We have recently been trying to have a big declutter in preparation for new baby arriving in a few weeks and also hoping to put house on the market early next year and move. Have realised just how much of the stuff we are getting rid of is unwanted/unsuitable gifts (my mum is a major culprit! Highlights include a cookery book for cats, I struggle to find time to cook for us let alone the cat!) Our families are very generous and love getting gifts especially for DS who is coming up to 3. They tend not to ask what we want/need though which means we often get given duplicates or things that we're never realistically going to use.
Over the next few months we have the birth of the new baby, my birthday, DS's birthday and Christmas coming up, so I'm worried all our hard work decluttering will be undone and we'll end up with loads more stuff. I feel really guilty getting rid of presents as well as just seems so wasteful.
What I would really like to do is say to family that we'd prefer no physical gifts (or at least no gifts for adults) and if they really want to get us something then an experience or membership to local family attraction would be very much appreciated. And for DS that we would appreciate if they ask us what he wants/needs so we don't end up with duplicates. Is this really rude though? I know that they enjoy picking out things for the kids which is understandable and don't want to deprive them of this but just seems so wasteful and we are drowning in clutter as it is. Has anyone done similar and is there a nice way to ask?
We are the only ones out of our siblings with DC so don't want to suggest no gifts for adults as it wouldn't be fair on them but would happily have no gifts for me and DH.