How do you politely request friends, and family not to buy a child clutter?

[darkrose50]

It seems to be quite a tradition to buy large quantities of unneeded items for children. I have a fifteen week old daughter, and I am sure that I have only seen the beginning of the onslaught. I am considering tactful preemptive options to help stem the tide of gifts

Comments

[duchess_webb]

For starters, any checks we had received from friends and family we put into a savings account in Pepper's name. :)

Second, I'd suggest that if people want to give gifts that they give them either with the receipts or with gift certificates in case you need/want to return anything.

There is nothing wrong with saying to people that you have enough of [fill in the blank] and if you wish to help, here is a list of things that would be better to give (money for a fund, educational toys, books, etc.). Gift cards can be a nice suggestion too, since you can use that for whatever you suddenly find necessary (even if it is diapers and baby foods). If someone is offended by that, then there is something wrong with them, not you.

I say if you can return items (or at the very least, try to see if exchanges can be made with the store), go ahead and try. If that is not an option then I say donate. Goodwill, Salvation Army and even Freecycle can be awesome ways to give things back.

[darkrose50]

My primary preference would be to form an opinion of what would be an appropriate gift. Bonds, books, small toys, educational toys (blocks), non-electric toys, and let people know in a polite manor.

People seem to take gift suggestions in many different ways. Thus far I plan on making a list of items Megan would like for presents. If an unacceptable item is gifted, like on of those Brats dolls, than we will either exchange it, or donate it to charity.