I am not having a 2nd baby shower. Traditionally you really only are supposed to have one with the first baby. Especially since I am having another boy I felt it was bad etiquette, and I have most everything I need. This is not to say others can't throw a damn shower or even a parade with every child they have. This is just my personal feelings for myself, my personal rules do not apply to others.
Several of my friends and family are having babies right around the time I deliver. I do believe in giving a little something to someone that has just adopted or pushed a baby into this world. A baby is a truly happy occasion and I try to always get a "baby birth" gift, it can be something as simple as flowers sent to the home or hospital or a blanket and outfit for the baby.
In my child free days I liked to keep my baby shower gifts unique. With all the attention and gifts being mainly for baby... and sometimes more frilly than practical (again, to each their own) I liked to get the expectant mom a gift card for a massage or pedicure. I found the moms really liked that. I would also throw in a pack of diapers for the baby. God knows they are gonna get used, even if they aren't a cute gift for the guests to Oooh and Aaah over.
Today I was reading a weekly newsletter from The Bump. They featured an article titled "The Worst Baby Gifts Ever". Their list was pretty entertaining to read. I have included a few-
“I received six very nice, warm fleece blankets, but my baby was born in July.” -- SarahRae812
“Candle holders. My mother-in-law decided to buy us a ton of decorative stuff for the nursery, which included a set of matching votives holders for the baby’s room. I don’t think we’ll be lighting any candles in the nursery anytime soon.” -- jcapelluti
“My grandma gave us a piggy bank that said, ‘Celebrating Your Christening.’ Only we’re not religious, and our son won’t be getting christened.” -- angiekillaire
“Unwanted parenting advice -- that gift keeps on giving long after the shower ends!” -- tdeddington
“My aunt gave us an obviously used Mickey Mouse crib bumper that was very faded, slightly stained and smelled of must. Gross.” -- bookkitten
“Someone gave us a gift bag full of dollar-store items -- shirts, pants, bottles, bibs, etc. I know they thought the cheaper the item, the more they could get us, but the problem was the items were terrible quality.” -- toadstool
“Clothes for the first year are awesome. Clothes past that (especially if you live in a small apartment or may be moving) are a pain to store!” -- Shaynnon
“Stuffed animals annoy me. We already have about a billion. Really don’t need anymore, thanks.” -- ITeachK
“I registered for gender-neutral things. My friend gave us three outfits complete with socks and hair bows for a girl. Of course we had a boy, so now I have to go and return them.” -- EllenK11
“A coworker gave me a homemade blanket. She didn’t knot the layers together so I actually had to come home and finish making the blanket.” -- Mrsl
This was really funny to me. I had a girlfriend that was expecting her first baby the same time I was. Neither of us had yet learned the gender of our babies. Her mother in law showed up with gifts for her including boy bedding, cowboy themed curtains and nursery linens and onsies with the word "BOY" printed on them. Of course she delivered a healthy, beautiful .... girl.
If someone has invited you to their baby shower I do recommend sticking to a registry. They are there for a reason. If you want to buy a blanket why not buy one that will match the baby's nursery. I know i have different taste and something I think it cute the mother may find it really ugly. I know they say it's bad manners to turn your nose up and a gift or "look a gift horse in the mouth" but I think we are all happier when a gift is received with the same enthusiasm when it is given. I know my money is best spent on a gift that will be appreciated.As will yours and this made me think of other gifts my friends and I have discussed as "bad gifts".
Do Not Buy - Anything overly themed or holiday themed.-
It is very limiting and especially that "Baby's first Easter bib". Yeah that is going to be used once (maybe). Sure, it can make a cute photo for a baby book but a cute non super festive bib will be way more useful.
Stuffed Animals (especially holiday themed).
A simple teddy bear or whatever animal is cute... but they really can acumulat4e fast and new babies really have no use or interest. At best it will be stuck on a shelf for 6-8 months before touched and then think of the dust it has gathered. I hate clutter personally and I am always washing my sons toys. Stuffed toys are no exception. If it can be cleaned easily (tossed in the washer machine) then he isn't going to play with it. Whats worse are the toys that are holiday themed. It just looks a little weird to me to have a stuffed bear with "My 1st Christmas" printed on it in your baby's room...in July.
