The most important rule for baby gifts

hsbell · August 2015

The #1 rule when gifting to new parents should be to always, always include a gift receipt!!

I consider myself fairly easy going and laid back, however, recently I have had my patience tested with baby gifts. I have received numerous gifts as of late that I did not register for, have no use for, and would never, ever give to my child. And worst of all--I cannot return them! Many baby stores have policies that unless you have a receipt, they will not accept the items even if they still have the tags.

Guess I'll be doing some major consignment.

aleecats · August 2015

Places like target and BBB will let you return it without a receipt, just add the item to your registry mark it purchased and bring it in they'll allow you to return it!

MSturtebury · August 2015

I think the most important rule for baby gifts is actually to make sure you write a thank you note to the generous person who gave it to you...

LiveNLove44 · August 2015

Very interesting perspective! Also, very interesting first post.

amberrmariee20 · August 2015

I get your point with the receipt but a lot of people shop for clearance items, and maybe they don't want you to know the regular $50.00 priced item they got for $20.00... I do understand having items that you'll have no use for, which is why re gifting comes in handy !

Knottie59387608 · August 2015

And it begins.

jefinley1 · August 2015

I enjoy donating. Even if a gift isn't my taste, it gives me a lot of joy to know that maybe someone who will love it but could never afford it otherwise will get an item completely unused. Obviously you aren't trying to get over feeling guilty about the possibility that not having the item might hurt someone's feelings, so at the end of the day, it's a financial wash that has no effect on you except that it might make you feel good!

Sbrouwer0706 · August 2015

A majority of stores (at least where I am) will take things back without a receipt. Some places will only offer store credit but considering it isn't something you paid for in the first place that is still pretty awesome.

Or, do something helpful. I've gotten repeat gifts before without a gift receipt so I gave it to a friend who I knew could use/want it. Any other expectant mamas or new mamas you could surprise?

wildbutterfli2001 · August 2015

MSturtebury said:
I think the most important rule for baby gifts is actually to make sure you write a thank you note to the generous person who gave it to you...

Precisely! Holy cow! You come across in this post as very entitled/ungrateful. No one is required to take time out of their day to buy you gifts or attend a party in your honor.
#thenerve

MamaOwl15 · August 2015

I understand the frustration behind this, as I hate clutter and if I get something I can't use, I at least want the option to exchange it.

But I also agree with PP. The most important rule is to write a thank you note. Show your gratitude to the people who were kind enough to buy you a gift.

Now back to what you DO with the stuff:
You can, if you know where it's from, return for store credit
You can sell on consignment
You can donate
You can keep stuff and use it anyway (when it comes to things like clothes, this is what I will do unless the item is horribly offensive . . . And if it never gets worn, see #2)

komorebi · August 2015

MamaOwl15 said:
I understand the frustration behind this, as I hate clutter and if I get something I can't use, I at least want the option to exchange it.

But I also agree with PP. The most important rule is to write a thank you note. Show your gratitude to the people who were kind enough to buy you a gift.

Now back to what you DO with the stuff:
You can, if you know where it's from, return for store credit
You can sell on consignment
You can donate
You can keep stuff and use it anyway (when it comes to things like clothes, this is what I will do unless the item is horribly offensive . . . And if it never gets worn, see #2)

What @MamaOwl15 said. I get nervous from things i can't use.but as long as somebody can use it i don't mind passing it along. This is where registries are tricky. They are not a todo list for your guests as much as suggestions. And like Christmas, birthdays and all the rest of the gifty times, you take the good with the bad and are thankful for the gift.

BabyOIsComing · August 2015

@hsbell I hear you!

Important rule of gift giving: give reciept (especially if you went off-registry).

Important rule of gift getting: Be grateful and polite.

But these two things are not mutually exclusive. You can be extremely grateful for the thought, time and money your loved ones put into giving you something they thought you might like. But you don't actually have to want to keep the item.

alz88 · August 2015

Wow! So ungrateful! We all receive gifts in our life we may not particularly like or had wanted but how about graciously accepting gifts and not whinging about it on a public forum? Do you realize these people have taken time and effort to go and purchase YOU and YOUR baby a gift? Maybe they were really chuffed with what they got and thought it was a perfect gift. Let's hope they never find out how unappreciative you were about it.

christina4436 · August 2015

Regift or donate...not everything you get gifted is going to be something you love or would buy for yourself. Otherwise you should have just bought it to begin with. Some items may turn up handy that you thought you may not use from more experienced moms as well.

Yes clutter is very annoying and makes me anxious but that is why if I couldn't return I would just regift or donate.

tate62610 · August 2015

Yes, re-gift or donate!

I had to do this with a bunch of nice rubber toys that were bought for my daughter. I am SEVERELY allergic to latex and my grandparents didn't realize they contained it.

tate62610 · August 2015

Also, not trying to bust anyone's balls but I've been giving this some thought. If this is a safe place to come and gripe about our pregnancy woes without being told to "just be thankful you're even pregnant" then maybe it can also be safe to express frustration with something like this without being called ungrateful.

OliveOyl2014 · August 2015

tate62610 said:
Also, not trying to bust anyone's balls but I've been giving this some thought. If this is a safe place to come and gripe about our pregnancy woes without being told to "just be thankful you're even pregnant" then maybe it can also be safe to express frustration with something like this without being called ungrateful.

