Stay with me on this one, but I’m about to make a registry suggestion that may sound ridiculous.

REGISTER FOR A BOUNCE HOUSE!

You may be asking yourself why the heck would a baby need a bounce house? And this would be a logical question to ask. A baby does not (and I would strongly advise against ever putting a baby in a bounce house).

What’s the expression about checkers vs chess? This is a long-term wise investment that will obviously not be used right away.

Here’s what you do:

• Pick a bounce house with good reviews and add it to your registry

• Have multiple older family members question if it was added in error

• Have parent friends who think you’re a genius and why didn’t they think of that

• Receive bounce house as a gift (or use credits/gift cards to buy at a discount off your registry)

• Avoid the expense of renting a bounce house for every event for the first 5 or so years of your child’s life saving thousands of dollars!

My first child was born before affordable retail bounce houses hit the market. I purchased an older model of this primary colored bounce house before my child’s second birthday. It was hauled to family events and parties and even used at a local fund raising event. Don’t feel like making a casserole to bring to the family gathering? Offer to bring a bounce house!

One rainy day as a boredom buster we even turned my sister’s toy room into a bounce room for all the kids. Having a bad week or in a funk? Bring out the bounce house and the giggles and shrieks of joy are sure to reset your mood.

There are very few large ticket children’s items that I have purchased over the years that have proven to be a better investment.

These days there are an abundance of options available and many that are a bit more aesthetically pleasing than the early versions if party cohesive design is important to you. I did a search recently and was blown away by all of the options they have now. They even have inflatable water slides available now. My kids’ great-aunt purchased one for her grandkids and it has been the center of many summer birthday parties and family gatherings for many years now.

So be wild and put that expensive bounce house on your registry. It will get a heck of a lot more use in the years to come than most items you only use for the first year.

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