So you’ve just spent hours (or days or ) building the perfect baby registry. Now what? Screaming “Here’s my baby registry!” loudly to all you know may not be the best way to spread the word. Yes, friends and family expect you to have a registry. In fact, they like it because it means they know that the things they’re gifting you with are the things you really want. But how do you share your registry information without sounding tacky? Here are some ways that almost everyone finds acceptable according to baby registry etiquette.
1. Include it with your baby shower invitations.
This method is still up for debate in today’s etiquette. According to famous etiquette expert and writer Emily Post (and also my very Southern mother), it is NOT okay to share your registry information on the invitation itself. However, it IS okay to include an insert with the registry information along with the shower invitation. That being said, I’ve received many a shower invite with “Megan is registered at BuyBuyBaby” at the bottom (or on the back) of the invitation. Or, in our case, “You can find Megan’s BabyList registry at www.babylist.com.” Many etiquette experts, as well as many grandmothers, I suspect, say even including an insert makes it sound like you’re only asking for gifts. I personally found it helpful to have the information in hand when I was ready to pick a gift. My suggestion? Let your shower hostesses decide.
2. Make sure your mom knows where you’re registered.
Your baby shower hostesses probably already know where you’re registered, but some people are skittish about bothering strangers for information. Back in the day of the phone call RSVP (remember calling people on the phone???), shower guests would call the hostesses to confirm their attendance and would ask for the registry information then. These days, many shower invitations only ask for regrets, giving a gift giver no other reason to call. When people contact me at BabyList, they obviously know that the mom-to-be is registered with us. But often times I get questions like, “When is Holly due?” or “Do you know what size sling Robin wants?” or most often, “What is Mary’s address?,” I offer to contact the mom-to-be but nine times out of ten the response is, “No, thank you. I’ll ask Amanda’s mother.” Make sure your mom knows!
3. Tell them!
While etiquette says it’s tacky for you to go around announcing your baby registry (i.e., posting the link to your 600 Facebook friends), it is totally okay to share the information if you’re asked.
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