Unwanted gifts - advise needed

I’ve had this with both my daughters, and their MIL’s. Of course, they’re just excited, understandably, but it does need reigning in before someone explodes!

There’s nothing wrong with just telling them. I was told before my grandchildren were born, please mum....not loads of clothes. We like to pick them ourselves. Also, they’ll outgrow them amazingly quickly at the beginning. You actually might find you need them!!

Congratulations by the way.

Same as above from me really - send a photo of baby wearing an outfit each sent when you can along with a thank you. Make it clear that the baby has plenty of clothes now and will grow, so maybe they could put the money they would have spent on baby clothes into a 'for the future' pot?

We did the same as Pollydolly - paid for one large item, chosen by the parents and a couple of handknits when the GC were born. Now I take the GC to a shop and let them choose an item for themselves within a budget. I guess the next stage will be giving them money!

Agree with all the above.
Fortunately neither grandmothers bought many clothes for my son either before or after he was born. My mum knitted him bootees and mittens which he never got to wear as he had very long fingers and feet!

I agree , the best solution is to be honest . Tell them you appreciate their kindness but please no clothes ! Say your baby will grow so quickly that they will never be worn . Make a suggestion of what would be a more appropriate gift. This could be an ongoing problem if you don’t nip it in the bud! If you endeavours don’t work , store them for a very short period and head for your nearest charity shop .They will be snapped up quickly and put to very good use . Whatever happens please don’t allow this situation to cause you great anxiety- I recognise it troubles you but in the grand scheme of things it really isn’t that big a deal. If unwanted clothes arrive , smile , accept in the secret knowledge you will be passing them quickly onto a good homes. Congratulations on the happy news , take it easy and don’t allow this to cloud your happiness, Good luck - stay cool !

I think that you are going to have to do a combination of both. Tell them truthfully that you have far too many clothes for one baby and it would be best to hold off further purchases until you identify something that is needed. However this will probably only slightly dent their enthusiasm. In that case all you can do is be polite and pass it on. My own mother was a bargain hunter, I eventually had to ask her to stop buying clothes for the GC as a bargain is still a waste of money if it's not needed or wanted. Things will quieten down eventually.

tobyandsocks

When our Grandaughter was born we bought her some nice dresses and things from Next...when we gave them to new baby....we were told later by text by our DIL..." why the hell would you ever think I would put "that rubbish"on my daughter its horrible...take it back today.....needless to say we have never bought our Grandaughter anything since, not even toys as we get the same reaction....money it is now or vouchers from the daughter in laws chosen place.......

She sounds a peach, what happened to manners? Next clothes are very nice, maybe not to her taste, she could have relayed this in a much better way.
The OP is approaching this in a much better way, I think telling them that you have so much now and it is difficult to store is the best solution.

When our Grandaughter was born we bought her some nice dresses and things from Next...when we gave them to new baby....we were told later by text by our DIL..." why the hell would you ever think I would put "that rubbish"on my daughter its horrible...take it back today.....needless to say we have never bought our Grandaughter anything since, not even toys as we get the same reaction....money it is now or vouchers from the daughter in laws chosen place.......

You could suggest, when they do visit, that you go shopping together and you pick out the clothes you like for the baby if they are so intent on spending on clothes etc.

Politely mention that there is no point in having masses of clothes as babies grow so fast she might hardly ever wear most of them.

When my first GC was due I offered to buy one large item, cot/pram/travel system etc. which was most welcomed by the new parents actually. I knitted small matinee garments too. I did this with both AC.

Send them a list of items that you Do need along with the store they can go to to get them.
I would be honest with them, tell them you have more than enough clothes for the baby.

Your baby will be their Grandchild for many years, if you don’t tell them now you will have this problem for a very, very long time.

I think I would say that you have so many clothes and already so please the baby cannot use all of them, hope they are not offended but it’s no good having double and you hate waste as they are all so nice. If baby needs anything in the future would they mind running it by you first. . I hate to hurt peoples feelings so always got the long way round everything whereas a ripping the bandage approach is possibly better, I can’t do it, so lovely having these excited and eager grandparents tgere for you, congratulations its such a happy time.

Congratulations. My time was different you had to take what you were given even though I didn’t like —hated— most of what we were given.
But your generation is different and it’s so very wasteful to buy all these gifts only to be given away.
I would just say that you have all the baby clothes you could need already, please don’t buy anything as it’s bad for the environment, and if you do want to buy something special toys/equipment let me and I’ll send a list in your budget.

First of all congrats! Secondly I feel your pain, a new baby stirs up all sorts of excitement, particularly in expectant grandparents. My suggestion to both grandmothers would be, to tell them with clothes from so many people, you're concerned the baby will outgrow most before they've had chance to wear them. I suggest steering them down the road of baby essentials like nappies, talc etc or maybe open a bank account and suggest that money is deposited towards larger items you need to buy. I hope that helps. I personally have bought only 2 items of clothing for my granddaughters, and give money for birthday/Christmas.

I dont have any children or grandchildren so no one suffers from my ill advised gifts.

In real life I am a "rip the bandage off quickly" sort of person - like MY grandmother before me. She always used to tell it like it was and get it over with, I can recell a long conversation in which she told me I was a "plain girl" in comparison to my sister. However she then went on to qualify it by how plain girls can make the best of themselves.

In these circumstances I would go for the "send a photo" in the inappropriate clothes and then send them to the charity shop. Rather this than hurt two older ladies who are not of the "tell it like it is" variety. You dont want any more on your plate just after you have given birth.

There will be many hard up mums who will probably be glad of them.