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You are here: Home / Choosing A Baby Registry

Choosing A Baby Registry

January 6, 2007 By Stephanie

Below you’ll find my review of the top four registry options in the USA. Please post your comments if you know of other great places to register – or if you’d like to add a “pro” or “con”. I’d love to hear from other metropolitan mamas.

babycenter store (http://store.babycenter.com)
PROS:

  • Online: Visitors can log in, buy, and ship gifts without leaving their home.
  • Incredible selection: From strollers and slings to breast pads and bottles, this mega store has an impressive collection of big-name and specialty items.

CONS:

  • Online only: Family & friends who are technology-illerate may find the online registry a bit overwhelming.

Target (www.target.com)
PROS:

  • Location: 1500 stores in 47 states
  • Convenience: Target is a recognizeable brand to people across the age/class continuum.
  • Not-Just-For-Baby: Add vacuums, toasters, breadmakers, blenders, bathroom towels, maternity clothes, massagers, and more.

CONS:

  • Return Policy: Target will take back items if you have gift receipts without any qualms. They are sticklers, however, if you don’t have a receipt. You can only return two items at a time – even if all of the items have the Target emblem.
  • Limited selection: Target’s selection has grown steadily over the past few years, but they don’t offer many specialty items. [NOTE: Target’s in-store selection of children’s books is pitiful and you can’t add books online!]
  • Disorganized: As a shopper, it can be a bit trying to locate the items on the list.

Babies-R-Us (www.babiesrus.com)
PROS:

  • Mother’s Room: A clean, quiet, comfortable, private place for mom and baby – this room has a changing table with complimentary diapers and wipes, a sofa, and a glider.
  • Organized: Neatly stocked shelves and clearly labeled aisles.
  • Free Gift Wrap: Gift-givers have the option to wrap their own gifts with complimentary gift wrap on their way out.
  • Special Events: Pick up their store calendar and you’ll most likely find a baby bonanza, fair, or class of interest.
  • Other Amenities: There’s a free gift when you register, free drinks if you buy an item off of a registry, and other great perks!

CONS:

  • Location: 232 locations nationwide – scant compared to the giant that is Target.

Sears, JCPenney, Dillards
PROS:

  • Cute baby clothes: Tons of clothes for the Fashionista Mama to choose from.

CONS:

  • Less selection: These stores haven’t positioned themselves to be competitive with Target and Babies-R-Us. They offer clothes and furniture – a few other items here and there – but it’s still rather “slim pickings”.
  • No Amenities: Surprisingly, these stores don’t offer free gifts, free coffee, free anything.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Comments

  1. Julie Kieras says

    August 7, 2010 at 8:02 pm

    As much as I love Babies R Us, one “Con” I discovered was this: if someone bought something for you ONLINE they give you a REALLY hard time about returning it TO THE STORE (unlike Target!)… so I had to exert a little “I’m a pregnant mom don’t make me haul this extra stroller someone duplicate-bought me back home” pressure to get them to take back the item. It was frustrating to not know that policy up front!

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