https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 13 Apr 2026 18:10:54 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-off-registry#post-1778824 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 12:58:18 +0000 spaniellove 1778824@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would just make sure to buy it from a place that makes returns easy and include the receipt. It got frustrating dealing with gifts we didn't want, couldn't use, and couldn't return! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-off-registry#post-1778472 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 11:22:23 +0000 jape14 1778472@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with a few other previous posters (@Happygal: @Cara M. 17: @lawbee11: @locavore_mama: @pui:) that it's very possible she intentionally didn't register for a RnP for one reason or another. I did a lot of research and decided that I didn't want to use a RnP, so I didn't register for one. If you really want to get her that, though, I'd definitely go with the note + gift receipt approach that others have mentioned. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-off-registry#post-1778446 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 11:19:13 +0000 psw27 1778446@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think its fine to buy it, just include the receipt. I'm happy to receive things from veteran moms with well meaning advice but I also live in the city where space is at a premium. I feel terrible but I had a friend just offer to make me a bookshelf for the nursery that I just won't have space for.. I tried to explain that but I'm not sure she listened.. ugh. I don't know what to do! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-off-registry#post-1778420 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 11:12:09 +0000 peachykeen 1778420@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Agreed that you should buy the RnP and provide your "veteran mom" tips (and a gift receipt). The only thing that bothers me about buying off-registry is when someone buys a SIMILAR product to what you've registered for, disregarding the time you spent picking out that particular brand or model... and doesn't include a receipt! Coming from a 33 week pregnant lady who just went through a few showers :wink: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-off-registry#post-1778392 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 11:06:03 +0000 Mrs.Panda 1778392@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would get it and attach a gift receipt. Maybe say in the card "this thing saved my life when (LO) was a baby!" So she understands it came from a place of experience. I would be thrilled! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-off-registry#post-1778255 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 10:34:27 +0000 cascademom 1778255@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What @grizz: said. Getting things from more experienced moms was super helpful. LO got an annoying crawl ball from some parent friends of ours. He loved it until he outgrew it. </p> <p>I put together a basket for an expecting friend with our favorites: Bumkin bibs, Munchkin spoons, Angel Dear loveys, books, bath cups (duplicate from birthday party), etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-off-registry#post-1778224 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 10:28:49 +0000 annie624 1778224@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd do it. She doesn't realize how awesome that is! Two things that I'd totally get if it weren't on a registry: A+A blankets &amp; the Rock n Play. Be sure to give her the gift receipt though just in case. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-off-registry#post-1778063 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 09:43:48 +0000 sorrycharlie 1778063@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I actually bought quite a bit used prior to my shower - RNP, bumbo, snap n go, vibrating seat, etc. I had many people ask "why didn't you register for x?" And had to explain I already had it :) I would say buy and include a gift receipt, or go with a gift card. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-off-registry#post-1777904 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 08:59:06 +0000 LuLu Mom 1777904@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would get it and in the card write something about this being your lifesaver so you wanted to pass it along and include the gift receipt in case she already has one. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-off-registry#post-1777863 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 08:52:30 +0000 NovBaby1112 1777863@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>some of my favorite items were ones I didnt register for, that other moms had gotten me! I say get it and provide gift reciept and a note explaining your actions. the worst she can do is return it! but to me, a registry is simply a wish list and not a requirement that everyone must purchase something from it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-off-registry#post-1777847 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 08:47:48 +0000 pui 1777847@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't register for things like that because we are sticking to a Montessori approach. I got a swing and a baby bouncer thing at my shower, neither of which I registered for, and ended up returning them and getting stuff I actually needed instead. Just always include a receipt when you give a gift at a shower (on or off registry).</p> <p>Personally, I always buy something on the registry. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-off-registry#post-1777821 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 08:40:48 +0000 Mrs.Someone 1777821@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If she isn't traveling to her shower and you include a gift receipt, no problem. However, I deliberately didn't register for large ticket items like that because I don't want those things taking up space in my no-storage-left house! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-off-registry#post-1777797 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 08:30:45 +0000 immabeetoo 1777797@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd do it with a note and gift receipt! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-off-registry#post-1777747 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 08:14:59 +0000 snowjewelz 1777747@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For me personally I would just buy off her registry. Maybe someone gave her a hand me down or something. