How do we get our friends & family to buy us baby gifts off of our registry — items that we actually need?

You can’t control what people give you.
Donate unwanted gifts to a good cause such as a women’s shelter, or sell them on craigslist.org

Hopefully, the invitation will do it and as long as you mention where you are registered on the baby shower invitiation, I’ve found most people do buy off the registry.

Also, you might plant the idea in your friends’ heads by mentioning how much you need all the stuff on your registry and they can spread the word.

you could always return/exchange things for what you need. there really is no nice way to tell people what to buy you though

yeah, a specific card that people will notice in the shower invitation is all you can do.
Most people will buy stuff you registered for. But, if you get stuff you don’t need, return it, and use the money for what you do need!
Oh, and BTW, those unused gifts in the closet….work as a great gift for someone getting married that you don’t know super well. I don’t regift for close friends/family, but if they can use it, and they don’t know, what diff does it make?

Not really much else you can except put it on the invite. You’re still going to end up with stuff you didn’t have on there though. I don’t know why people do that..I think it’s just too easy to go overboard when baby shopping. Certain people in my family are notorious for getting whatever they want and one in particular rips the tags off so you can’t take it back. Good thing about baby items though is they are easy to resell if you don’t want them.

You can’t. When I had my shower, I even put the little tags in with the invitations and like only 2 people shopped off the registry. I don’t get it. I love shopping off of someone else’s registry. It’s easier and you can’t ***** it up.

Its considered rude to put the place of registry on the invitations. That makes people look at you and think you are expecting a gift and will be disappointed or mad if you don’t bring one.

I’d do it by word of mouth. Tell your mom, best friend, and your mother-in-law to get the word around you registered at Target. If you still get unwanted items, donate them or sell them. They aren’t that expensive, so if you don’t get one or two things you need - you can just hop over there and get them.

Congratulations on the baby !

♥ Usually what I do [[when planning or helping to plan]] a baby shower is include a little 3.5 x 5 card saying “[Sally] and [John] are registered with Target. If you are interested in looking at the registry feel free to look at it online or in the store under the last name [[couples last name]]. Any contribution to Baby [their name or last name]] is appreciated!”

♥ This will let the guests know that you do have a registry [[ and hopefully they will get the hint]], but it will also let them know that you appreciate any contribution, including them taking the time out to share your baby shower with you.

Good Luck!

Just make sure that all the items on your registry are what you need, then put a note with invites that says we only want the items we have on the list. You could get grief, or gift cards.

“our friends and family are from middle and upper class backgrounds”

If that’s true, they already know the whole ’shower’ concept is a bit tacky at best, and would really rather not have you make it worse for them by vocalising anything about how you _expect_ presents as the price of admission to an alcohol-free, two-hour “party.”

“This is our first baby, and we need all of the items on the registry”

Better get shopping, then!

(But, seeing as how one “needs” only a car seat, diapers, safe sleeping place and a handful of outfits — you shouldn’t have any trouble pulling it together by yourself.)

“Are there any tips to let them know without sounding snobby?”

The word you were looking for is “greedy.” “Greedy,” not “snobby.” There’s nothing snobby about a gift-grab, just something rather sad. You’re not thinking of throwing this thing yourself, are you?

No way to do it wihtout sounding snobby, because giving a gift is their choice of what to give, but you can tell them, I really need the things I put on my registry, could you buy off there if you plan on getting me anything? It will be up to them in the end, but at least you told them what you need.

This is an etiquette question. Although a practical one. You must be thankful for everything and hope a gift receipt is attached!! Then you can combine your returns and purchase a larger ticket item that you find necessary.
I know your position - Re gifting with the right thought for the gift and the recipiant is acceptable. I have been there!
When people are purchasing for your little one, they are enjoying themselves, thinking how cute or how sweet and they really take to heart that you as the parent will appreciate it as well.

The only way I can offer advice, tastefully is to include at the bottom of the shower invite and
ask the person holding the event to mention where you are registered when the guest respond, they can even add that you all are so excited about what you have registered for….

ENJOY THIS TIME, IT ENDS TOO QUICKLY!!!!
Lots of Smiles