As any brand new expecting couple understands, the process of starting a family is daunting, from conception, to appointments, to dietary restrictions, to the unsolicited advice to the actually prep for getting ready to add a brand new member of the family.
It’s a good thing that there is a lot more technology these days that is taking the headache out of some of the items on the long to-do-list.
In my day, over a decade and more ago, if you wanted to create a baby registry for your family and friends who wanted to help you out with your initial childcare expenses, you had to load yourself and your growing girth in the car, stand in line for a clerk who’d give you a scanning gun and then, you’d have to waddle all over a big box store like Target or Walmart scanning items to add to your list. After that, you had to go back in line and have another clerk upload the list. Phew!
These days, there is Amazon Baby Registry
Here is how it works:
Got to the Amazon Baby Registry landing page and click the “Create a new Baby Registry” button. You’ll be directed to a page with questions you need to answer, enter the address to have gifts sent to and then create the registry.
After that, you can start adding gifts you want. As you probably already know, Amazon has the Earth’s Biggest Selection of products to fill your house with all the right baby things.
Now, here is a bonus that you get with Amazon that you won’t get with other one off stores, if there is a product that isn’t carried or available on Amazon, you can add it using the University Registry option. It’s a browser plug in and you can add items from any site to your registry.
Mobile On the Go
If you are not at your desktop and you think of something to add, you can do it via the Amazon app on your phone. It allows you to access and update your registry whenever you want, from wherever you are.
Instant Organization
Once you’re done with your registry, Amazon works its magic and organizes it by categories to make it easy for your family and friends to search and decide what they want to buy.
Publish It
Once you’re done, you can decide if you want to make your registry public so anyone can find it by searching your name.
You can also limit your registry so that only people with the link can access it. Or you can make it totally private to yourself only as you build it out and before it’s ready for public consumption.
Gifts for Parents Just for Creating the Registry
When you sign up, Amazon sets you up with a welcome box with up to $35 worth of baby products. Yay!
Option for Group Gifters
When your co-workers, or college friends want to go in on one large expensive gift like a stroller, glider or car seat on the list, they can utilize the Amazon group gifting option.
Friends and family or coworkers and associates can pitch in towards the purchase of one costly item.
The average annual cost of diapers for the first year of life for an infant is $550.
Another option for friends who want to help offset the expense of a new baby is for them to contribute to Diaper Fund. Friends and family can contribute any amount of money, up to $550 total, toward diapers.
You’ll get this money in the form of an electronic Amazon gift card, which can be used toward diapers and a variety of other eligible baby products as well.
For Gift Givers
All you have to do is go to the Baby Registry search page and look for the name of the mom-to-be, pick gifts, then check out. You can opt to pitch in towards a large group gift or contribute to the Diaper Fund.
If you don’t have Amazon Prime, you’ll have to spend at least $25 to be eligible for free shipping. If you have Prime, you’ll get the regular, two-day free shipping rates you’ve come to know and love.
What happens if you don’t get all the items on your list
Once you’re registry is closed, or after baby is born, you can go back and order items unpurchased for 10% off or 15% off if you are an Amazon Prime member.
Returns are Generous and Easy
If you have to return an item, don’t worry about rushing because Amazon gives you an entire year to return items from your list! That’s the best part if you ask me!
And you have no store to drive to, just print out the return label and drop it off at an Amazon location or ship it back through regular carriers like USPS.
Start your Amazon baby registry today