Asking for Different Age Ranges for Gifts

Super tacky. You might as well just tell the guests to bring cash because you don't want them picking out their own gifts and you are only having the showe to get presents you feel are appropriate.

This is why baby shower registries were created, so the mother has a "tactful" way of requesting what she needs. There's no need to put it on the invitation as well.

Tacky tacky tacky. People usually put in gift receipts, but be grateful for what you get. What happened to the days where people just bought what they wanted and thought baby could use. People today do not have the disposable income of several years ago.

I think, other than registering, you have to accept that people are going to give what they want to give. I didn't register, and we received some neat things which people had found for Kiddo which turned out great-- we just didn't think of them.

Really.Really.Really.Tacky.

Just sign up for a baby registry, at some store you like.
And put in it, things you like/need.
That is typical and accepted.
Beyond that, you cannot micromanage, what people buy.
You cannot assign, what gifts a person gets, for your baby.
Just ask for cash. But that is tacky.

Very tacky. No one is obligated to give you a gift and making these suggestions is micromanaging their generosity. I don't like registries bc I think they're "grabby" too but I'd register then if you only want certain things. It's also kind suggesting that no one else thinks of these things. I totally think of what the weather will be like when picking out baby outfits for 6 months from now etc.

Register for the gifts you want. If peopled don't get something on the list, just take the items back and get what you want/need. That's what I did. Worked perfectly.

Yes, I find what you asked about very tacky.

Let people buy off the registry

Just my opinion... I HATE the idea. Many people have a "go to" type of gift that they like to give. Also, most of the people you invite to the shower should have a idea of what the baby/mother will need. If they don't they can always consult a registry or ask.

i think it is tacky.. just register for what you want and be thankful for what you get..

It is rude to mention gifts in your invitation. Let people get what they want. Of course if anyone asks you what you would like you can then tell them.

You lost me forever at

"Babies this age like black, white, and red".

As in I would have to FORCE myself to go to the shower, and if you were family, Id tease you about it until we're 90 in rockers. (With love, of course, but no joke dies in my family. Horses are immortal, just begging to be beaten).

You've got GREAT intentions... But its a bad idea.

People who already have kids will be insulted, and people who don't will buy the wacky stuff people without kids buy, no matter how many registries & instructions you give them.

______

Oh. 90 degree weather = WARM clothes for baby more often than not. Why? Because the air conditioning is set at 'arctic blast'. So even if you get some WTH??? items... Hang onto them for awhile. Those 'What were they THINKING gifts often turn out to be godsends!

Why not just register for the gifts?

I can't think of any way to do this that's not tacky.

Use the registry to your achieve your end game. (Or whomever the mom-to-be is.)

Are you throwing this shower for yourself or someone else? It's nearly impossible to request specific gifts for yourself without being tacky and/or rude. (That's part of the reason it's not traditionally good manners to throw yourself a shower).

Either way, the way to request specific gifts is through a registry. Then simply include a note in the invitation saying "The expectant couple is registered at Babies R U under __________ ________" or whatever. If you want to make sure there's is a range of ages be sure to register for those things.

Tacky... unfortunately. Register for what you'd like in each age range and hope that people use your registry. There's just no way to "educate" your shower gifts without seeming greedy.

Ugh. Annoying. I really think that shower guests can figure out for themselves that if the baby is due in the warm weather months, they would buy warm weather clothes. Or that if they wanted to buy clothes that were 6-12 months ahead, they would choose according to that future season. This isn't the first baby to ever be born - people know what babies need and that they go through things like diapers. To be told that is unnecessary and insulting.

This is what registries are for - assuming that you're hosting this for someone, have the expectant parents set up a registry. Then you just slip the registry card into the envelope along with the invitation (never write about gifts *on* the invitation). If the parents get things they end up not using, they just return them for store credit and get what they want and need. Additionally, there is no way to predict what size a baby will be in the future. My oldest son started out in 3-6 month clothes and was in 18 months by his first birthday while my youngest was still in 6-9 months at his first birthday.

