"No Gifts Please" - first birthday

[Anonymous]

My daughter is turning one this spring, and we're having an open house for good friends and family - about 20 people will be invited.
We live in a teeny tiny condo. We want for nothing. Our daughter wants for nothing. She has plenty of clothes and toys.

We've been to several first birthday parties in the past few years. Granted, these families live in much, much larger homes and have storage space, but I was overwhelmed by the number of gifts that the kids received, and space is at a premium in our condo.

Does it really throw off people to have a line on the invitation reading "No gifts, please"?

What's the politest way of handling this?

[Anonymous]

Invite them to an open house. Don't mention the bday part at all.

[Anonymous]

I like 14:51's idea.

Another idea is to specify books only, please. Or people will bring things even if you say no gifts. So you can direct them to something you can use or drop them off at the library if you can't.

Here is another idea. We've done this three times for our kids from 2nd grade to 4th grade. You have to tweak it a little because your DD is only one, but you will like it.
cloverbyclover.com

[Anonymous]

I had all "no gift" parties until each son turned 4. It worked out fine. Most people din't bring gifts. If anyone was perturbed by it, they thankfully didn't mention it to me. Only in DCUM-world could this become an "issue."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had all "no gift" parties until each son turned 4. It worked out fine. Most people din't bring gifts. If anyone was perturbed by it, they thankfully didn't mention it to me. Only in DCUM-world could this become an "issue."

agree on all counts.

you could always not mention the occaision and just put "party" on the invite as well, but if people know the occasion, you still might get some gifts. In either case, don't feel bad about donating items.

[Anonymous]

Most people followed no gifts request. Those who didn't, gave us books. I would do it again.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the advice - this is very helpful!

[Anonymous]

We live in a small space and just wanted guests to come celebrate with no pressure of having to shop for something. We wrote it in the invite. But 80% of the friends and family still brought gifts(mostly married couples and older relatives).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Invite them to an open house. Don't mention the bday part at all.

Bingo!! It's always rude to mention gifts at all.

[Anonymous]

just say no gifts, please. for a kid's birthday (especially at 1!) it's not uncommon at all.

[Anonymous]

My friend writes on the invite "your presence is present enough"

[Anonymous]

Fine to write no gifts. Enjoy it while you can, when your kid turns 4 and 5 they will be excited about getting gifts and it will be harder to do no gifts.

[Anonymous]

Saying "no gifts, please!" is totally fine. Some people won't listen, but I bet most will. We can all relate to drowning in too much stuff!

[Anonymous]

Just write no gifts. If you get gifts, just keep them on a table and take them to goodwill the next day.

[Anonymous]

If you write no gifts, and people bring gifts anyway, are you still expected to write thank you notes? I don't feel like thanking people who can't follow directions.