My sister just found out she is expecting, her dd will be 7 when baby is born. She has stated several times in the past that she will have another shower. I don't think you should, if people are willing to give gifts let them don't tell them to. Is this common now?
well I know sometimes when there is a longer pause like this between kids it is more acceptable. my SIL had a boy forst and when she found out she was having a girl they threw what they called a baby sprinkle. stating all the big stuff was bought but they were having a girl now looking for small gifts. seemed like an ok acceptable thing to gather a few smaller gifts of girl things since everything was boy. however i did not get having the baby sprinkle again with the 3rd
I only had one for my first. They talked about doing one my second pregnancy because it was twins, so needed duplicates of all the big stuff, but it never happened. My SIL got one for her second, because they were 14 years apart. I don't think a big shower for the second baby is common.
Tiff out here in the country showers are common (and totally entitledly expected) for ALL babies. First thing a gal does out this way when the stick turns blue is start planning the party.
We did a baby sprinkle for my sil for baby number 4 (last baby). It was a smaller gathering at someones home. We did find out in advance what things she needed (bottles, new monitor, diaper). But also inclded gifts for mom (bath and body stiff, massage gift card, robe). We threw the shower, she didnt ask for it. I know if theres a big gap between babies its not unusal to have another shower
Tiff out here in the country showers are common (and totally entitledly expected) for ALL babies. First thing a gal does out this way when the stick turns blue is start planning the party.
Two SIL have all three kids about 7 years apart. They had showers for all three of them. The first one was big, wasn't around for those. The second was a little bit different because they were a little farther between and another SIL didn't think it was fair that she didn't get one for each. Her kids when in HS was a sr, jr and fr, so needless to say at the time no one could keep up. The third for each was at that same place about a month apart thrown by different people and at the time they were talking.
For my second they were 3 years apart and no shower, but I did get gifts. In my case though they are both girls and are three week shy of being 3 weeks apart.
I had a 19 yr age gap between kids. My friend and mom had a somewhat large shower for me. Truth be told, I wouldn've thrown it myself if they didn't.
I never mind going to a 2nd, 3rd, etc shower based on need. If you just had a baby girl and you're having another one, do you NEED more baby items? If you just had a baby girl and are having a boy...maybe. I've heard of the sprinkle and think it's quite cute but when the kids are the same sex and less than 2 yrs apart...well that's just asking for a gift.
I thought it was wrong to throw the shower yourself or for your parents also.... I wasn't married for the first baby so no shower. For the second we were married but because it was the second baby no shower... For the twins some close friends planned a shower for just friends/his family because the twins are his first. And I would say no, it isn't common to have a shower for anything other than the first.
I also noticed for a few SIL that they would have work showers regardless of number order. Depending on friends they could get some pretty good stuff with the competition.
My kids were 2 years apart. I had a lovely baby shower at a nice restaurant when I was prego with DS1. Probably received well over 10K in cash and gifts from it and I certainly didn't expect that with DS2. However, when I had DS1 exactly 2 years later, many close friends and family still sent checks and gifts. DS2 was born near the end of November and I remember getting a package or a card for him almost every single day of December.
I'm of the mindset that every baby should be celebrated. It doesn't have to be elaborate but a little get together with some small gifts is perfectly fine. And if there is more than a 3 or 4 year gap between kids, then some new "stuff" would certainly be appreciated by the parents KWIM.
I went into BRU just the other day and was floored by some of the new products available that weren't around when my kids were born 8 and 6 years ago ... I would have loved some of that stuff!
Forgot to add that among my girlfriends and family, I have always given and/or sent a baby gift with every new baby born. Obviously I spend more for those I am closer to, but a little baby blanket, an outfit, and a toy is always appreciated. Outfits get spit up on, pooped on ... they get old so something new is always nice IMO.
I went into BRU just the other day and was floored by some of the new products available that weren't around when my kids were born 8 and 6 years ago ... I would have loved some of that stuff!
I think it depends on where you live and your family and friends. I had several showers for my first child, none for my 2nd--but received gifts after he was born--none for the 3rd--first girl--so received gifts after she was born (2 years apart each)_ Had a five year gap and someone did a shower for my 4th. My 4th was a pretty big shower--bigger than my first. When I had my fifth 10 years later--another shower was thrown (by someone on this board!!!) Totally different gifts at the showers! Amazing how things changed. I never received really big items--like crib and dresser etc--we just bought that ourselves. With the 5th--I told everyone I still has the crib--because I had lent it to a friend--when she returned it--it was ruined---(otherwise I am sure I would have received one)
With Lex I think I had three showers - all thrown by different groups of friends. With Lawson there was a small get together at work, which I missed because Lawson was on his own schedule, but they group together all of the families that are having a baby that quarter (if there are any). My closest friends all bought gifts for Lawson, but no shower.
I'm used to there sometimes being a "sprinkle" if baby #2 is a different gender than baby #1 and most certainly a full blown shower if baby #2 is far enough removed from baby #1 that whatever you had from baby #1 is long gone.
