Are you accepting gifts this Christmas for your LO from other friends/family members?

linzoirv · December 2015

Some people have asked me this question and I just kind of draw a blank. I'm in-between on this one and I'm curious to know how other moms feel. For clarification: the gift(s) are not for existing children, only for LO in the womb.

cmjenkies · December 2015

I say yes only because if somebody chooses to give LO something I'm not going to make a scene and tell them no. I'm certainly not EXPECTING anything at all though.

allaire314 · December 2015

I honestly haven't been asked... but we are planning our baby shower for late Feb/early March, which is close enough. I have already received a few small things (shoes, bows, onesies, sleepers etc) from friends, family and coworkers though.

AEG84 · December 2015

I said yes for the same reason @cmjenkies did, although now that I say that I did direct my brother to our registry when he asked for Christmas ideas. But he only asked a week ago and I was all out of ideas, so...it was kind of a non-thinking moment haha.

AmadorRose · December 2015

I don't know yet whether I'll even have a baby shower, so I said yes. My parents asked what I would like and I'll honestly appreciate things for baby than I would stuff for myself that I don't really need.

yodiggity · December 2015

I wouldn't turn away a Christmas gift from a family member or friend. I don't understand this question. I am not asking for Christmas gifts from friends or family, as I never do, but if they're inclined to purchase gifts for the baby then cool. In my family we draw names. I believe my brother has my name and I will no doubt get a baby gift from him because he and my SIL have been going overboard on baby gifts. (He tried to buy me a $400 Travel system that I didn't want, I registered for a $200 system).

Ready4theParty · December 2015

I think it's rude to turn away a gift. Since this is #2, I will gladly take any gift people want to give.

I've hinted that I might want a double stroller or a second pnp if choose not to move DD from her crib right away.

sarahufl · December 2015

I would not turn anything away, but I actually really don't want gifts. I still have 15 weeks to go. And while everything looks good so far, I would hate to have a bunch of gifts in my house should something go wrong.

I haven't said this to anyone out loud, so it wouldn't be disrespecting my wishes if someone DID bring something, but if I was asked, I would politely decline. I do not buy baby gifts for people until a shower, which I take as a sign that they are comfortable accepting gifts for the baby.

That said, I SERIOUSLY doubt either of our mothers will come to our house on Christmas empty handed. All gifts will go in a closet somewhere until I personally feel prepared to take them out.

fourtsixand2 · December 2015

My parents, to this day, still ask me what I want for Christmas. As I can never really think of anything, I just said "just whatever is on my registry".
We have a very small family - I have only one sibling - so I already know they're getting our little one Christmas presents before he's born. It's just what we do.
He'll be the last grandchild, so my Mother is quite excited. I have a few friends that have also mentioned gifting our son a Christmas present this year. While I've said it's not necessary, they seem to be rather pushy about it.

kalanieileen · December 2015

I have to agree with all that has been said already.

RoseShadow873 · December 2015

I was not expecting anyone to get them anything. It sounds weird to me to buy a Christmas gift for the unborn especially if there will be a shower.

gracehopper27 · December 2015

DH and I have told our families to get us something for the baby because we don't really need much for ourselves.

Missingchampagne · December 2015

Of course! I actually told my family I don't need anything for myself at the moment, but it's my first baby and you are certainly welcome to shop for him INSTEAD of for me. I just could not think of anything for myself, and rather than receive a bunch of bath and body items, miscellaneous makeup, and random stuff I wouldn't remember in a year... Directing them to the baby felt more helpful.

sprocketsngadgets · December 2015

This baby is #2, another girl and will only be 19ish months younger than her sister. I won't have another shower and we pretty much have everything already. If someone wants to give us something for DD2 specifically, why would I say no? I wouldn't be surprised if my SIL gives us a baby blanket and stuffed animal like she did for DD1 when I was at about the same point in my pregnancy. My ILs also have horrible taste in gifts for me so baby/kid things are by far preferred.

