Baby shower present question

[melimo1315]

I've been invited to my cousin's wife's baby shower next month. She registered for items costing no less than $100. Her stroller is $600+. I don't know anyone else going so I can't split a present with anyone.

Would you buy off the registry or buy items you think she would need based on your experience? Like I LOVE the A&A swaddles more than life itself and still use them to this day for a 100 different things. She didn't ask for them so is it rude to assume she would love them? I didn't have a baby shower so I went and bought things based on a list I saw of things I would need online haha.

I hate to be that person who's like, yeah that thing you want is junk and you will use it once or your DH will break it because that's what men do with fragile baby things.

Also would you do a baby present and then a small gift for the parents to be like a gift card or something to help them through the first month?

Thanks ladies!

[ldubhawksfan]

If she didn't register for anything in my price range, then I would definitely go off the registry and try to get something nice and universally used. A&A swaddled is a good idea, IMO. As long as there is a gift receipt she could return it if she wanted. I hate giving GCs, so I wouldn't, but if you don't mind at least she could buy some expensive things with several GCs.

[melimo1315]

ldubhawksfan

Thanks for your input! $100 is a little pricey for me especially when I'm not working this summer and this will be only the second time I've met her haha.

I will definitely do the gift receipt in case she bought some already or doesn't like them.

[ldubhawksfan]

Jul 22, 2016 14:12:16 GMT -5 melimo1315 said:

ldubhawksfan

Thanks for your input! $100 is a little pricey for me especially when I'm not working this summer and this will be only the second time I've met her haha.

I will definitely do the gift receipt in case she bought some already or doesn't like them.

$100 is outside of my price range always. I'm not spending that much even for my friend's twins shower!

[littleowl913]

A&A swaddles are a really nice present. I don't think it's rude to go off the registry especially when everything on the registry is super expensive. My friend got me a BRU and a DD gift card. Loved the DD gift card way more.

[justbeth]

If nothing is under 100, it sounds like she didn't register for small things like blankets, feeding items, diaper items, etc. Since she will still need these type of things, I think it's fine to go off registry. I would just be sure to get a gift receipt.

[yummeecookee]

I would go off registry too in this instance. And I agree w bluebird44. Seems a little bougey to only register for items that are $100+.

[sunfrogger88]

What everyone else said!

[younglove316]

I also agree with everyone else. Maybe get a few smaller items that you view as essentials and out together a nice basket. I know I would appreciate that

[fightersince83]

I would probably just get her a gift card so she can put it toward whatever she wants but you aren't stuck dropping over $100. If you want to do something like the blankets and a small GC that would be very nice.

[littleredfish]

Ya, buy off that registry. Is this her first baby? I've seen so many FTMs not think of all the little things they need. There are so few actual things a baby needs to start but I'm also a fan of buying things that I loved or books. Like I bought a friend a container of CJs Bottom Balm in Orange Dream and she's crazy about it now. I try not to buy things different than they have on their registry because often they've researched those items; so eample I wouldn't go in with people to buy a different stroller than she registered for, but an item that she doesn't have on her list? Why not? Maybe she just didn't think of it. And I feel like you can never go wrong with books.

[fuzzylogic]

WTF kind of stroller costs that much? Does it make you fresh drinks as you walk? Change the child's diaper?

Gift card and a unique small gift, something she may need that she neglected to put on the registry. Or some basic onesies in a larger than newborn size in case her kiddo grows fast. I was so thankful for the larger sized clothes we got early.

[samelly]

Jul 22, 2016 15:19:33 GMT -5 bluebird44 said:

I'd give a gift card that she could put towards one of the more expensive items. Seems rude to me though to not take guests' budgets into consideration.

This...or if you know other people attending, you could split on a gift. If you go off the registry, just give a gift receipt so they can exchange if needed.

[schmella]

Just because this happened to me, was the registry info in the invite? If so, have you asked the mother to be where she's registered or searched her name anywhere? MIL only included one of my registries on the shower invites because "she didn't think anyone would shop there." She left out my primary registry at BBB.

[run4fun]

I'd go off registry also. A few gifts people got me off my registry have been my favorite or most used items (the sound machine-night light my BFF got me wasn't on mine but we use it every night!) I'd also probably do a gift card, then she can put it towards something people won't be able to afford getting her, like that stroller.

[melimo1315]

Thanks for all the great advice! I ended up at Buy Buy Baby today with a 20% off coupon determined to find something. I followed a few pregnant moms doing their registries and they all had one thing in common, the Boppy NB Lounger. I had wanted one for DS2 but I make giant babies and knew 16lbs would come faster than 4 mos (the package sizes 16lb limit and 4 mos age limit).

Apparently she is obsessed with elephants so the boys picked out an elephant toy for the car seat and a book about how much mom and dad love them.

I will let you know how it goes! I did get a gift receipt 😉

[mtnmomma13]

I'm really late and it sounds like you found a great solution. But in the past, when someone doesn't have anything on the registry I can afford (or want to afford for that matter), I end up getting them the 2am basket. It's got all the health related crap you always seem to need at 2am (cheapish thermometer, tylenol, saline drops, nose frida, etc). Usually costs me around $30 and I will throw in a pack of diapers/wipes if I want to do more.

[mandie]

Sounds like a great option! I always do Target GCs for new moms. That way she can buy something for the baby, or just spend it all on Starbucks for herself.