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Showered with Gifts
Baby Shower Registry and Gift Etiquette
By Donna Smith
Most first-time moms-to-be cannot wait to grab that register gun at their favorite discount, department or baby store and go to town. But before you're off to the races, there is some etiquette required – or at least suggested – for the gift giving and receiving process.
"A major factor you always need to remember when registering is to have a wide range of prices," says Colleen A. Rickenbacher, a business etiquette expert and author of Be on Your Best Business Behavior (Brown, 2004). "Don't just register for items you can't afford to buy. Stay more in the low to middle range with a few items that possibly people could go together to purchase (stroller, highchair, crib). If your family and friends are spread out over a few states, then make sure you register at least in one store that is nationwide. Make it easy for them to purchase your gift and get it to you in time for the shower." Most stores will even deliver for a small fee.
Registering at one or two stores is appropriate. "Even if all of your guests are local, [I] highly recommend that you register at a store or stores that are convenient for your guests," Rickenbacher says. "Don't have them traveling an hour or so just to get to a specific children's boutique [where] you are solely registered. Leave those gifts at that boutique for close family members."
Alison Minton, an event planner and hospitality consultant in New York City, agrees that it's a good idea to have a range of prices on the register, but feels one store is plenty. "No more than two stores for registry, but best to stick to one (this isn't a wedding)," she says.
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Re: Showered with Gifts by Melissa on 10/09/2008 05:54PM
Thank you for bringing up this subject. I personally think it's tacky to register all over town and have a majority of the items be outrageously expensive. I got an invitation a couple years ago from a friend of mine's daughter, and she wrote inside that she will love everything she is given, but "if you need some guidance, I am registered here." Thought that was such a nice thing. Made me want to buy her something even more.
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Re: Showered with Gifts by momtotwo on 11/11/2008 03:02AM
I agree Melissa. A lot of first-time moms seem to expect an awful lot these days. While gifts are nice, let's remember that that's exactly what they are, GIFTS.