Baby's Christmas present

[ForPearlLeader]

This is something I've been thinking about because I just feel like it was so strange.

My daughter is 3 months old. My parents sent her a Christmas present. We opened it and it was a Lando Norris racing suit. Neither me or my husband follow F1, and my daughter certainly doesn't 😅 My father watches F1. My mother asked before if we wished for anything for Christmas and I said wooden toys, like a rattle or something.

I'm not terribly upset or anything, I just find it very strange!? Or would you give a themed present to a baby when you know the parents don't share that interest/hobby/sport?

That's weird, sorry.
Do you mean a baby size racing suit ?
Lets hope they have better ideas as she gets older.
Congratulations on your beautiful baby.

I actually think that’s quite sweet! Maybe he’s hoping it’ll be a shared interest as she grows up!

We would have loved that when ours were babies!

But yes, your DF bought what he wanted - not taking your likes and baby’s needs into account at all. I would ask your mum why they thought this was a good idea.

Yes, it sounds like he's encouraging the connection early, and maybe while she's little enough to be dressed in wear it. Not really very different from a tiny football kit.

Like a baby racing suit? I think it's quite a normal jovial gift (though I think it's odd if it was the only gift?).

My family are into rugby and bought both my children baby grows with their team on. I think it's half hope they'll share the hobby in the future, half a lightheated way to poke fun at DH who follows football instead.

Aw i think its kind of cute. He's trying to build a connection with her.

Was just about to say the same my boys were put in football kits what felt like straight from the womb!! Reality they were probably about a week old when they first wore one! Didn’t even consider it to be strange (follow football) my Irish FIL got them Ireland rugby kits as well - we don’t follow rugby but again didn’t find it strange at all

I think you need to take it in the way it was intended - positively!!

People are usually excited to be able to buy kids things - and so yes, can make slightly strange choices. But they probably mean well.

I agree with others, it's not odd or unusual for a grandparent to buy something related to something they are into and hope the child might grow to like.

This so sweet.

He wants them to have their own thing together.

How lovely for your baby that she has grandparents who love her so much. I really hope she grows up and sits watching F1 with her grandad and has the baby photos to look back on.

Perfectly normal. My kids got Liverpool, Arsenal, Man U football tops, munster and Connaught rugby tops, and uncountable GAA tops. It's normal to give things to kids that show what you're interested in to show that you're trying to do the same with them.

Babies dont need presents..this present strange but say thanks one photo of baby in it and let it go

That’s such a sweet present, I hope you’ve taken some cute photos of her wearing it and sent them to your parents.

Just like parents like dressing up their babies in various ways, grandparents can want to do the same. It’s not weird, at least no more weird than when parents do it.

I do it with my DCat, that’s definitely weird.

My step grandkids all have footie team play suits. But the difference is their Dads’ are passionate about their team. Our son also had one.
While I get that granddad may hope to encourage an interest, not sure how that will happen with a newborn.

Is it a babygro onesie type of thing?

yeah, wouldn’t be my cup of tea at all.

I’d dress her in it, with a cardi over cus it’s freezing currently, for a couple of visits with your dad & be thankful that 3 month olds grow at the speed of lightening & it can be donated!

It’s so hard to buy for babies, be grateful they didn’t get some huge item of unuseable tat. People got our girls football kits at different stages too, we put them on them when they visited those relatives. We aren’t into football & certainly not the teams they got. It’s cute for them to see the babies wear them when you visit though. Not all gifts need to be functional but the none functional small ones are the ones to celebrate!

If it’s a genuine McLaren baby suit it will be quite expensive, FIL bought DS age 2 a genuine Ferrari T-shirt and that was £25.00. I think it’s cute if FIL supports the team. Sell it on Vinted when you’re done with it, someone will snap it up if you don’t want to keep it.

On the one hand it’s strange that that was the only present but baby is only three months so maybe they’re saving their money for when she is old enough to enjoy her gift personally.

Thanks for all the input. I never thought of it as a way to foster a connection and a shared interest. I was going to put it on and take a picture (they live in another country). I wasn't expecting anything anyway and I do agree that babies don't need gifts.

It's definitely not a genuine one!

When I first read your post, I thought “oh lord yes, I can relate” as I have a similar ish tale. My in laws best friends are from and live in Ireland. I met them once a couple of years ago at his dad’s 60th when they’d come over. When our baby was born a few months ago, they came to visit in laws and to come and meet the baby. I thought it was a bit bizzare as they don’t know my boyfriend and I at all, but they were very keen to meet our baby. Fair enough, whatever. They brought a gift and it was an Irish football team (that I’ve never even heard of) kit. Alongside a leprechaun outfit for him. My initial thinking was “thanks, but these Irish links have absolutely nothing to do with us, we don’t even know this football team, this feels so random to us.” Of course I didn’t say any of those things, just accepted the gift gratefully. I thought it was all a bit odd.

But since reading people’s replies, I do see how it’s quite sweet that your parents wanted to make this connection with her and share their interests with her (even though of course she’s too young to know)! Maybe my in laws friends were trying to do the same…but again… they don’t even know us, and won’t really be in our sons life!

DS and his GF haven't started trying for a baby yet, but when DH and I were on holiday last year we bought a "themed" babygrow in anticipation. It's a theme DH loves, and we hope will make the proud parents smile as it is a little connection.

It's a really personal gift showing his attachment to her and emphasising their connection. - she's a little bit of me.

I think it is much more thoughtful than ordering a wooden toy from john lewis online.

Just be sure that when your Dad sees your daughter she is wearing the suit. She only has to wear it for a short while before she is too big for it, anyway.

In-laws gave my dd a ghastly outfit. I dressed her in it. Took a photo. Sent the photo with a brief thank you.
Hopefully the charity shop will be able to sell it...