To register or not to register.....

mas1115

Hello everyone.  Just wanted to get some opinions/suggestions on the topic of registering.  My husband and I  are pregnant with out 1st child.  We discussed with one another the idea of not registering.  I was thinking that in our baby shower invites, we could write that we would appreciate any and all gifts that we received, but would "prefer" giftcards.  Is this rude?  There are two reasons why I want to do this. 1. It saves all my friends and families from walking aimlessly up and down the aisles trying to find a onesie or fitted sheet. (I get so frustrated when I am buying something off a registry for a friend and it is never in the location that the sheet says. 2.  I think it would be a lot more fun for the two of us to go shopping together and buy all the things we need with the giftcards.

I personally think it is a win/win for everyone--saves people the aggravation and the two of us can have fun together--- but do see how it may offend some people.

What do you guys think?  Any ideas on how to word the invites a little better?

 Thanks

KiwiChampagne

I think notes about what to bring to a shower would probably be considered rude. 

I also think the registry is pretty helpful. We recieved only 1 or 2 gift cards out of all the gifts we recieved (and we were somehow blessed with 3 surprise showers: work, family/friends, and church). A good percentage of people bought off the registry so we got lots of the basics that we wanted/needed.  

Some people (especially of the older generation) just wanted to give clothes and baby blankets.  I would worry that if you don't have a registry that you would just get lots of "oh isn't that so cute!" clothing and blankets because in our experience no one wants to just bring money to a baby shower, they want to bring cute baby stuff. Most of the people who bought stuff that wasn't on the registry did not include gift receipts either ... we ended up with 3 sets of the exact same onesies (same print & size) but don't know where they came from so can't return any of them (we've tried!!). I'm really glad that we did register because at least that way we did get a bunch of things that we researched and picked out and think we'll be pretty happy with/need. I know you want the fun of going through the store with your DH and picking out the stuff you like for your baby but we had that time when we visited the store to register. 

jCamsquared

Ditto everything Kiwi said (except I didn't get 3 surprise showers! haha). It's rude to ask for them, plus what would you do at the shower?

lcusson

Ditto all of the above.

In addition, I am almost 37 weeks now, and had my showers at 34 and 35 weeks, and while it might sound fun to go shopping for all your stuff together, it is completely exhausting.  I already had enough returns/exchanges to deal with, which has been several trips to different stores. 

Depending on how early your showers are, you may not be in any shape to be galavanting around to different stores picking everything out.  Pick it all out now while you have the energy, trust me.

Just my $0.02...

christiney06

no way in hell that would work, sorry.  people LOVE to shop for babies.  yes, BRU is overwhelming but some people really love to shop there.  I would think it's pretty rude to put anything about wanting GC 's  in your invites.  sorry, just register and accept everyone's generosity!

Kate22

Register.

 

Having just had my shower, I got an overwhelming amount of baby clothes.  Not to be ungrateful, but Id' rather have useful things.  I'm afraid you'd get way too may 0-3 month outfits & end up not getting/having the money to get what you need.

dzdevil79

Register - it gives you some pretense at control over what you get.  Also, you'll be surprised at who will buy you what big ticket items or little necessities that you wouldn't have thought until you needed them.