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My friends are starting to organise a baby shower for me for early next year (they're excited!) and they've suggested I do a registry to ensure that if someone is buying a gift it's something that we want/need.
Did anyone else do this? Is this acceptable or a little presumptuous?
I think if you put what you already have then it still gives people the enjoyment of going out and picking something.
If you want money to go towards a big item, like a cot, then have a wishing well where they can put money in an envelope and put it there.
I enjoy going out and buying something I have put thought into getting as a present.
Personally I dont like gift registeries but each to their own. If you do have one make sure there are lots of items at different prices, more things than people so there are plenty to chose from in different price brackets
Another option is to give the girls organising the shower a list of things you need/want or let them know if you have a theme for the nursery and if people ask they could give suggestions? Enjoy your Baby Shower :)
ETA some of the most useful things I was given at my baby shower were things I wouldn't have known/thought to put on a registry
I agree with Novella! Not huge fan of a registry for a baby shower, but if you do - have loads on it, with a large price range.
The last few showers I have been too, there has been a massive variance in what people seem to spend.
With my shower, my bestie who arranged it had a wish list that I gave her and on the invites she said if you would like some ideas to let her know.
Most people didn't, but a few did.
It's such a fun day with the girls, enjoy it!!
Presumptuous.
Had this very conversation at work and the consensus was that it is rude for baby showers.
Yeah not a fan, recently had a baby shower to attend and a lot of the items on the registry were very pricy, the only things around my price range $30-40 were out of stock so I was a bit miffed. I ended up having to go to another store to get something affordable
I think Presumptuous.
Yep not a fan here either. My friend organising mine has asked for a list of things I havent already bought and has put RSVP and gift ideas to.... on the invite.
Nup, i see the baby shower as only being for small gifts, if at all.
A mate had a theme (which was your fave childhood book) but anything else i reckon is rude.
I think it's rude too. As earlier said, people get things at baby showers that turn out to be essentials that they just wouldn't think to put on a list. I have a friend who was having her first baby a couple of big packs of terry cloth nappies...not really for using as nappies, but just because they're SO handy, for spews, leaky milk, wipe ups, bath time etc. She said a few months after her son was born that is was the best gift she was given. I don't think it's very polite to ask people for certain things, or even ask for things at all, but that's me.
I agree with the others. I wouldn't have a registry, but I would (and did) have a list of things that I was planning on buying and if anyone asked, they were told what was on the list. I also feel that baby showers are for smaller gifts only (well that's my experience of them anyway).
Enjoy your shower!
Mmmm I think it depends how it's presented, what is on there and the group of people invited. I didn't have a registry but I did have a list of stuff that we needed and wanted that my sister and mum had to give to people when they asked, and HEAPS of them did ask because they genuinely wanted to know what to get and didn't just want to get anything ITMS. So depending on the people being invited it could work well if you think they are the type of people who a) wont' be offended for whatever reason and b) won't know what to get and will want to get stuff you guys need/want.
chody47 - I think it's for smaller stuff usually too but for close family and friends they didn't see it the same way and really wanted to get some bigger stuff (like $50-$150 stuff) that we needed and wanted.
Tanstar - I agree with the gift amounts from some close family and friends. TBH, I found that some went and got some more expensive gifts (like a bouncer) once DD had arrived.
My bestie had a list of things I wanted or needed and she did a collection of money for cloth nappies as the default so I ended up getting a big voucher for my nappies which was the best gift ever!
I agree registries for pretty much anything other than a wedding are rude. And so many of the baby showers Ive been to just felt like present grabs, even without registries.
As someone said depends on audience, if you have lots of people coming who have kids/ know about kids you may get more useful gifts by having no list/registry. If people are not yet in the 'world' of children a list or registry might work much better. The first couple of baby showers I went to I was clueless about children so without direction would have got something totally useless. People seem to bring gifts even if you specify no gifts so having a list to avoid getting lots of stuff don't want doesn't seem presumptuous to me, maybe you can have a registry but say is for ideas only. (I didn't have a baby shower mainly because I didn't want any gifts and people can't be trusted to not bring any even when asked not to - have tested this theory at kids birthdays average of 50% of people respect wishes)
Except for wedding I find gift registeries rude. I don't buy gifts at baby showers as I prefer to wait until the baby is born so I can buy something for the baby - IYKWIM.
What ever happen to being thankful for the gift that someone went out and choose just for you?
i went to a baby shower that had a registry and the mother to be had picked out like the most expensive items and i could not even afford to get like 1 bottle of baby bath as it was like $40 but i spent $30 at bigw and got her a whole basket of items adn it was all stuff she hadnt even thought of. I think it is a bit rude esp when she had a rocking chair worth $600 on it.
Not a huge fan of the concept of registries in general. It kind of strikes me as cheeky or ungracious, creating a list of stuff for others to buy you instead of just accepting whatever they would like to give you. It's a little disappointing when you get something you don't need/like but I have always found a use for everything in one way or another.
I like the idea that you give a list of things that you have in mind to your bestie and then the people you invite can discuss with her what is on your list or just buy something they choose themselves.