 2 or 3 before I even set foot in a store (based on ratings, safety, price etc)
So, in true high strung Marisa fashion, I have made myself a spreadsheet

Laugh if you will, spreadsheets have a calming effect on me ..........especially since I can't have any DAMN WINE !!!!!

Re: Registry anxiety

awwww sweetie it'll be okay! i'm sure one of your BTDT friends will gladly come with you and register!

worst case scenario, do what i did - register for every single thing imagineable! i didn't have a clue of what i needed to register for either!

feel better!!

Re: Registry anxiety

eta - you do own the baby bargains book right? that thing is a bible!