6 Best Baby Registries for Parents-to-Be

Amazon claims to have “Earth’s biggest selection” of products — and that’s great news for your baby registry. Our testers who signed up for an Amazon Baby Registry loved that they could add any item, even if it’s not totally baby related (one of them used it as an opportunity to stock up on household essentials like paper towels and laundry detergent). Browse books to read for late-night feedings, comfy pillows to keep you and your growing belly propped up in bed and, yes, all the baby gear you could possibly need during that first year.

Our testers found that their friends and family appreciated the convenience of an Amazon baby registry, too. More than 70 million American households have Prime accounts, which means your loved ones likely already have their own accounts and can easily buy gifts off your list as they shop for themselves. Making shopping easy for them means you might get everything you asked for (fingers crossed!).

Amazon baby registry features and perks:

• Return policy: Gifts can be returned within one year after you receive notice that it shipped. You’ll get an Amazon credit and the gift giver will never find out about the return. Keep in mind, though, that if you (the registry owner) purchase something and want to return it, the extended return window does not apply — you'll have the standard 90 days from the receipt of shipment to send it back to Amazon.
• Discounts: Prime members receive a 15 percent completion discount. The discount starts 60 days before your due date and ends 90 after. You can apply it toward up to two orders of up to $2,000, which means big savings for you. If you aren't a Prime subscriber, then you get a 10 percent completion discount on the same products. If you plan to spend a lot, the higher discount and free two-day shipping Prime members receive might make the $99 annual fee of a Prime membership worth it. 
• Freebies: Once you create your registry, add 10 items to it and someone makes a purchase from it ($10 minimum), Amazon sends Prime members a free welcome box full of samples for you and your baby. The box contents change over time, but one of our editors received a newborn onesie, a muslin swaddle blanket, a full-size bottle of baby shampoo, three types of diapers, a Dr. Brown's bottle and several sample-size bath items. 
• Group gifting: Yes.
• Universal registry. No

Read our full Amazon baby registry review »

Target’s baby registry wins big points for its easy-to-use interface. After you've created a registry and are logged into your Target.com account, an "Add to Registry" button appears on every product (even non-baby products, allowing for maximum flexibility). When you navigate away from the registry page, you won’t get lost, because the “Registries & Lists” link appears clearly at the top of all Target pages. There’s also a cute calendar icon with your due date and a spot for a custom message that everyone sees when they visit your registry. Additionally, you can let gift-givers know which products are most important to you by labeling items "most wanted." 

Also good? The sheer number of Target locations around the country — about 1,900 stores — makes it likely that one is in your area. You can stop by a store at any time to see what a product looks like in person. The brick-and-mortar store allows more flexibility for the gift-giver, as well; for one of our testers, this was essential, because multiple family members attending her baby shower were in their 80s and didn't feel comfortable shopping on a computer or smartphone. 

One potential downside to the Target baby registry is that Target's selection of strollers and car seats is somewhat more limited than what Amazon offers. One of our testers loved everything about her Target baby registry (especially adding items from the Cat & Jack clothing line), but was disappointed that she could not register for her preferred stroller (the Uppababy Cruz V2) and compatible infant car seat (Uppababy Mesa). But, she found a simple solution: She added an Amazon registry for those items, and a handful of others that weren't available at Target. 

Another thing to note: Target offers two 15 percent discounts, one of which is added to your Target Circle account and automatically applied to your purchase. If you do not want to use it on your next purchase, be sure to deselect “Offer Saved” in your Target Circle Offers page to temporarily deactivate the coupon. 

Target baby registry features and perks:

• Return policy: Even though Target’s regular return policy only allows for 90-day returns, the store allows you to return items from your baby registry up to a year after your due date. (Sleep-deprived parents deserve a break. Thank you, Target). Products need to be new, unopened and in the original packaging to be considered for a return.
• Discounts: Like Amazon, Target offers a 15 percent completion discount. The discount is good for two separate uses, one 15 percent coupon for a purchase at a Target store and another 15 percent promotion code for Target.com. 
• Freebies: After you create your baby registry, you'll be eligible to get a free Welcome Kit. You can redeem the kit, which includes a $150+ value of coupons and free samples, at your local Target store.
• Group gifting: No.
• Universal registry: No

Read our full Target baby registry review »

Pottery Barn is known for beautifully designed products, and Pottery Barn Kids is no different. Here you can find organic crib bedding, chic nursery furniture, cute toys and more. Better yet, Pottery Barn Kids will personalize many of the gifts by embroidering or painting your baby’s name or monogram. (Just imagine custom towels with beautifully embroidered letters or a fun plush rocker that has your baby’s name on the wooden rails!) Our tester also appreciated that this registry allows you to add gift cards to your list. She held onto her gift cards and eventually used them toward a purchase of a twin-size bed for her now-toddler.

There are a couple of minor downsides to the Pottery Barn baby registry experience: products tend to be on the expensive side, and you'll definitely need to set up a second registry if you want to register for more practical items like diapers and wipes. There's also no welcome kit. But for stylish parents-to-be, Pottery Barn Kids is the perfect place to find personalized, high-end decor and furniture.

