Getting People to Buy From Your Baby Registry (for Your Twinnies)

Worried your baby shower guests will go rogue and totally disregard your registry items? Not to worry, we’re here to share practical ways you can get people to actually buy from your baby registry (without being pushy).

So you’re expecting twins, and you’ve put together your dream registry. It’s got all the exact items you know you’ll need and that fit the aesthetic of your home and nursery. 

But as lots of parents out there know, simply putting an item on your registry doesn’t guarantee it will get purchased. So what’s a twin mama to do? We’ve been there, and we asked other mamas to chime in with their wisdom to help us compile some helpful advice. 

Include the registry info on your shower invitation

This may sound super obvious, but it’s still worth mentioning. Make sure you (or whoever creates your shower invites) actually puts the registry link on the invitation. While you may want your invites to look super cute or mesh with your shower/nursery theme, it’s easy to get lost in the cute visuals and overlook key details like your registry. 

So whether you’re doing an evite or snail mail, triple check that the registry info is clearly visible and accessible. If you go the QR code route, make sure the QR code generator you’re using won’t expire the link.

Make your messaging courteous but clear

Wherever you include a link to your registry, you can strike a balance between being direct yet polite. 

Here are some helpful examples for respectful and tasteful wording to encourage people to stick to the registry:

• Since Baby R already has lots of cute and fun hand-me-downs from her cousins, please kindly refer to the registry below for items she still needs! 

Reasons we love this messaging: helps dissuade folks from purchasing clothes and toys and mentions that the registry items are very much needed for baby

• If you’d like to give a gift, consider buying or contributing to one of the mama-to-be’s hand-selected registry items. 

Reasons we love this messaging: it doesn’t assume they’ll get a gift, and it highlights the thought that went into choosing each registry item

• The parents-to-be are so grateful for your love and support as they await for Baby’s arrival. Please see their registry for the perfect gift ideas!

Reasons we love this messaging: it begins with gratitude and also emphasizes that the registry items would make the best gifts

Include a variety of items and prices

You’re likely to have folks from all walks of life who want to give a gift. Retired relatives, your friend who just finished grad school, your cousin who’s on her third baby. 

Keep this in mind when you put your registry together. Including items with a range of prices can ensure that all your guests have a gift they can purchase at a comfortable price point. 

Of course, you’ll need those big ticket items like cribs and a sturdy double stroller. But you’ll also need smaller everyday items like swaddle blankets and burp cloths. 

For these pricier items, be sure to allow group gifting. This lets people contribute to a portion of those bigger must-have items and feel like they’re gifting you something you really need without having to shoulder the full price on their own. A win-win for both of you!

And keep in mind sometimes people enjoy giving the fun, cutesy items. Sure, you may not want to overload your registry with toys and clothes. But adding at least a few of those items is helpful for two reasons. For one, it helps give people a glimpse into your style. And two, it gives people a chance to give a fun item alongside a more practical item.

Talk about your registry (especially to the right people)

Talking about your registry is key too! If the topic arises when you’re with folks who may be looking for a gift to give, mention that you have a registry. Showing excitement about the items you have on there will remind friends and family that you really want those particular items. 

Another way to spread the word is by enlisting the help of a few key allies. Think about which people in your life other guests may turn to when asking about what gift(s) to buy. Your mom, your MIL, your best friend, your SIL, even a coworker. Whoever it is for you, get them on board early so they can help direct inquiring folks to your registry.’

One teacher mama who was pregnant with twins had a coworker ask about her registry info. This ended up being such a blessing for her because the sweet coworker ended up sharing that info with other teachers who purchased some of the remaining registry items!

Invite people to your registry via email

In some cases, you may already have emails for people you’re inviting to your baby shower. Consider sending them an email invitation that includes all the information they’ll need to access your registry. 

If this makes you feel uncomfortable because you feel like you’re bothering people, here’s something to keep in mind. Life gets busy, and people may simply forget or wait until the last minute to buy shower gifts. 

Sending them a helpful e-reminder will actually make their life easier since they’ll have all the information they need at their fingertips. You’d be surprised at how many people actually appreciate the guidance and specificity of a registry. Especially since baby items tend to evolve so rapidly over the years. 

Keep your registry organized

Wherever you decide to host your registry, take the extra time to make sure it’s organized. Using categories can help people find what they’re looking for. 

You can also consider marking items as “must-have” or “favorite” so people know they’re a top priority. One new mama mentioned that once people started buying items, she would go in and push her favorites back to the top so they would be seen first.

Ask for help

Some people may hesitate to buy from your baby registry simply because they feel you don’t need a lot of the items on there. Initially, this may sound annoying. But if this is your debut into parenting, realize it can be hard to decipher the essentials from the nice-to-haves. That’s why we suggest getting some help with putting your registry together. 

Your best bet is to run your registry by another twin mama who had her babies in the last few years. She can give you helpful advice on what makes sense to double up on. She can also tell you with brutal honesty about items she put on her registry and didn’t end up using at all. 

Consider keeping the gender a secret

Deciding whether or not to reveal the gender of your babies is a very personal choice. And we totally get that! So if you’re really excited about sharing the news, definitely go for it. 

That said, some mamas have shared their experience with deciding not to reveal the gender in regards to their registry. The idea behind this is that if people don’t know the genders, they may be less likely to go out and buy a bunch of clothes for the babies. A few mamas mentioned this resulting in them getting less off-registry items like clothes. 

So if you’re looking for creative ways to encourage folks to stay “on-registry,” this could be an option to consider.

Manage your expectations ahead of time

This is more of a tip for making the overall experience more enjoyable for you and your partner! But try to prepare yourself mentally for what’s realistic. It’s possible (even likely) that some items on your registry won’t get purchased.

When you keep that in mind from the start, you’re less likely to get upset once your shower comes and goes. Also keep in mind that glitches happen. It’s not unheard of to get duplicate items from your registry. 

Final thoughts on getting people to buy from your baby registry

At the end of the day, it’s important to remember that a gift is a gift. We’re not at all saying that you shouldn’t feel grateful for something that someone gave you that wasn’t on your registry. 

After all, some of the most thoughtful gifts and keepsakes end up being ones that were a complete surprise. Something you didn’t know you needed or wanted but that a dear friend somehow knew would be perfect for you and your little ones. And you can always re-gift, return, or donate that totally out-there off-registry clothing article your baby will never wear.

That said, we also know that there are basic, practical things you’ll need as a twin mama. And we want to make sure that you get all the help you can get in preparing with those key registry items.

So try your hand at our advice above, and best wishes in preparing for your little bundles of joy on the way!

Want more tips for nailing your twin baby registry? Check out these resources too:

• Twins Baby Registry Checklist
• What Not to Put on Your Twins Baby Registry
• Twins Baby Registry: 5 Tips to Get Started

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