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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Relatives buying Christmas present for unborn baby

37 replies

Caip · 03/12/2013 20:35

My BIL and his wife have suggested this year that we don't do adult presents and that we just buy for their kids and that they buy something for our baby - which isn't due until mid-April.
I'm not sure how I feel about it, would you want a present for your baby 4 months before the due date?

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SaucyJack · 03/12/2013 20:39

Wouldn't bother me at all from a superstitious POV. I'd rather have something useful tho- like a bouncy chair.

Yika · 03/12/2013 20:44

I wouldn't personally but it's a nice thought. I'd suggest that you go along with the 'no adult presents' approach but just ask them to hold back on giving the actual present until the baby's there.

Original poster

Caip · 03/12/2013 20:52

Yika - we're more than happy not to do adult pressies and were thinking of doing what you've suggested

OP posts:

KatieBurningham · 03/12/2013 21:06

My husbands cousin and his wife are pregnant, due early march. Not sure how they will feel but have bought them a beautiful kit to do a handprint and then goes in a frame, along with a photo of baby. Will wrap this for baby.
I'm only6 weeks, so will be what 10 weeks come Christmas. I wouldn't want anyone to give me anything. Would be annoyed. But I think once you get past the high risk stage that it means you're being thought of which should be nice x

peeapod · 03/12/2013 21:22

I think you have to expect it. We had our first pair of baby booties knitted and presented to us 2 days after we told the grandparents about the bfp (it took two days to knit).

I think its nice that they have actually asked, because I think you'll probably get some from people who haven't.

thezoo · 03/12/2013 21:29

Im due early April and when people ask what we want for Christmas all we say is baby things

It saves us from buying it which is handy and while storage is a pain at least i know what i will still need to spend out on closer to due date

I did worry about getting things which we wouldn't use so created an amazon baby wish list and put pretty much everything on there including a highchair and baby wipes so people can spend what they want without feeling pressured but also we would get makes which are compatible eg a sterilizer that fits our bottles

But everyone is different :)

Naomilouise1992 · 03/12/2013 21:30

I don't mind! If it was something that was gunna help me xx

LastOneDancing · 03/12/2013 21:38

We've just done the terrifying maths for our income while im on maternity leave...

Conclusion: We'd love baby things instead of Christmas tat for ourselves! I'd be so grateful for a monitor and a bouncy chair (incase MIL is a MNer )

TondelayoSchwarzkopf · 03/12/2013 21:50

Agree with thezoo - Everyone IS different. i am due in April and if anyone bought me a 'baby' gift for Christmas I would not be very happy!* I wouldn't object to stuff for me eg maternity wear but save the baby stuff until next Christmas!

*I would if course be very polite, gracious and appreciative though.

Sammi1986 · 03/12/2013 22:45

Also due in April and just had a burthday, was given a baby name book, some maternity clothes and a maternity pillow, but the rest was pamper bits for me (I was spoilt!) however Christmas will be vouchers! That way they are still contributing towards the baby without buying everything now. Admittedly though I do have someday bits already

BlackholesAndRevelations · 04/12/2013 06:51

I had armfuls of gifts at Christmas for my dd who was born in January, made me feel very uneasy but I was forced to open them all by the inlaws.

sdaisy26 · 04/12/2013 08:11

I'm due in March this time and wouldn't like it at all. Am hoping in laws & grandparents stick to their usual gift of money though as it will definitely come in useful on maternity leave!

Last time I was only about 11 weeks at Christmas - my mum got me a mum to be pampering set which was nice but especially at that early stage I would have found anything else v stressful.

Felix90 · 04/12/2013 08:16

I am due in January and MIL has apparently bought presents 'for the bump.' I just let her get on with it! Although it is a bit odd...

caitlinsurrey · 04/12/2013 08:52

we had this "problem" and got stuck with literally not even doubles but quadruples of the same clothing items from Primark! It seemed everyone in my husbands family went out and got us the same onesies and sleep suits! I would say its a good idea as long as you ask for something useful like a bouncy chair or maybe a bottle starter pack?

Spaghettinetti · 04/12/2013 09:30

I don't like the idea and hope that nobody buys anything for my baby which is due on May 4th. I'm having my scan on the 20th December and am petrified...hopefully everything will be ok, but if it's not, I really don't want to be unwrapping a load of baby things on Christmas Day...I'd just politely ask them to wait until next year, or give you some vouchers that you can spend on the baby when it arrives...

marzipanned · 04/12/2013 12:14

I'm due early Feb and we have asked for baby things from relatives. DH and I don't really need anything for ourselves. Although I am a bit...not superstitious...but very wary of something going wrong, realistically, you can't wait until the baby arrives to buy everything you need.

My baby might be arriving in January though - if I was pre 20 week scan I wouldn't want things either.

Pixielady83 · 04/12/2013 12:35

I'm not superstitious necessarily but I would find it odd if people bought things for the bump this Christmas (and I do have quite a big one this Christmas!). I just feel there's plenty of time for gifts once its safely here really. This is our second baby though so maybe its a bit different, we have most things we need. Its a bit overly sentimental for me as well, but then I'm one of those people who can't quite bring myself to put '+ bump!' on our Christmas cards because it makes me cringe

It was nice they asked you though rather than just going ahead.

marzipanned · 04/12/2013 12:46

Oh pixielady I hate it when people sign off Christmas cards from the bump.

The way I see it is, any gifts we're given for the baby are really for us, as either they're things that the baby needs, which we'd be buying anyway, or they're cute superfluous things, which we will get much more pleasure out of than the baby will!

mrsksays · 04/12/2013 12:55

I personally prefer not to receive baby things because I'm a little superstitious about waiting to actually have the baby safely in my arms but don't see anything wrong with it if you're not that way inclined.

Keepthechangeyoufilthyanimal · 04/12/2013 13:19

You could ask them to get you vouchers for somewhere like John Lewis, Argos, Tesco or Amazon (so you have the option to get something baby related or non baby related)
Or…Mothercare/Kiddicare/Boots vouchers so you can get something for the baby once s/he is here but they know they have bought the baby something this christmas

Pixielady83 · 04/12/2013 13:34

marizapanned that's a good point - I think if it's bigger items that you need it makes more sense, it's buying baby gros etc for a baby that's not yet here, and may be some time off, that makes me feel a bit odd! Although to be fair I think my Nan did last time

UpTheFRIGGinDuff · 04/12/2013 13:47

Hmm,weird.
I'm due on Friday...I don't think anyone's bought anything for the baby...I could be wrong though,I guess.
I'd find it very odd indeed if I was still only a few months pregnant.

TransatlanticCityGirl · 04/12/2013 22:33

"Santa" (my dad) started buying presents for my DD when I was just 12 weeks pregnant. I thought it was cute, couldn't imagine feeling weird about it.

Naomilouise1992 · 04/12/2013 23:06

My mum asked me what id like and I said perfume and maybe a changing bag! She wasn't happy because she said it's still my Xmas. Baby due end of jan but rather her buy something I will use and help me xx

carolinesas · 05/12/2013 06:00

I am in no way superstitious, but we've informed all family I don't want presents for the baby (due at the end of April). This is my last Christmas without a child and I want presents that are all for me!! Maybe I'm being a bit of a spoilt brat, though.

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