Hellobee Boards

I'm a soon-to-be new mama! I've noticed for my own registry that people are tending to buy the fun+cute gifts--toys, books, clothes--and they aren't buying more hardworking+useful gifts--nursing things, diaper things, health things. Because those things are more a necessity than, say, a cute toy, I'm going to have to get them one way or another. So my vote is to look at her registry, see what she's gotten so far (maybe her balance is reversed from mine!) and let that help guide your direction.

I'm expecting my first next month, and just had our first shower last weekend. We got tons of clothes (not registered for), and just a few things off the registry.

Like others, most of the registry purchases were the cuter things like a tummy time play mat, teethers, etc. I really appreciated the couple people that got the practical stuff for feeding and the grooming/heathcare kit. I don't think you can go wrong with a gift card though either, since then they'll just buy what is left on the registry anyway.

If they haven't gotten the practical stuff off their registry go with that. If most of the practical stuff has been purchased then go with a gift card and they can use it for what they discover they need once the baby actually shows up. I really appreciated having the practical stuff on hand and not having to go out and buy something with a brand new november baby. I also loved the flexibility of gift cards for later, and am still working my way through gift cards (E is 15 months) to get the stuff that looks weird on a registry the stuff for toddlers or the duplicates of stuff I didn't think I needed two of.

I like to do a mix. My go-tos are to get any medical-related stuff they have (thermometer, nose frida) from the registry and then fill it out with things like tylenol, gas drops, boogie wipes, etc. Or I get nursing/bottle supplies and top it off with lanolin and gel soothies. So the main items are useful from the registry, and the small items fit the theme but are things first time moms might not know about. I have had many friends tell me they really appreciated it after the fact - especially the gel soothies

After my first was born, I made countless trips to target and babies r us to get the things we actually needed so I vote for gift card!

I usually buy one useful item off the registry and then add a monogrammed or personalized blanket or hooded towel from pottery barn kids. Although someone got me a stroller blanket from boll and branch and it is gorgeous so I might look at that next time too

If their registry has an item that I have found very useful with my babies, I always buy that and include that note in the card.
Otherwise I buy a practical item or a gift card. If I do a gift card, I say that it's to buy themselves something nice or to buy something they think they need at 2:00 a.m. when the baby is crying. I think I bought stuff from Amazon every other day for the first 6 months of both of my babies' lives, haha.