To sprinkle or not to sprinkle?

Lolo_Bee

 I’m expecting my second little one next March.  My first will be 2 years old. 
Question: what are the rules for sprinkles? Should I have one at all?  Who throws them?  

I was  thinking of making a registry just in case someone asks if we need anything for the new one. 

Is this a faux pas?

meggyme

Lolo_Bee said:

 I’m expecting my second little one next March.  My first will be 2 years old. 
Question: what are the rules for sprinkles? Should I have one at all?  Who throws them?  

I was  thinking of making a registry just in case someone asks if we need anything for the new one. 

Is this a faux pas?

As with all gift giving events, you should not throw one honoring yourself. If someone offers and you are interested then by all means accept their generosity.

Registries are as much a parental check list as anything. I made one for inevitable grandparent Christmas gifts and well meaning relatives, as well as for the completion discounts and samples. You can make one and not share it pretty easily, or even go as far as making it private if you want.

mammabearcher

^^^ What she said. If someone offers, fine, but don’t throw one for yourself. 

swanbrooner

I definitely will not ask for one. If someone wants to throw me one, I'd be okay with it, but mildly uncomfortable since DD is only 17 months! 

meggyme

I'd say it also depends on timing. My mom wanted to arrange some kind of sprinkle during the 2 weeks that we would be home for Christmas. In addition to me not having enough time for that, I don't want people that are already maxed out with holiday gift giving to be worrying about getting me a sprinkle gift that I don't really need.

Lbloom

While PG with DD2, my friend (who was due with her 3rd, a boy after 2 girls, I was Team Green) threw herself a full-blown shower. This was pretty unheard of as my family may gift things after a subsequent baby is born but you only get 1 shower unless it's hosted by different groups of people i.e. coworkers/friends/etc.) Her neighbors hosted it. Maybe she threw it because she was getting pressure from her very generous and excited family, neighbors, friends. But it really rubbed me the wrong way. I know she needed some boy clothes after having 2 girls but the amount of gifts was monstrous and basic supplies you'd see given to a first time mom. I was there for hours (I bought her a couple boy sleepers on clearance and went mainly because my DD and hers are friends and they had a good time playing together). I spent the whole time a little perturbed. I did learn some new baby shower games though, which came in handy when I helped plan my 2 sisters showers in the next 2 years for their first babies.

I'm in the camp with "sprinkles" being fine but don't throw one for yourself.

HoneyBear40

Moment of truth - I've never heard of a "sprinkle"

zionsmama85

I am in the unpopular camp. (let me preface by saying i didnt know there was all these rules surrounding showers and sprinkles before the last few years) but I would totally throw myself one. I am also a Leo and use every opportunity to celebrate things that are myself-orbiting. LOL. honestly though, if i was having a child of a different sex i would still have one. I didnt even know with my first that someone else is supposed to do your shower...that actually rubs me the wrong way bc i am completely type A and don't like giving control to other people. My sister ended up doing my first one and it was nice, so i can't complain. My children will be 10 years apart almost, and different sexes so i am starting over. I'm pretty sure my SO's sis is throwing me one, but if no one offered, people are already asking me about it and i'd rather give myself a nice one, than have one someone threw me that is lame or not have one at all...even if no one brought me a THING...i would really like to have a shower or sprinkle to celebrate the new little one.. I know that is an unpopular opinion, you can stone me now. *hides* 

@Lolo_Bee
With yours being closer in age, it may be a faux pas, but i feel like if people are asking you, see if anyone wants to do it for you? You should definitely make a registry either way, because people are going to ask about that, even if its after the baby is born. 

bluebell08

I honestly prefer baby shower and celebrations over many other parties. I say have one if you want to! Register if you want to I'm sure there are things that are updated you would like. 

maggiemadeit

@HoneyBear40 I’m so glad you said it first. I had to look it up! 

kapowfal

@zionsmama85 Oooooh, that makes sense now why my DH wants to have a shower/sprinkle. He's a Leo too. The Pisces in me has issues with receiving, as I'd much rather give, haha. 

