Making a baby registry feels exciting at first. You get to scan things with a little laser gun and imagine your future baby using all this stuff. It feels like playing house, except this time it’s real.

But here’s what nobody tells you. A registry is easy to mess up. Really easy. And I say that as someone who sat down with my husband, a glass of wine, and way too much confidence, thinking we had it all figured out.

We did not have it all figured out. So let’s talk about the mistakes moms make when building their registry, so you can skip the learning curve I stumbled through.

Mistake One: Registering Too Early

I registered at twelve weeks pregnant. Twelve weeks. I didn’t even know the gender yet, and I was already picking out crib sheets.

Here’s the problem with registering too early. Your needs change as your pregnancy goes on, and honestly, so do trends and product recalls. Something that looked amazing at twelve weeks might get discontinued, recalled, or replaced by a better version by the time your baby actually arrives.

Wait until at least the start of your second trimester, ideally later, before you build your full list. You’ll have a much clearer sense of your life, your space, and what you’ll actually need by then.

Mistake Two: Copying Someone Else’s List

It’s so tempting to just look at your friend’s registry and copy it item for item. She had a baby recently, so she must know best, right?

Not exactly. Your life is not her life. Maybe she has a big house with a whole nursery wing. Maybe you live in a small apartment. Maybe she formula feeds and you plan to breastfeed. Maybe she has family nearby to help and you don’t.

Your registry should reflect your life, not someone else’s Pinterest board. Think about your actual daily routine, your home, and your support system before adding a single item.

Mistake Three: Not Registering for Bigger Ticket Items

A lot of first-time moms feel weird asking for expensive things. It almost feels greedy, doesn’t it? Like you’re supposed to just ask for the small, cute stuff and figure out the big purchases yourself.

But think about it this way. People want to give you something meaningful. Grandparents especially often want to contribute to something big, like a car seat, a stroller, or a crib. If you don’t put those on your registry, you might end up paying for them entirely out of pocket while someone gifts you your fifth tiny outfit instead.

Don’t be afraid to add the big stuff. The worst that happens is nobody buys it and you get it yourself anyway. But often, someone will surprise you.

Mistake Four: Registering for Too Many Newborn-Sized Clothes

I mentioned this in another post, but it’s worth repeating here because it happens so often on registries specifically. New moms load up their list with adorable newborn sized outfits.

And look, I get it. They’re so tiny and cute. But babies often skip right past that size within a couple weeks, sometimes faster if they’re born a little bigger. All those newborn outfits people bought you? Some of them might never even get worn.

Ask for a range of sizes instead. Focus more heavily on 0 to 3 months and 3 to 6 months. Your baby will actually get to wear those.

Mistake Five: Forgetting About Yourself

This one hits close to home. I spent so much time picking out baby gear that I barely thought about what I would need for my own recovery after birth.

Postpartum is rough. Your body just went through something huge, whether you deliver vaginally or by C-section. And yet most registries are one hundred percent baby focused, like moms don’t need anything at all.

Add things for yourself too. Things like comfortable postpartum underwear, nursing bras, a good water bottle you can drink from one handed, pads, and maybe even a meal delivery gift card. Your recovery matters just as much as your baby’s needs.

Do you think anyone will judge you for adding a robe or heating pad to your registry? They won’t. If anything, they’ll appreciate that you’re being real about what new moms actually go through.

Mistake Six: Ignoring Return Policies and Store Overlap

Not all stores are created equal when it comes to returns. Some make it painless. Others make you jump through hoops, especially with items that were opened even slightly.

Before you commit to registering heavily at one store, look into their return policy. And here’s a tip that saved me a headache. Registering at a store with a good return policy and a wide network of locations makes life so much easier if you need to exchange something.

Also, try not to double up too much across multiple registries with the same categories. If you register for a stroller at two different stores, you might end up with two strollers and a returns nightmare on your hands.

Mistake Seven: Overloading on Cute, Underloading on Practical

It’s so easy to fall into the trap of registering for things because they’re adorable rather than because they’re useful. A beautiful decorative blanket sounds lovely until you realize you need six burp cloths and you only registered for one pack.

Practical stuff isn’t glamorous. But you will use practical stuff every single day. Burp cloths, swaddles, bottle brushes, a good diaper bag, these are the unsung heroes of new parenthood.

Try to balance your list. For every cute or fun item, add something practical too. Your future self at 2 a.m. covered in spit up will thank you.

Mistake Eight: Not Asking Other Moms What They Actually Used

Before I had my daughter, I didn’t ask a single mom friend what she actually used versus what just sat in a box. I wish I had.

Every mom you know has a list of things that saved her life and a list of things that were a total waste. Ask them. Seriously, just ask. People love sharing this stuff, and it can save you so much money and clutter.

You’ll start noticing patterns too. A lot of moms will mention the same handful of items over and over. Those are usually worth trusting.

Mistake Nine: Registering for Too Much Stuff Overall

There’s a strange pressure to fill up your registry like it’s a shopping list for a small country. But more items does not equal better preparation.

A registry packed with sixty different products can overwhelm your guests, and it can leave you with a house full of things you’ll never use. Focus on quality over quantity. Pick things that genuinely matter, and skip the filler.

Mistake Ten: Not Updating the List As Your Due Date Gets Closer

Your registry isn’t something you set once and forget. As your due date creeps closer, go back through it. Remove things you changed your mind about. Add things you didn’t think of before.

I updated mine about a month before my due date and ended up swapping out a stroller model completely after reading more reviews. If I hadn’t gone back to check, I would have ended up with something I didn’t actually want.

So How Do You Build a Better Registry?

Take your time. Don’t rush the process just because everyone else seems to be doing it early. Think about your actual life, not an idealized version of parenthood you’ve seen online.

Ask for help with the big stuff. Don’t be shy about it. And please, add things for yourself too, because you matter in this whole equation just as much as your baby does.

What would you add to this list? If you’ve already had a baby, I’d bet you have at least one registry regret of your own, and probably one item you’re so glad you added.