Gift opening?

Question

I've posted previously about wanting a co-ed baby shower and receiving push back from my mom and MIL. They know I'm not traditional whatsoever and have a lot of really close guy friends... Well... Now the issue is opening gifts for hours at the shower. Every shower I've ever gone to that opened gifts I've wanted to kill myself out of boredom. How many times can you 'oooh' and 'aaah' at a damn bib?!

I went into this with the feeling that I wouldn't want to have my baby shower be like the ones I always dread going to and that's what I'm being pressured to have. 😢I'm so discouraged and sad that I won't be really looking forward to my sons shower. Thanks for letting me vent...

Answer

I know what you mean! Unfortunately I think it's expected that you open and appreciate the gifts. My friend wants to do "baby bingo"
During the gift opening to keep it from being too boring. The bingo cards would say bottles, bibs, etc so people will actually care what is being opened.

Answer

Ask people to not wrap the gifts on the invite.  My mom just attended a baby shower that had a cute little poem on the invite about leaving the surprises unwrapped for all to see. She said the display at the shower was so adorable

Answer

I think you can request clear or no-wrapping paper if you take an "eco" angle, but just remember that gift giving etiquette is generally that they are doing this really generous thing for you and therefore you can't really dictate the terms of that. You will probably still have people who want to present a beautifully wrapped gift and see you open it...and that's okay, right? Remember it is meant to be a gift, not a burden. And however you feel about it personally, you may just have to suck it up, smile and do the expected thing - or risk offending. I think that the idea of having other things going on during the gift opening bit (like mingling, playing other games, etc) or breaking it up into sessions throughout the party is a better approach. If it's a big party with lots of presents, you can always just say you need a bathroom and snack break!

Answer

I hate it when they don't open the gifts at showers lol. And it's not like they have to watch they can be doing whatever they want

Answer

My hubby and I are having a joint baby shower - he's also becoming a parent so why shouldn't he be part of the celebrations. We're having a BBQ at our house, and the plan will be to open presents once everyone's gone. There will be way too many people dropping in and out throughout the afternoon to do it all at one time, plus we want that time to spend with family and friends, not on them watching us opening gifts.

It also gives us chance to write a list of who bought what so we can send thank-you cards, and to organise what has been bought.

If I went to a baby shower I wouldn't be offended if the couple said they were waiting to open presents so they could spend more time with everyone.

Hope that helps

Answer

I unfortunately think gift opening is just part of it sure people are bored but for that few seconds that you open whatever they got you they appreciate it. Idk I always enjoy watching people open a gift I've gotten them. It is boring thought when things start to become repetive like diapers and clothes.

Answer

Every shower including my own has been and will be wrap in clear,  we pass along the gift and thank who it's from.  And everyone loves it because it's quick and not boring.  Unwrapping the gifts is so time consuming and people get so bored then they start talking and that becomes rude and some people get offended by that. It definitely has become the thing to do here and I have family from out of state that never heard of it and when they came to bridal shower they were saying they need to start doing that by them.  My friend recently received an invitation for a family members baby shower and she was actually taken back when the invite didn't state wrap in clear.  Then a comment of "great I have to sit through presents"

Answer

We are going to do something that my good friend suggested.. Not sure if this would be an option for you or not.. But we are going to do a shower/diaper keg. So we are going to buy a keg and invite all the guys.. And in exchange for a cup for the beer they bring a package of diapers! And the ladies bring a gift as normal.. You could do fun finger foods like wings or mini burgers.. And open the gifts casually instead of it being a big 'sit down' type of thing..? Good luck!!

Answer

You do what you want. In the end it is about you, your SO, and most importantly the baby. My husband's family does co-ed showers, but my husband is traditional and doesn't want to be at the baby shower. It doesn't really matter to me either way. But if we had a Co-ed shower it would be over 50 people and to me it is just too much plus add on all the little kids. Because I will probably have 30 people with just women that's what I want to stick to. My MIL wanted a gender reveal party but my husband and I wanted to see the baby's gender at the ultrasound. In the end it is your choice. They may not agree with it now, but usually realize later that is truly not about them. As for the gifts, you could split it up if you didn't want to open them for too long or if you and your SO are there you can open one each at the same time. But people also understand this is a baby shower and that is usually part of the deal.

Answer

We never open gifts in front of guests, maybe its a cultural thing. I just don't get why people would open gifts in front of everyone

Gift opening?

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