When I buy baby gifts for a shower I always buy a outfit that is a 9 month or larger and maybe diapers and wipes. I can quite often get the stuff on clearance since it is out of season but by the time baby fits into it it is for the right season.
I recommend that the new mom register for her gifts and selects a few outfits in each size. If she selects different colors in each size hopefully she will get what she needs.
You could also request that all gifts have a gift receipt. This way if she needs to exchange anything it will be much easier.

I would ask the parents to register somewhere for gifts of various age ranges and sizes (nothing says they can't put down an exersaucer even if baby won't use it for months) and then use the tidbits you have as part of a party game.

If your guest list would be "game" for this, I'd assign it from the baby's POV. "Hi there. I'm now 6 months old and it's January. Brr! Would you mind buying me something for this age? It will be part of the shower fun later." Or something like that. You could go through the gift opening by age range or something to change it up from the usual stack o' gifts. You know your audience best.

Just return what you dont want and get what you do. People just get whatever they want no matter what.

Personally I just get everyone diapers. I would have no problem getting a certain size if asked. Sometimes I think people forget the gift is for the mom, and not to fufill their own shopping desire to get something they like, lol. The only thing I asked when I had my shower was 'no pink please', my husbands aunt got a whole basket of ugly tacky pink baby clothes because she only has boy grandsons and wanted to buy it... So I just returned it all, but I thought it was kind of rude to get the only thing I asked not to receive.

Well I think it's fine idea, but don't be married to it. Think it through first. I do agree that there are people who like to bring certain "must-have" gifts for new moms and those folks might be bummed not to do their thing...or they may go ahead and do their thing without regard to their assigned age.

When I was getting married, my friend gave me an "around the clock" shower and did the same thing basically. She sent each person a time of day and they were supposed to choose from my registry to find something that I might use during that time of day. It was really cute, but not flawless! Some people waited until the last minute and I got random stuff. Most of it was from my registry though so it was easy to deal with.

For this case maybe do a theme like "through the years" or "growing up" or something like that. Make the theme and the directions clear so that there is little confusion, but you may want to include your email and your phone on the invite so that people who have questions can easily access you.

Finally, remember that some babies don't grow according to plan, meaning that they might not be in the size correct clothing to their age. They may be bigger or smaller and people who buy according to size/season may not be able to do that. Toys and other things would be fine to buy by age, but I kinda think you might not want to limit people.

Okay, finally for real...why do people think this is for yourself? Is it? You seem to have gotten a bunch of responses that you are throwing this for yourself, but that's not what I got from reading your question. I just assumed you were in charge of throwing one for someone else??

How about when you register, register for the things you want? Then if you do not get them, take back the things that you didn't ask for and get what you want?

~If you are very friendly and close with all who are coming to your baby shower it should be easy enough to put something cute on the invitation...I liked the idea someone posted about writing it from the baby's point of view.

Riley J. That "90 in rockers" comment made me laugh out loud! Thanks. I needed that.

Tacky shmacky. I think its an interesting idea. You can do it alphabetically by guest, breaking down the months/seasons. Shake it up a little. Its engaging to the participant and they'd really feel they're helping you out.

Btw, my friends are particular. I like to get them what they want, not what I want to give. Its their present and this is your day. I say, ask for what you want.

I think that you are talking about babies' vision and black, white and red. I wouldn't put so much stock into that, N.. Babies like your FACE, and that's about all that they can see when they are born. Most people are NOT going to buy your baby BLACK "anything". White is pretty and it's nice, but boy does it get dirty with poop and spit up stains, so just be warned there. If you have a boy, primary colors are very easy.

If you want particular things, go to Babies R Us and register. It IS tacky to put in your invitation where you are registered, but people have done tackier things than that... It is helpful to people to know what you want.

I will tell you that there are things that you would never think of that people will give you, that you will love. Some people give from their own experiences. You benefit a lot from their wisdom.

Dawn