https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 30 Apr 2026 22:18:55 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-for-ladies-you-had-a-babyshower/page/2#post-1775321 Wed, 23 Jul 2014 07:24:38 +0000 gilmoregirl 1775321@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a pretty big family, and most of my aunts chipped in with their daughters/daughters-in-law to buy bigger ticket items, so that's how we got the stroller/car seat, pack and play, bouncer, etc. We also received a lot of books at our shower, but I think that was a request on the invitation. </p> <p>We hardly received any clothes as gifts, which I think is somewhat unusual, but that's what we ended up buying the most of. We also bought the crib and have borrowed a few things.</p> <p>I think overall it varies a lot. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-for-ladies-you-had-a-babyshower/page/2#post-1775250 Wed, 23 Jul 2014 04:06:44 +0000 nana87 1775250@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At our shower we mostly received smaller things-- books, toys, diapers, clothes. But our families went above and beyond with gifts otherwise-- we really didn't buy much ourselves! Like, mil bought almost everything left off our registry after the shower and then I had to go put new stuff on because my dad insisted that a lot people would buy gifts after lo was here as well (he was right but that was mostly off registry small things, like blankets and clothes) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-for-ladies-you-had-a-babyshower/page/2#post-1775216 Wed, 23 Jul 2014 00:37:56 +0000 Mrs.Someone 1775216@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We didn't register for a lot of large things, but got pretty much all of them: stroller, car seat, extra car seat base, booster seat. All were from family. Everyone else pretty much got us clothes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-for-ladies-you-had-a-babyshower/page/2#post-1775201 Wed, 23 Jul 2014 00:05:16 +0000 ScarletBegonia 1775201@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm in Sydney Australia and we weren't gifted any big items. Probably the most expensive/biggest item I received as a gift was a sling.<br /> The hosts of my shower made it clear that what we wanted was books as gifts. Some people bought a few extra items like clothes or boxes of diapers, but no one bought anything big. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-for-ladies-you-had-a-babyshower/page/2#post-1775195 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 23:53:29 +0000 daniellemybelle 1775195@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Same as most here - we registered for some larger items but not nursery furniture. My MIL bought some &amp; we bought some ourselves. We did receive a few bigger ticket items as gifts but most of our gifts were in the $30-50 range, so things like clothes and other smaller practical items. We got some duplicates so we returned a bunch of things &amp; used the gift cards to get more expensive gear. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-for-ladies-you-had-a-babyshower/page/2#post-1774909 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 19:33:42 +0000 BakersWife 1774909@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Iced Tea: I loved being team green for several reasons but getting so many gender neutral/gear items at out shower was definitely one of them. I love that we will be able to use everything we got with future kids (especially because it's not common in my circle to have a second shower/sprinkle)<br /> Eta: I realize being team green isn't for everyone, so I think if you do find out if you can wait and do a gender reveal at the shower then the same concept applies </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-for-ladies-you-had-a-babyshower/page/2#post-1774905 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 19:29:14 +0000 Mrs. Oatmeal 1774905@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Meowkers: we borrowed a LOT- bouncer, swing, activity gym, etc. We were gifted a bunch as well. The only big things we bought were things for the nursery- crib, decorations, change pad and table, that sort of thing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-for-ladies-you-had-a-babyshower/page/2#post-1774901 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 19:24:52 +0000 Meowkers 1774901@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: hilarious. I'm from Europe originally so showers are something my family has slowly come to embrace about American culture. I personally think bridal showers are silly because the couple will be getting a gift at the wedding anyways! But baby showers are awesome! How great for new parents to have some help in setting up what they need for their baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-for-ladies-you-had-a-babyshower/page/2#post-1774895 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 19:21:13 +0000 looch 1774895@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Meowkers: I kid you not, when we were planning our wedding he asked me what a bridal shower was and he sheepishly says "is it when a whole bunch of brides take a bath?" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-for-ladies-you-had-a-babyshower/page/2#post-1774888 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 19:18:29 +0000 Meowkers 1774888@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: OMG LOL best response ever! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-for-ladies-you-had-a-babyshower/page/2#post-1774885 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 19:16:32 +0000 looch 1774885@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We bought everything ourselves, my husband is European and he doesn't understand showers, he thought they were foam parties. