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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To hate some of DS gifts?

120 replies

Mamaofaboy · 03/01/2022 12:57

I know.

I feel awful even typing this but DS was gifted some god awful clothes for Christmas. Mixture of shops - M&S, Next etc but really garish, character heavy items that I’d never put him in.

For some reason the gift givers in many cases haven’t included gift receipts - so can I return and switch for items I’ll actually put him in at these shops? All unworn obviously, with tags.

I know he’s just little and I shouldn’t be ungrateful but it seems so wasteful to have these clothes that just won’t be worn?

OP posts:
rrhuth · 03/01/2022 18:06

I would just take to the charity shop on the grounds that if I could afford to be picky I probably didn't need to worry about it.

StoneofDestiny · 03/01/2022 18:24

Just swap them OP. I often got clothes from one in law relative and they were garish and hideous material - they were bought for their own kids and they passed them to me. You've every right to dress your children as you want.

Faretheewellmyfairyfay · 03/01/2022 19:54

I'm sure my general points have already been said.

One tip I do remember is to keep additional layers of clothing in the car during the winter, as well as blankets, in case you break down in very cold weather. Sometimes you can be stuck for a very very long time after an accident or drifting snow. Even overnight in summer it can get too chilly for a baby. You could put a black bag of these and your least-favourite blankets and hats and bootees and some nappies in your boot. If you use a car that is or your baby goes in someone else's regularly. Useful as a gift, but unlikely to see the light of day. Grin

Then charity them when too small. You can keep the tags on too, you can break tags off with edge of a key if needed.

gingerbiscuits · 03/01/2022 20:13

I'd try & exchange as much as possible but then just keep the rest for messy play/weaning mealtimes/nursery days etc. If there are items that your little one will grow past really quickly without being used then just donate them to charity.

I was in a similar position when our son was born - we were gifted loads of lovely clothes from well meaning friends & relatives (some to my taste & some very much not!) but he was a Summer baby born during a heatwave & so many items were Wintery type clothes in 0-3mths size or Summery type items in 3-6mths & beyond. I was able to layer up & use some of the Summer clothes but the jumpers, fleecy onesies, padded bodysuits & the like all got donated, unfortunately - he spent the 1st few mths of his life in short leg/sleeve bodysuits! 🤷‍♀️

sociallydistained · 03/01/2022 20:15

@Babyroobs

Just sell them on ebay as a bundle.
And why would she do that and make next to no money when she can go and swap for something she likes? Much more fun and practical. Could even use the money towards something else practical for the baby.
mam0918 · 04/01/2022 10:32

BlusteryLake - I have never been so bothered by a gift (for someone else, as this isn't even OPs gift) that I have gone online to start a thread complaining about it.

thinking 'I wouldn't buy this for myself so Ill stick it in the emergency pile' and thinking 'this gifts someone else gave another person is so awful I must let the world know in writing' is WILDLY different.

Also, it's a total non-issue, stick the kid in it in the house or to go to sensory play where they may get dirty etc... if you don't think it's a 'fancy going out outfit'. Even the 'worst' (in terms of my personal taste) clothing items I have been gifted I often wear to lounge around the house in (honestly some of the ugliest jumpers I have been bought are shockingly warm and comfortable for pottering round the house in winter).

Lachimolala · 04/01/2022 10:36

I always took them back for an exchange, you’ll be able to check on the website if they are current stock etc. Anything with a tag you can exchange.

If there’s no tags you can either sell them, charity shop, or keep for messy play/playgroups/sickness.

AnotherSillawithanS · 04/01/2022 10:38

Mine just wore baby grows at that age.

KurtWilde · 04/01/2022 10:40

Good luck trying to exchange anything without a receipt these days. I took a couple of things back that had been bought for DD11 from various people who bought generic sizes without asking what sizes would fit best. I only wanted to exchange them for the correct sizes from primark and next. Both stores said no receipt, no exchange. Which is ridiculous as they had all the tags on, and I explained they were gifts and useless if we wouldn't exchange for the correct size. But no.

Prinnny · 04/01/2022 10:45

@KurtWilde

Good luck trying to exchange anything without a receipt these days. I took a couple of things back that had been bought for DD11 from various people who bought generic sizes without asking what sizes would fit best. I only wanted to exchange them for the correct sizes from primark and next. Both stores said no receipt, no exchange. Which is ridiculous as they had all the tags on, and I explained they were gifts and useless if we wouldn't exchange for the correct size. But no.
Really, I’m surprised at that I’ve never had a problem obtaining exchanges at next. I exchanged quite a few things bought for DD when she born, not because I didn’t like them but because she had so much stuff she would never get chance to wear all the small sizes.
KurtWilde · 04/01/2022 10:47

@Prinnny they used to be great for exchanging things, as did primark etc. Not anymore.

luckylavender · 04/01/2022 10:58

@Mamaofaboy - you're getting a hard time here OP but I agree with you. If you don't want him to wear those clothes then you don't have to!

Wetblanket78 · 03/12/2022 14:17

They were a gift and the people who bought them will want to know if he has worn them. What's wrong with him wearing character clothes? Will you not allow him to wear character clothes if that's what he chooses when he's older?

ShinyMe · 03/12/2022 14:53

The thread is nearly a year old, I imagine the child has grown out of them by now.

allthecrooksandnannies · 03/12/2022 14:54

It’s not Christmas yet who is already giving him gifts?

Y7drama · 03/12/2022 14:55

😂😂ZOMBIE THREAD!! I think it may be too late to exchange them now!

ShinyMe · 03/12/2022 14:55

allthecrooksandnannies · 03/12/2022 14:54

It’s not Christmas yet who is already giving him gifts?

It's an old thread.

PinkFrenchie · 03/12/2022 15:48

Another ungrateful gift thread. Yes, YABU. If you don't want them please donate.

Sparklingbrook · 03/12/2022 15:51

Soon be time for this year's selection of threads Xmas Grin

Original poster
Mamaofaboy · 04/12/2022 18:31

You’ll all be delighted to hear that as he’s now 18 months old and everything gets destroyed within 30 seconds I’m far less precious about his wardrobe!

However, I loved nothing more than dressing my beautiful five month old bundle of perfection in coordinated neutral knitwear sets knowing that nothing other than breastmilk would pass his chubby cheeks and with nothing else to fill our time other than cuddles and baby classes 😄

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