Bun in the Oven: Making a List, Checking it Twice

There are two key starting points: Who will you take with you? Where will you register? For the first question, you'll have some obvious choices as well as a few not-so-obvious resources that can save you time, money, and heartache. As for selecting the keeper of your registry, first you'll want to have a vague idea of what you need, and that alone can be quite a challenge.

Adventures in Shopping

The most obvious choice for who to have in tow as you peruse the cornucopia of baby items is, of course, your beloved partner. Then again...have you ever lurked near a couple as they wander through Babies R Us, agonizing over what to add to their registry? Invariably the pregnant one has the zap gun clutched firmly in hand and is intensely focused, keyed up to chose only the most perfect, safest, highest rated, best tested things. And the other one, the poor hanger-on, shuffles a few steps behind, looking like a deer in headlights and mumbling plenty of "Yes, Dears." It's amazing that couples make it through this trial without someone ending up in tears.

Besides, no matter how much reading you do, it's still very hard to sort out the must-haves from the things that might seem useful but will ultimately never even make it out of the package. For this and many other reasons, if you know a seasoned pro who can accompany you on your journey into babyland, they're your best ally. Sometimes this means Mom, but has Mom ever operated a baby monitor? Put together a modern play yard? Doubtful. Admittedly it can be a heartwarming, sweet time to look at baby things with your mama, but she's only going to be able to give so much advice about all the fabulousities of modern parenting. Indeed, as my own mother remarked after I'd opened five or six gifts at my shower, "Well good heavens, I don't know how we even raised our babies without all this cool stuff." Exactly!

I lucked out and was able to set up a shopping date with a friend who was pregnant with her second baby. She was fully engaged in the trip because she was scouting for her own things, but she also had a great time helping me build a solid list for setting up house. With a copy of Baby Bargains (the best buying guide on the planet; most likely available at Half Price Books) to guide us on our way, I zapped such deadly dull items as a dishwasher basket, the best kinds of baby bottles, a few spare car accessories, breastfeeding necessities, and so on. We skipped the clothing racks entirely because she assured me I'd get plenty of clothes without registering for even a single onesie. And she was right. We also passed by things I'd never have known to steer away from, such as the impressive bed-in-bag style crib sets that look like a good deal...but in actuality contain several expensive items you'll never use, like a huge, thick quilt and a diaper stacker.

Bring along whomever you please, of course, but keep in mind that registering for baby goods more closely resembles work than fun. It has a magical way of refocusing your attention from maternity wear and birth plans to the preparation required to ready your home, and your life, for your wee one. For that reason alone, dragging the partner along for least one journey to your selected source might be a good idea.

From Big Box to Boutique

Which retailer to choose as your supplier of all-things-baby? Rest assured, they all want your business. Somehow or another my mailbox started filling up with ads and flyers for baby stores before I'd even started to ruminate such choices as crib styles, color schemes, and car seats.

There's something to be said for the big box stores, which have the registry game down like you'll never believe. I resisted Babies R Us (multiple locations) for as long as I could, but one quick cruise through their fully stocked aisles and I was a convert. They provide one-stop shopping for almost everything you'll need, and their prices are right smack down the middle. I also tagged items at Target (multiple locations) because I chose a rather eclectic, non-traditional theme for the nursery, and Target had a few matching items that worked well for me. But be warned: Target has about four rows of baby things. Babies R Us is the size of an entire Target...and carries only baby things. You do the math. The other advantage of using a major retailer is that they provide easy online ordering, which can be handy if you've got a lot of folks out of town.

Probably recognizing how important this is, many of the smaller shops are starting to catch up. For example, I was pleased to learn that my local resource for cloth diapers, Andre's Playhouse (online only), would create an online registry for me. Add to that, the owner hand-delivers gift-wrapped orders to either the purchaser or directly to a baby shower, free of charge. Not the kind of service you'll ever get from the likes of Burlington's Baby Depot (multiple locations). Similarly, when I called Eco-Wise (110 W Elizabeth, 78704) to get the skinny on their baby registry, I learned that they'll have an online setup ready to go by the end of the week. While their current catalog is pretty slim, and I confess to having never been in the actual store itself, I've heard they carry a nice selection of both practical and attractive organic, eco-friendly products.

Lastly, Austin is home to many little baby boutiques that specialize in one-of-a-kind gifts, custom fabrics and cribware, fancy clothes, luxurious furniture, and more. To name just a few, there's Picket Fences (1003 West 34th, 78705), Maggie (1206 West 38th, 78705), and Baby Coco (1515-B West 35th, 78703). All of these locally owned shops will gladly set up a registry for you. Doing a little research, when I called to scout out Maggie, the folks there seemed particularly friendly and helpful. While I've not been to Baby CoCo, I noticed that their website mentions a baby shower service. Looks mighty fancy and high end, but if that's your gig, they seem like just the right people to talk to.

Let the Nesting Begin!

There are, of course, more baby shops than these to be found in Austin, and regardless of where you go, the end result should be the same. By the time you're done registering, you'll hopefully have a comprehensive list of everything you need to settle into some heavy-duty nesting. Surrounded by everything from bassinets to booties, you'll find yourself ready to dive headlong into the next stage of one of life's greatest endeavors.