It's finally time to register! This is one of the most exciting parts of your first pregnancy. You know where you're going to register, you've picked the day your going to go, and you can hardly wait to get started. You park in the front row space with a stork on the sign, designated for pregnant women, and exit your vehicle glowing with possibilities. You saunter into the store with all the confidence of a woman who knows exactly what she's doing. And then, you sit down at the counter and get your registry set up. They give you a book with seemingly hundreds of categories for products that you apparently need. Confidence fading, your eyes glaze over as you listen to the clerk tell you how to operate the scanner gun. You turn and walk purposefully toward the nearest corner so that you can regain your composure. Instead of feeling completely in your element as a pregnant woman registering for baby items, you feel like you've been dropped on an island of bibs and bottles, cribs and carriers, and you can't leave until you've filled all requirments. Before you drop everything and run crying from the store, know that you are not alone in this adventure, and keep this information in mind as you explore this strange new world.

First, choose one store.
Most people do not want to shop your registry at 2 or 3 stores before deciding to make a purchase, so keep it simple. If there are big ticket items you must have at another store, ask your parents, in-laws, or other close relatives to consider purchasing those items for you.

Take a new mom with you.
If you know any mom who's had her first baby in the past few years, ask her to give you a tour of the store and some tips on the products you should pay attention to. Having an experienced guide is absolutely invaluable when navigating the baby aisles for the first time.

Be prepared to spend a few hours.
Yes this sounds like a long time, but if you plan for a few hours you'll be more relaxed as you try to make your decisions, and you'll be less likely to find yourself curled up in a playpen, clutching a burp cloth and sucking on a pacifier.

Don't take your husband.
Before you decide this is silly, consider this; He expects, as most first time dads do, that you know everything about baby stuff. If he's like most men, following you around the store during this first day of discovery is going to be painful for him, and you'll end up parking him in one of those nursery gliders so you can think in peace.

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