Baby registry only has expensive things on it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fine, I'll be the honest one. I was pushed to have a baby shower, and pushed to make a registry for it. So I picked out things I liked. And some people looked at that and said "Oh, she has a $30 dress on her list. I'll just get her three dresses from Target instead. Because three is better than one." Then I had to go to Target and return three dresses. Because what they did not know was that I picked the $30 dress for the baby to wear at the wedding she'd be attending at seven months old.

Three people decided to buy me a Nose Frieda. My oldest is four and I've never wanted to suck her snot from her nose with a tube. Four people bought me Disney stuff. Because they said "You can't escape Disney when you have kids so you might as well embrace it!" Um, no. I returned all that stuff too.

Basically after the baby shower, I spent an entire day running around town returning stuff people bought that hadn't been on the registry. I know they meant well, but it was still a huge pain. If your inlaw wants a $50 onesie, OP, and you're willing to spend $50, just buy the damn onesie she wants.

Poor, pitiful you. PP, you are lucky that anyone even wanted to do anything for your ungrateful derierre.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I posted yesterday about finding out that I was only invited to the "C List" shower. I checked out the registry and all the gifts are above $50. Most are around $100. And there is a $400 breast pump. We are on our way to Target now to buy a more budget friendly gift.

I didn't see your post, but if you know you're C list, why go? I'd just get a little gift when the baby is born.

I RSVP'd before learning that it was the third shower and all the other family went to a different one. This one will be me and a bunch of random people she must think have money to burn.

I didnt read your post but isnt' it possible that you are a good friend but fit in best with this group (vs. hanging out with her in-laws, or whatever)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Geez, the gift grabbing gets more and more disgusting.

I'd wrap up a copy of "Goodnight Moon" (paperback version) and be done with it.

I usually equally gift "go th f*ck to sleep" for people I love, and people I loathe. The ones I love get it, the ones I loathe are so offended that my message comes in loud and clear

+1 I give it along with "Make Way for the Ducklings." The people I like get it, the ones I don't like are perplexed.

Wait... why would they be perplexed? I get not liking the "Go the F to Sleep" book (I do, but I can see it might offend people) but I don't understandwhy someone would be confused by make way for ducklings?

[Anonymous]

Yuck, skip the nose thing.

Either go off the registry, get a gift card or buy things for the child when older. I didn't really do a registry as we adopted last minute. We bought a lot of what we needed within a few days of getting our child. My favorite gifts were the things we needed later - 6 month, 9 month and 12 month clothing. A walker, a jumper thing, leap frog learning table, etc. It was nice to have it put away and we could pull out when needed. Then, most likely they do not have it.

For a basket, I usually will do feeding things. A few different kinds of slippy cups, spoons, bowls, plates, a snack holder thing, etc.

I never give diapers as a kid could be sensitive, like mine and we could not use the heavy gels so I exchanged them or gave them away.

I don't buy medicine type stuff as that is parent specific.

Sometimes if I know a parent likes a sports team or loyal to their college, I'll get something from there to make it more personal.

To the person asking for expensive clothing - ok, I get its a special occasion but I'd never buy my kid expensive clothing, so I'm not going to get yours either. If my kid gets a nice brand, its because it was on major clearance. He looks far better dressed than what I actually spent.

Someone got us a Rody - that's a fun gift for later too.

For a boy, get the Ikea basic train set - great first train to start with (not a fan of Ikea except that).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fine, I'll be the honest one. I was pushed to have a baby shower, and pushed to make a registry for it. So I picked out things I liked. And some people looked at that and said "Oh, she has a $30 dress on her list. I'll just get her three dresses from Target instead. Because three is better than one." Then I had to go to Target and return three dresses. Because what they did not know was that I picked the $30 dress for the baby to wear at the wedding she'd be attending at seven months old.

Three people decided to buy me a Nose Frieda. My oldest is four and I've never wanted to suck her snot from her nose with a tube. Four people bought me Disney stuff. Because they said "You can't escape Disney when you have kids so you might as well embrace it!" Um, no. I returned all that stuff too.

Basically after the baby shower, I spent an entire day running around town returning stuff people bought that hadn't been on the registry. I know they meant well, but it was still a huge pain. If your inlaw wants a $50 onesie, OP, and you're willing to spend $50, just buy the damn onesie she wants.

Dude I'm usually the one preaching the same message but you can't expect this and not have a range of options. It's impractical, insensitive and unrealistic. If you want people to stick to the registry offer things at a variety of price points that people can put together nice gifts at. No one feels comfortable showing up with a single onesie.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yuck, skip the nose thing.

Either go off the registry, get a gift card or buy things for the child when older. I didn't really do a registry as we adopted last minute. We bought a lot of what we needed within a few days of getting our child. My favorite gifts were the things we needed later - 6 month, 9 month and 12 month clothing. A walker, a jumper thing, leap frog learning table, etc. It was nice to have it put away and we could pull out when needed. Then, most likely they do not have it.

For a basket, I usually will do feeding things. A few different kinds of slippy cups, spoons, bowls, plates, a snack holder thing, etc.

I never give diapers as a kid could be sensitive, like mine and we could not use the heavy gels so I exchanged them or gave them away.

