Four Ways To EmpowerYour Baby Shower (NAPSA)—Shopping for a new baby should be fun and exciting. However, sometimes it can turn into a daunting experience. A targeted baby registry can alleviate the guessworkfor friends and family, help you get just what you need and avoid unwanted or duplicate items. To get the most mileage out of your registry, “Do just as much homework as if you were paying the tab yourself,” says Sandra Gordon, one of the nation’s leading baby product experts and author of the new book “Save a Bundle: 50+ Ways to Save Big on Baby Gear.” “Test-drive strollers in the store, for example, to get an idea of how they handle. If you're registering online, visit retail stores first to get familiar with the products you're considering. Selecting baby products is a process, so expect to make several trips to fine-tune your product picks.” Registry Rules Gordon offers the following guidelines for expectant parents to help them honetheirgift list. Think big. In this economy, putting big-ticket baby items on your list—suchasa stroller, glider, a crib, a baby monitor, changing table, high chair and an infant car seat—can be guilt inducing. Still, friends and family may chip in as a group to buy them for you. Register at more than one store. Gift givers like options. Consider registering for money, too. Sites such as www.depositagift.com allow you to tastefully request and accept cash gifts. You use the funds to buy as you go or just have a stash of cash for future expenses. Wander outside the baby gear aisle. These days, new a. 2 Feeding and outfitting a new baby may be easier and less expensive than many prospective parents know. moms and dads are requesting items on their baby registry that aren’t typical, such as a smartphone, which is great for capturing precious memories of yourlittle one, e-mailing photos to Grandpa and Grandma, and posting cute baby photos on Facebook and Instagram. Request practical items. Put everyday items such as diapers, diaper wipes and Store Brand Infant Formula on your registry, if you anticipate using formula. Store Brand Formulas, such as Walmart’s Parent’s Choice, offer the same complete nutrition as name brand formula, yet they cost up to 50 percent less. The savings can make a big budgetdifference later, when yourregistry stash of formula runs out, adding up to $600 a year. For more information, visit www.parentschoiceformula.com. Learn More For more baby product advice, visit www.babyproductsmom.com.
