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?

Exchange for the next size or two sizes up and put them away for when you need them?

I have a thing about second hand clothes. Like I wouldn't buy these bundles of second hand baby clothes on eBay or from charity shops unless I really, really needed to. Just a personal thing.

We're expecting our second child in a couple of months. I have kept some of DDs stuff that was only worn once and in good condition or even unworn. But I feel strongly that, as she has beautiful new clothes, why should this baby exist solely in hand me downs? I know it's daft as it's not like the baby will know or care, but I know.

I'd donate some of the older stuff and keep the new.

I exchanged loads.
I had loads of lovely hand me downs for my baby and there's only so much they can wear.
I got gift vouchers that I then used to buy bigger stuff when I could see what she needed.
I hate waste.

I exchanged loads and they always put it onto a gift card. Now i use the gift card when i see something for them

I agree with April the giraffe. I always buy a new outfit for friends babies even if they are the same sex as an older child. I have never put my son in second hand clothes.

I don't see the problem with some second hand clothes. ESP for 0/3 3/6. They literally wear an outfit a few times then grown out of it

We've been given some gorgeous stuff and one vest /outfit was £25 😱😱

I wouldn't pay that personally but appreciate people who do

Least when 12/18mth things last longer

I also definitely wouldn't do it secretly. If you are set on returning the items (which you seem to be) then be honest with her and perhaps go shopping together to pick out something else you do want. Otherwise if she finds out you could come across as ungrateful and more bothered about the money.

There's a balance between not wanting to be wasteful but also being truly appreciative of the gifts people have chosen for your baby. And sleepsuits and vests are always useful.

I like passing things down between mine for the sentimental value as well as saving money but they all four had new baby items as well and it's the same now they're a bit older. Combination of hand me downs and new.

Donate the old stuff and keep the new, taking a gift back is ungrateful. The only time it's acceptable is if it's the wrong size and it's an exchange.

If you don't NEED the money then donate them to the local children's hospital or something. If you do need the money, then go to the store in question, and ask for a credit note.

I was mortified when I did this. We were gifted a snow suit at 0-3 by the time my LO would be 3 mos summer has just started. So I went back to the shop to get a shop credit or exchange to something more suitable (I didnt have the receipt).

Shop assistant scanned it and said it was picked up in the sale and bought for £0.97p so that is what I would get for it and was so embarassed as there was a queue behind me.

I kept it.

I have a cardigan on the side that is waiting to go back right now. It's beautiful but we got so much 0-3m clothing that dd only wore some outfits once and I felt guilty at the waste.
I took a few bits back and asked for credit. None of it because I didn't like it, just because we had so much. My maternity pay is reducing fast and I may need the credit to buy bigger clothes later when money is tighter.
If I were giving the gift I wouldn't mind it being returned at all under those circumstances as long as the credit was used to buy something for baby.

You can always check online to see if the item is still stocked and at what price.

I would donate the new unneeded stuff to a women's refuge/refugee charity or similar. In my town there is a charity which distributes baby clothes and equipment to families in need. They are referred by health visitors. You could ask your hv if there is anything similar near you.

I buy some new stuff for dc2, but I actually like seeing them in dc1's stuff. I like comparing what they were doing at similar ages. Saying that, dc1 is quite dainty and dc2 is enormous, so we may not be handing stuff down between them for much longer

Maybe keep one vest, just so you can take a photo.

hollinhurst84 I always love handmade gifts, the same friend has made me lots of handmade gifts and I'd never dream of getting rid of them. Handmade baby clothes and blankets are really special!

I have had another look at the stuff and I think I'll wait and see if they're needed or not. One pack is "first size" so depending how big the baby is, it might never wear them, my first was 8lb 3oz and I think the first size stuff only fit him in the first few days after birth! I've also had another look at the old stuff I boxed up and loads of it is really boring plain white vests so I'm sure I can chuck a few of those and use the nice new ones.

Bibs and baby hats from family, on the other hand... god knows what I'll do with those. I know baby hats are totally adorable when you see them on the hanger but they don't really get used do they?! I know with my first baby, every sleepsuit/outfit set seemed to come with a matching hat, very cute but not needed for summer babies! Same with socks, booties, slippers and shoes. I can see why people by them, they look bloody adorable but it's just a shame they don't end up being used.

I was mortified when I did this. We were gifted a snow suit at 0-3 by the time my LO would be 3 mos summer has just started. So I went back to the shop to get a shop credit or exchange to something more suitable (I didn't have the receipt). Shop assistant scanned it and said it was picked up in the sale and bought for £0.97p so that is what I would get for it and was so embarrassed as there was a queue behind me.

OMG that's awkward. Good bargain though.

Just because something was 97p, doesn't mean that is what it was purchased it. That is just the price it was when you returned it (and they have to give you current price without a receipt)

I saw it in M&S recently, a lady trying to return 3 clothing sets, they'd all gone down to between £1.99and 99p. I'm amazed actually as you never see anything that cheap instore or online?

so far we've got 7 babyblankets for our second child, 12 pairs of scratch mittens, 4 bathtowels, and 7 2/piece outfits. they are joining the 6 unused blankets from older child, 8 unused pairs of scratch mittens and countless unused 2-piece outfits (trousers without feet as well, i hate these). outfits will go to the charity shop, but who needs baby blankets or scratch mittens???

Yura I do like blankets but they're not really that useful beyond the ones you actually use. Scratch mittens I also found pointless, they fall off too easily compared to the ones that are built in to the sleepsuits.

I also agree that proper clothes/outfits are not that practical compared to sleepsuits. They're not as cute either - don't get me wrong, tiny little t-shirts and jeans look adorable on the hanger but I don't think babies look as snuggly in them compared to a nice cosy sleepsuit! I don't think I'll bother with actual clothes at all this time for the first 3 months or so!

I'm also not particularly keen on rompers/sleepsuits that have no feet...

Didn't realise how fussy I was about baby clothes actually until now. I guess I just prefer a really simple approach with my second baby - vests, sleepsuits, a cardi and blanket if it's cold, muslins for mess. All the other stuff (booties, mittens, tops, jeans, bibs etc) just seems unnecessary.