You suck it the hell up and keep it and realize that you were fortunate enough to have been thrown a shower and have people that care about you and spent THEIR money on YOUR child.
That's all I'm going to say bc I don't feel like getting banned today.
This makes you want to cry? Omg 1st world problems!!! First, pick yourself up off the floor and start to do a little research if you want to exchange these items for things you like. See who sells what and go to those stores and let them know you received them as a gift. Most if not all stores have open exchange policies! You don't need receipts but all you will get is a store credit. If they are stores like Walmart, Target, or BRU, I'm sure you can find use with a store credit.
First, take a deep breath and try to relax a little bit. I know it's overwhelming, but it's just stuff and hopefully nobody from your shower is going to keep track of if your DD wore their purple 3 month onesie. At least they aren't giant things.
Second, I can sympathize. We ended up getting a ton of newborn clothes during my first small family shower after receiving a more than full set of used baby clothes from a friend. I literally had 47 short sleeve newborn size onesies at one point.
Third, get a barcode scanning app. I was able to download one for my android for free. Then scan the barcode on any item that you might want to return, but don't have a gift receipt. I did this for a few of the new outfits I was gifted and within a few minutes, knew which store they came from. The vast majority of stores will take back items without gift receipts and will instead just scan your drivers license and give you a gift card in store credit. Some have limits to the amount they'll let you return that way annually (I think with Walmart around here its $75 to discourage people stealing then returning items), but if you go over that have DH or a friend help you. Then you can use the gift cards for something you need for the baby.
Unfortunately as a fellow FTM I have no idea on the sleeper and bouncer. Hopefully someone can help you out with that.
Fourth, if you can't return something and won't use it, find a women's shelter to donate it to in your area. Where I live a lot of these places actually only accept new items, so they'll probably be quite thankful for whatever you have to give.
Well this is a first world problem if I've ever heard one. You want to cry over this? Really? Donate or give away what you don't want. I promise there are people out there who would be more than greatful for those gifts.
I agree with your mom, keep everything. When LO is spitting up and/or pooping every where, you will be thankful for the outfits that you don't like and the extra blankets. When I was a nanny the 18 month old I watched got very sick one day. I only had her for around six hours before her mom came home early to take over - I think we had three baths, tried wrapping and cuddling her in around 4 different blankets, and around 5 total outfit changes that day before I gave up and just had a near naked kiddo snuggled up with me. Again, that was only in six hours. Imagine several days of a sick LO.
If you're that opposed to keeping things - you can get store credit, take them to a store like Once Upon a Child, or sell them yourself.
Ok, hang on here. How am I being judged now? Have all of you kept every single gift you have ever gotten in your life? I am far from ungrateful for receiving the gifts we got--this is our first baby after having had two losses back to back so don't any of you dare to call me ungrateful if you are going to comment on a question and advice I am looking for. I have gone to a zillion resale shops to shop for my items--my post is not complaining about anything being "cheap" etc. So much for some support. I am sorry that all of you have this all figured out and I clearly don't.
Ok, hang on here. How am I being judged now? Have all of you kept every single gift you have ever gotten in your life? I am far from ungrateful for receiving the gifts we got--this is our first baby after having had two losses back to back so don't any of you dare to call me ungrateful if you are going to comment on a question and advice I am looking for. I have gone to a zillion resale shops to shop for my items--my post is not complaining about anything being "cheap" etc. So much for some support. I am sorry that all of you have this all figured out and I clearly don't.
I can't speak for everyone, but I'm judging because you are clearly distraught enough to get on the Internet and tell us you want to cry and need words of encouragement. They're gifts, do whatever you want with them, but I fail to see how it's something to cry over. If I got a gift I wanted to return, I simply did that. Didn't need to cry or need encouragement.
Ok, hang on here. How am I being judged now? Have all of you kept every single gift you have ever gotten in your life? I am far from ungrateful for receiving the gifts we got--this is our first baby after having had two losses back to back so don't any of you dare to call me ungrateful if you are going to comment on a question and advice I am looking for. I have gone to a zillion resale shops to shop for my items--my post is not complaining about anything being "cheap" etc. So much for some support. I am sorry that all of you have this all figured out and I clearly don't.
I can't speak for everyone, but I'm judging because you are clearly distraught enough to get on the Internet and tell us you want to cry and need words of encouragement. They're gifts, do whatever you want with them, but I fail to see how it's something to cry over. If I got a gift I wanted to return, I simply did that. Didn't need to cry or need encouragement.
