Are baby registries a waste of time?

Sherbear wrote: On our vacation this past August, dh and I spent our time going to Target and Babies r us and doing our baby registries. I am just curious with a couple weeks until my showers was it a waste of time that not too many people get your stuff that you wanted or do most people find that people do go by the registries and get you what you wanted? I know my Mom has said that she has been watching and not much is moving? Now I am worried or maybe they are not having the stores mark the items off the list? Ugh!

luvbug00 replied: Welcome!! I never did the registries. maybe somone else can help I just wanted to say HI!

~Roo'sMama~ replied: I don't know... we didn't get everything we registered for but we did get some things, so I guess it was worth it for that - plus we had a lot of fun registering!

MyLuvBugs replied: Oh no. Ours were Very helpful to parents, family, friends, etc. We had two showers, one family and one work, and we got almost everything that we'd wanted and then some. Plus, we got tons of gift certificates, so we could then go and get the stuff that we wanted. I don't think their a waste. It's the people that don't pay attention and get you stuff that you didn't put on there and don't like that are a waste of time. Cause then you gotta go and take it back and get what you actually do want.

my2monkeyboys replied: registries are great, IMO. just make sure everyone knows where you are registered. as for things not being bought yet, it probably will happen closer to the shower... like the weekend or even the night before the shower. That's how it did at mine.
Good luck! Hope you get lots of great, useful and cute things!

My3LilMonkeys replied: I found my baby registry did not get used as much as my wedding registry.

Reason being many of my baby shower guests picked more expensive gifts than I had included on my registry. I registered for the basics and ended up receiving more expensive things (stroller, car seat, etc.) that I had expected to have to buy myself.

Also several guests gave handmade items - crocheted baby blankets and such.

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: I think registries are great and I typically will buy off a registry for a friend because I know it's what they want. I almost get annoyed with people who don't because I feel that they want to pick out what "they" want. I know that's selfish of me, but a gift should be about the person you're giving it too. Anyway, I got A LOT of clothes for my shower and only a few things off my registry. For some reason people like to pick out baby clothes, even though a baby doesn't wear much but onesies and sleepers for the first few months or so. I returned a lot!

Sherbear replied: Thank you, I guess either way we'll see and hope that everyone is waiting till the last minute to us the registires. I would hate to have to play the return game. Thanks for all your info!

~Roo'sMama~ replied:
I think a lot of people do wait until the last minute to go buy a gift. I know I do.

Lol I was a little disappointed that I didn't have much to return - I wanted money to buy stuff I wanted! I didn't get doubles on anything, and the things I didn't like I had no idea where they'd come from so I couldn't take them back.

Magenta replied: I did get a lot of things on my registry.

Don't worry about checking to see if anyone bought anything yet because sometimes, people don't give the paper to the person at checkout showing that they bought that off your list.

I would say just don't put the obvious things on the list, like clothes, diapers, etc. Those things are a given. Put the higher priced items that you would like to have on there.

holley79 replied: I haven't had my baby shower yet but DH and I had a good time online at Target and Wal Mart doing the registries. Not to mention it was neat seeing all the baby stuff. Things have come a long way since I was a baby. LOL

Ophelia replied: I've got my first registry now, and have told friends to get cheap things and leave the more expensive items (that must-have triplet stroller) to family. Don't know if I'll get any of the big ticket items, but I've already gotten some of the cheaper things, one from someone online whom I've never met!

I registered at Amazon, simply because, as mentioned, they have a triplet stroller.