Strangers buying us things!

[ChristmasJumpers]

I am going to sound so ungrateful but please stick with me...
We had a baby 4 weeks ago and people have been so generous with giving us hand me downs including bouncers, clothes, a moses basket etc. And we got lots of presents of clothes/medicine/toys/books at her baby shower and from visitors since she was born. I'm really grateful for that and we have been taking pictures of DD in her clothes/with her toys and sending thank yous. We're lucky to be surrounded by people who love us and DD.

The problem is that we also have total strangers buying and giving gifts to us!!! DHs mum works in a big office and her colleagues who we never have and never will meet have been buying and making things for DD like crazy! She now has about 40 hand knitted cardigans, 15 (yes really) chunky blankets, 2 bouncers and so many teddies. We've nowhere to put it all but it just keeps coming! I've just had a message from DMIL with a picture of a pop vinyl toy that someone at work has bought for us and a personalised cushion with her name, DOB etc. on. I'm honestly grateful but it's never ending and we're just getting repeat presents and things we can't or won't use as they don't know us or what we already have. The house is full but DMIL thinks it's lovely of them so I can't ask her to pass on the message to stop. AIBU that it's a bit odd, they'll never meet us or DD. They clearly love DMIL but why not one collection and pass on a voucher or just the one thoughtful gift?

AIBU - People are being kind and I should just accept the gifts and be grateful
AINBU - it's a bit much for total strangers to be showering us with so many gifts

Yes to this. A lot of the things we got were very small and quickly outgrown, or just weirdly sized, with tight arms, small head holes etc so they never actually fit at all. In some ways this was a relief. Most were made with cheap acrylic wool in pale brown or various pastel shades (especially mint green and lemon!) that I just did not like at all, and that washed incredibly badly and went bobbly. It might have been different if they'd been more skillfully made in better yarn in tasteful colours.

There was also a crochet baby blanket that someone had hand stitched glass bugle beads all over. They were sharp and scratchy and made the blanket unsafe to use.

I honestly had so much stress trying to be thankful for these many, many gifts, which were all made and given with good intentions, whilst almost universally disliking them and not having anywhere for them in our tiny house and being expected to use them and 'show them off' by my mum.

We (early 60s) have now 3 grandchildren. When the forst GC was born my MIL was still alive. Her neighbours insisted on buying gifts for the new baby, gifts we then needed to take with us abroad where our DC and DGC live. I still hear her "suggesting" her neighbours "if you don't know what to buy just go for a soft toy". Needless to say a bunch of teddies, rabbits and other fluffy creatures never made it to the booth of our car.

Haha this sounds the same as when we had our first (we’re now on third child and it didn’t continue for second two, obviously wasn’t as exciting second and third time 😅)
write thank you notes but don’t think anyone you’re not close with needs a picture of the item In use!
we took back anything with a tag in exchange for a gift voucher to save for when we actually needed things as they get older.
i think hospitals are grateful for knitted bits, does sound like you have a lot!!
Offer anything else free on Facebook/ women’s shelters or sell and save the money for when you actually need things
I wouldn’t personally ask them to stop just because I wouldn’t want to upset anyone, but they don’t have to know you’re passing it on x

I would be gracious and thank them all and anything you have too many of donate to a womens refuge or similar

DH work did this...they knew we been trying for abit. I send a lovely thank you letter to everyone and sold, passed on bits we didn't use...kept all the cards. I was vvv grateful for everything even if not useful as saw it an appreciation of kindness to my husband.... We did have alot of random gifts from neighbours we not spoken too either...again thank you card and redirected if not needed ..three dolls house a for a newborn baby isn't needed but I appreciate d the thought

That sounds a daft suggestion.

Keep for Baby Number 2 and/or donate to women’s refuges. Women’s refuges need this kind of stuff. Women often arrive with new/ small babies with literally nothing because they have escaped terrible domestic abuse..

Just give them away don’t feel guilty about this. I have found lots of people enjoy knitting so just want a baby to knit for.

Regift, regift, regift (or if it’s really crap - charity shop)! I had the same experience - MIL, distant family & even people from my sisters work buying me stuff, some tat from £land etc.
Some of it was spot on, some of it was great but not my style, some of it we already had. I now have a huge bag full and when people I know have fallen pregnant or had babies, the bag has come in so useful. I have a cousin who has a really whacky style so I had loads of loud clothes i didn’t like that I could send…. My close friend is having a girl so I passed on loads of bits that felt too girly for my little boy. Saved me a fortune!! Win, win 😃😃😃