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There are two kinds of baby registry. A store registry keeps everything with one retailer, so gifts tick off automatically whether guests buy online or in store, and the store's perks, like a welcome gift or completion discount, apply. A universal list, such as Babylist, lets you add items from many stores to one list. That's flexible, but in Canada some features don't carry over: Babylist's help centre says items from the Babylist Shop don't ship to Canada, and its registry discount only applies to Babylist Shop items. Which works best depends on where your guests will shop and how much you want gifts tracked for you.
Store registry or universal list?
A store registry suits you if
- You want to try strollers, car seats and furniture in person before you add them.
- Some of your guests would rather shop in a store than online.
- You want purchases tracked automatically, so nobody buys the same thing twice.
- You'd like store perks, such as a completion discount on what's left.
A universal list suits you if
- You want items from lots of different shops, including small or specialty brands.
- Most guests will shop online, and you're happy to keep the list up to date yourself.
Some families use both: a store registry for the big gear and a universal list for everything else. If you do, keep each item on one list only, or a guest on one list won't know it's already been bought from the other.
Using Babylist in Canada
Babylist's own help centre says Canadians can create and share a registry and add items from Canadian retailers with the Babylist Button or app. A few limits are worth knowing:
- Items from the Babylist Shop don't ship to Canada.
- The registry discount applies only to Babylist Shop items, so it doesn't help a Canadian registry.
- Some prices may show in US dollars, depending on where the item comes from.
Babylist can still be a handy single list. Just check how each store's purchases will be marked on your list, and which store's return policy applies to each gift.
Eight things to compare
Whichever registry you're looking at, these are the questions that matter. Here are our answers for the baby enRoute registry.
| Question | baby enRoute registry |
|---|---|
| Where can guests buy? | Online, or in our Richmond, Burnaby and Ottawa stores. |
| How are gifts tracked? | Automatically, online and at the till in store. Guests see what's still needed. |
| Can gifts ship straight to you, privately? | Yes. Your address is filled in at the guest's checkout and never shown on the registry. |
| Can you add items in person? | Yes. Scan the barcode on the box or price tag with your phone. |
| What's the welcome gift, and what does it take? | A free welcome goodie bag. Add 10 different products, share your registry on social media tagging @babyenRoute, then pick it up in store with photo ID and pregnancy verification. Contents vary with stock. |
| Is there a completion discount, and what's excluded? | Yes. Once half your registry is gifted, you get a one-time thank-you offer on what's left, currently 10% off eligible items. Car seats, strollers, furniture, mattresses, electronics, sale items and gift cards are excluded. |
| What's the return policy for gifts? | Unused items in original packaging within 14 days. Car seats, strollers, furniture, toys, bedding and sale items are final sale. |
| Can a partner manage it too? | Yes, as a co-manager with their own account. |
Perk conditions can change, so check the current registry perks before you rely on one. We also offer points on every purchase, a closeout gift card based on what's bought through your registry, price matching within 14 days, and free car seat installation at our Richmond and Burnaby stores for seats bought from us.
Read the fine print on completion discounts
Completion discounts sound similar from store to store, but the details change what you actually save:
- Exclusions. If strollers and car seats are excluded, as they are with ours, the discount won't help with the most expensive items.
- Thresholds. Check how much has to be gifted first, and whether you need a minimum number of items or days.
- Deadlines. Ours can be used up to 3 months after your due date, so put it in your calendar.
- One use or many. A one-time code means planning one bigger order rather than several small ones.
Returns matter more than perks
With a store registry, every gift follows that store's return policy. With a universal list, each gift follows the policy of the store it came from. Check return windows and final sale lists before you register, especially for big items. Testing strollers and car seats in person first, then registering for the exact model, is the surest way to avoid a gift you can't return. Here's how to put a stroller or car seat on your registry.
Next steps
If a store registry suits you, here's how the baby enRoute registry works, from setup to closeout. Our registry checklist covers what to add, and our guide for gift-givers is a good one to send to grandparents. You can also get help setting up at our Richmond, Burnaby or Ottawa store.
