AIBU baby showers

[wanderingcloud]

Been invited to a baby shower for a colleague's third baby.

Is this a thing now????

I thought a baby shower was for first time parents, who need "baby stuff" not second/third babies where you already have all the stuff!

AIBU?!

People are being a bit misguided by blaming the Americans for grabby British Showers.

The culture over there surrounding pregnancy and motherhood is very different. I'm on a US forum and have seen women sharing hospital bills for their straightforward vaginal deliveries costing them upwards of $10k out of pocket, while the UK posters give a sigh of relief that they only had to pay a few quid to park the car. They then have their unpaid maternity leave to look forward to, which can be as short as six weeks. Even formula is more expensive, so new mum's are juggling trying to establish BF in few weeks before heading back to work and having to start a pumping regime.

I don't begrudge their friends and families trying to alleviate some of that pressure by offering to cover some of the costs for practical items for their first child- I'd gladly chip in for a Moses basket or a few baby grows if it meant my friend was stressing out even slightly less about finances.

Its like comparing apples and oranges when it comes to US and UK baby showers- one is a longstanding tradition based on a need which has developed its own etiquette over time. The other is just a bit of an excuse for a gift grab.

YANBU.
I know someone who was on her second marriage and had a baby shower for her third child. She thought she was entitled to have one because it was a different sex and had a different dad. So grabby. I guess some people just love the spotlight too.

VivaLaVieBoheme

I really agree with what you are saying!