Telling Family We Dont Want Their Constant Gifts For our child

[Anonymous]

Wife and I love our family. They love us, and our new baby. They can't stop giving gifts. Not to be ungrateful, but it is mostly clothes that we dont need. Any recommendations on how to redirect their spending energy to either visiting more often or buying things from our wishlist? We dont want to be wasteful by taking on things that we dont need.

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

You can either try to say something (which will offend them) or just give the stuff away to a charity.

[Anonymous]

Just donate it. No, you can redirect their buying habits to things you prefer. If they ASK you what the little one wants, then feel free to offer some ideas. Other than that, just bide your time. Usually this dies out with time.

Put a bag in a closet where you put all clothes you don't need/want. Make a monthly Goodwill run.

[Anonymous]

Yes, just donate the extra stuff. Why hurt their feelings?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, just donate the extra stuff. Why hurt their feelings?

This. It gives them pleasure to give your child things. And your donation can help another family. Win, win.

[Anonymous]

My MIL has snowed us under in stuff. I have to throw our bags and bags of unwanted nonsense every few months. I really wish she would fine something else to do with what surely must add up to a couple hundred dollars a month.

[Anonymous]

Put the baby in the outfit. Snap a picture and post a "Hi Grandma" picture on facebook. Donate to charity. Repeat.

[Anonymous]

Why can't you just say that you don't need more clothes or toys? I'm somewhat of a minimalist and I've been telling my mom NO since I was in high school. She gets it and I'm not mean or rude about it. She does ask what we'd like for birthdays and Christmases and we normally tell her one big thing per person (I know what she likes to spend).

Just say no and talk more often. I've even dropped hints without realizing it. "Baby needs a larger carseat"

[Anonymous]

Redirect it. Ask for 9m and 12m clothes. By that time, the gifts tend to slow down, but you still need clothes.

I never need more of the size they're currently wearing. I always need the next size up though. Because one morning, crap is just not going to fit anymore. It helps to have it on hand.

[Anonymous]

Maybe Send Them A Note With All Initial Caps And They Will Get The Message

[Anonymous]

You may have another kid who ends up being able to use the stuff. In our case, we gave most of the clothes to people we knew appreciated them and would use them. For others we re-gifted (the never worn with tags) to co-workers who were having babies. I thought this post was going to be about the constant barrage of christmas and birthday gifts that come from relatives, not granparents who are enthusiastic about the birth of a new baby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe Send Them A Note With All Initial Caps And They Will Get The Message

❤

[Anonymous]

You can be straight with your parents and tell them to spread the word but it won't work. Just donate. Let them know that this is the plan and they will finally eventually get it, hopefully.

[Anonymous]

To the posters who tell OP to say nothing -

Wouldn't you prefer to buy something that's appreciated and used by the intended recipient, instead of benefiting other people you don't know?

Charity is all well and good, but we're talking about relatives who buy repeatedly for a specific baby. A one time unwanted gift, stay mum. Giving regularly stuff that's not wanted - well, you really have to say something.