When you're expecting, you will most likely want to or need to make a baby registry. You know you need one, but do you know where you can get the best benefits? Registry completion discounts and coupons, FREE GIFTS, bonuses that will stick around for a whole year?
When I was pregnant with my first baby, I knew that Target had a baby registry service, and there was some store called "bum bum baby" or "baby boom boom" that my mother in law told us about. (I'm referring to buybuyBABY- English isn't her first language so)
I didn't know that basically any store that sells baby products has the ability to make a baby registry. I didn't know that almost all of them give you a free -or almost free- welcome bag, and they all have different coupons to use when your due date gets closer. I've compiled this list for you to make it easier to decide which store you'd like to register with. You can even register different things at different stores - I did that with my second and third babies. I found the best prices for items at different stores and added them to the different registries. I was also very interested in collecting all of the registry gifts from them!
Want to see more about those free gift bags? Check out my post here! I'll show you what I got in each one, to give you a bit of an idea of what to expect. They do change all the time, but things are generally similar.
Amazon Baby Registry: My favorite registry site! I think they've got the best selections, shipping speed, prices, and completion coupon. If you don't have Amazon Prime, start your free 30-day trial here! (You'll need Prime to claim the gift bag and the completion coupon!)
PROS:
Free baby bag! You can claim after completing 60% or more of registry checklist and making a $10 purchase from your registry.
Over 270,000 baby items to choose from!
Registry discount available 60 days before due date, can be used twice for 15% off (10% off for non- prime members) of two purchases, a combined value up to $2,000 or a limit of 50 items each order.
Gift givers have the ability to purchase items, or contribute to a diaper fund if you add that option.
Most items have 2 day free Prime shipping.
Baby Registry Sweepstakes for a chance to win $2,500 for your registry.
Amazon Family gives you coupons on certain baby items and 20% savings on diaper subscriptions. Currently, I have a coupon for 40% off when starting a Subscribe & Save diaper order. From what I can tell, that's a one-time 40% and the following boxes will be 5% off, until I "unlock" the 15% savings after "receiving 5 or more products in one auto-delivery to one address". Figuring out the subscription prices isn't easy!
You can add items from other websites, I have never tried though. I split up my registries based on which store would have the best final price with registry coupons or loyalty discounts (like the Target RedCard 5%). I did that only with my second baby because we purchased almost everything ourselves. First baby was a crazy free-for-all where the family purchased everything from registries and then some- for which we are very grateful, but boy did we end up with a lot of stuff.
The Amazon app is very easy to use, and most people are very familiar with it.
A registry checklist is available to help you along the way, and will automatically check off items as you add them, or you can check them manually if you don't need them.
CONS:
Some items you may want on your registry may not be "baby items" - for example, I chose a nice blanket for my second baby, but couldn't use the discount because it wasn't technically a 'baby item'.
The completion discount only applies to items that are sold and shipped by Amazon.
You have to have an Amazon Prime account to use the completion coupon or claim the baby box.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means, if you purchase through one of my Amazon links, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. This includes making an Amazon Baby Registry through my provided link.
PROS:
100% free registry gift box. No purchase necessary, no shipping cost. 4-6 week delivery time.
Free returns up to one year!
Next day delivery on orders of $35 or more.
Baby registry checklist to help you along the way.
You can work on your registry on the Walmart app.
Hoo the virtual registry assistant is available to provide product recommendations.
CONS:
Some things sold on Walmart.com are by third parties, and are sometimes priced up.
The registry website isn't as nice of a layout as others, in my opinion, and is harder to navigate.
They do not offer a registry completion coupon or discount.
BuybuyBABY briefly went out of business, was bought out, and reopened all within the span of a few months in 2023.
buybuyBABY Registry: One of my least favorites because of the coupon exclusions and higher priced items, and limited locations depending on your area.
PROS:
Free registry gift bag (in store only). If you want to purchase a box online through your registry options, it will cost $10. They are supposed to credit your account with $10 in My Funds (store credit) but lately they haven't been doing it. I had that problem when acquiring my latest box. The customer service link is broken, so it's a tough fight over ten bucks.
You can have help in store with setting up your registry, no appointment necessary.
Free shipping on orders over $39.
15% off remaining items completion coupon. It does have quite a few exclusions, however..
There is an app to use with the registry.
You can go into a Bed Bath and Beyond store and order items from a buybuyBABY registry, but they do not carry any baby items in store. I have read they can give you a registry gift bag, but when I tried to do that I was told they don't carry them anymore.
