Ok I admit, I am a huge germ a phobe so thrifting and garage sales etc are not my thing. Nothing wrong with them, I'm just weird about them and obsess about germs and bed bugs. My family member keeps purchasing used things for the baby that we don't need, toys, books, clothes, etc. A lot of it is things that cannot be washed even and they are dirty. I'm not sure how to nicely tell them to stop without sounding like a spoiled brat. But we really don't need it or want it at our house and they are just wasting their money, even if the stuff was only 50 cents. I feel badly and know they mean well and are just excited.
Re: Used gifts
And if I can't or think it's just too gross I donate it.
And if I can't or think it's just too gross I donate it.
This exactly. My FIL tried to tell me his grandchild would not be using used anything. I laughed and said 'if its good enough for me, then its good enough for him' as long as it can be washed, I don't see a problem. Now a breast pump or bottles or something of that sort is a completely different story.
Eta: OP I think the other ladies have given great advice and unfortunatly I have nothing to add.
Clients of mine kept wanting to dump their stuff off to me. Most likely they wanted to get rid of it and felt like they were doing a good deed, but no. I told them all that while I appreciate the thought, I just don't accept used things. People were understanding. I just didn't want the job of getting rid of stuff.
I say donate the stuff you were given if you don't want it. If they ask later, could you tell them it got ruined or broken accidently somehow? Maybe not the best way out, but that's probably something that I would try to do lol.
Jill (36) Wife to Joe (36) Mom to: Alyssa (forever 10) Jacob (10) Baby Due 12/31/13
With that being said, I do not do used clothes from garage sales from random strangers. Some toys that can be bleached down are ok but I'm picky on those too. I wouldn't buy any gear like pnp's, car seats, etc. though.
My DH has taken things that my hoarder MIL has brought over and literally thrown it in the garbage in front of her. She knows she is not supposed to bring anything over without checking with us first. A couple months ago she brought over a box of dirty stained bibs she found in a flea market because they were a quarter. There was still hair caught in the Velcro :-& We threw them out in front of her and she got pissed. Oh well!
"Happiness is like a butterfly; the more you chase it the more it will elude you but if u turn your attention to other things it will come & sit softly on your shoulder."
BFP! 04/26/11 - DS born 12/28/11 - BFP #2! 04/02/13 - DD born 12/11/13 -
My Ovulation Chart
A couple weeks ago I was in the mall with my friend and this old lady tried to give our boys (her DS is the same age as my DS) a half eaten soft pretzel! I said no thank you that they had just eaten lunch but she was insisting so much that I finally just had to walk away. Yuck! What kind of person offers a stranger a half eaten pretzel?
"Happiness is like a butterfly; the more you chase it the more it will elude you but if u turn your attention to other things it will come & sit softly on your shoulder."
BFP! 04/26/11 - DS born 12/28/11 - BFP #2! 04/02/13 - DD born 12/11/13 -
My Ovulation Chart