AIBU or is this a bit cheeky?

[Usernamenotavailabletryanotheroneplease]

Name changed as I don’t want to potentially ruin a friendship over what could be me being unreasonable. Close friend has recently had a baby. She’s asked for no visitors (fair) but has now announced an ‘open day’ - her words - in which her and her DP will invite all their family and friends to go to their house at the same time to see the baby. Not the AIBU.
In the message invite (copied and pasted to all their friends/family), it states: “Although your presence is a present, we kindly ask for a monetary gift as we have plenty of clothes and toys.”
It’s rubbed me up the wrong way. I understand the request for no clothes or toys, but I feel the blatant request for money is quite crass. I’ve already bought a personalised keepsake gift (not clothes or toys) which I will give so it’s not really a direct issue. We’re from different cultures which could play a part in my reaction.
AIBU or is this crass?

I'd take some Frankincense & Myrhh (not the gold) - since this baby is obviously the new Baby Jesus.

I'd add some cheap gold chocolate coins.

For a close friend I’d have crocheted a blanket, but if that message came I’d put it aside for the next baby & give £10 in a card instead.

Once had a friend do this for her birthday party, as they wanted to go on holiday, with the money they received I thought it was so rude! We didn’t give money, just bought a bottle of champagne and a card. I can not imagine asking people for money rather than a lovely gift for my child, keepsakes, still have a couple of my daughters 34 years later!

Tell her you’re worried about catching Covid if so many people are going ….. open day my backs…!

H

I would not be giving money nor would I be visiting but there is no chance I could possibly be friends with anyone as rude as this!

So rude. It’s bad enough at weddings…

Buy the baby a keepsake money box, for all the monetary gifts.

Totally agree with you. OP could say that she is waiting for a refund on a gift she returned after receiving their message - and then conveniently forget about it. They are crass and grabby. If it was me I would be "busy" that day with something important.

Brilliant 'More neck than a giraffe' 😂... Oh that's fabulous. Definitely stealing that one😂😂

🤣😁 totally agree

Distinctly uncouth. 🙁

This 😂

She wants you to pay to see the new baby? Sounds like she thinks it's a zoo.

clicked YABU by accident sorry!! You YANBU!!!! That’s cheeky AF. And highly embarrassing on her part

If you don't want to give money, clearly that's fine.

But why then spend the same money on buying something that isn't wanted? Just seems perverse.

This. People have become so weird and self centred. A fucking open day and asking for cash?! I don't think I'd bother. Feel sorry for the direct family.

I guess Jesus got Gold Frankincense and Myrrh. No clothes, no toys. Nobody called Mary and Joseph CFs.

Oh heck I think this one might end up in the daily mail 😄
That’s one of the most cringeworthy things I’ve ever heard. ‘Form an orderly queue’ and also they want people to pay them because they had a baby 😲 who do they think they are?! 😂

That’s so cringe. Awful. I’ve never heard anything like that.

Jesus wept. How tone deaf of them.

It is crass but I understand not needing more stuff. They can use the money to buy consumables like bath products, diapers, etc.

I sometimes buy the mother a gift...

i have just had a baby. I have loads of stuff I don’t want or need. I just hate waste and feel awful give them away when someone has put thought into it and treated me to a gift but i wouldn’t ask for money either. Just can’t help thinking they asked for money to buy something they really need… what use is a spoon when having a steak I suppose! Open day did make me giggle. 🤭