Pottery Barn Kids baby registry features and perks:

• Return policy: You can return or exchange registry items within 90 days from the date of your event or 90 days from when the item was purchased, whichever is later.
• Discounts: Like the other registries, Pottery Barn Kids offers a completion discount. At 15 percent, it’s higher than the rest and can be used 60 days prior and up to 180 days after your due date. Although you can't use it on baby gear, which isn't super helpful.
• Freebies: Pottery Barn Kids doesn't offer a welcome box like many other baby registries do, but you can make a free appointment with the retailer's design team to help you refine your nursery inspiration.
• Group gifting: No, but gift cards available.
• Universal registry: No, but you can add items from Pottery Barn's family of brands, which include West Elm and Williams Sonoma.

Read our full Pottery Barn Kids Baby Registry review » 

Want to save your friends and family money on their gifts for baby? A Walmart registry is the way to go. The store's famously low prices extend into their baby and toddler gear, so you'll know you're getting a great deal on everything from diapers to baby clothes to a stroller or car seat.

And if Walmart doesn't have the best price? Bring proof that one of their online competitors offers a lower price on the exact same (and in-stock product), and Walmart will price match. (This applies to one item per day.)

While Target may be known for its stylish house brands, don't sleep on Walmart for baby clothes. Our testers found that Walmart carries an impressive selection of adorable clothes, and that the retailer partners with Carter's, Monica + Andy, Gerber and other higher-end brands on exclusive, affordable lines. 

Walmart baby registry features and perks:

• Return policy: If you end up with duplicates or gifts you won't need, you can return them in one of Walmart's 4,500+ U.S. stores within 90 days of the gift's purchase. You'll need the gift receipt or packing slip, and will receive cash or a Walmart gift card with the value of the gift on it to spend in-store or online. Some registry items are eligible for a return within one year. 
• Discounts: Walmart price matching lets you save big on baby gear. The retailer will match any competitor’s online price for the same product.
• Freebies: Walmart offers a free Welcome Box when you start your registry. It's filled with samples that you can use once baby arrives, plus coupons to save money on baby gear later. 
• Group gifting: No.
• Universal registry: No.

Read our full Walmart baby registry review »

Parents-to-be love Babylist because in addition to purchasing products directly from Babylist, it also gives you (and gift-givers) the option to buy elsewhere — and also allows you to add anything to your registry from any store on the web. Our testers added products from big-box stores like Walmart and Target, as well as smaller indie shops. 

Beyond products, you can also register for cash funds (college, diapers) or even help from friends and family. Our testers appreciated that they could register to have loved ones sign up to bring meals, walk their dogs and even contribute to a college fund.

Babylist also offers plenty of registry examples to get you started, keeping in mind that no two parents will need the exact same things. They have sample registries for second-time moms, moms expecting multiples, parents who are adopting older babies and single moms, and explain why each product will fit these parents' specific needs. One of our testers, a second-time mom-to-be who was convinced she already had everything she needed, realized that she would need to have a second white-nosie machine, second baby monitor and a whole lot more diapers and wipes after skimming through Babylist's sample registry for second-time parents.

The only downside to Babylist is that while our registrants absolutely love it, their gift-givers were sometimes left frustrated by the checkout experience. When someone buys a gift you've registered for somewhere other than Babylist, they have to leave Babylist and then come back to let the tool know that the gift has been claimed. Because of that, the same What to Expect editor who loved Target's baby registry avoided using Babylist. But with that said, it's your baby registry — and Babylist's logistical challenges are minor overall. 

Babylist baby registry features and perks:

• Return policy: You can return gifts purchased through Babylist within nine months. For products purchased from other retailers, you'll have to look up each store's individual return policy. 
• Discounts: Whatever you don't receive as a gift, you can buy with a 15 percent registry discount (if purchased through Babylist). The coupon is eligible within the 60 days before baby's estimated due date.
• Freebies: Babylist's Hello Baby Box contains samples and offers for moms-to-be and new babies from coveted brands.
• Universal registry: Babylist is a universal registry, which means that you can add any product from any store, whether it's at a major retailer like Amazon or a small online boutique. You can even link your other registries to Babylist to make sure your entire wish list is in one easy place for your friends and family.
• Group gifting: Yes.

Read our full Babylist baby registry review »

This is your do-it-all baby registry resource. First, you can choose gifts from any store in the world and add them to your registry here. Already have a registry or two? Sync multiple registries you already have — Target, Amazon, Pottery Barn Kids, Walmart — which makes it way easier to streamline the whole process and simple when it comes to getting the word out about where to find your wish lists. You can also add a cash registry.

But the ultimate perk parents are loving: Costco is a partner with MyRegistry.com, so you can add all of your favorites from the wholesale store to your list. Costco has a ton of awesome stuff beyond endless supplies of diapers and wipes (though those will come in handy, too).

One great feature is the link that allows you to see the popular items people are adding to their registries, so you can stay in-the-know when it comes to the latest and greatest. There are also various sample registries and an ultimate baby checklist so you won’t be left without any essential. Inspiration boards provide even more ideas for building the best — and chicest — registry possible. Don’t forget to download the app so you can scan barcodes of things you see on-the-go that you think would be perfect for your future babe.

MyRegistry.com baby registry features and perks:

Because MyRegistry.com isn't a retailer, you won't get any specific discounts or freebies. Instead, it's a helpful place to keep track of all your baby registries.

• Group gifting: Yes, on the cash registry feature.
• Universal registry: Yes.