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Original poster

Gender Reveal Party

162 replies

mybumstinksofbeans · 13/06/2016 07:31

I've had an invitation (via e-mail) to a "Gender Reveal Party". It's my cousins. I love my cousin dearly but think this is weird.

From what I can gather, the parents know what the sex of the baby is but rather than just telling us, they are having a party and a cake will be cut to reveal the sex. I presume the sponge will be coloured pink for a girl, blue for a boy (dont get me started on this old fashoned gender stereotyping)

To top it off, there is a link to a Babies R Us gift list!!

Before you tell me just to not go, I have to go. We are an incredibly close family, meet up 4 times a year for big family get togethers plus go on holiday twice a year together.

Other than saying I'm ill, there is absolutely no way I could get out of going. I'd be the only person in my family to not turn up.

OP posts:
BelfastSmile · 13/06/2016 09:08

m in Belfast and our local hospital (where I had al my kids) won;'t tell you - they have signs up about it lol

The Ulster? When I had DS (2 years ago), that was the case, but recently I've had a few people saying that they were told.

ImperialBlether · 13/06/2016 09:17

I'd rather the sex of the baby was discovered at the birth - doesn't anyone do that any more?

SoupDragon · 13/06/2016 09:20

I think people do whatever they want WRT finding out the sex. Birt, scan and tell all, scan and tell no one... who cares?

SoupDragon · 13/06/2016 09:20

Birth

Buckinbronco · 13/06/2016 09:21

Yes we had a surprise and so did a couple of people I know who gave birth at the same time. IME it's about 60:40 finding out vs surprise. Both perfectly valid choices though: people have babies for themselves not other people

LittleLionMansMummy · 13/06/2016 09:27

My friend was told she was having a girl and ended up with a boy. He travelled home from hospital in a pink onesie that said 'Mummy's little princess'.

I think it sounds like a tacky import from from the US. Nobody cares about gender except the parents.

But if you're that close to your cousin I think you should go and say that you're planning a personalised gift for when the baby is born.

LittleLionMansMummy · 13/06/2016 09:28

Imperial I'm doing that and did the same with ds. I love a surprise and there are very few of those left in life!

JJbum · 13/06/2016 09:45

It's very popular in the US. No doubt that means it will become more popular in UK.

I have friends in the US and they do a pregnancy reveal (usually an online thing), then a gender reveal (which is filmed and then a clip goes onto social media too), a baby shower, they all have baby registers for gifts......and then there is more once the baby actually arrives. It's big business giving birth, apparently!

I would cringe if I were invited to a gender reveal party!

KatieKateKat · 13/06/2016 09:58

I had a friend, in the U.S, who was told she was having a boy. But because she was in the States, she had a lot more scans and was eventually told Ooops, it's actually a girl!
If she had been in the uk she wouldn't have had the extra scans (unless good reason) and would have birthed a very big surprise! She went a bit mad with shopping when she found out the sex and it all had to go back.
We never found out with any of our four DC and we're definitely in the minority.

InternationalHouseofToast · 13/06/2016 09:59

It might be that they'd like a few new things for this baby, as it will otherwise be living in its older sibling's hand me downs. Or they chucked / gave everything away thinking they were done with 2 kids then changed their minds. The cynic in me wonders if they can't ask for specific colour item yet so would rather you bought their expensive gift for the party than wait to find out the "right" colour and risk you not buying anything at all.

Rafflesway · 13/06/2016 10:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Krampus · 13/06/2016 10:10

When I hear the phrase Gender Reveal Party I imagine a scene where one parent brings in the baby dressed only in a nappy. There's a fan fare and the other pulls down the nappy to reveal all. It could be done Lion King stylee too.

blueskywithclouds · 13/06/2016 10:11

I'd go to keep the peace, buy a gift from the gift list but then class that as my gift. No need to buy anything else once baby has arrived, unless you want to.

user1465023742 · 13/06/2016 10:13

God, how self-centred. Why do they think anyone cares, let alone enough to sit through some kind of excruciating skit to reveal it?

Tiggeryoubastard · 13/06/2016 10:15

What a hideously tacky idea. Truly bloody awful. Just when you thought they'd plumbed the depths with baby showers. Just say no, you're not going. Don't make an excuse, that only encourages this sort of thing.

RiverTam · 13/06/2016 10:16

It's sex, not gender!!!!!!!

Nothing like reinforcing negative, damaging and outdated gender stereotypes before the baby's even born, eh?

GreaseIsNotTheWord · 13/06/2016 10:17

Bleugh...I saw this for the first time on facebook a few days ago. Cringe cringe cringe.

It's a baby. Only the parents (or maybe one or two very close family) will actually care if it's a boy or girl.

I thought the whole baby shower debacle was bad enough...someone from work had one a couple of months ago and it was like a full on wedding. 60 guests, gift list...there was even a top table for the mum to be and her cronies. Oh, AND, it was £26.00 a head, which the 'guests' had to pay.

PumpkinPies38 · 13/06/2016 10:20

Say you're ill they sound batshit. Imagine the issues that poor child is going to grow up with.

Cheby · 13/06/2016 10:25

I have no issue with a gender reveal party. If we are successful in TTC #2 we might consider one ourselves, by which I mean we might invite close family round for lunch and cake, so we can spend time with them, tell them all together and then no one's nose is out of joint about not being told first.

I like having an excuse for a get together, don't think there's anything wrong with that.

I absolutely wouldn't have a gift list though, and I refused to have a baby shower with DD, because the primary purpose seems to be to ask for gifts, which I don't think is acceptable.

TheCrumpettyTree · 13/06/2016 10:44

I didn't find out with either of mine and felt like I was in the minority.

Why on earth you need more than a 'oh a boy how lovely' or 'a girl how lovely' I don't know. Having a whole party based around the sex of your baby is ludicrous, as no one cares really.

Pinkheart5915 · 13/06/2016 10:45

Imagine the issues that poor child is going to grow up with

SoupDragon · 13/06/2016 10:51

It's sex, not gender!!!!!!!

Bingo!

Sallyingforth · 13/06/2016 10:52

I'd have a tee shirt printed "It's SEX not gender!" and wear that to the party.

switswoo81 · 13/06/2016 10:52

I don't like it, it attaches too much importance to the sex of the baby.

I do like cake however you might get cheated though and it might be balloons!

SoupDragon · 13/06/2016 10:52

Imagine the issues that poor child is going to grow up with

What sort of issues? I cant think of any from just the information here.

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