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Thoughts on this...baby shower etiquette

MaybeBabyTimeMaybeBabyTime
in Babies: 9 - 12 Months

I posted this under baby shower forum but only got a couple responses. What is your thought about this? I am planning a shower for my sister....I would love for people to bring a book along with a gift but without being pushy. People could always deduct $5-$10 from what they were going to spend on a gift and add a book. I'm not looking for people to spend more but sometimes I think people overlook the power of a book.

I was going to say something like, "If you have a favorite childhood story, please feel free to bring a copy for Baby D". I am not sure though...I am on the fence about the whole idea.

Thoughts?

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Re: Thoughts on this...baby shower etiquette

  • KMT to JWHKMT to JWH member
    We used this idea for my SIL's shower. We asked people to bring and sign a childrens book instead of a greeting card. You can find little books that cost the same if not less then some cards today. It was a great turn out and she loved it! She got a ton of books! GL!


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  • Ivana_StolichnayaIvana_Stolichnaya member
    Everyone has their own opinions but I personally don't like any sort of 'gift requests' in the invites.  That's just me though.
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  • ZTACRYSTALZTACRYSTAL member

    imageKMT to JWH:
    We used this idea for my SIL's shower. We asked people to bring and sign a childrens book instead of a greeting card. You can find little books that cost the same if not less then some cards today. It was a great turn out and she loved it! She got a ton of books! GL!

    I went to a shower that asked for a signed book instead of a card. Some cards can be 5 bucks these days. I didn't think it was pushy or rude. I liked the idea!

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  • eas15905eas15905

    Considering that cards cost about $4 a book isn't much more then that.  I went to a shower where the invitation included a poem like this one and I thought it was cute:

    I want to be a bright child
    As smart as I can be.
    That is why I'm hoping
    My mom will read to me.
    If you plan to bring a card
    Please take another look,
    I would like to learn my ABC's
    From your favorite storybook.
    Please sign your name
    As your personal touch.
    Baby ________ thanks you
    very, very much.

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  • KandM05KandM05
    I think its rude to 'ask' for a certain type of gift, however, the way you worded it wasnt offensive at all....it leaves it up to the guest to decided if they want to participate or not. I'm OK with it.
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  • jrlandriganjrlandrigan member

    My mom did this for my baby shower and most people brought a book. Some people (like DH's grandparents) didn't really understand but they bought one of those toy crinkle books, which still worked well :) . If someone doesn't like the idea, they don't have to buy a book, or they can buy a cheaper book along with their gift.

    I actually got a lot of books I would have never thought to buy or never heard of, so it worked out wonderfully. Books can get expensive but many people think this is a great idea and will buy nice books. My mom even wrote something about using a book rather than a card and people just write a little something and sign the book.

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  • Mrs.Keith2BMrs.Keith2B member
    My SIL did this for my shower. She included a little insert that said something like "Help Brody build his library! Instead of signing a card, please fill out the attached book label with a short message to Brody and attach it to the inside cover of your favorite children's book."
     
    That's not the exact wording, but it was something like that. My SIL also included book labels (stickers) that matched the whole bandana/cowboy theme she did. It was awesome and we got a TON of books. A lot of people said they really liked that idea and shared stories with me about the book they chose and why they picked it. For example, my Aunt gave Brody a copy of "Red Fish Blue Fish" and wrote on the label about how his Grandpa Dave and Great-Uncle Doug taught her to read using this book and she hopes he can do the same. It was really sweet.
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  • Culkinator54Culkinator54
    My SIL did this for me, too, in place of cards for my shower.  She had something catchy in the invites, but I can't remember what it was.  We got a LOT of books, and I was so thankful.  A lot of people wrote on the cover about why they chose that book.  I even got some books that had been with the family and the kids outgrew them.  I really liked it!
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  • MaybeBabyTimeMaybeBabyTime
    imageMrs.Keith2B:
    My SIL did this for my shower. She included a little insert that said something like "Help Brody build his library! Instead of signing a card, please fill out the attached book label with a short message to Brody and attach it to the inside cover of your favorite children's book."
     
    That's not the exact wording, but it was something like that. My SIL also included book labels (stickers) that matched the whole bandana/cowboy theme she did. It was awesome and we got a TON of books. A lot of people said they really liked that idea and shared stories with me about the book they chose and why they picked it. For example, my Aunt gave Brody a copy of "Red Fish Blue Fish" and wrote on the label about how his Grandpa Dave and Great-Uncle Doug taught her to read using this book and she hopes he can do the same. It was really sweet.

     

    Super cute idea.

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  • mistywhite400mistywhite400 member

    maybe make it into a game.  At my sisters shower we put a little insert in the invite that said something along the lines of....

    "Bring your favorite childrens book to be entered in a raffle"

    We gave out a $20 gift card to the person who won the drawing.

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  • ToraniTorani member
    I think it's a cute idea, and not rude at all!  I like all the ideas from PP about attaching a sticker instead of having a card, and the raffle idea.  We had a guess the due date/time with a buy-in of a bag of diapers with a gift card as the prize.  I literally got enough diapers that I didn't have to buy any for the first five months!  The books are a cute idea!
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  • sjpsjp member

    My sprinkle invite said

    "poem, nursery rhyme or book"

    which was great, because some people only brought a book (like really nice large nursery rhyme books) some got a gift and a book, and some put a poem into a card . .  gives the option of writing something or printing something at home.

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  • lilsunshinelilsunshine
    I think this is a lovely idea. The way you worded was not offensive at all. If the guest wants to contribute, great, if not, I don't see a reason for them to feel pressure.
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