topic Re: Baby Shower in Community Chat

Baby Shower

lovekees — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 12:16:27 GMT

I have been invited to a baby shower of a good friends daughter. My question is how much to spend on a gift. Thanks

Re: Baby Shower

CelticCrafter — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 12:20:34 GMT

What you can afford.

If you're close to the friends daughter then I would spend what I would spend on gift for a niece.

Re: Baby Shower

jackthebear — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 12:22:31 GMT

no shoulds

spend what you can afford.

if there is a registry take a look, or a gift card to one of the baby stores (if there are any left)

Re: Baby Shower

cherry — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 12:24:21 GMT

It has been a long while since I bought baby things. They are expensive, so ,just pick out what you can afford. Babies need all kinds of stuff

Re: Baby Shower

faeriemoon — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 12:28:26 GMT

I'm sure they have a registry. Choose something in your price range.

Re: Baby Shower

Bri369 — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 12:32:43 GMT

My gift is usually based on my relationship with the person and how much I am willing to spend on the gift.

I usually spend more on baby gifts for some reason. I just can’t help it. Lol

But always spend what you’re comfortable on spending. If she’s registered, that would be a good place to start with getting an idea of what to buy

Re: Baby Shower

TaylorBrown — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 13:04:32 GMT

Whtever amount you feel comfortable spending. I typically start with the registry. If there is nothing on there in my price range, I purchase a gift card for the dollar amount I was willing to spend on a gift to the store where they are registered.

Re: Baby Shower

chrystaltree — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 13:41:14 GMT

Spend what you can afford to spend or what you want to spend.

Re: Baby Shower

Janey2 — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 13:43:04 GMT

It depends....is this the only gift you are giving or are you also giving a gift when the baby is born?

Re: Baby Shower

Eileen in Virginia — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 13:45:45 GMT

Baby stuff is so cute, it’s easy to get carried away! The registry’s always the first place I check, but I’ll buy a more expensive item like a car seat or stroller for a close relative, as opposed to a less expensive item for an acquaintance. There are plenty of baby basics you can buy that may not be on their registry. New parents will need plenty of diapers, onesies, crib sheets, burping cloths, etc. Most first-time parents won’t have any idea of how quickly they’ll go through some of these basic items and will really appreciate having a good supply once they’re “in the trenches.” Whether I buy from the registry or not, I always buy a gift that I can afford.

Re: Baby Shower

CANDLEQUEEN — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 13:47:11 GMT

For me, I tend to get carried away for baby showers, because I love shopping for babies, but it depends on how well I know the person, but spend what you can afford and have fun picking it out!!!

Re: Baby Shower

cherry — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 13:50:53 GMT

It is such fun to shop for baby things. I got carried away, and my husband was with me ,and he got carried away too..

Re: Baby Shower

queendiva — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 14:02:37 GMT

No matter. Some will spend more on a gift than you, some will spend less.

You say the grandma-to-be is your "good friend" . In that case, I would spend on something nice that was in my budget.

My favorite go-to baby gift is a starter library of books. You can spend maybe as little as $20.00, the gift will be used right away (reading to baby), is truly gender neutral and will be used by all future children. Paperbacks are fine.

One of the best baby shower gifts I received was from my closest friend at the time. She had two small boys and gave me a small-ish gift bag full of their favorite paperback books. My sons enjoyed those books for years and years.

When I moved last summer my 20-something married son found my favorite childrens' books (including some of the aforementioned paperbacks) stored carefully in the basement. Oh, the delighted look on his face when he saw them! Old friends. He sat down and started reading them again. So happy that I saved them as some are out of print. The classics I knew I could always buy again.

I kept the books at my new place, he took his carefully curated collection of die-cast cars to his house.

Re: Baby Shower

aroc3435 — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 16:34:36 GMT

@lovekees As others have said look at the registry if they have one and also spend what you can afford/feel comfortable with.

If this is the first child new parents often don't really understand some of the things they will need. I have purchased the white basic onsies (where legs are free) in packs of multiples in different sizes as well as short and long sleeve snap type undershirts in different sizes. I normally don't purchase much for the new baby in newborn size since they will get more than enough of that size and babies seem to have bigger birth weights these days so 6 month and 12 month sizes are better I think.

It is nice when a tired parent can just grab a new garment and not have to think of doing laundry immediately when what they now call a "diaper blowout" or major leak happens, especially with breast fed babies.

I always include a few books--a really simple one for newborns, and a couple for "as they get older" and write the date and a little personal inscription.

Interesting question and am enjoying the answers--haven't had to buy a baby gift since 2016.

Re: Baby Shower

queendiva — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 14:10:29 GMT

@aroc3435 :Love the idea for onesies in a variety of sizes! Gender neutral and you can never have enough, especially for a baby who is expected in the coming warm weather months. Also agree with your suggestion for sizes.

Re: Baby Shower

DREAMON — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 14:25:36 GMT

It depends on the relationship I have with the person. Then I go to the registry and spend accordingly.

Re: Baby Shower

NYCLatinaMe — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 15:16:43 GMT

spend as much or as little as you'd like or can affod i've always thought baby showers are easy becaue you can spend as little or as much as i'd like. a lot of poste focus on fancy baby thngs, but new mothers need a million diapers, and you can just buy those. i have found meeting any new mother's need is well received

Re: Baby Shower

Cakers3 — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 15:23:56 GMT

@lovekees wrote:
I have been invited to a baby shower of a good friends daughter. My question is how much to spend on a gift. Thanks

@lovekees If there is no baby registry, I would opt for a nice outfit in a larger size for when the baby is outgrowing all the cutesy things for newborns. Even a weather related little jacket for spring/summer/etc. would be nice.

I'd stay away from figurines and other clutter gifts.

Also I found a small picture album at B&N beautifuly drawn; it held only about 10 pictures and wasn't designed for logging milestones. It was just a nice picture album for $10.

If you don't know the sex of this baby, there are plenty of outfits out there that are not pink or blue at a reasonable cost.

You don't have to spring for an expensive car seat or other higher cost gifts; spend what is comfortable for you.

Re: Baby Shower

NicksmomESQ — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 15:33:01 GMT

You should spend what you are comfortable with,period. You aren’t obligated to go over your budget.

Re: Baby Shower

lovekees — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 15:52:12 GMT

Thank you for all the suggestions. I haven't been to a baby shower since the 80's.