Birthday party registry

*~Krystin1119~*

DD was invited to a birthday party and the little boy has a birthday party registry. Is this something a lot of parents are doing? This is her first "friend" birthday party she's been invited to and we have no idea if we should get him something off of his registry or get a gift card. It's not online so we can't even price anything out beforehand. Have any of you ladies ever done a birthday gift registry or been invited to a party that had one?  

hopefulmom81

M&MHaveMyHeart said:

SIL has a "wish list" for our niece & nephew for every.single.occasion. I'll glance at it but there's been times I bought something off the list but at a different place because cheaper. 

I personally think it's a bit tacky. I'd just do what you want, especially that it's just a friend.

I think it is totally tacky, however, I create a "wish list" on Amazon that I only give to my parents and the ILs so they can see the direction of things that we need.  It isn't meant to say, "Give us this specific stuff", but I know our parents want to get gifts that we need.

For anyone else, it is tacky, imo.

Helenahhandbasket

I haven't read the responses, and I hope I don't offend anyone when I say EW.

*~Krystin1119~*

At first glance we thought it was a baby shower insert since his mother is expecting again and  thought she had pregnancy brain. It would be one thing if they were our close friends, but DD & the boy are "best" gymnastics and daycare friends.

*~Krystin1119~*

TarHeelMomToBe said:

What kind of place has registries that aren't online?  I've never heard of such a thing!

Lol! Learning Express Toys. We've never heard of it.

*~Krystin1119~*

BostonKisses2 said:

I do keep a running "wish list" on Amazon, but it's more for my organizational sake than anything.  I'm not wild about actual registries for birthdays, and prefer to get suggestions by word of mouth if I need them.

We give suggestions, we like suggestions. This feels like a forced buy this and we'll know how cheap you are since we picked it out.

*~Krystin1119~*

VioletteGrayskies said:

I agree that it's tacky.

Could you phone ahead to the store with the registry and ask them what's on his list under x dollars?  If it's no more than you planned to spend, then maybe it's an option.  But if it's all expensive, you wouldn't have to schlep out there.

I hadn't even thought about that. That's a great idea. Hopefully there's something in our price range.

kristennd

Everyone in my family keeps running wishlists on Amazon and they totally depend on the one we keep for LO. But I wouldn't distribute it for a birthday party to non-family.

Chapter79

You know what?
I'll be the odd one out.... I like.

Before DD was invited to friends parties, I would say TACKY. Always have.  Then she started school, and was invited to these parties... and honestly, I haven't a clue as to who 90% of the kids are. I don't know them, their likes, dislikes, what they own. It's SO hard to shop for some of the kids.  The last party DD was invited to, the girl seriously got THREE of the same exact toy.  I try to have DD help.. "what do they like?" and get "duhhh, we aren't allowed to have TOYS at school, how do I know?" .. well hmmph.

I hate shopping for kids I don't know. Registries would totally solve this issue I have.  I'm all for anything to make it easier, so I get what the birthday kid actually wants/likes/needs.   Would *I* do it? No. But it's not tacky to me anymore.

Jerzee17

We just made a wish list at toys r us for our son's first birthday party recently. Only family and a few close friends were invited. I included it in the invites.
I actually had a lot of people tell me how good of an idea it was because they had no idea what he already had or what he is into. We also had people who couldn't make the party so they just picked a gift off the list and had it mailed to us. We did a big first birthday party and we won't be having another party until he is in school. I only did the wish list for this party because it was family and close friends. I wouldn't do it for school friends or anything though.

*~Krystin1119~*

The bulk of the gifts were $30 or more so we picked out a puzzle that they asked for that was a little more in our price range. DD's birthday is next month and we've been asked what she needs. Not sure about a registry but an Amazon wishlist is a good idea.

PB102012

I will offer suggestions if someone asks, but I wouldn't ever create a registry.

eyenigh

*~Krystin1119~* said:

TarHeelMomToBe said:

What kind of place has registries that aren't online?  I've never heard of such a thing!

Lol! Learning Express Toys. We've never heard of it.

My first reaction is that I actually appreciate ideas because all my friends' kids have so much, it's nice to have a little direction. I like an Amazon wishlist. However, a registry at a specific store, which isn't even available online, definitely feels forced and tacky, especially when the price points seems a bit steep for a kiddie party.

*~Krystin1119~*

The things they have in his registry box are so random...wooden Thomas the tank engine trains, coloring books, tool kit. I'm all for ideas but it just felt so forced to us. We'reaalways happy with whatever our family and friends give her. I think they would be insulted by a registry as if we're says the previous gifts weren't genuinely appreciated