MIL going overboard with gifts

[wennifer]

This is a first world problem, I realise, but...

My MIL, who we have a good relationship with generally, loves to shop. Since we had a baby a year ago, she's been going crazy buying the baby presents. Christmas was overwhelming, as was the baby's birthday.

Our house is filled with toys, and it's just too much. The baby has way more than she knows what to do with. A lot of it are things we wouldn't have chosen ourselves, and a lot of it is plastic, which is terrible for the environment. We keep a minimalist home, so this really stresses us out.

I know we can give to charity, and we have done so to a degree, but MIL actually regularly asks whether the baby has played with a particular item this week, so we can't just give everything away.

So far, we have always received everything with a smile and thank you, and tried to gently suggest the baby has a lot of toys already. This approach isn't working. What would you do in this situation?

Just let her unless you don't have the space. I have a loft and I rotate toys.

We live in a flat in central London... and it's such a waste!

You need to be honest with her and say you really appreciate it but you just do not have the space, perhaps ask her to keep some bits at hers instead?

Ask her for specific things instead, such as swimming lessons etc.

My Mil did this when DD was younger. I had a small box for toys in the living room and put the rest away in the cupboard and would switch them round every few week.