I certainly wouldn't consider being given gifts at a baby shower thrown in my honor as a "woe."

loveleighmami · August 2015

Did you not have a wedding? If not, don't plan on having one, because the same thing will happen. I just donated a ton of gifts we haven't used. They're very much appreciated, but were not needed by us, but I'm sure someone else can put them to good use.

If we get stuff at our shower we can use, great! If not, that's great too. I'm not depending on my shower to provide what we need for baby. I'm depending on that people will show up ready to celebrate and have a good time!

Most stores will take stuff back without receipts as long as they sell the item. I think BRU is the only one that has a super strict return policy.

MariahOBrien · August 2015

Agreed with PP's, donate. There are plenty of moms out there who do not have the luxury of deciding which gifts they do or do not want.

shantyrae · August 2015

Above all else, be greatful.... but there is a barcode scanner app also that will help locate where the gift is from and you can get store credit.

Target let's you return anything against your registry w/o receipt.. even if you didn't register for it.

ROrtiz07 · August 2015

tate62610 said:
Also, not trying to bust anyone's balls but I've been giving this some thought. If this is a safe place to come and gripe about our pregnancy woes without being told to "just be thankful you're even pregnant" then maybe it can also be safe to express frustration with something like this without being called ungrateful.

This!
I hesitate to post as much as I'd like because I see so much of this. I'm sure one can be grateful and still be annoyed by little things.

I do agree that donating would be the way to go. I'd personally get much more satisfaction from helping a mom who isn't as fortunate as I am to have what I have. I also think it's okay to be annoyed by the lack of gift receipts lol

shineysasha · August 2015

Wow Im from Australia and this is so weird. We dont really do a registry at all, and I would never ever ever rely on other people to get me my big items. I'll take what Im given with appreciation to the thought, and if I dont need it I will either sell or give it away.

tate62610 · August 2015

@OliveOyl2014 didn't say it was. But I can understand it'd be frustrating to need to exchange or return something and not be able to.

ltormey · August 2015

I see both perspectives here. I just had my shower last weekend and was extremely grateful for all of the gifts. The point of a registry is to be a guide not a mandate. However, when it comes to all the things you need to take care of a baby - it's overwhelming. About half my guests bought off registry items which were cute and I am very lucky to have gotten anything, but the truth is I really need what's on the registry. Bottles and car seats are more important for the child than 20 newborn onesies that might not even fit when she is born. It's less about being ungrateful with the gift but more about if that $30 could have been used towards an item of higher priority it would benefit everyone. The gift givers have the right intention but it taught me a lesson that I will always buy off people's registries and help them fulfil what they believe will help them care for their child best - and not waste my money on something that might not be used!

kacichch · August 2015

This whole thing is so alien to me because I live in the UK and maybe only 1/4 people have a baby shower and nobody would ever think about a registry, never mind including big items on there. If anyone attends a baby shower a gift is not compulsory, and any gifts are bought with thought and enjoyment, no matter how small. In the UK we purchase all of our own baby items, nappies, outfits, prams, bedding etc. I would be so appreciative if someone bought my baby a present, some things won't be to everyone's taste but does it really matter? Donate it to someone who needs it, you could really make someone's day giving them lots of new baby bits if they are struggling. Sorry for the long post!

JessicaS0914 · August 2015

kacichch said:

This whole thing is so alien to me because I live in the UK and maybe only 1/4 people have a baby shower and nobody would ever think about a registry, never mind including big items on there. If anyone attends a baby shower a gift is not compulsory, and any gifts are bought with thought and enjoyment, no matter how small. In the UK we purchase all of our own baby items, nappies, outfits, prams, bedding etc. I would be so appreciative if someone bought my baby a present, some things won't be to everyone's taste but does it really matter? Donate it to someone who needs it, you could really make someone's day giving them lots of new baby bits if they are struggling. Sorry for the long post!

I could not love this any more. To those saying "the essentials" are more important than cute clothes and guests should recognize that - yes, they are important. Which is why it's up to the PARENTS to buy those things.

RainNFyre · August 2015

Dayum! All she wanted was some gift receipts.

Tonerl2015 · August 2015

I haven't received a single gift for my baby and probably won't since no one has offered to throw me a shower. Not receiving a gift receipt would be a welcome problem to have.

JessicaS0914 · August 2015

I'll even go so far as to say I don't see why all the uproar about not getting gift receipts. between my wedding and baby showers, I returned ONE gift, and that was only because it was a duplicate of the exact same waffle maker. I just don't see the point in returning gifts. Some things I didn't thing we're all that great have wound up being the most used stuff.

batmom05 · August 2015

As a side note, there has been a lot of discussion about "how many things babies need" but to be honest, there really aren't! The only things you really need to bring baby home are a car seat, diapers, a few outfits, a handful of bottles (if you aren't nursing) and somewhere safe for baby to sleep.

The rest of the items are wants, not needs. Yes, baby blankets and baby sizes bowls are convenient, but they are not a necessity. You don't NEED a good majority of the items that most people purchase - they are convenience... wants, not needs.

Although I do have to agree with @Tate62610, I think that one of the big things that is being overlooked here is that you didn't fail to get the items you "need" - you failed the get the items that you feel you need.

Just my two cents.

Want a personalized experience?

The most important rule for baby gifts

Re: The most important rule for baby gifts

Choose Another Board

Search Boards