Gifts from Friends and Family

[moss]

People are starting to ask me what I will need for the baby now more and more, and I usually don't know how to answer! I need a lot of things, but I don't want to say what in case I go way out of the price range they were considering and seem presumptious. At the same time, I don't want to ask Auntie Generous for a hat and booties in case she was thinking about getting me that pram I have my eyes on... An exaggeration but I think everyone can see my point. I really don't know how to judge what to say to some of the people who are asking. What would everyone else do?

Also, I have a deposit on a pram but would really appreciate contributions to it. Would it be rude to tell some people that? They're probably hoping to buy some cute baby thing and wrap it in pretty paper for me and I don't want to disappoint, plus I am sure there are TONS of things they could get me that would enable me to afford the pram more easily...

 

[BeckyJ]

why dont you write a list of all of the things you need

then when people ask what they can buy you you can show them the list and they can choose themselves as there will be exspensive and cheaper items on the list and that way you wont feel bad???

 

[Tick-Tock]

My friend made me write a list for my baby shower and I put everything we don't have yet.... (well actually i had no idea what we'd need so she wrote me a list as she is s mum already and it was pretty much complete). that way people can spend as little or as much as they'd like...

I also think you should put that you would like contributions to the pram etc as people just want to help... and it's a nice idea

J
XX

 

[moss]

It's a good idea, but everyone is spread around the place (UK, USA, even Asia) and I don't have access to internet at home right now to make a website! Also, what if I get all of the same thing? Ha...

 

[moss]

Is it okay to mention gifts on a baby shower invitation? I feel so bad doing it because I don't want to assume everyone coming plans on buying me stuff (well, I kind of do assume, but I don't want to pressure them!) and what about people who aren't invited? (Just because they are far away... nothing to do with them)

 

[clairedoran]

Maybe you could ask for gift vouchers for mamas and papas or mothercare. Then people can give what they can afford, and you aren't setting a price on people. Maybe say, 'well actually vouchers would be good and then I can put them together to get the bigger items I need'?

xx

 

[moss]

The pram I'm getting is sitting in a local independent shop. I call them whenever I want to make a payment and just give them my receipt number. Do you think it would be rude or disappointing to people if I told some of them about that? I doubt it will happen, but in the off chance the payments exceed the pram's price, I figure I can pick out some other nice things from the shop! There isn't anything in Mothercare that I plan to get, which is a shame because I live across from one and vouchers would be useful.

 

[Terrie]

i told my DHs granny we needed donations for our pram and she sent £60 in the post. i dont think its rude to tell people what you really need. after all, the baby can only wear so many outfits a day!

 

[Suzie and Faith]

It is tough knowing what to do. I'd come up with a list and just tell people that they don't have to get you anything at all but if they'd like to then there are a few things you need. Then show them the list (text, email or whatever) and ask them to let you know if there is something on there they would like to buy you so you can cross it off the list.

Either that or put things that will be useful to you if you got more than one i.e. sleepsuits - babies get through loads, or nappies! or something that you might use a lot.

Or suggest that vouchers might be useful.. for anywhere really! I mean if you got Tesco vouchers you could buy baby bits from there etc!

xxx

 

[sarah2807]

I think it's a great idea to ask for contributions towards the pram-I wouldn't be offended if someone asked me to do that.

 

[HideiLu]

We are telling people we really don't need clothes as we have so many hand me downs that my brother gave us, and would feel bad if someone got something that we just didn't need, and most people tend to like getting clothes as they're so cute!

We are going with the vouchers idea, as then people can give as little or as much as they choose. Either for Babies R Us, Mothercare, or Argos which is where we're getting the nursery furniture from and contributions towards it would really help, and bedding too.

 

[sarafet]

i'm quite lucky bc my mum has dealt with this for me

she just tells everyone who offered things we need and they've got/sent money for it to us it's been fantastic.

i think sherlock had posted a link to this fab website where you register all the stuff you need and send the link to all your internet savvy family/friends - then they order whatever they want from it for you, great idea.. i really can't remember the site though

 

[tb261]

think sherlock had posted a link to this fab website where you register all the stuff you need and send the link to all your internet savvy family/friends - then they order whatever they want from it for you, great idea.. i really can't remember the site though Think

I use a site like this...use it for xmas, birthdays etc, asw well as just a useful place to keep links to stuff that I want to buy myself. The website is www.thethingsiwant.com Lets you set up private/invite only lists, as well as public ones.

 

[roxanne080]

maybe you should get a guest list ranging from affordable to expensive, so people can get you what they afford but also what you wanted!

 

[roxanne080]

just noticed that ive wrote whatever everyone else wrote..sorry!Q