gifts ettiquite

tjkdlhb

It there anyway to politely request 'no gifts'?  I don't mean from family... we would do family presents later that night (grandma, aunts etc) but if we invite other babies and my friend's kids, we have a LOT of hand-me-down toys and clothes and she's so young that she really wouldn't understand..seriously, our house is full. so I mean from the other babies etc. 

 I know that some people in my area have done donations to Children's Wish in lieu of gifts... but to me that's almost something that would have to be initiated by her if she choses when she is older.... I would like them to come and celebrate and have some food etc... I was thinking of renting the pool (there's a nice baby pool and the big pool for the older kids) and having some pizza and cake after.  Then family would go to my mom's for supper and gifts. 

AliciaS1411

"Please don't worry about a gift as your presence is present enough?" or something like that? 

notkateanymore

We requested donations to the local tutoring program at our church in lieu of gifts this year.

The invite reads "In lieu of gifts, please consider bringing supplies to donate to XXX. A wish list can be found at XXXX.com. DD appreciates any and al

EastCoastBride

You can try, and I TOTALLY understand why you don't want gifts.  But I tried this once.  ONE person didn't get DS a gift.  Everyone else did.  Because "they can't show up empty handed!!". 

notkateanymore

MandJS:

It's technically rude to mention gifts at all. However. I have done "your presence is present enough" on the birthday

dor79

These things always confuse me, I would feel like the odd person out if I was the only one who didn't bring a gift, or if I was the only one who did.

 In my circles, if there is a mention of no-gifts, you get a card with money.

notkateanymore

MandJS:

KateMW:</stron

1026pumpkin

MandJS:

It's technically rude to mention gifts at all. However. I have done "your presence is present enough" on the birthday

allardr

AliciaS1411:

"Please don't worry about a gift as your presence is present enough?" or something like that? 

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Irishsapphire

I joked about my daughter's 1st birthday party to my knitting group--"Gifts are not required. She is clueless."  And I wanted people to just enjoy the birthday party.  My daughter was going to get a lot of gifts from our own family.