Gender reveal nonsense

[my3bears]

This whole make a big thing with a gender reveal - glitter, balloons, cakes with coloured centres etc

Then the parents act all surprised 😱

Isn't the biggest 'gender reveal' just to wait until they are born???

This really flipping irritates me and it's so American.

Just watched the LaBrant Family gender reveal (it came up on my timeline..why do I click on things that irritate me 😂) Boy it made my teeth itch!!

Aibu 🙄😂 anyone with me? Don't even get me started on baby showers....

I honestly don't understand the hate around gender reveals. Having a baby is usually such an exciting time for a couple, let them enjoy it if that's what they want to do.

OMG are all these parents assuming a child's gender?! How absolutely ridiculous! Everyone KNOWS that you can't rely on genitals to indicate sex, you have to wait until the child is about 7 and can tell you whether they prefer trucks or dolls. That's the real indication of male/female.

I don't care where it started but it annoys the fuck out of me because it's just another way to extort money out of an everyday situation, i.e. having a baby.

If you want people to know, just tell them. If you don't, then wait until the baby is born. If you don't want to know then wait until the baby is born.

No need for all this expensive song and dance about it!

I am superstitious enough not to buy things for babies until they are safely arrived, including piles of plastic tat for the parents

I quite agree. I know far too many people who have had still births and very late losses.
I get edgy when I see people announcing names before the baby is born for the same reason.

I think what irks me in a boring old fart kind of way is the idea that these things must be celebrated.

Good old fashioned plain happiness doesn't seem to cut the mustard with a lot of people. You can't just hear the news of the baby's gender and be pleased to know.

You must gather together all your aunts, and university friends, and neighbours and have a reveal. And cake, and booze. Party banners or it didn't happen. We must do something 'a bit special'.

My social calendar is so damn filled with events, that I very rarely get the opportunity for the nice chilled times with mates or just going out normally.

Yes, I get to see them, but you can almost guarantee you spend forty minutes trapped with someone's aunt being asked what you do before you never see them again.

Piper -

I think it’s vulgar, and counting your chickens. This could be because I’m an old git, but actually I know I would have felt this way at 20.

I also think it makes for a bit of a airy-fairy nonsense round babies, when all the mums I know just wish people would visit them a) once they're comfortable after the birth and then b) afterwards when the visitors tail off and they are lonely.

I skipped all my sister's pre birth stuff in favour of actually helping out once my neohew had arrived.

Mumsnet is getting so fucking dull

I dont mind it too much, each to their own.

i wouldnt have one personally but I cant see it can create excitement and a good get-together for friends and family.

I did wonder, in a musing, whimsical kind of way, whether in a few years time we will see law suits from people who dont identify as their biological or assigned gender at birth against those who have posted videos of big gender reveals on social media. Social media does like to remind us of the past even the bits we are keen to forget.

There seem to be such an ever increasing list of genders people can identify as - Non woman identified femmes was one i came across yesterday that i hadnt before.

However aside from my rambling mind back to the op. They arent my cup of tea although ive never been invited to one. Id probably politely decline but each to their own.

I don’t like gender reveal celebrations. It just seems to reduce it to an Instagram moment.
Dd, 17, is nearly 15 weeks and has come up with a plan for the sonographer at the 20 week scan to reveal the sex to me, but not her. Back at home I am then supposed to get a pink or blue helium balloon in a box for her to open.
Utter nonsense and I’ve told her I don’t think for a moment that the sonographer would agree to tell me but not her.

I don't understand why it being American is such a problem. What's with all the American hate on MN? I've been on here for a few years but it seems to be getting progressively worse.

I am with the posters asking why it bothers you what other people do?

If they enjoy it then leave them be.

Did they not invite you or something?

I find them incredibly tacky, and likewise baby showers. I agree with previous posters that it just seems to be an excuse to be the centre of attention, and to demand expect hope for presents from all and sundry. I also feel very uncomfortable about starting the 'boy or girl' stereotypes before the baby is even born - like hearing someone say about a friend's unborn son that he was obviously going to be a great footballer because he was kicking her.

I've never been invited to a reveal party, and have only ever been to one baby shower. I didn't take a gift to the baby shower, because like some other posters, I don't like to give gifts until the baby has actually been born. I can't imagine how awful it must be for people who have to come home without their baby, to be surrounded by piles of clothes and toys which won't be used.

Yanbu Op

Height of tack

My cousin in the states had fab bridal shower and baby shower. Doesn't offend me at all where it belongs.

Somehow kept over the pond it's not tacky at all.

Reveals
No
Anywhere
Ever

A baby's sex isn't something to celebrate so it's a bizarre reason to have a party.

I think it's fine to do something for the siblings though. For example, there's a cupcake in this box. Blue icing means brother, pink icing means sister and then you get the sibling(S) to find out if they are expecting a brother or sister.

Plays into consumeristic society.

I think it’s lovely and says something that the couple have friends and family who care about them enough to come and celebrate.

I don’t really understand people saying they shouldn’t count their chickens- what difference does it make to you? If something awful happens they’re the ones who have to deal with it. I doubt they’ll give a shit that they had a gender reveal party if their baby dies. I can’t see how it affects that outcome at all.

“Plays into consumeristic society.”

What a party? Don’t you have parties for all sorts of reasons?

YANBU. A family friend had the sonographer put the sex in an envelope which she took to a party shop. They then made a helium balloon with blue bits inside so no one had any idea what the sex was before they popped said balloon at the party. I didn’t go to said party because I found it vulgar and crass.

I already detest linking a colour to a particular sex enough as it is, not to mention the incorrect usage of gender. It’s just another excuse for people to be the centre of attention.

Hate gender reveals and baby showers - the whole thing is so self indulgent and assuming everyone is as interested and excited in your baby as you are. That's my opinion on it so I wouldn't have either. Each to their own though!

Doesn't bother me at all - I think it's nice that people are preparing to welcome their baby together and are excited with family and friends. I do wonder how they know though - we were told it was twin girls, but we had twin boys! (Didn't do any reveal party though and hadn't told anyone).

I don't like baby showers. We never used to have them. It's like we can't just be happy that our friend is having a baby anymore. Got to make a party out of it to get an extra round of gifts than just the norm when the baby is born, and most importantly, instagram the whole nonsense.

The gender reveal things? Christing Christ. By all means do something cute to let little siblings know the sex, or a nice announcement to your parents. But another self absorbed party, so everyone can stand round clapping like seals at how wonderful it is that you've cut into a cake with a certain colour icing. The ultimate get-over-yourself cringe.