Are baby registries really set up by the celebrities?

By: Cindy, Tuscon, Arizona

A.B. Replies: The science here is a bit bewildering, but see if you can follow along. The richer and more famous you are, the stronger everyone else's desire to buy you stuff. I'm surprised that Reese Witherspoon doesn't have a registry just for being Reese. Ah, Reese, with her button chin, cornsilk hair and those adorable Chiclet teeth! What other reason could you need to gift her? Oh, that's right. She's a millionaire, and she can make or break your Hollywood career.

Registries ensure that any simpering suckup who wants to buy something for Britney's baby can, indeed, find something for Britney's baby. Something color-coordinated. Something precious and French and hand-blessed by the Glowering Hick Princess herself. Otherwise, poor Britney might end up with, like, three orange kitty-themed wastebaskets and, like, zero blue hippo plush dolls. Disaster, y'all. Disaster.

And remember, stars have baby showers, too. (A paparazzo got shot covering Britney's shower for Sean Preston, don't you recall?)

"They're still going to have a party," says Michelle Yang, manager of the très chic baby store Petit Trésor in West Hollywood. "And for the guests, there's a lot less worry about what to bring when there is a registry."

Being a professional and whatnot, Yang declined to say which stars have registered at Petit Trésor. But owner Nina Rioja recently told People Britney and Katie Holmes are customers. "[Spears] was just like an old pro mommy," Rioja told the mag. "She knew exactly what she needed, and it was grab and go. She was done in 15 minutes."

Other interesting celebrity registry tidbits:

? According to Yang, most pregnant stars are actually humble about their wish lists. "They don't want to appear needy," she tells this B!tch. "They're very realistic. They don't put down a lot of $400, $500 items."

Instead, she says, stars ask for a lot of baby blankets and something called a Moses Basket--all the better for sending Sean Preston on a safe journey down the Nile.

? For the star mom who prefers Third World baby slings to Moses baskets, the thing to do is register the child's name online. Shilohnouveljoliepitt.com was snatched up by Angelina Jolie's lawyers just hours after the baby was born.

? The celebrity moms do indeed get movie-star treatment from the baby boutiques. For example, a star can change a custom furniture order at any time with no blowback. Or they can call the store and have someone rush over and arrange the nursery just so. Mortals usually need an appointment.

And the star treatment doesn't stop there. Celebrities also get gift baskets as a thank-you, just for registering at places like Petit Trésor. Take that, Jane Q Mom.