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-for-ladies-you-had-a-babyshower/page/2#post-1774870 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 19:06:21 +0000 Raindrop 1774870@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Friends bought me a ton of small items (clothes, swaddles, bottles, toys, diapers..) . </p> <p>Family were the ones that bought our bigger items (crib, car seat, stroller, pack and play, monitor, bouncer... ). </p> <p>We mostly just bought more clothes (kids go through a lot of clothes), diapers (you need a lot of these even if you were gifted some), bottles (we were gifted a lot of bottles but LO was kind of picky so we bought a lot of different ones to try out on him before we found the ones that worked for our family) and formula. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-for-ladies-you-had-a-babyshower#post-1774853 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 18:45:31 +0000 night cheese 1774853@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't want a shower so we bought all the big stuff ourselves. We did get a few unexpected and unsolicited smaller items from friends and family. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-for-ladies-you-had-a-babyshower#post-1774851 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 18:44:44 +0000 Bao 1774851@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We bought the swing, jumper, high chair was gifted for Christmas, we didn't get many large items gifted. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-for-ladies-you-had-a-babyshower#post-1774842 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 18:37:51 +0000 mrsjyw 1774842@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We received big ticket items from family and extended family. Swing bouncer stroller infant carseat base exersaucer high chair pnp monitor etc. We bought furniture and we swapped our moby for a beco. We also bought conv car seats and umbrella stroller later ourselves </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-for-ladies-you-had-a-babyshower#post-1774838 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 18:35:12 +0000 Pancakes 1774838@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We bought most of the big ticket items ourselves, except for the car seat, which my mom bought. I think my mom also bought my diaper bag, which was on the pricier end. We just picked up things little by little whenever we saw deals. We didn't expect people to gift us big items because that's just not how it's done in our family or circle. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-for-ladies-you-had-a-babyshower#post-1774800 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 18:11:08 +0000 Iced Tea 1774800@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bakerswife Thanks for that info. That makes me more determined to stay on team green. Otherwise, I bet we'd receive mostly clothing.</p> <p>My aunt wants me to travel back to my home state so she can throw me a baby shower. I live in New York and they are in Tennessee. I'm not crazy about showers (I didn't even have a wedding shower) and don't know if I will even receive enough to make the travel expense and discomfort worth it. </p> <p>My parents aren't alive and my husband's parents live overseas, so I don't think we will be receiving big items. I've never seen my other relatives go in together for a big gift. There's also the aspect that they would have to ship anything large to our home in NY, so I bet large gifts are out.</p> <p>And I get the sense that some of the other relatives have shower fatigue (primarily the work of a cousin who throws showers for herself--even for her 5th child). We shouldn't expect much, right? </p> <p>I don't know. Maybe its just my first trimester misery that's making me want to avoid travel. If we DO have a shower, what time frame would you guys recommend for the easiest time traveling pregnant? I don't know if we would fly or drive. My husband prefers to drive, but it's basically a two day drive!</p> <p>I suppose the best case scenario is that we receive a lot of gift cards if people don't want to bother with shipping and staying gender neutral. Do you think it would be worth it? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-for-ladies-you-had-a-babyshower#post-1774795 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 18:07:28 +0000 KT326 1774795@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We were gifted a convertible car seat and we were given enough cash/gift certificates to buy our infant carseat, extra base, stroller and pack n play, along with some smaller items. We also got a ton of clothes, diapers and blankets at our baby showers. We bought all the furniture ourselves. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-for-ladies-you-had-a-babyshower#post-1774776 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 17:58:52 +0000 Mrs tartan 1774776@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm in the UK, baby showers are not a thing here, we have bought everything ourselves. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-for-ladies-you-had-a-babyshower#post-1774774 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 17:57:22 +0000 Adira 1774774@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My circle of friends and family can't really buy those big ticket items unless they were to pool together to afford them. That being said, my parents did buy our crib and mattress. And we received a swing and bouncer as hand-me-downs. But the other expensive items on our registry like our video monitor, we bought ourselves. