Today’s question comes from a second-time mom wondering about the etiquette of creating a registry and hosting her own Sprinkle. What is appropriate, and what is not?
Hi Cheryl,
I have a question about the registry and baby shower. I am having my second baby (a boy) and I have a daughter who is one. We have a lot of baby stuff from her, but we will need a few extra items for both and we have a lot of pink around the house. Is it worth registering? I wanted to create a registry not only to shop others, but to earn a discount at the end and also to keep track of what I have and what I still need.
I also want to host a sprinkle or get together at my house with close family and friends. Is that weird to do? My mother passed away and my mother-in-law and I are not that close so I don’t see her throwing stones. I’m happy to do it myself, but I want to make sure I follow the etiquette so as not to offend anyone.
I look forward to hearing your feedback.
Regards,
Stacy
Hi Stacy,
Congratulations! Many are asking if they should register for their second baby. The answer is “yes” – if you want to, you really should. From an etiquette point of view, there is nothing wrong with registering for your second or third child. A registry is a great tool for those who want to buy you a gift. This gives them confidence that they are buying you something you want and need.
A gift registry is a suggestion, not a request. Your friends and family know they don’t have to buy a gift from your registry, but most appreciate that they don’t have to guess what you need. For more details, please see our article, “Top 5 Reasons to Create a Baby Registry for Your Second or Third Child.”
Creating your registry is fine, but the same can’t be said about hosting your own Baby Shower or Sprinkle. This is an etiquette “rule” with no wiggle room. Sprinkle is a smaller, more intimate baby shower, but gifts are still expected.
Understandably, you want to organize things for your new baby boy, but you shouldn’t host a Sprinkle for yourself. This is a gift-giving event, so having one for yourself may seem unattractive. Please see my article, “Should You Throw Yourself a Baby Shower?”
I advise waiting until a friend or relative offers to host a shower for you; then, you can let him know your preference that you want it in a smaller portion (a Sprinkle). A baby shower is nice to have but not a necessity. I recommend being patient and see if anyone offers.
Another option is to host a Sip’ N See after your baby is born. Gifts are not required, and it’s a great way to spend time with close family and friends. This is often a drop-in event and a great way to introduce your new baby.
If you have questions or comments about this post, gift giving, bridal showers, baby showers, or wedding etiquette, please comment below or email [email protected].
Questions in this column are received from readers. Questions can be edited for spelling, length, and grammar or to remove sensitive information. However, we are careful not to change the intent or content of the question.