Referral bonus: Receive a coupon for $25 off of a $100 purchase for each friend you refer that makes a baby registry with buybuyBABY.
CONS:
Very few store locations. The closest one to me is approximately two hours each way.
I have noticed when comparing prices to other stores, that they can be more expensive on some items. Diapers, wipes, and formula for example. However, if you pay $30 a year for a BEYOND+ membership, you can get those high prices down to normal retail! (I did the math on some items, it's crazy!) Although some things will be in fact cheaper with said membership, not many! You also can't use it on a lot of the higher tier brands, UPPAbaby for example will not allow any coupons. I learned that the hard way when I wanted to use my registry coupon to purchase the infant seat to go with the vista stroller we were gifted at our baby shower.
To "purchase" the registry gift box, you can only do it from a computer and it's relatively hard to find. Here it is, for those who are looking. Update: as of April 2022 the box is unavailable for purchase.
The discount coupon may not apply to many brands. All of their coupons have a long list of exclusions.
Lots of complaints about clearly damaged/returned items being sent, and returns being a huge hassle.
Shipping can take longer than other stores, and they'll often separate orders into multiple packages, if not all separate packages. I once received a 12 item order in 12 packages over the course of two weeks. The last item came late three weeks later and I had literally forgotten about it.
If you want the "free shipping for a year" registry perk, $1,500 has to be spent from your registry. Some people don't even register for that much!
An example of a buybuyBABY's markup and coupon exclusion compared to Target. Prices from 2022.
Target Baby Registry: My second favorite registry website because of the wide selection, fast shipping, and ability to combine discounts with the coupons.
PROS:
Free registry gift bag available in store or can be purchased online for .5 cents and shipped with a $35 order. Update: online bag is out of stock as of April 2022 and has not returned.
Free 2 day shipping over $35 or with Target RedCard.
Two 15% registry completion coupons- One for in store, one for online! That can be combined with your RedCard 5% discount, Target Circle 1% back, and a 10% team member discount if you happen to work for Target.
Group gifting, drive up, order pickup, same day delivery, two day shipping, Target does it all.
Universal registry allows you to add items from other websites. I have not tried though.
Baby registry checklist available to help you make sure you don't forget anything. It will automatically check off items you've added.
Purchased items are automatically marked as purchased.
Price match guarantee: they will price match "if you buy a qualifying item at Target and then find the identical item for less."
Free registry returns and exchanges up to 1 year, exclusive Target Circle deals for 1 year as well.
When viewed by gift givers, the registry page can be sorted by most wanted, price, and what's already been purchased. Target also shows shoppers which aisle each item is located in at their closest store.
You can now use the Target app to work on your registry! I wish this was a thing when I was making mine during 2021. I was going crazy using the browser on my phone.
TONS of Target locations. Everyone has a Target!
CONS:
Coupon does have a long list of exclusions, mostly for the higher priced brands. (Honest Company, DockATot, Hudson Baby, Peg Perego, etc).
I love how Babylist has a weekly "Baby is the size of a _____!" integrated into the home page.
PROS:
You can add items from any store or website.
Each item has the prices from other retailers listed for comparing to get the best deal!
Free shipping over $45 from the Babylist store.
15% registry completion coupon.
"Free" Hello Baby Box- you do have to pay shipping, and you can only redeem the box after $10 has been spent on your registry, from the Babylist store, not other stores.
Has an option for "diaper fund" contributions or Babylist store gift cards, a cash fund, or favor cards - cute little coupons for things like "house cleaning" or "home-cooked meals".
Convenient and easy to navigate app that has a weekly pregnancy tracker, guides, suggestions, and quizzes to help you figure out what items are for you. There is also the ability to chat with consultants.
Notifications of price change and when out of stock items are back in stock.
Special Babylist brand collaborations with exclusive prints and colors.
You can get free insert cards for invitations that tell guests where your registry is!
CONS:
The Babylist store can be expensive.
If someone purchases or reserves an item from a store other than Babylist, they have to go back and manually mark it as purchased, as opposed to other registries doing it automatically.
The 15% completion coupon is only valid in the Babylist store, not on other registry items.
The coupon only excludes the following: Lovevery subscriptions, Nuna products, Pampers diapers and wipes.
I hope this helped you to figure out a thing or two about where to build your baby registry! There are other baby registry sites out there as well, but I am not as familiar with them.
Building your baby registry? Take a look at my Ultimate Baby Registry!