I don't buy medicine type stuff as that is parent specific.

Sometimes if I know a parent likes a sports team or loyal to their college, I'll get something from there to make it more personal.

To the person asking for expensive clothing - ok, I get its a special occasion but I'd never buy my kid expensive clothing, so I'm not going to get yours either. If my kid gets a nice brand, its because it was on major clearance. He looks far better dressed than what I actually spent.

Someone got us a Rody - that's a fun gift for later too.

For a boy, get the Ikea basic train set - great first train to start with (not a fan of Ikea except that).

I felt the same way about that nose thing until my baby's first bad cold and I felt like I'd do anything to stop her misery. Got it the next day, it kicks that bulb syringe's ass

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fine, I'll be the honest one. I was pushed to have a baby shower, and pushed to make a registry for it. So I picked out things I liked. And some people looked at that and said "Oh, she has a $30 dress on her list. I'll just get her three dresses from Target instead. Because three is better than one." Then I had to go to Target and return three dresses. Because what they did not know was that I picked the $30 dress for the baby to wear at the wedding she'd be attending at seven months old.

Three people decided to buy me a Nose Frieda. My oldest is four and I've never wanted to suck her snot from her nose with a tube. Four people bought me Disney stuff. Because they said "You can't escape Disney when you have kids so you might as well embrace it!" Um, no. I returned all that stuff too.

Basically after the baby shower, I spent an entire day running around town returning stuff people bought that hadn't been on the registry. I know they meant well, but it was still a huge pain. If your inlaw wants a $50 onesie, OP, and you're willing to spend $50, just buy the damn onesie she wants.

I don't know why people bother buying gifts anymore. Skip the BS of buying a gift including receipt etc. and just give cash. No need to return that.

OP, if you're willing to spend $50 and there's an item on the registry for roughly that much then maybe just go with it. If she ends up with a $50 onesie or whatever that still ends up stained and outgrown, that's her problem. Anything off the list likely won't be appreciated anyway. Don't waste your time running around.

[Anonymous]

I think baby registries are horribly tacky anyway. Your basket idea sounds lovely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Geez, the gift grabbing gets more and more disgusting.

I'd wrap up a copy of "Goodnight Moon" (paperback version) and be done with it.

How about "Goodnight IPad??"
That book is hilarious by the way!

OP, the gift basket sounds like a wonderful idea to me. I personally would find such a registry offensive as well as greedy myself.

[Anonymous]

OP here - so I ordered the Aden & Anais blankets, a wubbanub, a set of trumpette socks, 2 board books (On the Night You were Born and a picture one) and baby gap onesie and soft pants. I will stick it in a basket and call it done.

Thanks for your input!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - so I ordered the Aden & Anais blankets, a wubbanub, a set of trumpette socks, 2 board books (On the Night You were Born and a picture one) and baby gap onesie and soft pants. I will stick it in a basket and call it done.

Thanks for your input!

THat's very generous OP and sounds like a lovely gift.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - so I ordered the Aden & Anais blankets, a wubbanub, a set of trumpette socks, 2 board books (On the Night You were Born and a picture one) and baby gap onesie and soft pants. I will stick it in a basket and call it done.

Thanks for your input!

That sounds lovely! I will say I remember all my favorite baby gifts were off registry. I think there is a big difference btwn wedding and baby registries - for weddings you are choosing things that are your taste and you already know you'll use. For baby registries certainly you are choosing things you think you need but there are so many things out there moms don't know exist or that they need or really understand the practical implications of before the first baby is born - ie: onesies get stained very quickly and you go through them at alarming pace in the beginning. When my first was born someone sent me a package very similar to what you described (actually it was identical except it was just the book you named and a pair of gap pjs instead of separates). I didn't know I wanted any of those things and they all ended up being among my most used and most loved baby items!

[Anonymous]

^^ maybe you are my friend PP. ? I have given some of these things to other friends when they have had babies and no registry/nothing left when the baby is born and I want to give a gift.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely go with the books.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I posted yesterday about finding out that I was only invited to the "C List" shower. I checked out the registry and all the gifts are above $50. Most are around $100. And there is a $400 breast pump. We are on our way to Target now to buy a more budget friendly gift.

I didn't see your post, but if you know you're C list, why go? I'd just get a little gift when the baby is born.

I RSVP'd before learning that it was the third shower and all the other family went to a different one. This one will be me and a bunch of random people she must think have money to burn.

I didnt read your post but isnt' it possible that you are a good friend but fit in best with this group (vs. hanging out with her in-laws, or whatever)

I'm the dad's cousin. I was the only relative at the "C list" shower. Every other relative went to a shower on New Year's Day. I thought I was left out because I was sick around that time. I didn't mind that. I learned about that there was a second shower the following Saturday for the new mom's girlfriends from college and work. Yesterday's shower was mostly women over age 60 from her church, a few neighbors, her long-time hair stylist, and me. I was an after thought. It's not the end of the world, but I did feel like I was invited to provide a pricey gift. As we were leaving, we were each given a Save the Date postcard to address for the Sip'N'See. I thought a Sip'N'See was in lieu of a shower.