Answers to common questions, step-by-step guides, and expert tips from doulas, pediatricians, and registry pros.
Asked most often
Practical advice from people who've done this thousands of times — pediatricians, doulas, lactation consultants, sleep specialists, and event planners.
Newborns grow out of 0–3 month clothes by week 6 on average. Skew your registry toward 3–6 and 6–9 month sizes — you'll get more wear out of them. Anything in 0–3 should be limited to a few essential onesies.
Pediatrician
on clothing sizes
Don't forget about you. Add a peri bottle, postpartum recovery pads, a comfortable nursing bra, and a few high-protein snacks to your registry. New parents focus on baby; your friends and family want to support YOU too.
Postpartum Doula
on recovery supplies
If you plan to breastfeed, register for a hands-free pumping bra, nipple cream (Lansinoh or Earth Mama), and milk storage bags. Most parents underestimate how much pumping gear they'll need. A small electric pump is also nice but not always insurance-covered.
Lactation Consultant
on breastfeeding setup
You don't need a fancy bassinet AND a crib. Pick one. Most pediatricians recommend baby sleep in your room (not bed) for the first 6 months — a simple bassinet or pack-n-play works fine. Save the crib money for the conversion-to-toddler-bed phase.
Pediatric Sleep Consultant
on sleep gear
Most guests budget $50–$100 per gift. To make it easy, register for a wide price range — a few items in the $20–$40 range (board books, swaddles), most in $50–$100 (clothing sets, monitors, bath gear), and 2–3 wishlist items above $200 for group gifts or grandparents.
Registry Expert
on budgeting for guests
Adding a cash fund (diaper, childcare, college) increases gift-giver participation by ~30% on average. Some guests prefer giving money over physical things — give them the option, but include a specific use so it feels purposeful ("Diaper Fund for Year 1" vs. just "Cash").
Registry Expert
on cash funds work
Write thank-you notes within 3 weeks of the shower — earlier is better. Mention the specific gift and how you'll use it ("the sleep sack will be such a relief when we transition out of swaddles"). Generic notes feel transactional; specific ones feel like gratitude.
Etiquette Expert
on thank-you notes
Assign 3 roles before the shower day: a setup lead (arrives 1 hour early), a gift tracker (writes down who gave what during gift-opening — saves you for thank-yous), and a cleanup coordinator. Use the Events feature to send each helper a calendar invite with their role.
Event Planner
on day-of help
Most hotels offer a "room block" for groups of 8+ — they hold rooms at a discounted rate that guests can book with a code. Call the hotel 2–3 months before your shower. Add the code to your hotel notes in In9Months so guests see it on your shower site.
Travel Expert
on out-of-town guests
Real photos of items in YOUR home (a chair next to your window, a swaddle on YOUR couch) get more engagement from gift-givers than stock product shots. If you have time, snap a few personal photos for your top 5 must-have items.
Photography Expert
on registry photos
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