To be miffed at "Gift list for mother of the baby" enclosed in *Baby naming ceremony* invitation?

[doubleshotespresso]

So some close friends (who married in church), but now claim to be atheist are holding a naming ceremony for their 8 month old first baby in an hotel.....

The invitation is beautiful with a map, timings "event closes at 11pm"?

The gift list ranges from £30-to £300, all items for the mother, cosmetics, trinkets, jewellery, pampering breaks, personalised hand-bound stationery and photo albums...

Anybody know the drill for these naming ceremonies? Are we supposed to guess a gift for the baby? Or just congratulate the mother for deciding on a name?

I have read this a dozen times and am staggered beyond belief-DP read it and fell into hysterics....

My gut tells me to go along with Jo Malone scented nappies or something.

Somebody please tell me this is not normal?!?!?!

Get something for the baby with its name engraved on it so the mum can't take it back or exchange it!

I just got an email from another guest asking if we are going...... Very carefully worded but I am sure they are in the same quandary....

Am off to bed now, but thanks all for restoring my sanity.

What on earth do folk wear to naming ceremonies anyhow? This is all so alien to me!

I'd go and take something personalised for the baby. Sod the list.

A band? For a naming ceremony? Oh kill me know.

Imagine what the first birthday party is going to be like?? ::shudders::

OMFG! Cheeky feckers!

Being the moral coward that I am, I would now be making up stories about my Great Aunty Flo's 80th party in Inverness that I have to be at on the same day.

You HAVE to go, because I for one am dying to know how this event turns out now. Do it for MN!

I think the present you have already bought for the baby (silver bangle and Beatrix Potter set) sounds perfect though and I wouldn't buy anything else. On handing over the gift, you could say 'We got something for (baby) as we guessed you (grabbymum) would be swamped with stuff!'

If the baby is to be called eglantine myopia a present of $80 usd is to be giv3n. If not nothing. Be firm.

ANd you are not sure why they had a swanky wedding planner?!

Can you imagine the excesses that the WP talked them out of? I rather suspect that their wedding would not have been the beautiful fun and classy affair it was without her! She earned every penny imo :o

I would go, take a gift for the baby (what you have already bought sounds lovely) and totally ignore the gift list.

Go, take the gift you've already bought and have a good time.

Cheeky beggars.

Tell me they didn't have a baby shower too.

Go but take something that is pointedly for the baby.

Hopefully its a case a brain freeze or excess of hormones if they are normally ok.

I would call them and say that you had already bought a gift before receiving their invite "hope this is OK". As it's a relationship you need / want to maintain then I would go to the party or make a decent excuse not too and send the gift you have bought.

I've never heard of gifts for the mother, maybe for a friend whilst pregnant (sanctuary stuff etc). Obviously I missed out, no baby shower, birthing gift from h and now mother gifts at naming - FGS I'm really miffed now :)

Last thought, you might want to get this thread deleted - if your friend is on here, it's really evident that it's her your talking about.

Buy her a tube of nipple cream.

That is extremely grabby and tasteless. It's meant to be celebrating the birth of their child, not an excuse to request your friends buy you lots of stuff. YANBU to not think this is normal.

I'm soooo glad someone has done this, we're due to christen our baby anytime soon & I'm desperate for a new bathroom, patio doors, range master cooker, some garden furniture etc. I think this might be problem solved!

very acquisitive and defo not normal - gifts for the mother indeed - buy a cup or a rattle or whatever small thing you like for the baby.

very acquisitive and defo not normal - gifts for the mother indeed - buy a cup or a rattle or whatever small thing you like for the baby.

I agree with Snazzy... you must go and report back here afterwards!!! Your gift for the baby sounds gorgeous, ignore the ridiculous gift list...

That is very grabby. I think the gift you've bought is perfect, don't buy anything else. Should they be so tacky as to mention it just tell them the truth and say you bought it before you received the gift list.

Ah this thread has brightened up my night feeding! Once again MN has educated me on just how downright bizarre some people are.

YANBU, I second the suggestion of a personalised keepsake for baby. I would actually be tempted not to go at all.

Ugh I feel sorry for the baby being thrust into the middle of all this grabby excess.

Oh sorry I see you've already bought something which sounds lovely and appropriate for the occasion.

Haha another one who's night feeding has been brightened up. That's hilarious! Take what you've already got & say you'd bought it before the list arrived,hope that's ok etcetc. So funny!

doubleshotespresso

I'm sure you have already agreed to be somewhere else on the day.

Hang on a sec - what's a hot fork buffet?

And if they're that "classy", how comes it'll be a pay bar??

'hot fork buffet' = not classy