to secretly take baby gifts back for a refund?

[Wibblewobbles]

We have SO much baby stuff from when my toddler was younger, I literally kept everything as it was all perfectly good still.

I'm due in a couple of months and a friend brought round some brand new multipacks of things like vests and babygrows she's picked up from Tesco, ASDA etc. I've just got all our old baby stuff down from the loft and we literally have everything we need already, it seems like such a waste. Another family member has bought us some bibs, we must have about 50 bibs already from the first baby which were hardly used as he wasn't that dribbly/sicky and I preferred muslin cloths anyway.

I feel guilty and wasteful opening these packs of new stuff and using them once at most because we have so much already, plus I find having more to use just generates more washing as you end up just getting more and more clean stuff out instead of washing them. But I feel guilty donating or selling the gifts, at least if I got a refund I could get something else for the baby at some point that is actually needed?

Would the shops even give refunds for this stuff without a receipt?

[Crunchymum]

Depends on whether it's worth your while returning them?

The hassle of getting to an Asda / Sainsbury with clothes instore would negate the £10 worth of goods.

If you really don't need them pass them on to someone who does.

[shirleycartersaidso]

I would. If they've got tags in the take them back.

[Crunchyside]

Crunchymum If they are all from the same shop it might be worth it as I'd get quite a lot back, I could treat myself/baby to something more useful that I don't already have a million of, like some nice bedding or a sleeping bag in the next size up.

[AltCarbon]

I'd hang on to it for now just in case you get a baby with reflux. I thought we had plenty of stuff from our oldest but we were actually really grateful for extras as we didn't realise how many bibs and outfit changes a sicky baby could get through in a day.

Or if you wait and find out you really do have enough stuff then why not donate it to somewhere it might really be needed such as a women's refuge or a children's ward.

[emsyj37]

I took back my work gifts with DD2 and exchanged them for some baby monitors that I really needed. They had got me really expensive fancy 'mum to be' bath stuff that I thought was nice, but totally not worth the price tag and I knew I would get a lot more benefit from the monitors. Go for it!

[WellyMummy]

Alternatively you could donate them to a charity or refuge.

[Beachedwh4le]

I'd donate them, someone will be super grateful to have them

[Jenijena]

I did and made it abundantly clear to grandparents that as we already had bags of unused stuff, new clothes, however kindly meant, would stress me out (guilt/washing/storage space) and therefore would be placed straight into the charity shop bag. And they were.

[gabsdot]

I exchanged loads of things people gave me for my babies plus gave away a few things that i didn't like.

[ClaireH26]

Regift them! Stick em in a cupboard, next time someone you know has a baby you don't need to fork out for a pressie

[NuffSaidSam]

Packs of vests and babgrows from different shops, months before the baby is born seems a strange gift, which makes me think maybe she had them leftover from her children/had been given them. If so, they might not be current stock and Asda/Tesco might not take them back.

[harderandharder2breathe]

Honestly, I would donate them instead

[lionsleepstonight]

I'd try an exchange for something we actually needed.

[ItsOooohSoQuiet]

I used to work in department store. We'd have people in every week exchanging baby stuff as they'd been given too much or duplicates. Most places will allow it so long as all the tags are on. You'll only get the value of the price they are when you take them back though.

[emsyj37]

I actually gave two big Aldi bags of clothes to my midwife after DS was born and had outgrown them/I hadnt got round to using them. She collects them to make newborn gift packs for women in deprived areas in her care who have nothing for their babies. It's good to donate if you have lots that is in good condition.

[oneplus2is3]

I had the same issue when my DTs were born. I kept them and am still re-gifting a few years down the line (money is much tighter with 3!) and have recently sold a load on eBay. Whilst they were gifts for the babies, I took the view that they were practical gifts (otherwise they would have been yet more cuddly toys) and for me what was most practical was turning them into something they would use later on (I recently used funds for some great garden toys).

[Wibblewobbles]

NuffSaidSam She doesn't have kids, and probably won't any time soon, I think she just likes the excuse to buy cute baby things She is a really close friend, almost like an auntie or godmother to my children.

I'm the first of my old group of friends to have babies, they all went a bit nuts with the gifts the first time round. I do really appreciate it and I think it's so thoughtful of her, it's just not needed as much this time round...

[fabulous01]

Depends on whether you get full amount but I returned plenty of things. To be Honest my mil always buys wrong for season and age so I regularly change it

[LovingLola]

When mine were babies I exchanged loads of stuff. Mostly 'outfits' that really I could not ever imagine being used. Had no mad pangs of guilt about it either.

[NuffSaidSam]

Ahh well in that case you have to keep them so she can see the baby in the cute stuff she bought for it. Give the used stuff away to a women's or refugee charity or sell it as a bundle on facebook/Gumtree/ebay.

Then ask her not to get anymore stuff because you have enough now!

[Patriciathestripper1]

Why dont you donate some of your old stuff and use the new? You were given them in good grace so it would be a shame to take them back.

[londonrach]

I did. Spent the first month changing item for bigger sizes. No point having if not worn

[Blondeshavemorefun]

If such good friend then tell them you will exchange for 6/9mths etc

My friend brought us a gorgeous pink baby coat but was new born and I rang her up and said would she be offended if I changed it to one for older as have lots of newborn coats

She was fine. Said much preferred that then not wearing it and a waste of money

[Nashanoo13]

I swapped all the stuff from my in laws. No receipts needed and they've never noticed or asked where something is.
*not because it was from them just because of different taste

[WyfOfBathe]

Why dont you donate some of your old stuff and use the new?
I agree with this (unless you really need the money)