How to handle birthday gifts? Tacky to ask ‘no gifts’?

[Anonymous]

My daughter has been invited to probably five parties (she’s only 2) and all the party invites have said no gifts. We bring a card and maybe put stickers in it! That’s it, we want to honor parents wishes.
We will be doing the same when we host her 3 yr old bday this summer.

[Anonymous]

Do not specify what you want. You either say no gifts or nothing at all.


And whatever you do don’t make your little kid open gifts in front of friends. Only makes it awkward when they show more excitement towards one thing over the other.

[Anonymous]

I’ve been to multiple weddings where they request ‘No boxed gifts.’ Now that’s tacky!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about saying no gifts please!l. If you mist please bring your favorite book / art supply / some other specific thing family wants?

I get the sentiment but then it places a burden on the parents who feel like they must give a gift but would rather pull from a gift stash or buy something their kid enjoys but now has to go book-shopping, etc.

Good point - hadn’t thought of that. We don’t have a gift stash but probably could use one

[Anonymous]

Almost every single kids party I have been to is a no gifts party. I honestly consider it tacky when someone does not say no gifts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Almost every single kids party I have been to is a no gifts party. I honestly consider it tacky when someone does not say no gifts.

Yikes, you’re no fun

[Anonymous]

“No gifts please” is perfectly fine and preferable to most parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Almost every single kids party I have been to is a no gifts party. I honestly consider it tacky when someone does not say no gifts.

+1. Especially if it’s a party in the playground with pizza and cupcakes and nothing else. Those should absolutely be “no gift” parties.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Almost every single kids party I have been to is a no gifts party. I honestly consider it tacky when someone does not say no gifts.

+1. Especially if it’s a party in the playground with pizza and cupcakes and nothing else. Those should absolutely be “no gift” parties.

I disagree with this. The spirit of the gift is to celebrate someone’s birthday.
If the family doesn’t one them - that’s fine. But to state that the playground party is not enough in your mind to merit a gift seems very transactional and tasteless.

We just recently attended one of these playground parties. There were grocery store cupcakes, a cheese and crackers platter also from the store and water bottles. People brought gifts. The kids play outside. It was refreshingly low key since some people go all out for things in this area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Almost every single kids party I have been to is a no gifts party. I honestly consider it tacky when someone does not say no gifts.

+1. Especially if it’s a party in the playground with pizza and cupcakes and nothing else. Those should absolutely be “no gift” parties.

I disagree with this. The spirit of the gift is to celebrate someone’s birthday.
If the family doesn’t one them - that’s fine. But to state that the playground party is not enough in your mind to merit a gift seems very transactional and tasteless.

We just recently attended one of these playground parties. There were grocery store cupcakes, a cheese and crackers platter also from the store and water bottles. People brought gifts. The kids play outside. It was refreshingly low key since some people go all out for things in this area.

Ugh. Tiresome gift grabs with no sense of imagination or taste.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Almost every single kids party I have been to is a no gifts party. I honestly consider it tacky when someone does not say no gifts.

+1. Especially if it’s a party in the playground with pizza and cupcakes and nothing else. Those should absolutely be “no gift” parties.

I disagree with this. The spirit of the gift is to celebrate someone’s birthday.
If the family doesn’t one them - that’s fine. But to state that the playground party is not enough in your mind to merit a gift seems very transactional and tasteless.

We just recently attended one of these playground parties. There were grocery store cupcakes, a cheese and crackers platter also from the store and water bottles. People brought gifts. The kids play outside. It was refreshingly low key since some people go all out for things in this area.

Ugh. Tiresome gift grabs with no sense of imagination or taste.

I get the imagination bit (guilty as charged) but what’s tasteless about a playground party? Asking genuinely

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Almost every single kids party I have been to is a no gifts party. I honestly consider it tacky when someone does not say no gifts.

+1. Especially if it’s a party in the playground with pizza and cupcakes and nothing else. Those should absolutely be “no gift” parties.

I disagree with this. The spirit of the gift is to celebrate someone’s birthday.
If the family doesn’t one them - that’s fine. But to state that the playground party is not enough in your mind to merit a gift seems very transactional and tasteless.

We just recently attended one of these playground parties. There were grocery store cupcakes, a cheese and crackers platter also from the store and water bottles. People brought gifts. The kids play outside. It was refreshingly low key since some people go all out for things in this area.

Ugh. Tiresome gift grabs with no sense of imagination or taste.

+1. I do agree. I resent being expected to shell out $20 for a gift and wrap it for two hours at the same playground we go to every week but with cold pizza and a tiny cupcake. The parties are fine as long as “no gift” is clearly requested.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Almost every single kids party I have been to is a no gifts party. I honestly consider it tacky when someone does not say no gifts.

+1. Especially if it’s a party in the playground with pizza and cupcakes and nothing else. Those should absolutely be “no gift” parties.

I disagree with this. The spirit of the gift is to celebrate someone’s birthday.
If the family doesn’t one them - that’s fine. But to state that the playground party is not enough in your mind to merit a gift seems very transactional and tasteless.

We just recently attended one of these playground parties. There were grocery store cupcakes, a cheese and crackers platter also from the store and water bottles. People brought gifts. The kids play outside. It was refreshingly low key since some people go all out for things in this area.

Ugh. Tiresome gift grabs with no sense of imagination or taste.

I get the imagination bit (guilty as charged) but what’s tasteless about a playground party? Asking genuinely

I think she means it’s tasteless to expect gifts.

[Anonymous]

It IS tacky to mention it. So say nothing on the invite and if people ask what your child likes, say books.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It IS tacky to mention it. So say nothing on the invite and if people ask what your child likes, say books.

But it’s okay to say “no siblings” and “one parent” but not “no gifts”?!!

It’s not at all tacky in 2022.