BG - whatever you decide, someone will critise so do what is right for you and DH and forget everyone else. You've waited a long time for this baby and it is YOUR baby so you have every right to purchase what you like when you like.
We bought everything ourselves and when people gifted us things, it was considered a bonus. It was lucky that we bought the things we did because we have different tastes to most people and NOONE bought anything we had already purchased. Plus we couldn't rely on family to buy us big ticket or bulky items as they all live interstate (SUCH a blessing!). IF people are being insistent on providing you with gifts, perhaps suggest they make some dinners for you to put in the freezer (I know you will already have a fully stocked one with your slow cooker but it makes people feel special ) or to give you vouchers for house cleaning or something. Or perhaps even pop on the list at your Mum's a nappy service and suggest to your Mum that if people want to contribute they can chip in whatever they feel comfortable with and your Mum can pass that info on.
I hope I make sense. But above all - do what suits you guys best!
MG
ETA: We had DD christened at 3 months (roughly) and it was brilliant. If we have #2, they will also be Christened early in life
MG - i think i have pretty drastically different taste to a lot of my friends (well the local "older" ones anyway!) - i believe in babies being babies and being dressed as babies - but i also love the occassional show of mummy's personality (so things like the T that says red heads rock and the likes). i tend to, even when i'm taking bro's kids out, dress them for the occassion - so if we're visiting someone of the older generation, it's more about respecting them, when it's just shopping or out for fun, they can wear what they want. i hate seeing babies in outfits that i'd cringe at on an older child (like 13 year olds wearing clothes that are risque even for an 18 year old!)
we have made some decisions that a lot of people won't understand - we want to use BPA free bottles if we have to use bottles - but you can't dictate to people stuff like that! so that is stuff i've put as a no no for others to buy. we're making choices in our babies best interest, and i don't expect others to cater to that
as to the vouchers and stuff - once house is set up, we're getting a house cleaner once a week, pay someone to mow lawns once a fortnight, using cloth so no nappy service - and no room in the freezer for meals! i have had a few people offer to help me fill the freezer before bubs is born (just vegie prep) and will help again after baby arrives. three slow cookers, 24 hours, 2 freezers full of meals! they are fantastic and inexpensive options to help out though! if i knew someone that was having a bubba now (that lived local) i'd be using the slow cooker and making them some meals for sure (plus buying something for bubba!)
BG - I forgot to mention earlier that you can NEVER have too many sheet sets We learnt that the hard way when DD had gastro in the middle of winter and we don't have a clothes drier
Also - you can get cloth nappy service. They bring you a certain number of cloth nappies once a week and take away the dirty ones to wash. Saves you time, water, and money. We have purchased them as farewell gifts many a time at my old work.
) or to give you vouchers for house cleaning or something. Or perhaps even pop on the list at your Mum's a nappy service and suggest to your Mum that if people want to contribute they can chip in whatever they feel comfortable with and your Mum can pass that info on.
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