To not want to use the gift.

[Mumtobe12]

Now I don't want to sound ungrateful but MIL is very excited about new arrival which is lovely. But the other day she brought us a Moses basket with out us seeing first and well it so not what I envisioned. It silk and covered in lace looks like something straight out of queen Victoria's nursery.
I don't know what to do DH doesn't want to hurt MIL feelings and has already told her how pretty it is and how much we like it. But I really don't and know he is not a big fan either,
I do appreciate the kindness of the gift but I'm a bit upset I didn't get to pick this out myself.
I have attached picture so you can see for yourself.
What can I do? I can't not use it now?

Static cat!!

That last sentence should read - to tell her that lots of frills aren't your taste. I've had similar conversations with my MIL and we're all still talking to each other.

I'm assuming you haven't given birth yet

I've birthed 2 rugrats already and that thing gives me the eeks
Looks like a massive fire hazard / SIDS nightmare all rolled into 1
eek. no. It's not just ugly, it looks hazardous

loving the static cat

Time to consider co-sleeping...

I almost ended up in exactly your position. MIL had ideas of very similar but bigger monstrosity a la Downton Abbey.

I bombarded her with weblink to the importance of fabric (cotton) having breathability and the lack of practicalities with the acres of Broderie Anglaise and lace she so desired. She protested until I said I would meet her in John lewis where we "compromised" on one that was well much better taste.

Oh and LO escaped from it within a couple of weeks - I would never recommend one-complete waste of time, space and money....

Just be honest and suggest alternatives OP-it's your baby. x

Woobeedoo beat me to it agree that the hood should screw off somehow.
From the bit of the basket I can see it looks like quite a nice basket underneath all that though. I'd keep it then after babybis born take covers off if she's likely to see it and blame the midwife that does your home visits afterwards and say she told you that for safety reasons it should be cotton do you removed it.

*There aint no (potential) 10 pound baby that is going to fit in that.

Silver linings and all that.

[oops, hang on. That damned basket is just one big silver lining all on its own].*
Are you saying giving birth to a 10lb baby IS the silver lining? I think I'd rather use the Moses basket for 3 months than push a 10lber out if my fanjo 😱

Yikes - that is the stuff of nightmares!

Well the cat seems interested. I'd let him/her sleep in it instead. 😄

I would put baby in it, take a picture, frame it and gift it to her and then remove the silk and frills and say there was an unfortunate poo incident and the washing machine was none too kind and isn't it a shame that silk is so easily ruined.

I'm sure it will look much more normal without the hideous covering.

Where DID she get it?! She didn't make it, did she? I've never seen anything like it.

Just dont use it get your own and put it in the cubourd or te her she can keep it at her hluse for when use go rkund for her to nall i. While use have a cuppa

Static cat is the best!

Sorry OP, I can't get over how flammable it looks 😟
My DD lasted 8 weeks max in hers and DS even less as his legs were so long.

I would start DH practising the following sentences though:
MIL I've bought you this
DH oh thank you but I'm not sure if we've already got one / not sure if it goes with the xxx / I think mumtobe12 has picked one already and is really excited about it

Do NOT get in the happen to being nicer about something the more hideous it is!

Omg there's another one. Thought I had the only hideous thing over 20 years
Ago.
To the people that's saying it don't look that bad. It really really does. It's really photogenic but in rl it is fucking hideous and not suitable for an actual baby. Dolls yes. Cats maybe but even they might walk away from it. Mine did. Even put a beloved cardboard box in it, nope cat was having none of it.

I took all the frills and satin off. She
Didn't like it but couldn't actually say shit because I asked her bluntly why did her likes override ours as parents. If she wanted to have this type then she could either have her own child or get a doll.

She had asked what we needed. Moses wasn't on the list. We just asked for loads of nappies, vests and babygros. And if she wanted contributions to the bigger stuff as it wasn't fair on either gp to buy any of these major firsts. Plus we knew exactly what we needed for our use and space. Didn't
Stop her from going out and buying a massive unsuitable buggy. Needed three hands to fold down, weighed a tonne and we was in a small flat second floor without a lift and took a lot of buses. Meant I would have been housebound.

OK - I know where MiL may have got it. I put Satin Moses Basket into Safari and it produced loads, including some which (almost) make yours look tasteful! Amazon and eBay have a lot to answer for!

I'd use it, but remove the polyester lining. Blame the effect it had on your hair.

I would put the baby in it and take a few photos to show her. Then swap the frills for your choice of bedlinen. In my experience babies only fit in those baskets for a few weeks anyway - or maybe my family just have gigantic babies! I put DD straight into a cot.

I've noticed you have two cats, do they like scratching and chewing?

It's World Book Day tomorrow and your niece/goddaughter/next door neighbour's daughter desperately wants to go as Hetty Feather but her costume didn't arrive in time?

Where did she even get that, it's horrendous. Poor baby is likely to be all slippy and itchy in there too.

Like lots of others my first thoughts were it just looks so flammable? Anything to much as a cup of coffee in the general vicinity will make that thing go up

Check this beauty out. m.ebay.co.uk/itm/262868348629

That answers the question 'Whatever happened to Liberace's underwear'.

I see you have a cat. Such a shame that it jumped in the Moses basket and wee'd in it...

My eyes. Does she hate you or something?