Buying gifts for grandchildren

my DIL was given mountains of baby clothes first time. She took a lot of them back and traded them for a few boutiquey items that she really fancied.
Women enjoy the process of kitting out our own babies i think - right back into the days when pregnant women sewed their own layette.
It is fun buying clothes for grandchildren that cannot be denied. (much more fun than buying things for myself!) In time the children develop their own preferences.
These days I ask "what do they need at the moment" and she quickly responds with something like "underwear" or "swim things" so I can keep a look out for the right kind of bargains.

My daughter is also fussy about what her son wears - but in a different way - she doesn't care where the clothes are bought or what they cost, but she will not have anything she considers "chavvy" so tracksuit bottoms are out as are some, but not all. hoodies . I've bought him his first Xmas present already - a Thomas the Tank Engine Xmas DVD - as he'll be close to his first birthday he may be able to watch some of it but I know his, dad, uncles & grandfathers will be watching it

Happygran Insensitive, rude and, frankly, ridiculous. No wonder you feel hurt. I should avoid clothes all together when buying presents for your new grandson and stick to Early Learning and similar toys. No doubt, time will modify your son's and daughter-in-law's views and – we hope – give them a more realistic and kinder perspective.

The best and most valuable thing you can do for your new grandson (congratulations, by the way) is to be a loving granny. It's a unique and very special gift to a child (and a delight to a granny).

That is so rude! To actually return your gifts, saying they don't like them - I am absolutely horrified. I can imagine how hurt you feel, Happygran.

I'm in agreement with glass - well-made (but not necessarily expensive) toys are probably the answer. I'm afraid even hand-knitted clothes are looked down upon by some designer-obsessed couples!

I assume this is their first child and they have not realised yet that a child can reduce the most expensive item to a dishrag once it has been washed twenty times? Or that when it come to children's clothes you need many times the number you first thought of, to change a dozen times a day?

A child is not a doll, to be arrayed in the best of everything and displayed in a glass case.

They will learn. Watch out for the bulk buys of supermarket togs. It may take a few weeks, but it will come. Then you can produce the things they rejected, which you have put away for just that moment.

Welcome Happygran. Don't let this snobbery spoil your pleasure in your new grandson. If you root around TK Max, you can often find designer baby clothes for much less than the original price. As or supermarket baby clothes - I think Tesco does really good organic cotton things. But I think your son and DiL are being ridiculously fussy and ungrateful. I really don't think Harry will care what he wears but he will value his gran's love and cuddles.

Happy They are being a very uncaring by returning your gifts!!!

I would hold back from buying any clothes if their standards are so high!!!

If you feel you want to but Harry something buy a first activity toy surely that cant being classed as from 'the wrong' shop, if you were to go to ELC they have lots of early development toys starting from under £5.

Oh my goodness! How about knitting a few things for the baby? What shops do they think the clothes should be bought from!!!! If it's not possible to knit something, then hold back from buying anything. Perhaps it will dawn on them that they've hurt you.