Yeah, those got donated to good will. Sports Team Themed gifts.Okay if you happen to know the parents well and this is where you can sometimes throw the neglected father a bone. If they or he are sports fans and you know the team they absolutely love. Sure, go for it. But DO NOT push your team on their new baby. The cute outfit that says UCLA Bruins because that's the college you attended or if you are a Colts fan and they don't watch football or even care for that team.... sorry, dumb gift. I got both. Baby stuff for "my team" and random teams for sports I really didn't even follow. So it can really be hit or miss here. You be the judge. Same rule applies for political baby gear. When in doubt. Don't!
Off the Registry. Yeah that pacifier is cute but maybe they aren't planning on giving those to their baby. Things like pacifiers and formula/breastfeeding stuff can be parenting taboo.
Formal Baby Clothes Unless that baby is going somewhere appropriate at the age they will actually fit that outfit... not going to get much use out of it. Better off with a simple pack of cotton onsies.
Halloween Costumes Unless you know they are taking the baby out on Halloween and that is the exact out fit they want to dress their baby in, just don't. Now they feel obligated to put their kid in a costume so feelings aren't hurt. A cute cap or beanie with a little something is better.
Clothing with stupid or sarcastic print You may think it's funny but not everyone will agree. The baby shirt that says "I see dumb people" or "My parents are weird" aren't as great as you may think. Just consider the parent's taste when in doubt keep it simple and cute.
I am totally missing things that I wanted to add to this list but as I attempt the task of typing this with my son hoping in and out of my lap they have escaped my brain. Please post any that you feel belong on this list. I would love to hear your stories.
Trying to end on a more positive note I will add a few tips on what I consider to be GOOD GIFT giving suggestions.
Never hurts to keep it a little gender neutral. They may have a second child and if it is the opposite sex it can be used again.
Diapers They always always get used. But don't be the asshole that gets reusable cloth diapers unless the mom plans to go that route or you plan to change those diapers yourself.
Gift Cards Yeah they may not have too much time to shop with their new little screaming bundle of joy, but these will get used. Often if they have registries will present the parents with a large discount coupon to purchase remaining items on their registry. A gift card will help with that. Not to mention they will still need items like diapers, lotions and ointments as they baby goes through what they already have. They don't have to even be gift cards for the baby stores. Yes that Babies R Us is great but so is that curbside take-out service at Cheesecake Factory or BJ's Restaurant. Hell, even a gift card for a pizza delivery or Chinese is awesome to have on those nights as a parent you are starving and have had no time to buy groceries let alone make a meal. One of my personal favorites in Amazon.com or Target. They carry everything and trust me... it's gonna get used.
Well, he came early and after 2 days of walking around in labor at 3 cm Rhett was born around 3pm on Nov 1, 2011 7lbs 1oz and 18inches.
I don't think I am going to be one of those parents that goes all out every birthday every year. In my head I see myself doing parties for the milestone birthdays. Those years for some reason in my head are 1,5,8,10,13,16, and 18. We will see how that goes. If I end up going with that or not. Of course every year we will do a family thing, dinner, amusement park or outing of some sort.
Guy is going to be a year old this Friday. Crazy to think how much he grew and how fast time went by. It has been so amazing watching him grow and his personality develop. He is such a good boy, we have been very lucky with his temperament, eating and sleeping habits. He is getting better about new foods. He is still a bit of a texture-phoebe. He likes sliced fruit..... so long as its room temp. If its cold, it's too weird for him. Except for apple slices & carrots those seem to be okay cold. He loves Goldfish crackers! Those are his most recent craze. Guy is still madly in love with his Soothie pacifier aka "binky". That is going to be rough when we decide to get rid of that. He loves loves loves his silky blankets. I have had to sew them back together because he literally loves them to bits and pieces!
