Are people expected to bring gifts to a gender reveal party? If so, do not do this for your fourth child.

Our family has the tradition of doing very small activity oriented gender reveals for the siblings and cousins. One year I got the gender and created “magic” balls of homemade playdough that started white and turned blue while they played. Simple, cheap, pretty environmentally friendly since that playdough got a lot of use. Zero risk of starting forest fires. Nothing on social media.

I think it helped older siblings get excited, and it was fun.

A gender reveal doesn’t have to be a huge thing to be fun.

With a 4th child, I think a gender reveal party would be over the top (for me). I would consider a small family party to celebrate the gender to get the kids excited.

I feel like waiting is often something people do for attention. Given that it's so easy to know these days it feels like made up drama.

We found out and sent pink or blue flowers to the grandparents and great grandparent. They were super surprised and each called us to celebrate. It was very fun to share with them, even if long distance. We didn't do a gender reveal. If I had older kids, I'd probably do something special just with them, like pink or blue filled cupcakes after dinner.

I waited with all three kids. I wanted to get to know them I’m utero as themselves without playing the “oh he’s a kicker! Future baller” and whatnot. I loved it. I had a boy- since I didn’t know I got all gender neutral stuff that worked for my daughter a year later and then for our third child. I used the same baby stuff for all of them and gifts/cards to fill in as needed.

I found the delivery room to be the ultimate “gender reveal” and don’t regret any of it.


That said your situation is more rare. Assuming older kids you’re an older mom and have likely gotten rid of baby stuff- so it’s more practical to get what you’d like vs neutral things if you don’t like neutrals. IMO the sibling thing will be even more fun and anticipatory if you wait. Once you know it’s a “boy” or a girl talk turns to names- next thing you know people are talking about your baby by name and the birth is - not anticlimactic of course as birth is amazing- but it’s different. Just think about your particular family- and YOu- and decide what resonates. No rights or wrongs it’s all about preference.

Anonymous wrote:There is a very specific subset of people who do gender reveals and it's not a type of person you want to be.

THIS

Anonymous wrote:??? I never had a gender reveal party, but I always found out at the ultrasound. The technician will either see a p*n*s or not. It's not that exciting.

This is how I found out.

I found it helpful to know early so we could pick names.

I think making a fuss about gender for a baby is pretty tacky. I'm from the era when newborn clothes were teal, yellow, green, and white because nobody knew what they were getting. The news of all these fires and accidents related to gender reveal incendiary just makes it worse.

I don't regret finding out before the birth (especially if you're hoping for a specific gender), but I wouldn't do a public gender reveal.

There is a very specific subset of people who do gender reveals and it's not a type of person you want to be.

My sister had a gender reveal video during Covid. They cut into the cake on camera, and the visible disappointment displayed because they were having another daughter is now forever captured on the internet for use by their daughters future therapists.

Team Green for 2 babies. For our last baby the gender reveal was my 10 year old opening the envelope to tell my husband and me. The excitement of finding out on day of birth was so thrilling.

We didn't find out but my kids are 24 and 22 and I only got one ultrasound at 20 weeks so it was easy to avoid.

In your situation, I'd find out because you will have a lot of opportunities to find out. The gender reveal party is a separate issue and totally up to individual taste.

None of my friends ever had a gender reveal. My oldest is 15. I think they are super tacky and would not have one. No one really cares.

??? I never had a gender reveal party, but I always found out at the ultrasound. The technician will either see a p*n*s or not. It's not that exciting.

4th child but it’s been over 15 years and things had changed. This is a high risk pregnancy so multiple appointments where I’d have to explain that I am team green or whatever the current term is for waiting to find out.

Friends have all had gender reveals which were actually a pretty fun party.

I’m not sure which I would prefer. I’ve come across a video of having older children reveal the gener but there also seems to be some excitement to be had with finding out at delivery.

What do you regret?