Okay, I try to give people the benefit of the doubt, and I know that this can be an overwhelming time. So maybe you normally wouldn't be so distraught over this "problem."
But with that said, I would gladly trade to have the problem of too many clothes and blankets. Drown me in a sea of baby clothes, that's fine. You have a lot of people that care about you and baby and are willing to spend their money on you, focus on that rather than the fact that they neglected to include gift receipts with their generous gifts.
Ok, hang on here. How am I being judged now? Have all of you kept every single gift you have ever gotten in your life? I am far from ungrateful for receiving the gifts we got--this is our first baby after having had two losses back to back so don't any of you dare to call me ungrateful if you are going to comment on a question and advice I am looking for. I have gone to a zillion resale shops to shop for my items--my post is not complaining about anything being "cheap" etc. So much for some support. I am sorry that all of you have this all figured out and I clearly don't.
I'm sorry for your losses, but that has nothing to do with your post. You come across as extremely ungrateful and spoiled complaining about what you received. You didn't get what was on your registry? You don't know where things came from? Put on your big girl panties and figure out what you want to do. Keep, donate, exchange all are good options. Coming on here and bitching about not being happy with your gifts is not.
There are a ton of posters wondering whether they should throw their own shower because no one has offered, and those concerned that they won't have enough people show up to theirs. So hearing a "woe is me" about the insane amount of gifts you received from all the people who attended your shower may be a bit irritating for some.
Having said that, I received some gifts that were not my style and I'm keeping them because you never know, some days you may just be thankful to have something clean to dress the baby in. If not, donate or regift!!
Ok so we have had two baby showers and received tons of stuff that completely overwhelms me! We are having a girl and we have huge families, so we received TONS AND TONS of clothes and blankets. The thing is, is that not all of it is cute or anything I would have ever chosen and will most likely never dress her in and I hardly got any gift receipts! So half of it I don't know where it was bought! I also got duplicate outfits with no gift receipts and a crib mobile that wasn't on my registry/wasn't bought at the stores I registered at and no gift receipt. I also got a vibrating bouncer and a vibrating sleeper which I have no clue what the difference is..do I keep them both? Can anyone give me some words of advice or encouragement here? Everytime I start going through gift bags I seriously want to cry! I tried talking to my mom and she told me to keep every blanket--we are talking like 25 of them!!!! I hate to sound ungrateful bc I know everyone bought these gifts with the best intent, but what do I do with the undesired items I will never use??
QFP
You want to cry as you go through the gifts that people have spent their time and money on for you and your baby?! I sincerely hope that none of your generous shower attendees ever find out about your reaction to their gifts. Donate what you can't return. Others will be grateful for the items.
I can see being overwhelmed if you legitimately just don't have the space to put all of the stuff that you got. That being said, it is pretty easy to return things, most stores don't require a gift receipt. The vibrating sleeper is probably more of a swinging motion, while the bouncer bounces. Some babies like one better than the other. I didn't use either with daughter, but my SIL swears by the swing for nephew.
Ok ladies. I don't use social media often and clearly everything I have said has been taken out of context. I said I wanted to cry because I don't know where to start when it comes to organizing all of this stuff and what is better to keep than to take back. She does not have a room of her own, so space is an issue. I didn't know I was going to get my head bit off by sharks. I am trying to see how to get this post removed. Thanks to the couple of you ladies who understood what I was asking. Best wishes to all of you on your pregnancies.
You suck it the hell up and keep it and realize that you were fortunate enough to have been thrown a shower and have people that care about you and spent THEIR money on YOUR child.
That's all I'm going to say bc I don't feel like getting banned today.
First, take a deep breath and try to relax a little bit. I know it's overwhelming, but it's just stuff and hopefully nobody from your shower is going to keep track of if your DD wore their purple 3 month onesie. At least they aren't giant things.
Second, I can sympathize. We ended up getting a ton of newborn clothes during my first small family shower after receiving a more than full set of used baby clothes from a friend. I literally had 47 short sleeve newborn size onesies at one point.