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-off-registry#post-1777745 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 08:14:31 +0000 regberadaisy 1777745@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Happygal: @Cara M. 17: @lawbee11: that's exactly what i was thinking. I put a lot of thought into my registry and made a conscious decision to not use the RnP as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-off-registry#post-1777742 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 08:13:12 +0000 Cara M. 17 1777742@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Don't throw tomatoes at me, but I would stick to the registry. I personally did a ton of research on all of the bigger registry items, and knew I didn't want to use a RNP for various reasons. If someone would have given us one, I would have had to return it. Maybe give a gift card if you don't think the items on her registry are useful, and suggest the RNP in case she hasn't heard of it? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-off-registry#post-1777706 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 08:03:40 +0000 lawbee11 1777706@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you think she did a lot of research before registering? Or just went in and registered for things that looked good? I purposely didn't register for a RNP so I would've returned it had I gotten one. But I also did a ton of research. I usually try to stick to the registry because a lot worked for me that didn't work for others and vice versa. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-off-registry#post-1777616 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 07:29:18 +0000 Smurfette 1777616@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would get it. She probably doesn't know about it. Just give a gift receipt. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-off-registry#post-1777607 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 07:25:41 +0000 Happygal 1777607@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What worked for your baby might not work work for someone else's baby. A thread yesterday showed lots of people didn't end up using their RNP.</p> <p>I'm for sticking to the registry. People usually put a lot of thought to them. If you really want to go off the registry, I would recommend also buying something small from the registry. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-off-registry#post-1777577 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 06:58:57 +0000 regberadaisy 1777577@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I prefer to buy off the registry and add a side item of something I loved if it's not on their registry. </p> <p>If you do end up buying I would would definitely include a gift receipt with a note indicating why. And purchase from where they are registered so it's very easy for them to exchange if they don't want it.<br /> . </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-off-registry#post-1777573 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 06:53:28 +0000 beesknees 1777573@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Buy it! totally!<br /> I usually give a big basket of my most useful picks for the first year, focusing on items for the 4+months age (since ppl usually gift newborn type items). I like to pepper in a few registry items.<br /> The most useful gifts I got were from other moms who were in the know, and these were not items on my registry. Grateful for those items for sure just didn't know it at the time ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-off-registry#post-1777560 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 06:39:40 +0000 mrsjyw 1777560@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd include it with a note and a receipt. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-off-registry#post-1777547 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 06:05:16 +0000 looch 1777547@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I buy from the registry. If you want to get the rock and play, call her and ask her. It is possible she has one and you're just creating work for get to return it. We didn't have a rock and play and we didn't miss it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-off-registry#post-1777469 Wed, 23 Jul 2014 23:51:07 +0000 birdofafeather 1777469@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i received the RNP from DH's cousin and she explained that it saved her and her sister with their kiddos. they included a gift receipt, but we kept it because all the bees loved it and we loved it too! we loaned it to our friends for their newborn! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-off-registry#post-1777367 Wed, 23 Jul 2014 22:05:45 +0000 tororojo 1777367@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My cousin got a RnP for me (off-registry) and I did use it some, but probably would have returned it if she included a receipt. I'm kind of a minimalist and didn't want baby holders all over our tiny apartment. It did come in handy when she was sick and for travel, but for us it wasn't a necessity. BUT if you include a gift receipt and note about why it's so great, sounds like a good plan! If she really wants the diaper genie she could trade it out. ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-off-registry#post-1777364 Wed, 23 Jul 2014 22:01:41 +0000 tysonja 1777364@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's great to give items that you found invaluable :)! </p> <p>that said, I'd definitely include a gift receipt, and also perhaps a casual mention that it's totally cool if she exchanges your gift for something else if she chooses to :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-off-registry#post-1777356 Wed, 23 Jul 2014 21:50:55 +0000 wonderstruck 1777356@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I prefer to buy off the registry. I know there's items I've heard other moms say are useless that were invaluable to me (Diaper Genie is one of them!), and there's been other things most people loved that my son totally hated. I understand where you're coming from because the RnP was a lifesaver for me...but I know I've seen other moms on these boards who don't like them or want to use them for various reasons, so yeah, definitely include the gift receipt in case! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-off-registry#post-1777322 Wed, 23 Jul 2014 21:13:54 +0000 photojane 1777322@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone! She's older than me, but most of her friends are older than her &amp; have school-aged children. So, my thinking is that she probably won't get one from anyone else. I'll definitely include a gift receipt! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-off-registry#post-1777308 Wed, 23 Jul 2014 21:04:56 +0000 Raindrop 1777308@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ditto on the gift receipt.</p> <p>Ever since having a kid. I totally give stuff off-registry, just things that I found were useful when I had a newborn that wasn't on their registry. I hope that it comes in handy which many people have told me my gifts have! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-off-registry#post-1777304 Wed, 23 Jul 2014 21:02:19 +0000 Applesandbananas 1777304@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree, include a gift receipt or even chat with her a little and see where her thoughts are. I almost didn't register for a rnp because I was really encouraged to get a swing and didn't understand the difference between the rnp and a swing. </p>