I'm down with a sprinkle, but I would not throw one myself. We have a DD and are expecting a boy, but we did not know DD was a girl until she was born. A lot of our baby essentials we kept and are unisex/neutral. The only thing we would need are diapers, wipes, towels, washcloths, and boy clothes (quite a few newborn clothes are unisex/neutral). We have tons of baby soaps, shampoos, bubble baths, pacifiers, blankets, etc. that we didn't use with DD we can use this time around.

bdesterhouse

I find sprinkles to be tacky if thrown this close to the last pregnancy for the same sex baby for big items. I am however all for sprinkles that are meant specifically to celebrate the baby and not meant to be thrown just to receive gifts. I believe all babies should be celebrated in some fashion. 

Lbloom

I didn't know sprinkles were a thing until my last pregnancy 3 years ago.

BuckeyeNut05

I am also in the "this makes me very uncomfortable" camp. I am totally cool going to others when thrown by a friend of theirs (you def don't throw yourself a shower or sprinkle, like ever), but I generally hate being the center of attention, and even though it's been 6.5 years since the last one and we don't have a lot of baby stuff anymore, this is my third kid. 

ashley14598

My SIL offered to throw a sprinkle and was excited to do so but I feel weird about it. As others have said my son will be 23 months when this LO is born and we just found out it’s another boy. We have so many things we need. We are planning to get a bassinet, new pacis, teethers (when he’s a bit older), new nipples for our bottles, and newborn size clothes (so many of DSs are spit up on/stained/we didn’t have enough anyways). We did register for the discount and free samples but we aren’t planning to tell anyone it exsists anyways. 

I know that gender reveals aren’t looked at well around here but we had one this weekend. It was nice to celebrate this baby in some fashion and see everyone (family and close friends about 12 people) excited about the new baby. 

mayoduck

FTM and because MH's parents are divorced and remarried and both MILs like to host parties, I am getting 2 baby showers for this one baby. I hate being the center of attention so I'd never ask for anyone to throw me one but I know each of them are really excited to do so, so I just tell them when I'm available and they do the rest. Not sure if there is a faux pas in having two large showers for the same baby but the guests will mostly be different and it keeps the MILs happy.

meggyme

@mayoduck I think as long as you aren't inviting the same people to both then it's fine. With DD1 I had one friends shower and one family shower (and a surprise shower at work I didn't know about). I don't think any of the guests overlapped.

lelkcot

@mayoduck I think, so long as your not inviting the same people to both (family usually going to all of them) then you’re good. I had three for my first... my friends threw one, my MiL sisters threw one and my FiL sister threw one. The only overlap on the guest list were my mom & sisters and my MiL and sister (and I told them they didn’t need to get us a gift for all 3!). 

litzi-2

@bdesterhouse I love this.
I didn't do anything for number 1 and won't for 2 either. I think celebrating and hosting yourself is great, if the goal is gathering and celebrating, not gifts. I feel off about any shower/ sprinkle mainly for gifts, regardless of who throws it, honestly. 

mayoduck

@lelkcot @meggyme Family guests shouldn't overlap at all. The only thing is what to do about friends. I'm thinking of giving friends both dates so they can choose one or they can come to both if they really want but definitely don't need to bring separate gifts to each. Most of our friends are out-of-state and this would likely be the last opportunity we get to see them before becoming a family of 3.

3rdtime_charmed

@ashley14598 I think lots of folks do like gender reveals... some people just spoke out about it on an unpopular opinion thread. Don’t worry, you do you!! I think just like you said, celebrating babies is great so your sprinkle could be more about the celebration than the presents if you word the invitations right. And if there is cake, then that’s a bonus! 

mschanandlerbong1214

@mayoduck I had 2 sizable showers for DS1, one with my family and one with DHs family. Different people, and totally different vibes at each because of who was throwing them. One was the traditional American baby shower with baby themed food and games and the other was a more traditional Latino style - big white wicker chair for me to sit in and be fawned all over lol. Like others said, as long as the guest lists aren’t the same then I wouldn’t worry