Third, get a barcode scanning app. I was able to download one for my android for free. Then scan the barcode on any item that you might want to return, but don't have a gift receipt. I did this for a few of the new outfits I was gifted and within a few minutes, knew which store they came from. The vast majority of stores will take back items without gift receipts and will instead just scan your drivers license and give you a gift card in store credit. Some have limits to the amount they'll let you return that way annually (I think with Walmart around here its $75 to discourage people stealing then returning items), but if you go over that have DH or a friend help you. Then you can use the gift cards for something you need for the baby.
Unfortunately as a fellow FTM I have no idea on the sleeper and bouncer. Hopefully someone can help you out with that.
Fourth, if you can't return something and won't use it, find a women's shelter to donate it to in your area. Where I live a lot of these places actually only accept new items, so they'll probably be quite thankful for whatever you have to give.
Ok ladies. I don't use social media often and clearly everything I have said has been taken out of context. I said I wanted to cry because I don't know where to start when it comes to organizing all of this stuff and what is better to keep than to take back. She does not have a room of her own, so space is an issue. I didn't know I was going to get my head bit off by sharks. I am trying to see how to get this post removed. Thanks to the couple of you ladies who understood what I was asking. Best wishes to all of you on your pregnancies.
You suck it the hell up and keep it and realize that you were fortunate enough to have been thrown a shower and have people that care about you and spent THEIR money on YOUR child.
That's all I'm going to say bc I don't feel like getting banned today.
Edited for my unfinished thought
I totally understand being so overwhelmed that you just want to cry. Not because you are ungrateful but because you don't even know where to begin putting everything especially if space is limited. I agree with downloading an app that allows you to scan items to see where they may have been bought at and returning some stuff. There's absolutely nothing wrong with exchanging gifts, especially if you got duplicates. Sometimes it does depend on who bought it for you as well. I would never return something someone in my immediate family got me just because I would feel bad but more distant relatives will never know and that way you can get stuff you do need and will have the space for it as well.
Seeing as the general consensus read your post as being ungrateful, either you really sucked at explaining how you felt or you are and don't see it. But still, I fail to see why you need so much support on figuring out what to do with the massive amounts of gifts that were showered on you. Either keep, return, or donate. It's not that hard.
I'm sorry for your losses but those have no impact on this post nor our responses. You still came off as whiny and ungrateful in the original post, as even more so in the following ones. You got good advice. Take it or leave it.
Seeing as the general consensus read your post as being ungrateful, either you really sucked at explaining how you felt or you are and don't see it. But still, I fail to see why you need so much support on figuring out what to do with the massive amounts of gifts that were showered on you. Either keep, return, or donate. It's not that hard.
I'm sorry for your losses but those have no impact on this post nor our responses. You still came off as whiny and ungrateful in the original post, as even more so in the following ones. You got good advice. Take it or leave it.
Yeah, I cried after mine because I was overwhelmed too... we got so much stuff! I was so overwhelmed by how kind and generous everyone was to take the time to pick out gifts for our baby- something they didn't have to do. I'm sorry for your losses, but they have nothing to do with your mentality about the gifts you receives or how ungrateful you are being. We lost our first and for us it made us that much more appreciative of everything. So you got a mobile that isn't what you registered for? So what?! So did we and it doesn't match the theme we have going. Ohh well! He will just have an ocean themed mobile in a stars and moon nursery.
I would suggest that you take a few days away from TB and a few deep breaths. Focus on what is really important right now. Your family is obviously very excited for you if they showered you with enough gifts to overwhelm you. The only part of your post that I can see looking for advice on is returning without receipts and if you need the bouncer and sleeper. PP have given great answers. As far as looking for support I am afraid you already received that from your family. Take some time to calm down and sort out your gift situation but also to think about what your post meant to some users. PP already stated that there are users who are worried about not having enough for baby. Can you imagine women asking if they can throw their own shower because they have no one throwing them one and then seeing this? You should count your lucky stars to be so loved. This is not a support group, it is a discussion board. We are supportive and had your post come across as overwhelmed and not just not liking the gifts you received then you would have got a much different reaction.
