https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 07 Aug 2026 06:06:14 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gifts-vs-no-gifts-vs-donation#post-1142799 Thu, 10 Oct 2013 13:57:55 +0000 singingbee 1142799@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Champagne: and @Mrs. Lemon-Lime: it's really cute! They take a picture with all the donations and send it or post it on Facebook. It's really sweet to see it all! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gifts-vs-no-gifts-vs-donation#post-1142796 Thu, 10 Oct 2013 13:57:14 +0000 shellio 1142796@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think that you should definitely put something about no gifts on the invite. I really wanted to do that for LO's first bday, but we had several friends who'd had first birthday parties throughout the year and I felt like they wanted to bring LO a gift because we had brought them one... we did end up donating most of the new toys. Like you, we buy most things secondhand and try to minimize our impact. People want to express their love through gifts, but I am seeing "No gifts please" more and more and I think it is totally acceptable.</p> <p>My SIL asked all of the guests to niece's 5th bday party to bring $5 to donate to the local zoo, since they love to go there. I thought it was so great that it was such a small amount so hopefully people didn't feel like they had to go overboard. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gifts-vs-no-gifts-vs-donation#post-1142774 Thu, 10 Oct 2013 13:48:07 +0000 SAHM0811 1142774@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been invited to a 5 yr old's birthday party where they chose a few charities guests could donate to instead of gifts. I didn't find it off-putting at all. The charity we donated to sent a card to the birthday girl saying we donated in her honor, and we received a TY note from her in return!</p> <p>At a recent 6th birthday party, we were asked not to bring gifts, and to instead, wrap a gender-neutral book and bring it to the party for a book exchange among all the kids. When we arrived, we placed our wrapped book in a box, and as we all left, we'd pick out one to take home. Since I have two kids who attended, we brought two books and came home with two also. It was fun! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gifts-vs-no-gifts-vs-donation#post-1142377 Thu, 10 Oct 2013 10:51:37 +0000 Kimberlybee 1142377@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@78h2o: I think if you put the message in a cute rhyming poem, it will sound really clever and fun. I threw a book themed babyshower before since it was my BFF's 3rd baby and I used this poem:<br /> "We don't need fancy clothes,<br /> Or many toys to drive us wild.<br /> Instead please bring a book,<br /> That was your favorite as a child." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gifts-vs-no-gifts-vs-donation#post-1142366 Thu, 10 Oct 2013 10:48:29 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 1142366@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Jennimac: I like this. I would rather get a request for a tangible gift for a charity than a donation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gifts-vs-no-gifts-vs-donation#post-1142362 Thu, 10 Oct 2013 10:46:33 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 1142362@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Jennimac: that's a great idea! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gifts-vs-no-gifts-vs-donation#post-1142318 Thu, 10 Oct 2013 10:29:58 +0000 BananaPancakes 1142318@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kjpugs: I agree! I'd love to see this. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gifts-vs-no-gifts-vs-donation#post-1141936 Thu, 10 Oct 2013 08:13:21 +0000 singingbee 1141936@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@78h2o: I have two friends that always say on their kids' bday invites: C and O would to support their friends at the Children's safe house so in lieu of gifts please bring a pack of diapers for the center. Or something along the lines of that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gifts-vs-no-gifts-vs-donation#post-1141876 Thu, 10 Oct 2013 07:41:50 +0000 78h2o 1141876@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gifts-vs-no-gifts-vs-donation#post-1141757 Thu, 10 Oct 2013 05:26:35 +0000 Foodnerd81 1141757@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think kjpugs idea is fine, although I'd still feel like I should bring something (which is silly!). Or you could not say anything and if people ask what e wants so nothing but then that's awkward bc other ppl will give something. So I think that line would be good. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gifts-vs-no-gifts-vs-donation#post-1141746 Thu, 10 Oct 2013 05:14:30 +0000 Penny Lane 1141746@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kjpugs: agreed. and double agreed about putting gifts out of sight if someone does bring anything</p> <p>I can't imagine anyone being turned off by that! it seems perfectly fair and valid to not want gifts!