Baby Showers
Are gift cards better than baby registering??
My baby shower wont be until another 3 months but Im starting to plan and organize it right now. I actually wanted to ask for gifts cards to Target and Babies R Us instead of registering at the store. I feel like it will be easier for the guests and easier for us. In most baby showers, you would recieve the same gifts from guests and end up returning it or exchanging it for something else. Please, I would like to hear your input on this 
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Re: Are gift cards better than baby registering??
I'd put gift cards on your registry but I'd also include normal registry items. People don't like being asked to bring gift cards which are basically like cash. They like to look at what you need, pick something, or buy some cute little clothes, toys etc.
The entire idea of a registry is that you shouldn't recieve duplicates- once it's bought it should be marked as 1/1 indicating not to buy another. Inevitably you will get a few duplicates (people buying things that you thought important to choose yourself (carseat, bedding etc) that they liked instead of the one on the registry. Pick the one you like best, if the other has a gift reciept return it, if not donate it (descretly) to a family in need or an organization (children's aid society etc).
No one wants to watch you open gift card after gift card at a shower. I registered for things that are important to me (monitor, cloth diapers, thermometer kit, changing pad etc) and figure people will bring whatever they think is cute for clothes, toys, blankets etc.
You should not be throwing your own shower. That is the height of rudeness.
~Benjamin Franklin
DS dx with celiac disease 5/28/10
well i dont have anyone else to throw it for me so its not the height of rudeness
Its really my husband planning it but of course Im going to help him plan and organize. I was just asking for your guys input, not insults
So you're throwing a party for yourselves that centers on gifts? Yes that is rude under any circumstances.
A shower is a gift, not right.
This.
The point of a shower is to give gifts. You didn't feel right about having people you just met throw you a shower, but you're perfectly okay with throwing your own and shaking down these people you barely know for gifts?
If you don't want gifts, then don't have a shower. A baby shower by definition is a gift from a friends/family meant to set a new mother up with nursery fittings, in the form of gifts from other friends and family.
Have a "meet the baby party" after the baby is born. There's is nothing tacky or rude about inviting people over to your house to meet a new baby. It is, however, incredibly tacky and rude to invite people over to bring you presents. Do yourself a favor and google "who should throw a baby shower" before you turn yourself into the laughing-stock of your base.
People will likely still bring gifts (mostly outfits and toys) to a meet the baby party, but it's not an event centered around "showering" a new mother with gifts.
BTW, if you don't have any friends or family nearby to throw a shower for you... who are you inviting? The neighbors that you don't really know? Good luck with that.
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