Also I already have everything and more that I need for my new baby so I'm not having a shower et did you expect from having a baby shower or 2 can't member how many you had as much as people say their not about the gifts etc everyone brings gifts so why have a shower to then complain that you got to much stuff OMG you asked for the stuff by having a shower u put yaself in that situation! Either return the stuff or keep it away somewhere and once you know you def don't need it like I said donate it to someone who does cos it hasn't cost you a cent! Goodluck
Sigh... so many false assumptions made off one post by OP. I don't understand the need to take down a fellow female like she's fresh bait being held over a pool of piranhas. The hormones that likely caused her to post are the same hormones that caused the rude comments (I hope). Yes this is the Internet and by posting anyone can respond as he or she wishes; I just don't understand the need to make another woman feel so uncomfortable and regret posting altogether. All these nasty remarks are made and then you wonder why she deletes the original text? It's not just this thread... this happens here on N15 all the time. Why not just move along to another post that meets your standards instead? I fully expect some rude comments in response to this comment and that will only prove the point. You may disagree with my statement here, but this isn't opinion... it's observation.
Sigh... so many false assumptions made off one post by OP. I don't understand the need to take down a fellow female like she's fresh bait being held over a pool of piranhas. The hormones that likely caused her to post are the same hormones that caused the rude comments (I hope). Yes this is the Internet and by posting anyone can respond as he or she wishes; I just don't understand the need to make another woman feel so uncomfortable and regret posting altogether. All these nasty remarks are made and then you wonder why she deletes the original text? It's not just this thread... this happens here on N15 all the time. Why not just move along to another post that meets your standards instead? I fully expect some rude comments in response to this comment and that will only prove the point. You may disagree with my statement here, but this isn't opinion... it's observation.
Yes, your contributions to this thread were super helpful. I'm not even going to get into the back and forth you're hoping for on this topic (we've all seen how important it is to you to have the last word). Just know that posts like this typically get threads shut down because they are not constructive in any way, to the OP nor to the community as a whole. The OP actually got some really great advice from the so-called 'piranhas.'
Me: 28, DH: 40 Married 9/28/13 DS born 11/12/15 EDD 8/13/18
Sigh... so many false assumptions made off one post by OP. I don't understand the need to take down a fellow female like she's fresh bait being held over a pool of piranhas. The hormones that likely caused her to post are the same hormones that caused the rude comments (I hope). Yes this is the Internet and by posting anyone can respond as he or she wishes; I just don't understand the need to make another woman feel so uncomfortable and regret posting altogether. All these nasty remarks are made and then you wonder why she deletes the original text? It's not just this thread... this happens here on N15 all the time. Why not just move along to another post that meets your standards instead? I fully expect some rude comments in response to this comment and that will only prove the point. You may disagree with my statement here, but this isn't opinion... it's observation.
My only response is this: While I respect your opinion (observation), I fully believe that people need to be told sometimes when they are behaving unreasonably. By the verbage of the OP, many of the ladies on this board believed she was acting unreasonably. Maybe the way she came off was not how she intended to, but I think it's important that she was told how ungrateful she sounded. Plus, she was given advice on how to handle the situation.
Also it's pretty important to realize that we're all a bunch of Internet strangers here and everything should be taken with a grain of salt.
If you can't handle returning items from a baby shower how in the world do you think you're competent to raise a child?
If there's something strange underneath the hood. Who you gonna call? Your Doctor. If there's something weird and it don't look good. Who you gonna call? Your Doctor. Immediately. If it's new, painful, and possibly pregnancy related get your ass off the internet and call your doctor. It's for your health and your child's.
Sigh... so many false assumptions made off one post by OP. I don't understand the need to take down a fellow female like she's fresh bait being held over a pool of piranhas. The hormones that likely caused her to post are the same hormones that caused the rude comments (I hope). Yes this is the Internet and by posting anyone can respond as he or she wishes; I just don't understand the need to make another woman feel so uncomfortable and regret posting altogether. All these nasty remarks are made and then you wonder why she deletes the original text? It's not just this thread... this happens here on N15 all the time. Why not just move along to another post that meets your standards instead? I fully expect some rude comments in response to this comment and that will only prove the point. You may disagree with my statement here, but this isn't opinion... it's observation.
Well, that was sure a great and insightful contribution to this thread. But that's not my opinion....it's observation
Sigh... so many false assumptions made off one post by OP. I don't understand the need to take down a fellow female like she's fresh bait being held over a pool of piranhas. The hormones that likely caused her to post are the same hormones that caused the rude comments (I hope). Yes this is the Internet and by posting anyone can respond as he or she wishes; I just don't understand the need to make another woman feel so uncomfortable and regret posting altogether. All these nasty remarks are made and then you wonder why she deletes the original text? It's not just this thread... this happens here on N15 all the time. Why not just move along to another post that meets your standards instead? I fully expect some rude comments in response to this comment and that will only prove the point. You may disagree with my statement here, but this isn't opinion... it's observation.