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-for-ladies-you-had-a-babyshower#post-1774771 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 17:53:57 +0000 bushelandapeck 1774771@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We were gifted everything except the crib, dresser and video monitor. We have very emeritus family and friends and are able to use all of it (minus the clothes) for baby #2 so I feel extremely blessed! </p> <p>We are in Massachusetts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-for-ladies-you-had-a-babyshower#post-1774727 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 17:18:18 +0000 Radish 1774727@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I bought things if I saw a good deal. I didn't like the idea of friends and family spending more than they needed to on an item. We were gifted a lot in the form of money from DHs family, so it covered a lot of it in the end if we are splitting hairs. Our friends and family were very good about buying from the registry, though, so we got almost everything we did register for. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-for-ladies-you-had-a-babyshower#post-1774723 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 17:13:22 +0000 Weagle 1774723@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We live in DC, but are from the south and had showers there too. In DC we got mostly practical things. There's usually a group gift that people can contribute to, so whoever is in charge of that typically tries to buy as many big ticket items as possible with that money. In our hometowns people gave mostly clothes and blankets, which seems to be the norm for as long as I can remember. I got very few practical gifts and gear. Clothes are practical, but it's not as fun to buy baby toiletries as clothes by myself. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-for-ladies-you-had-a-babyshower#post-1774721 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 17:11:14 +0000 BSB 1774721@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Because of IF, I doubt I will need to register for anything because I'm slowing buying it ahead of time. :wink: </p> <p>I grew up in PA but now live in WA and I always assume big ticket items like crib and dresser was something you bought yourself. You could put it on the registry but in my circle of friends and family, unless then chipped in, I wouldn't expect them to buy it. So my registry will have items with different monetary value. (Similar to my wedding registry, a few expensive items, some in the middle and some on the low end.) I don't think I would put something ultra-expensive on mine (like something more than $250), just because I don't have expensive taste. Well, maybe if I end up with twins with my upcoming IUI (or later IVF). Then maybe I'll put a twin stroller or something on the registry. Then again, I'm fine with a used stroller so I doubt I would put something like that on my registry.</p> <p>Some of my friends like higher quality and expensive things and I don't mind whatsoever that they have it on their registry. It's just for me, I wouldn't want something too expensive on my registry.</p> <p>Oh, things like cloth diapers? I think it would gross out my east coast friends... so I'm buying those myself. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-for-ladies-you-had-a-babyshower#post-1774718 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 17:02:24 +0000 Mrs. Jump Rope 1774718@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We were gifted nearly everything from our registry, including large items that we didn't register for. </p> <p>We bought the furniture ourselves and our moms surprised us with the travel system &amp; car seat.</p> <p>We live in Pittsburgh. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-for-ladies-you-had-a-babyshower#post-1774713 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 16:55:48 +0000 Mae 1774713@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We got almost all of the big "gear" as hand-me downs from friends. The only bigger things we registered for were our pack n play, mattress, car seat, and baby monitor, all of which we got at the shower. We had already bought all the furniture for the nursery (save the glider, which my parents gifted us when they found out I was pregnant). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-for-ladies-you-had-a-babyshower#post-1774657 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 16:32:41 +0000 JerricaBenton 1774657@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My parents got her furniture and we were gifted most of the gear off our registry. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-for-ladies-you-had-a-babyshower#post-1774605 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 16:10:52 +0000 dolphin 1774605@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would say 50% of our gear were gifts and we bought the rest. There's just so much baby stuff to buy. It seems never-ending! Haha! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-for-ladies-you-had-a-babyshower#post-1774604 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 16:10:13 +0000 jhd 1774604@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We were gifted clothes, diapers and wipes, blankets, and toiletries. Most people did not use the registry. We were also gifted quite a few gift cards too which enabled us to get bigger items. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-for-ladies-you-had-a-babyshower#post-1774600 Tue, 22 Jul 2014 16:08:44 +0000 DigAPony 1774600@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It depends on how many people buy you gifts (and what kinds of budgets those people have) and if any people go in together on bigger items. We and most of our friends were recent grad school grads with little money, so our friends weren't spending a lot on gifts (which didn't matter, and they were generous and wonderful, I'm just explaining!). And we have small families. So we ended up buying a LOT of stuff ourselves. </p>