Christmas Gifts

kelsz12 · August 2014

I know Christmas is still a little ways out there, but I am a FTM and this question crosses my mind frequently.

With a baby due around Christmas time, what do we do for gifts?? The snarky, moody, pregnant version of me is saying forget the gifts, you're giving everyone a new family member! The practical, sweet, conscientious me still thinks we should do something even if it is small.

My husband's family is so large that usually the three grandkids get spoiled and all of us adults do a Secret Santa, which I think is manageable. Last Christmas my SIL was expecting a baby in April so everyone opted out of Secret Santa in lieu of surprising her with baby gifts. I'm not expecting that to happen for us this year for a variety of reasons. On the other hand, my family is small (parents, sister and aunt) and we do gift exchanges with everyone.

Opinions? What would you all do?

megbmeg · August 2014

I've been thinking about this lately. I'm planning to get gifts like usual, but buy & ship (or buy & wrap) early. I do think we'll do smaller gifts this year because of baby expenses, but I still want people to know we were thinking of them.

erynpdx · August 2014

I guess I haven't thought about this much, but now I guess I should! My family is pretty small and we all exchange gifts - I think that's probably still manageable, but I guess I should probably not procrastinate on the shopping like I usually do! It'll probably be a very Internet shopped Christmas this year.

CandEChicago · August 2014

I would do what you normally do but plan to give them gifts earlier or later based on baby's actual delivery date. Given the timing you may or may not be able to physically attend the festivities.

We are going to play ours by ear with worst case scenario of pizza & champagne at the hospital and then gifts a couple of weeks later at the next family gathering (bday party).

Amandak2012 · August 2014

I am thinking of doing more homemade gifts this year rather than spending a bunch of money on gifts...what it is we are going to make, yea still not sure haha

ETA: grammar, can't think today!

bibliophiletory · August 2014

i also plan to do christmas gifts as usual this year, but will probably scale down how much we spend. i'll probably use amazon prime for most of my shopping, which i do anyway but is even more necessary when there's no way i'm going out into a crowded mall when i'm huge and uncomfortable. i'm going to make every effort to have everything purchased and wrapped by the end of november.....hopefully.

Sweetsix06 · August 2014

We're forgoing gifts this year, except for our Godson. Do what's best for you; your family will understand.

abcmom12 · August 2014

I'm doing gifts for direct family and close friends (we give small gifts to each other's kids) but they will all be less around $15-20 total expect for DD whose getting a kitchen playset so she's not as jealous of the baby. but that's her only gift from us

cwbh928 · August 2014

We are getting gifts as normal - they may not be wrapped all pretty since I am sure I will have no patience around the holidays! My DH does want to make sure we do not go overboard with gifts and pretty much everyone in our family understands if we go a little light this year...As for each other - we are not giving gifts to one another - most of our Christmas gifts will be spent now buying baby stuff!

Disneygeek77 · August 2014

Well in our families, once grandchildren entered the picture, we kind stopped doing gifts for the adults and more for the children. It was just getting to be too expensive.

SerenityAE · August 2014

We're going to forego a lot of the gift giving this year. I will do a gift and stocking for my nephew, and something small for SO. I would skip gifts all together if it wasn't for my nephew- he'll be a year and a half so this will be his first Christmas he can actually get excited/involved in.

Hopefully the LO will be here by then (due on 13th) so we can enjoy Christmas with him. He'll be our gift!

allfalldown14 · August 2014

I'm very excited for Christmas shopping to keep my mind off the ever slow approach of the baby.

My girls will no doubt be spoiled rotten -- this is my first Christmas since the divorce and it's my Christmas to have them so I can't wait to go all out celebrating this year(not just presents, but the whole nine yards).

Eora3 · August 2014

Disneygeek77 said:
Well in our families, once grandchildren entered the picture, we kind stopped doing gifts for the adults and more for the children. It was just getting to be too expensive.

This! Each set of grandparents will get prints of Christmas pictures and something small (gift card for dinner). Kids get gifts.

mlee116 · August 2014

I'm planning to shop a little earlier and spend a little less.

AllTheTeaInChina · August 2014

We won't do anything different this year, I'm not due until 12/31. All our family is local, we celebrate with my family Christmas Eve and ILs Christmas day. I hope (think I say it every year) to start earlier and have everything wrapped a couple weeks before.

BdblZ · August 2014

I was thinking of just doing something small for everyone, and getting shopping done early, but DH put his foot down and said we are not doing any gifts this year - we don't need the added stress or expense. I think he's still pissed about last year - we showed up to his side of the family with gifts for all (and for some reason it was super stressful trying to pick things out for people last year) and were told "It was supposed to be no gifts this year!" Well, we didn't get that memo - he was super aggravated.

mlee116 · August 2014

I wish my family did Secret Santa. But nooo, they all get gifts for one another and lately its become a pissing contest to see who gives the best gifts, especially to my parents.

jp8655 · August 2014

This is something I have thought about since day 1! Our little boy is due on christmas eve...lets hope that doesn't happen lol (its my favorite family get together day) I am thinking that we will most likely do gifts but small in comparison to every other year. Maybe grandparent gifts and auntie stuff (this is the first on both sides so the excitment is off the walls) Maybe something from Etsy they have cute things. Our family has told us not to worry about gifts this year but i'll feel awful

lionyloo32 · August 2014

We stopped giving gifts a few years ago. DH has a large family and I would always try to find something for everyone, which adds up really quickly. Many years we would give gifts and not receive any in return (from BIL etc.). Realized very quickly that it was a waste of time. Dwindled it down to just cards, and now I don't even bother with that (have never gotten a gift/card from them). Only people that get anything from us are our parents, on both sides, and nieces/nephews. DH and I also don't do gifts for each other. Never have. We prefer to use the money for a fabulous, expensive dinner out together somewhere (we do this for holidays, bdays, and anniversary).

Shortstack06 · August 2014

I am due on New years and my family is large and we have done everything from Secret Santa to White Elephant to a $20 limit. This year I think I am going to do a homemade chex mix in a quart mason jar as gifts to the men and maybe homemade sugar scrub for the women. My immediate family already knows not to expect gifts, but my nieces (17 & 8) and nephew(8) will receive a gift from us.

I would wait before going out to buy, if your family says "Alright let's pick names for the Secret Santa", then you know they are not going to surprise you. Even if you could do a Grandparents photo frame with a sonogram picture (or picture of the baby if it is here by then), that would be a small token to show you thought of them. The same with the Sister and Aunt. My sister has holiday ornaments done every year and she gives those to us, they can be about $10 through Wal-mart. You could do a picture of the baby(if born by then) or a sonogram picture and continue the tradition if you would like.

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