If I have a registry, do I NEED a baby shower?

Question

Due to the pandemic, I will not be having a baby shower and I'm uncomfortable with the idea of a virtual one. I'm due in August. I have a baby registry set up and ready to share with friends and family but a friend of mine (who is a mom) said it's rude to share a registry without having a baby shower because the person wont be acknowledged for their gift. Now I'm having second thoughts about sharing my registry and I'm considering buying everything myself. Thoughts? Thanks in advance.

Answer

I think you should just do what your heart desires. It shouldn’t be rude or anything else cause you’re not doing it for you, you’re doing it for the baby! We’re in a unique situation of being pregnant during a global pandemic so I feel like there should be no expectations.

Answer

I'll be sharing my registry with those who ask, but that's it because that's what I'm comfortable with. I'll still be thanking those who give me gifts, so I don't see how their gifts would be going unacknowledged.

Answer

It’s not rude as long as you send a thank you card!

Answer

My two cents is, anyone who is truly close family and friends will still celebrate you and buy off your registry, shower or not. Some people just like getting their panties in a bundle.
Also, don’t feel like you HAVE to have a shower. Personally, I chose not to have one with my first and never regretted it. I don’t come from a large family, neither does my husband, and we have some family drama sprinkled in as well. I’m also better off financially than most of our family that we would have invited. I felt bad expecting gifts from people who may not have had the necessary means to do so. And just like I suggested above, even though we didn’t have a shower we still had close friends and family who were adamant about helping and asked us what we wanted. So it still worked out in some ways.

Answer

I’m in the same vote as you. I’m due on the 10th and am not okay with a baby shower right now. I’ve decided not to have one and I’m going to send out thank you cards after little man is here with newborn photos! If things are better I will have a meet the baby bbq with some fund games and such.

Answer

I think it’s more rude to be having a gathering right now or to expose myself and others to possibly getting sick, just because society says I have to have a shower. I am going to create a registry because people keep asking me to create one. You don’t have to have a shower. Send an e-mail saying thanks to whoever buys you a gift and that’s acknowledging them. ;)

Answer

I felt the same, but we made an Amazon registry and I posted it on Facebook. Amazon actually gives you the address of the gifter so you can send thank you cards.

Answer

Well, you could wait for people to ask you, a lot will, or, do you want to do a little shower by mail? I've seen ideas on Pinterest where you send the person a little game or 2 to play and a little favor, just like they'd get at an actual shower and you could mention where you are registered that way. Or have a friend of yours make a post and say due to the current state of affairs they are unable to throw a shower for you and wanted to share your registry links. I'm not having a shower because I don't have much family. Both my parents are gone and I'm an only child. I also live away from where I grew up and have no family around me and no close friends that would throw me one. So I understand.

Answer

I FEEL YOU. Im also due August. I had an “invitation” made up and sent out with a cute poem saying something about how we cant celebrate the normal way so lets send some gifts and have a party once baby makes her debut. And i was SO ready to send it and accept any gifts and just plan a welcome baby party until i got a flood of comments like you did about how i have to do something and how other people they knew did virtual showers. Im VERY socially anxious, it can get really uncomfortable and not good for me. But now im forced to do the virtual shower on the date i was gonna have mine and do the best i can. People have been sending gifts but it doesnt seem like ill get the same amount of help i would as if it was a real shower. Im dreading the virtual shower and just rather open the boxes now and start nesting. It is what it is. I cant afford to get everything we need ourselves so i have to push thru

Answer

Tell your friend to zip it.

If I have a registry, do I NEED a baby shower?

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