https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 12 Apr 2026 07:53:31 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/1st-birthday-question-donation#post-421299 Thu, 29 Nov 2012 10:33:12 +0000 brownie 421299@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@plaidpants: they did respond well. One reason is because the donation was very personal it was his cousins cancer hospital. We did also get a few presents but nothing like what would have been we collected $140 for the hospital and the Peter Pan foundation gives another $100. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/1st-birthday-question-donation#post-421295 Thu, 29 Nov 2012 10:32:46 +0000 rachiecakes 421295@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@plaidpants: can you believe it's been a year?! so crazy to me<br /> (oh and for the big day, I want to get DS a pair of mocs like your LO in your profile pic, so cute!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/1st-birthday-question-donation#post-421287 Thu, 29 Nov 2012 10:30:51 +0000 lawbee11 421287@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@plaidpants: You could even ask them to write down (inside the book) some of their favorite moments/memories from your LO's first year! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/1st-birthday-question-donation#post-421238 Thu, 29 Nov 2012 10:13:50 +0000 plaidpants 421238@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>These are all great suggestions! Like I said, I would never ask people not to buy a present, I just wondered if maybe an alternative option would be nice.</p> <p>I definitely like the book idea! I went to a baby shower where people gave a book with an inscription instead of a card and I thought that was the cutest thing.</p> <p>@brownie: Did people respond well? Did your LO still get gifts? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/1st-birthday-question-donation#post-421202 Thu, 29 Nov 2012 10:01:00 +0000 blackbird 421202@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LOVE the book idea, btw! Building the baby's library! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/1st-birthday-question-donation#post-421197 Thu, 29 Nov 2012 09:58:25 +0000 Mrs. Blue 421197@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lawbee11: I LOVE the idea of books with a note from the giver inside! Filing away for future use. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/1st-birthday-question-donation#post-421195 Thu, 29 Nov 2012 09:57:32 +0000 brownie 421195@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did this for DS first. We has a Peter Pan party and sent the donations to his cousins cancer hospital. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/1st-birthday-question-donation#post-421187 Thu, 29 Nov 2012 09:55:48 +0000 babynumber1 421187@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a friend whose son's birthday is right at Christmas. They get so many toys that she puts some of them away brings them out throughout the year </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/1st-birthday-question-donation#post-421147 Thu, 29 Nov 2012 09:34:16 +0000 Mrs. Pen 421147@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Maybe not rude but honestly as a friend/family member I probably wouldn't do it. I'd either buy the child a gift or not do anything.<br /> Perhaps considering askin for things she'll need in the future such as clothes in the next couple sizes, shoes, clothing gift cards, books, educational games like puzzles, a children's museum membership, a Gymboree membership etc... Idk just some ideas instead of "toys"! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/1st-birthday-question-donation#post-421145 Thu, 29 Nov 2012 09:33:15 +0000 London Mama 421145@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There are usually toy collections around Christmas time, if you do end up with lots of unwanted toys you could donate. Or you could do your own toy collection at the party and give te toys to a local school, charity or church. </p> <p>Or, if your family insists on buying presents put together a list of stuff you'll need inte next year and ask for some of those items. Time goes quickly and you might need some new equipment/clothes before you know it </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/1st-birthday-question-donation#post-421137 Thu, 29 Nov 2012 09:30:37 +0000 Mrsbells 421137@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I personally dont think its rude, but I think people actually want to give something to the child regardless. Even if you dont need anything, I would just accept anything they bring, You can always return it for store credit if its too big or you already have it </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/1st-birthday-question-donation#post-421112 Thu, 29 Nov 2012 09:21:20 +0000 plaidpants 421112@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks, mamas! </p> <p>@lawbee11: I was just figuring everyone would probably buy her a Christmas gift, so I wasn't sure if maybe buying for a birthday as well would be overkill. But I definitely agree that the family is excited to shop for her! </p> <p>@rachiecakes: Yes, I definitely think we will be donating some toys! Partly because we'll get more stuff than we can handle and also because I think it's a good precedent to set for LO. NOt that it will mean much at one, but hopefully it will be more meaningful as she gets older. Also, our LOs are almost birthday twins. My daughter's birthday is the 18th!</p> <p>@futuremama: That's such a great idea! That way people will still get to shop for cute baby stuff, but we'll still be doing a good deed (and not ending up with piles of toys we don't need). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/1st-birthday-question-donation#post-421093 Thu, 29 Nov 2012 09:09:44 +0000 futuremama 421093@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I saw a friend on Facebook who requested that people bring new or gently used shoes to her daughter's first bday party instead of gifts. The party had a girly shoe theme, and the shoes were donated to a charity after the party. I thought it was a great idea. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/1st-birthday-question-donation#post-421092 Thu, 29 Nov 2012 09:09:38 +0000 rachiecakes 421092@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>same here - DS's first bday is the 17th.<br /> People keep asking what he wants for his birthday and I'm not sure how to respond. We don't need anything, he doesn't need anything. DS loves seeing other kids so his party is going to be the best present he could get.<br /> Maybe if people ask you can just suggest a donation? And if he receives toys you don't need, donate them to a Christmas charity? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/1st-birthday-question-donation#post-421080 Thu, 29 Nov 2012 09:01:27 +0000 lawbee11 421080@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think it's weird, but I am not sure how many people would actually do that. My niece is turning 1 in a couple of weeks, and I bought her gift weeks ago because I am so excited! So, if your family is as excited as I am (and I am guessing they are since she is the only grandchild) then I think they will want to get her something. Is it toys that you don't want because you already have so many? You could suggest books as a gift with a nice note in the cover, or something along those lines? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/1st-birthday-question-donation#post-421059 Thu, 29 Nov 2012 08:50:19 +0000 plaidpants 421059@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The post about asking for college donations instead of presents made me think of this! LO's first birthday is coming up and it's the week before Christmas. I'm anticipating lots of gifts as she's the only grandchild on either side right now. We are having a small family-only birthday party after Christmas. </p> <p>So here's my question: I don't want to ask for money (I agree that's tacky!) but is it weird to say in a nice, polite way that if they'd rather donate to a charity of their choice instead of giving a birthday gift, that would be okay? I would never tell anyone not to bring a gift, but LO is only one and she doesn't need too much stuff right now. Is it rude to suggest donating as an alternative, if they'd prefer that? I should add that we're not doing a formal invite, just sending an email to family members, so if we do this, it won't be like...engraved in fancy script on an invitation. </p>