How do you ask people not to give you a gift?

Question

I recently gave birth to my fourth child. Now, we have everything we need and alot of neighbors and friends who live close by have already overwhelmed us with gifts, meals and stuff. How do I word it nicely to family and friends who are out of town on the announcement to say - no gifts please - appropriately so I don't hurt anyone's feelings? I just don't want all kinds of packages of things arriving that we really don't need and then to have to send them a thank you note because it's not easy to do all of those things with a new baby and other children to care for? I really don't want people all over the country spending their time and money to so carefully wrap and send things we don't need. Relatives and friends want an announcement - but we certainly don't expect or even want stuff from people out of town when we have everything we need and more. Any ideas? I was thinking I'd put a sticker on the announcements that simply says, "no gifts please" - is that a nice way to put it or will people feel offended? I mean I wouldn't say that to close relatives, they can do whatever they want - but gosh - it gets out of control with extended family and friends and stuff. I don't have time to sit around with a knife cutting open packages and carefully writing everything down so I can remember to thank people and be polite about things I wasn't wanting expecting or needing for baby - I mean I thought after your first - people don't give tons of stuff anymore. But, it's bad enough already with all of my relatives friends we never see - sending stuff before I even send an announcement. Help!

Answer 1

You could mention on the announcement that your family has been blessed with everything you need for your baby... or you could donate the items yourself. People love to give gifts, so I would just accept them so that you won't hurt their feelings.

Answer 2

I would just accept the gifts from everyone because if you take them from some of your relatives and not all you are going to have some very mad friends and family.  Instead I would just tell them thank you and then take the gifts to a Children's Hospital, Birth Right or another organization that helps out mothers and there baby's.

Answer 3

Just write in your announcements "Due to our toyroom and wardrobes already overflowing with toys, clothes, and love- we request that a donation be made to xxxx charity in lieu of gifts you may have sent".  

Or you can say something like "We've got the baby stuff covered- but if you want to help with baby, contribute to the college fund with a savings bond" or something ot that nature.  That wording sounds kinda greedy.  I'm kinda tired, so my brain isn't working well at the mo :)

Answer 4

dont say anything..if you want to give the gifts to a charity, once you get them just give them away yourselves, or invite everyone over and on the invitation cards, state the purpose of having the party...and im sure its not difficult to tell close friends and family that you dont want gifts

usually they can pass on the msg for you...

for instance, if i dont want something, i tell my parents or relatives and they just go making the announcemnts to everyone else..

Answer 5

ask people to make a donation, give them a choice of 2 charities or ask them to pick their own..and they can make the donation in your childs name :)

Answer 6

i like the college fund idea. that way they can feel like they are contributing to the baby's future and not wasting money on junk you dont need!

Answer 7

Just put something like this:

"We cant wait for you to meet our little one and remember we want your PRESENCE not your PRESENTS."

Answer 8

ask them to make a donation to charity, or set up a trust fund for your baby and ask them to contribute to that for birth, birthdays etc.

Answer 9

Everyone loves buying gifts. I dont know of any way to tell people not to buy them without offending everyone. They think thats there way of helping. Most of the time the people who are far away will send clothes blankets of even gift cards. If you use the stuff then just exchange it for stuff you will need or give it away to someone who can use it. If you have four children then have the older children help you unwrap the stuff. My older girls love helping me unwrap stuff for our new baby they love looking at all the baby stuff!