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gifts-vs-no-gifts-vs-donation#post-1141736 Thu, 10 Oct 2013 04:42:17 +0000 lamariniere 1141736@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kjpugs: I agree! LO still hasn't had a real birthday party yet, but I think when the time comes, I will add a line about no gifts. He has everything he needs and we are also minimalists and try to limit stuff accumulation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gifts-vs-no-gifts-vs-donation#post-1141378 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 19:16:26 +0000 Smurfette 1141378@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with @kjpugs: I would love to make a donation verses giving another toy the LO doesn't need or plays with for 5 mins. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gifts-vs-no-gifts-vs-donation#post-1141281 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 18:19:36 +0000 immabeetoo 1141281@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ditto to what @kjpugs said! I'd love to see this on a party invite! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gifts-vs-no-gifts-vs-donation#post-1141220 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 17:46:49 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 1141220@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Soliciting a charity donation would be a turn off. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gifts-vs-no-gifts-vs-donation#post-1140992 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 15:23:25 +0000 kjpugs 1140992@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's absolutely appropriate to mention this with the invite. Many people don't even have ROOM for more toys/gifts. I think you could say something like "LO is blessed to have everything he needs and more- so no gifts please! If you'd like to give a gift, you can donate in his name to XYZ charity." I don't see how that could rub ANYONE the wrong way. It's perfectly fine to not need or want anything other than the presence of your family and friends! (You can even add that to the verbage.)</p> <p>Then if anyone disregards the request, put the gifts out of sight at the party so other guests don't walk in to a table with gift(s) on it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gifts-vs-no-gifts-vs-donation#post-1140991 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 15:22:52 +0000 bunnylove08 1140991@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with all the posters, maybe you could donate the toys to toys for tots or like @shinymama: to a local hospital's pediatric center </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gifts-vs-no-gifts-vs-donation#post-1140985 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 15:20:52 +0000 shinymama 1140985@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't print anything on the invite since people will bring gifts anyway. Keep anything that you think your LO would truly enjoy and donate the rest to the pediatric wing of a local hospital. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gifts-vs-no-gifts-vs-donation#post-1140982 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 15:19:49 +0000 autumnlove 1140982@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it is weird to mention anything about gifts or donations on invites. Maybe offer the donation info if someone asks for gift ideas? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gifts-vs-no-gifts-vs-donation#post-1140975 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 15:18:44 +0000 swurlygurl 1140975@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I find invites that say 'no gifts' to be kind of awkward sometimes. Depending on how well the group knows each other, you don't know if others are going to bring gifts anyway and then you'll look bad for not bringing a gift (happens a lot!).</p> <p>As a party-goer, I would just prefer the invite to not mention anything. People like buying gifts for kids :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gifts-vs-no-gifts-vs-donation#post-1140974 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 15:18:44 +0000 pinkcupcake 1140974@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think a donation to either of those organizations would be lovely! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gifts-vs-no-gifts-vs-donation#post-1140955 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 15:12:52 +0000 78h2o 1140955@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am planning LO's first birthday party and am wondering if I should put anything on the invite about gifts... J really has everything she needs and everything I buy for her is preowned... I sort of hate the waste of buying stuff new when there is great preowned stuff out there... </p> <p>Another factor is my husband is a minimalist and will likely get stressed out by more toys... if we get more stuff, I guess we could get pass on the toys we have...</p> <p>Would it be weird to say "no gifts"? If not, what's the best way to word it? Or do people enjoy giving gifts? I don't want people to stress about it or spend much money, but I also don't want to be a party pooper!</p> <p>Another thought was to ask for donations instead... my best friend died of a childhood cancer (but in her 30's), so I was thinking a donation to a peds cancer fund... but maybe that's too depressing? My LO loves dogs, so another though would be a donation to the Humane Society... but I don't know if anyone would actually donate anyway...</p> <p>Thoughts? </p>