g&tlewis · December 2015

I said yes, but I haven't asked for anything for baby. I have actually told them that they should wait until the baby shower, but we will gladly accept anything they buy. We are telling our family the gender on Christmas Eve so they can't really buy anything anyways. We have asked for money for nursery furniture though!

spicedice · December 2015

I'm not having a baby shower this time around, so no one is holding onto things or waiting to buy things until then. I haven't asked for anything for DS2, have kept my personal registry for baby a secret from everyone, and have been telling anyone who asks that no baby shower is in the future. If someone wants to get him something, that is up to them. I actually set up a stocking for him with a gift from mom/dad and one from DS1.

cortney626 · December 2015

Like everyone, I'm not expecting a gift for the baby (especially since I already have a daughter). But if someone wants to give a gift for the baby, I certainly wouldn't turn it away. My MIL was asking my mom what I'd like for Christmas. I said I didn't need anything but if she felt inclined to get me something she could check out the wish list registry I created for the baby.

AnyaZM · December 2015

no, not this time, but for me its a cultural thing. basically it is a really bad luck to give someone present before the b-day or holiday, or to celebrate it earlier. Thus, since baby is not even born yet, this time I told everyone not to get anything. with my first I got a lot of presents on Christmas when he was not even born. my pregnancy and delivery we After his birth he was in critical condition for a while, month in a hospital, multiple visits to the doctors, required 24/7 medical care which I had to provide 24/7, for 6 month of his life. I am a sane person, I don't think that all the gifts caused it, but just in case - it is enough of bad luck. If somebody still guves us something I will wait to open it until the baby arrives. yet again - I was raised surrounded by this superstition.

jasmineahenderson · December 2015

Not having a baby shower since this is my second boy so I'm fine with Christmas gifts.

momofmanyinthemitten · December 2015

Yes, but since this is #4, I guarantee that it will get no gifts for Christmas.

pinottoparenthood · December 2015

I would never reject a gift that someone bought for me (unless maybe it was a wildly inappropriate gift from a man or something). That's rude. However, I would never ask for/expect gifts for my unborn child, or my born child, or myself for that matter!

spatter1 · December 2015

Missingchampagne said:
Of course! I actually told my family I don't need anything for myself at the moment, but it's my first baby and you are certainly welcome to shop for him INSTEAD of for me. I just could not think of anything for myself, and rather than receive a bunch of bath and body items, miscellaneous makeup, and random stuff I wouldn't remember in a year... Directing them to the baby felt more helpful.

Totally agree. All this baby stuff can get really expensive. I really don't need anything for myself so when our parents asked what we wanted i said if they want to get gifts to check out our registry. That's really the stuff we need. It does make me a little nervous to potentially get gifts this soon (God forbid something goes wrong). But this just seems practical financially!

MariaSara1134 · December 2015

I said yes because I finally decided against having a shower, but told my MIL she can look at the registery I made since she asked if the baby needs anything for Christmas. Guess it'll come in handy after all!!

Although to be honest, something she picks out more personally would be even better

Lilpenguin3 · December 2015

Everyone keeps asking what we want for Christmas and since we don't want/need anything we have directed everyone to our registry. My parents actually bought everything for the nursery and are coming down next week to help decorate and put everything together! From his sister she primed a bunch or trim and doorways for our house since I can't be around the oil based stuff. I'd much rather cleaning/painting/dinner than actual presents.

jkeezy · December 2015

This thread is really interesting! No one's asked about the baby and I don't expect anyone to - it's not due for another 3 months!

Cynthia1207 · December 2015

Yes it's a gift which means someone decided to get it without us asking. Turning it down would be rude.

helleebellee · December 2015

I said bah humbug because no one knows about baby and I'd probably be totally caught of guard if someone gives me something for a kid they don't know about.

rebelone · December 2015

cmjenkies said:

I say yes only because if somebody chooses to give LO something I'm not going to make a scene and tell them no. I'm certainly not EXPECTING anything at all though.

