https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 13 Jun 2026 06:26:12 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/okay-lets-be-real#post-747932 Sat, 27 Apr 2013 08:39:28 +0000 oliviaoblivia 747932@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd just buy off registry or get a gift card to the registry store. I was annoyed when people went off registry for us. My shower was out of country and I spent almost a full day off my short time at home returning things that people bought because they knew better. I did a ton of research while registering and there isn't a thing that we registered for that we haven't used a ton except for swaddles. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/okay-lets-be-real#post-747903 Sat, 27 Apr 2013 08:06:04 +0000 Boheme 747903@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lamariniere: I don't know what etiquette dictates but<br /> I have loved receiving gift cards to the places I've registered! I've had friends say the same. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/okay-lets-be-real#post-747794 Sat, 27 Apr 2013 02:07:21 +0000 lamariniere 747794@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As tempting as it is to give them something you found useful, I would also stick to the registry. The few non registry gifts we received we didn't like/didn't use (a fancy bottle warmer comes to mind). </p> <p>Also, I didn't receive any for my baby shower, but is it proper etiquette to give gift cards? I think as a new mom it would have been great to receive cards to amazon or diapers.com. There were SO many things we bought right after the birth that we hadn't even thought about (like nursing supplies) and a gift card would have been appreciated (instead of the bottle warmer). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/okay-lets-be-real#post-747414 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 17:22:55 +0000 Sweet T 747414@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you can afford to do both, that's the way I would go. If not, I would buy from the registry. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/okay-lets-be-real#post-747412 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 17:20:41 +0000 Happygal 747412@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Buy off the registry. I think that's the polite etiquette to follow. There's usually a lot of thought that goes into the registries. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/okay-lets-be-real#post-747406 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 17:12:46 +0000 hummusgirl 747406@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was happy to get things off-registry from people who knew better than me. I guess it depends on the kind of person you are. I (shockingly) didn't really think we needed white noise, but we were gifted two Sleep Sheep(s?) that ended up being lifesavers. </p> <p>I now sometimes gift my friends things I never even thought about before LO, like a travel diaper changing kit (if they don't have it on the registry), since we use ours so often and I remember that being something I ordered on my own after the baby came. I don't think you can go wrong as long as you include a gift receipt! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/okay-lets-be-real#post-747404 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 17:08:57 +0000 DigAPony 747404@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would buy off the registry. I know that first-time moms have a lot to learn, but I would feel a little insulted if someone assumed they knew what I did and didn't need. I'm sure they put a lot of thought into their registry. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/okay-lets-be-real#post-747400 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 17:06:46 +0000 heffalump 747400@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Since you don't seem to know her that well I'd stick to the registry. Some people are ok with off registry (I appreciated things from mommy's off my registry) but if you don't know I'd rather be safe than sorry. Or you could do a toiletry/1st aid gift. Everyone needs that stuff. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/okay-lets-be-real#post-747390 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:52:38 +0000 Smurfette 747390@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Can you do both? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/okay-lets-be-real#post-747367 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:36:50 +0000 sarac 747367@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think you should just buy off the registry. When you've already had your baby, it's really easy to look back and think about how useless a lot of it is, how much we worry about things that don't matter, and how silly we can all be at times about the whole process. But no one can be told this - you just have to experience it. Everyone goes through it, and everyone gets to experience it. Just get her what she wants, imho. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/okay-lets-be-real#post-747365 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:32:40 +0000 wheres_c 747365@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>One of my childless friends, who actually knew better than me, got me a small thing from my registry (bottles) and then bought all of the useful things that as a first time mom I hadn't thought about: gas drops, infant Tylenol, etc. It was so thoughtful and they came in so handy!</p> <p>Someone else bought us a diaper genie despite that we didn't register for one. I planned on throwing dipes in the trash. That thingies a lifesaver! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/okay-lets-be-real#post-747348 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:25:00 +0000 lawbee11 747348@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think you should buy off of her registry. I've seen on several HB threads that some users think "XYZ" is absolutely necessary and others say they never even opened the box. So what was useful for you may not be useful for them, you know? