What gifts do I want? (none! but they won't listen!)
So, it has begun already. Work are doing a baby shower in July for me, and they want me to make a list of things I want. Thing is, I am SO not a "stuff" person. We have got second hand everything - I prefer it that way, from an environmental perspective at least.
I don't buy into a lot of the junk that is listed on stuff like the Target baby checklist. I have worked in childcare and as a nanny for ten years so I have a fairly reasonable idea of what is and isn't actually necessary, or what I need, at any rate.
I don't want to get a bunch of stuff that will never use or will clutter my tiny house. I'm terrified they'll buy me a swing. Which I do not have use for.
So what sort of stuff can I put on a list to give them? Or how can I politely say no? (which I really can't. And no, I will not ask for money.) All ideas very very welcome!
Oh, and a lot of them are cloth naysayers I love them, except for this one major flaw.
what about a specific cot set? like one of the kidsline ones? theres plenty of peices that go with them, down to basket liners and curtains!
if u dont know what ur having or dont want ppl to know, there are some gorgeous nuetral ones.
When I went on maternity leave people from my work pitched in and got me a gift voucher for one of the baby stores in town. It was great because I could choose whatever I wanted (I think we ended up buying a bassinette), and then they don't have to worry about what 'things' to buy you. And instead of a shower maybe they could just have a big morning tea for you instead?
Just not newborn size, go the next one up, or even one size up again. You're guaranteed to use them, they are huge so people can feel good about giving you solid, chunky gifts and they're practical - and people can buy them at the supermarket!
I have the reverse problem at the moment - noone has asked if we need anything except my parents and grandparents. My parents bought us exactly what we needed (bassinette and a couple of sleep sacks and some winter clothes), and nothing we didn't need. We now have everything we need. The complete lack of communication from everyone else is leading me to think either we won't get anything at all, or we're going to get stuff we don't need, didn't ask for, won't use, and is going to end up on eBay.
Sling! Awesome idea! Don't know why I didn't think of that! I already have 2 and one more on the way, but you just cannot have too many!
Rach, I love love love the book idea. It actually had crossed my mind, and since they're all early childhood people too, they know what's good.
Onyx - you have me completely nailed We do have a bike trailer, but it's not a safe one (made in China claptrap that we use for groceries) But I have added WeeRide to the list.
And skybie, I love the curtain bit of your idea. We definitely need some, and it saves me slaving over the sewing machine any more than I have to.
Vouchers for a cleaner
Massage vouchers
Your bum cream/powder of choice
Cloth breast pads
Something from the Oxfam unwrapped catalogue Oxfam Unwrapped | Home
Have you got one of those little baby carts that you tow behind your bike? Maybe they could pitch in for one.
I hate people buying me presents. With my baby shower, we asked for gift vouchers as we practically have everything anyway. Fortunately, my friends actually listened and didn't buy me gifts.
I would go with a lot of the above ...
cleaning vouchers
massage/manicure/pedicure something to treat yourself that you wouldn't normally do, but would enjoy
a nappy serevice, you don't need to clean them that way
books, they can never be too young or have too many books
vouchers for you to spend at a time that it suits you.
Perhaps give them a list of the things that you don't need ~ it can cover things that you already have, and things that you don't want
I asked for a gift voucher for my cloth nappies so I found the website, and entrusted someone to get the voucher for that site so I could get what I wanted.
Wee ride or Bobike is a great idea!
Books - also ones for you like Pinky McKays or the Wonder Weeks books
Breastfeeding tops for you
Breastfeeding pyjamas
Would you like meals for the freezer?
I would love a massage right now (don't know if people would be keen to buy for mum though).
Towels for bub (nice to have new ones)
Breastfeeding tops
Books for bub is always a good one.
Any books you want- birthing books or parenting books?
Baby carrier
Wow how fantastic they are wanting to give you things already! There are so many needy mummas that would absolutely love to be spoilt like that but don't have the support around them to be that lucky. What a wonderful support network you have.
If you don't want "stuff" I would say ask for meals too, supermarket vouchers etc etc.
My mother held a Skype baby shower for me, as all my family and lots of friends stayed behind in South-Africa when we moved to Australia. She is coming over for the birth, and can only bring 20kg's with her, so we asked that unless it is really small or special (like the hand knit blanket from DH's grandmother) they rather give money. Mum will get something nice for baby when she gets here.
A environmentally friendly idea is to ask them to buy a tree that you can plant after the birth, or ask for a donation to a charity or local orphanage.
If you really really don't want or need "stuff" how about suggesting that your work mates pool the money they were going to use to buy gifts and make a donation on your behalf to a childrens/babies charity like Bonnie Babes Foundation for example?
I had this issue at my work - had everything, wanted nothing! They ended up getting me a wooden toy box which I LOVE. At the moment I'm using it to store stuff like older toys & bigger clothes but I can't wait til Moo is big enough to use it himself! Plus it looks awesome in his room!
Hope you get something you really want/need.
I'm actually, a little embarrassingly, having four baby showers. Not so much by choice but by demand. I had no idea about this one, which is why I need the assistance. Completely underprepared.
One will be in my home town, and will be asking for cash donations to a charity (or handmade, handwritten or secondhand gifts)
One will be in DH's home town, where they are already going nuts and dying to buy stuff. SO will have a Wish List for a certain website (what an awesome idea, Limey! Know of any websites that I ADORE? ) as well as express a desire for handmade/handwritten/handmedown.
One will be here wher we live, and will be more of a party than anything. Might see if we can fill in the gaps with that one, or, who'd have thought it, buy some stuff for ourselves?
Food for the freezer is out, as mortals can't cook for vegans
So this one is the real dark horse. I wasn't expecting it, so had no strategies, no ideas, and all my other bases were pretty much covered.
What gifts do I want? (none! but they won't listen!)
I love them, except for this one major flaw.
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We do have a bike trailer, but it's not a safe one (made in China claptrap that we use for groceries) But I have added WeeRide to the list. 
GL!
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