All this.

rel1988 · December 2015

We actually just told our parents to get is registry items bc we don't need anything for ourselves and it's just stuff we're going to have to buy anyways

spatter1 · December 2015

Update: my MIL and SIL collectively decided that they refuse to get us baby stuff for Christmas because it's "too soon" and according to them this is the last Christmas anyone will buy anything for us non-baby related. UMMMM what?!! I'm not trying to sound ungrateful, I certainly don't expect anything. However, when she asked me what she could get me and DH for Christmas I explicitly said we don't need ANYTHING and if they want to get us anything all we want and need is baby stuff. We don't have the space in the house for more knickknacks; half our wedding gifts are still in my parent's basement bc we have no space for them! Again, not trying to sound ungrateful, I feel lucky that we have family who want and are able to get us gifts on Christmas. But why ask what we want if you're going to completely disregard my response and do your own thing anyway?! I'm so annoyed and starting to get concerned this is just the first glimpse of how she is going to be when LO is here. I'm also irritated bc this just adds to an ongoing annoyance that my MIL completely favors my SIL and the fact that THEY decided for us what we need is incredibly frustrating. Especially when my SIL doesn't have kids and I'm pretty sure has never even held a baby before so how does she know what we need?!

Maybe I'm over reacting... But it felt good to vent!!!!!

AmadorRose · December 2015

@spatter1 is your SIL jealous of your pregnancy?

MEA016 · December 2015

All that I really asked for was the stroller and other expensive items on the registry. Other than that I don't think I would like to receive clothes or anything for him yet. People have already started buying so much for him that I'm overwhelmed with where to put everything considering we haven't even started his nursery yet! Also I'm very picky on some of the stuff and we already have a couple bags full of stuff to return because we both don't like it or the size doesn't go with the season. My aunt got him a bunch of fleece sleepers that are 3 months and it will be June/July and way too hot to wear that to bed.

MEA016 · December 2015

Is it strange that some of the clothes just doesn't fit our style? I know he's a baby but some of the clothes I really don't care for.

AmadorRose · December 2015

MEA016 said:
Is it strange that some of the clothes just doesn't fit our style? I know he's a baby but some of the clothes I really don't care for.

Not at all! We're having a little girl and I'm hoping that the super pink/frilly stuff comes with a gift receipt, because DH won't understand what goes where and I'd just as soon put her in a onesie and pants that isn't pink.

spatter1 · December 2015

@AmadorRose I don't know! I never saw her as the baby having type but over thanksgiving she kept referencing "when she gets pregnant" ... So maybe? I don't know, MIL clearly favors her regardless so I dunno what there is to be jealous of!!

crazyliblady · December 2015

Same here. We are poor recent college graduates expecting our first, and I need every bit of help I can get.

crazyliblady · December 2015

@MEA016 I am so glad I am not the only one who hasn't started a nursery!

cmjenkies · December 2015

MEA016 said:
Is it strange that some of the clothes just doesn't fit our style? I know he's a baby but some of the clothes I really don't care for.

Not strange at all. I definitely had certain things I did/did not like for DS. Not sure how I feel about girl clothes yet because the idea of buying them is still so foreign to me. There's so much more to choose from!

AmadorRose · December 2015

@spatter1 it honestly sounds like she's got a little green monster riding around on her shoulder. Or she might be a keeping up with the Jones' kind of person.

Regardless, you have two choices: accept useless, unwanted gifts graciously or make passive-aggressive comments about other gifts you're getting for baby that are going to come in SO handy/are SO cute/etc etc. My response would honestly depend on my mood.

spatter1 · December 2015

@AmadorRose exactly. Depending on how I feel ill try to be gracious but we'll see... I have been SO moody this pregnancy.

MEA016 · December 2015

JanaBonfield said:
@MEA016 I am so glad I am not the only one who hasn't started a nursery!

We are waiting until after the holidays. We have so much to do that we didn't want to be too overwhelmed with everything going on. We have plenty of time still!

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