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/okay-lets-be-real#post-747344 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:21:54 +0000 lovehoneybee 747344@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honestly, I think you should buy off of their registry, because what you might find useful they might not, or vice-versa. For example I think bottle and wipe warmers would be left unopened in our house but for another mom they might be a lifesaver. </p> <p>It's also possible they registered for some impractical things but bought themselves more of the necessities...we did that with some things. Registered for a few things that seemed impractical or a luxury that we couldn't swallow paying for ourselves but hoped one of our friends or family would buy it, and in the meantime bought practical items ourselves. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/okay-lets-be-real#post-747325 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:13:42 +0000 ALV91711 747325@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I loved getting things from other non FTM's and them telling me I loved using this item or product. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/okay-lets-be-real#post-747324 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:13:10 +0000 PurplePumps 747324@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Let her decide what she needs. You may be a mom already and have your own opinions of things, but if she took the time to think about it and put it on the registry, she thinks she needs it. Everyone is different. Maybe she'll find things useful even if you didn't... Its up to her to find out herself. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/okay-lets-be-real#post-747321 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:11:48 +0000 googly-eyes 747321@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I like the idea of 2 gifts. You aren't obligated to buy off registry but its appreciated.. Even though they might find out they were wrong about what the thought they needed, they'll remember you were thoughtful enough to shop off registry. Or pick something functional off the registry and then on your own but something useful and related to the first item. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/okay-lets-be-real#post-747317 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:09:59 +0000 Boheme 747317@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@NaturallyCathy: Dang. Now I want you to look at MY registry and tell me what I do and don't need :) I tend to trust non-FTM opinions way more than I do the stupid lists of things that BRU and Target tell me I 'need'. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/okay-lets-be-real#post-747303 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:01:30 +0000 Foodnerd81 747303@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think that's a tough one. As a first time mom, there are a lot of things I've love to have someone be like, THIS is the best xyz, you will love it, here it is. BUT, someone looking at my registry wouldn't be able to tell that, say, my sister gave me a practically brand new swing that her son never used, so I didn't register for one because I have one, not that I don't know about them. Or a carseat for that matter-- I know very well that I need one, but am using my sister's.</p> <p>I think if you can think of something really useful that it would be OK to have duplicates of (say, I don't know, the best hooded towels??) then that's a good idea and include the gift receipt. It's hard to know without specifics... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/okay-lets-be-real#post-747296 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 15:59:15 +0000 illumina 747296@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Can you do both and get something cheap from the registry and then another small gift of your own choosing? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/okay-lets-be-real#post-747295 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 15:59:06 +0000 MamaJ 747295@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My BIL and SIL didn't even do a registry for their baby but had a shower. I just got them the stuff I loved and I've never seen them use any of it. They either returned it or haven't used it. So I would just buy of the registry. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/okay-lets-be-real#post-747288 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 15:57:29 +0000 Bookish 747288@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well, as a soon to be new mom, I can tell you *I'd* love to have someone get me something off registry if they really thought it would be useful to me! I have no idea what I need, and I totally want people's help on gear advice! I know my SIL is going off registry for things she thought would help me! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/okay-lets-be-real#post-747286 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 15:56:51 +0000 pui 747286@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would just get them something off their registry. It's what they want. If you do get them something else, make sure you include a receipt. </p> <p>Maybe someone else has already bought/gave them all the regular essentials? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/okay-lets-be-real#post-747279 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 15:54:45 +0000 Mrs. Grizzly Bear 747279@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH has a friend, let's call him Jake, who is expecting his first LO in June with his wife, let's call her Marsha (totally fictional names, for the record). Well, we received an invitation to Marsha's baby shower next month and I just took a few minutes to look at the registries that they have set up at Amazon and BRU, respectively. </p> <p>I don't know whether it's because I'm a second time around mom or what but I look at her registry and I go, "Don't need that, don't need that, you'll <i>never</i> get around to using those..." I want to get Marsha and Jake something they want off their registry, to help them out, but I <i>really</i> want to give them something useful.</p> <p>So do I shop per new mom's tastes or based on experience? </p>