Gwenny Posted October 12, 2016 Share Posted October 12, 2016 When you recieve a birth announcement, do you feel like you have to send a gift? Does it appear that your fishing for presents when sending one? I'm due in a couple of weeks and thought it might be nice to send out announcements. Especially since we moved a couple years ago and friends and family are further away. I don't need any baby presents and I don't want to look greedy by sending them out. I loving receiving birth announcements, but I recently heard that some find them tacky. I've not received many myself, but I've never sent a gift as a result. Mostly because I attended the shower as well and thought it redundant to give another. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted October 12, 2016 Share Posted October 12, 2016 I like getting them and never saw them as a gift grab. I LOVE the ones that are magnetic, because I keep them on my fridge so I can remember birthdates, lol. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mimm Posted October 12, 2016 Share Posted October 12, 2016 I wouldn't read it that way at all. But I can be kind of clueless about these things. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKL Posted October 12, 2016 Share Posted October 12, 2016 I haven't seen a paper birth announcement in ages. Like decades. I would just do it electronically, or include the info in your Christmas card. I don't think I'd feel obligated to send a gift - it would depend on the relationship. If it was someone for whom I'd attend a shower, then I'd send a gift. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hjffkj Posted October 12, 2016 Share Posted October 12, 2016 I've never sent one but have received many. I've never thought they were gift grabs and have never sent a gift. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butter Posted October 12, 2016 Share Posted October 12, 2016 No. I've never sent a gift upon receiving a birth announcement nor did I get any when I sent them out for my four. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted October 12, 2016 Share Posted October 12, 2016 The only birth announcements I get are from family and friends and they send out via email with the photo of their newborn while at the hospital. No gifts required but we do send cash gifts for relatives as per our family customs. My husband get birth announcements from colleagues as well but the company takes care of the baby shower so no one needs to send a gift. I don't find birth announcements by email or mail tacky unless I don't know the person well. However many do birth announcements via Facebook so I don't find it tacky seeing an acquaintance's birth announcement on Facebook. It is just the fastest and cheapest way to get the word out and "show off" your newborn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 12, 2016 Share Posted October 12, 2016 (edited) No. They are announcing the existence of a new human being for informational purposes. Not a gift grab. I received one just a few weeks ago. 😊 Edited October 12, 2016 by Kinsa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Library Momma Posted October 12, 2016 Share Posted October 12, 2016 I've sent them and received many. I only received gifts from people who didn't attend my shower for my first child and received many more gifts for the second because I did not have a shower. The gifts were never expected. I've also sent gifts when I did not attend the shower or there wasn't a shower. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted October 12, 2016 Share Posted October 12, 2016 I don't see them as a gift grab. They're announcing a birth. If you were a friend who moved away I'd be happy to hear your news. If you were a family member who moved away I'd know (unless the relation was very distant) but I'd feel good to be included by getting an announcement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted October 12, 2016 Share Posted October 12, 2016 No. We get fewer now with Facebook but I still like seeing them. They're different from a shower invite (which can seem like a gift grab if there's not a close relationship with the family). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted October 12, 2016 Share Posted October 12, 2016 When you receive a birth announcement, do you feel like you have to send a gift? Does it appear that your fishing for presents when sending one? I'm due in a couple of weeks and thought it might be nice to send out announcements. Especially since we moved a couple years ago and friends and family are further away. I don't need any baby presents and I don't want to look greedy by sending them out. I loving receiving birth announcements, but I recently heard that some find them tacky. I've not received many myself, but I've never sent a gift as a result. Mostly because I attended the shower as well and thought it redundant to give another. No, I don't feel obligated. As long as you don't include any sort of gift registry information, and you don't send them to 300 of your "closest" friends, then it won't look as if you're fishing for presents. :-) And congratulations! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted October 12, 2016 Share Posted October 12, 2016 (edited) I knew a woman who was greedy - so she thought everyone else was greedy too, and announcements of any kind were only about a gift grab. she specifically instructed me to send announcements to people she thought would send a gift, so for many years I didn't send announcements for anything - becasue I didn't want people to think I was greedy. I enjoy receiving announcements from others to share their excitement, it doesn't occur to me someone is fishing for a present even if they are. (unless they include a gift list . . . . . though there is one person . . . ) I purchase gifts for those whom I wish, and don't if I'm not interested. eta: my point is - some people will think it's a gift grab and others will wish you joy (even if it's not in the form of a gift.). if you are only sending announcements to share your happy news, then act/think as if everyone receiving an announcement belongs to the second group. (if they're don't, it says more about them.) Edited October 12, 2016 by gardenmom5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 12, 2016 Share Posted October 12, 2016 No Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted October 12, 2016 Share Posted October 12, 2016 I had the same question about sending out graduation announcements for my dd. I didn't want anyone to think we were expecting gifts. No one sent anything thank goodness. But honestly, I was raised that any announcement carried an expectation to send something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alessandra Posted October 12, 2016 Share Posted October 12, 2016 I love birth announcements, especially the traditional ones with little bows on top. Not a gift grab at all, imho, just a nice tradition. I do, however always send a gift. But it might be as simple as a children's book from Amazon. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baseball mom Posted October 12, 2016 Share Posted October 12, 2016 I don't think of them as a gift grab. I think of them as "good" mail. I like good mail and I love seeing new babies. (bad mail = bills, junk stuff etc.) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HSmomof2 Posted October 12, 2016 Share Posted October 12, 2016 No, I don't see birth (or graduation) announcements as gift grabs. I do always send a gift, but because I want to, not because I feel obligated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TX Native Posted October 12, 2016 Share Posted October 12, 2016 I have always considered birth announcements, engagement announcements, and the like as an announcement of something special. In some cases I may give a gift because I planned to regardless of the announcement, but it has never occurred to me that gifts were expected. Gift requests are what baby showers, housewarming parties, and wedding showers are for. I also don't feel obligated to give a gift just because I receive an invitation to a shower, wedding, or celebration party. In the latter case, I give a gift if I attend or if I was planning to give a gift even if not invited. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RioSamba Posted October 12, 2016 Share Posted October 12, 2016 I love them, especially the very simple old fashioned sort, and don't see them as a gift grab at all. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katy Posted October 12, 2016 Share Posted October 12, 2016 I don't think they are a gift grab at all. My friends that have sent them generally waited until mid-30's to try for a baby, then had sometimes several years of infertility, and are just so thrilled to finally have children they want to share the joy with everyone that loves them. In almost all cases, formal printed announcements are not only charming, they come from people who can afford them and are not in any want or need of gifts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catz Posted October 12, 2016 Share Posted October 12, 2016 Not at all! I love birth announcements! Shower invitation for someone I barely know? That I would consider a gift grab and I have no problem declining those invites. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 12, 2016 Share Posted October 12, 2016 I love them. I'm not on social media and miss out with the people who do everything on there, so I appreciate one in the mail. I would never see it as a gift grab. It's sharing a wonderful event! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawyer&Mom Posted October 12, 2016 Share Posted October 12, 2016 I love them, they are very common in my circle. I've sent them without expecting gifts and I've received them without sending gifts. Go for it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamakelly Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 I love them! Definitely not a gift grab. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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