OP stated that she felt like crying because she had duplicate gifts and off-registry gifts and didn't know what to do about that situation. Instead of being happy that she got so much stuff to help her out with her baby, she was wanting to cry because "not all of it is cute or anything [she] would have ever chosen ... and [she] hardly got any gift receipts". If she didn't want people to think that she was being whiny and ungrateful, she could have chosen her words more wisely. The original post smacks of 'Poor me, I have two different things to soothe my baby to sleep (you know, in case one doesn't work out for us) and too many blankets and clothes!' It really, really does. There's no two ways about it. And as PPs mentioned, there are apps to make returning without gift receipts easier. If she doesn't want to go that route because it's too much of a hassle, there are plenty of places like Goodwill that would appreciate the donations (plus, that gets her a tax deduction). I think the advice that was given was helpful and to the point, and given the verbiage of the post, I don't think hormones are to blame for any of the responses.
Sigh... so many false assumptions made off one post by OP. I don't understand the need to take down a fellow female like she's fresh bait being held over a pool of piranhas. The hormones that likely caused her to post are the same hormones that caused the rude comments (I hope). Yes this is the Internet and by posting anyone can respond as he or she wishes; I just don't understand the need to make another woman feel so uncomfortable and regret posting altogether. All these nasty remarks are made and then you wonder why she deletes the original text? It's not just this thread... this happens here on N15 all the time. Why not just move along to another post that meets your standards instead? I fully expect some rude comments in response to this comment and that will only prove the point. You may disagree with my statement here, but this isn't opinion... it's observation.
My hormones have absolutely nothing to do with telling someone she should suck it up and be greatful. That came more so from being a grown ass woman who doesn't tolerate people acting like children.
Re: Baby
That's all I'm going to say bc I don't feel like getting banned today.
Edited for my unfinished thought
First, pick yourself up off the floor and start to do a little research if you want to exchange these items for things you like. See who sells what and go to those stores and let them know you received them as a gift. Most if not all stores have open exchange policies! You don't need receipts but all you will get is a store credit. If they are stores like Walmart, Target, or BRU, I'm sure you can find use with a store credit.
If you're that opposed to keeping things - you can get store credit, take them to a store like Once Upon a Child, or sell them yourself.
But with that said, I would gladly trade to have the problem of too many clothes and blankets. Drown me in a sea of baby clothes, that's fine. You have a lot of people that care about you and baby and are willing to spend their money on you, focus on that rather than the fact that they neglected to include gift receipts with their generous gifts.
There are a ton of posters wondering whether they should throw their own shower because no one has offered, and those concerned that they won't have enough people show up to theirs. So hearing a "woe is me" about the insane amount of gifts you received from all the people who attended your shower may be a bit irritating for some.
Having said that, I received some gifts that were not my style and I'm keeping them because you never know, some days you may just be thankful to have something clean to dress the baby in. If not, donate or regift!!
Just keep it all in perspective.
You want to cry as you go through the gifts that people have spent their time and money on for you and your baby?!
I sincerely hope that none of your generous shower attendees ever find out about your reaction to their gifts.
Donate what you can't return. Others will be grateful for the items.
The vibrating sleeper is probably more of a swinging motion, while the bouncer bounces. Some babies like one better than the other. I didn't use either with daughter, but my SIL swears by the swing for nephew.
Married 9/28/13
DS born 11/12/15
EDD 8/13/18
I'm sorry for your losses but those have no impact on this post nor our responses. You still came off as whiny and ungrateful in the original post, as even more so in the following ones. You got good advice. Take it or leave it.
Whoops, was I too mean also?
How dare they?!
Married 9/28/13
DS born 11/12/15
EDD 8/13/18
Ha I was thinking the same exact thing!
Married 9/28/13
DS born 11/12/15
EDD 8/13/18
While I respect your opinion (observation), I fully believe that people need to be told sometimes when they are behaving unreasonably. By the verbage of the OP, many of the ladies on this board believed she was acting unreasonably. Maybe the way she came off was not how she intended to, but I think it's important that she was told how ungrateful she sounded. Plus, she was given advice on how to handle the situation.
Also it's pretty important to realize that we're all a bunch of Internet strangers here and everything should be taken with a grain of salt.
ETA my second little paragraph thingy.