So, I've just received a baby shower invite for my cousin and after checking out her registry, there are many items missing from it that I know she would want/need but doesn't realize it yet. Should I go ahead and gift her with some of those items or just stick to her registry?
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Are you close enough to ask her? I think it's great to get her something that you, as a mom, know she will appreciate. But I would just make sure she didn't leave those items off for a reason (ie she already received them used from someone else).
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I stray from baby registries all the time. I think it is a great idea to buy stuff she might not have realised she needs yet.
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Do you not like any of the items on her registry? I would just stick to her registry in case she really really wants those things but if you want to be helpful - let her know that maybe she could add a few things.
Or if you're really close, I would just go ahead and get her something else. I just got my BF stuff that was not on her registry because I knew that she would not mind and would be grateful to know about other items that are useful. Turns out she really liked everything and said she had no idea they existed.
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I would stick to it. Just because it was necessary for you does not mean it's "necessary" to her. Unless you know for a fact that she wants that particular item.
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I would stick to the registry. There are quite a few "necessary" items I didn't put on ours because we are getting hand-me downs.
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I think it's fine as long as you include a gift receipt
Some of my favorite gifts were things that I didn't know about that my experienced mommy friends bought for me.
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I loved when mom's gave me things that they loved to use with their LO's. I had no clue what to register for, so I really appreciated it. I also loved personalized stuff that I didn't register for. I think as long as there's a gift receipt it's fine.
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I think straying from the registry will be fine! For a first time mom, it's hard to know what exactly you will need or find most useful!
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I bought a few items off of my sister's registry and also bought her a flip video camera. Her initial reaction wasn't so great, but she appreciated it once her LO was born. I don't think she uses it much now though.
In general I would buy at least one item off of the registry and supplement with some gifts that you would recommend for the new mother. It's the thought that counts, and I'm sure your cousin will appreciate it.
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i think it's fine to go off registry, but i'd definitely attach a gift receipt in case she wants to return it. MAY be that she left it off because maybe she can get those items from other people? or they are big ticket items that she didn't want other people buying for her? although i put everything on so i could get a completion discount.
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I would stick to the registry if possible, and include a gift receipt no matter what. She might have researched some of these "had to have" items and decided that she doesn't want/need them
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I think it depends on the person how straying from the registry will be taken. I'd try to stick with it if at all possible or at the very least do a combination of registry/non-registry items.
I actually got really annoyed when peopled strayed from my registry and bought pointless (IMO) things (ex. baby powder, spoons and plates that were different then the ones I registered for, etc.) because I researched and put thought into each product I added on my registry. However, I do know what you mean about her not having things that she will want/need later and doesn't know yet. My friends registry was missing a TON of stuff like that, but she just don't know how important those things were yet.
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If it's someone close to you, I think it would be fine to get maybe one small item from the registry and then one small item off the registry. I received a few gifts like that and I'm actually glad they did because alot of the items I received that weren't on the registry were lifesavers!
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If it's something that you know she will want/need and doesn't know it yet, do it. If it's something you want to buy because it's cute and maybe frivolous and she's not registered for it, I would say don't do it or buy that and something off the registry. I think it's important for people to get the things they need before the things other people want to give them!
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I enjoyed the non-registry gifts that we received. But keep in mind that she may not have put some of the "necessities" on her registry b/c she already has them. That was certainly the case for us, where we already had purchased or received some key items before the shower. If you do go off-registry, just make sure you give her a gift receipt, so she can exchange things if need be.
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I would stick to her registry.. although. I bought my friend stuff that I thought she needed. HAHA. Didn't get one thing from her registry.
You're the gifter so you can get her whatever you want! -
I second the gift receipt!
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If you stray from the registry, include the gift receipt.
It depends on the person - did she do a lot of research and only register for things she wants? Or would she appreciate your suggestions of things she'd need? Is it possibly she didn't register for some things because she already has them or is borrowing them?
I was really annoyed with a good friend that told me I must register for a specific baby item. We did a lot of research and purposely did not register for that item because some people loved it and some people hated it and we didn't think it would work for our lifestyle. My friend bought this item anyway and is going to be mad when she finds out we returned it.
Some people swear by some products and some people hate the same products. It just depends on you, your parenting priorities, and your LO's preferences. What you may find as a necessity, she may not want at all.
Just something to think about.
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I usually get something from the registry and something off the registry that I think is cute or helpful. I always include a gift receipt though because I've never had a baby and really have no clue as to what is helpful.
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What about a gift card? That's good too, esp. if there's not enough on there or in the amount you want to spend.
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If you are pretty sure she'll need what you want to give her, I say go for it and include a gift receipt!
To offer another viewpoint though, my sis is pregnant and registering now but she is leaving a lot out because I'm giving her a bunch of my things... So it may be that your friend is getting these necessities from somewhere else?
One of the best gifts I got as a first-time mom wasn't on my registry... It was the Happiest Baby on the Block DVD. It's my go-to gift and no one I know ever registers for it, but after the baby is born, my friends come back and tell me how much they loved it!
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@NYCaliMama:
I have that on my registry! hahaa No one bought it for me though.
@Bluebonnet:
Agreed. I'm a CRAZY researcher so things that are not on mine it's because I'm getting it elsewhere or I don't want it. -
I would stick to the registry - she may be getting some hand me downs from friends or family members for the other items that you are thinking she needs, but forgot.
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That's a tough one, I personally have a ton of stuff that are necessities that aren't on my registry because I have already bought them, or have received them as hand-me downs. If you do buy it, and include a gift receipt, then if she already has it, she can return it, and if she doesn't have it she might be happy to have gotten it. I am sure I forgot some stuff on my registry, just because we did it so quickly in one day!
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I know I exhaustively researched my registry stuff, so I really did appreciate everything I received off of it. That said, we are still talking about gifts that no one is truly obligated to buy, so I think you should buy what you want because your heart is in the right place. But it would be nice to include a gift receipt just in case.
Some of my favorite gifts were things that I didn't know about that my experienced mommy friends bought for me.
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