Baby Shower Question

humpforfree

I am hosting a baby shower for my SIL in March. She is registered at Babies R Us and I will have an insert with that info on it.

 

I was thinking it would be neat to have everything bring a kid's book in leiu of a card to sign and write a note to the baby. A kid's book will cost about the same as a dang card these days, and it is a neat way to build the baby's library. The notes in the books will be neat for the kid to read later on.

 

Do you have any ideas of a good way to ask people to bring books instead of cards? Does it seem rude to ask that?

 

Thanks!

6fsn

A book does not cost the same as a card.  If you want the book to actually be used, the kid will destroy it along with the note.  Books get drooled on, eaten, ripped, torn, everything. 

If you want to make this a "build the library" shower then make that the theme and leave out the registry info.  I don't think there is a polite way to dictate people bring a specific gift.  If you want people to write a note to the baby or mother, make that a shower activity.

Temp23782687501318

I went to a shower where I was requested to bring a book in lieu of a card.  I was also told to bring a package of diapers for a raffle AND the registry information was included.  It turned me off big time, although I did take everything they requested just to keep the peace.  This was my DH's best friend's wife.

I would be careful with how you request specific things.  At the minimum, you might be able to find a small board book for $5.  That is still more expensive than a card.

humpforfree

MandySB:

I went to a shower where I was requested to bring a book in lieu of a card.  I was also told to bring a package of diapers for a raffle AND the registry information was included.  It turned me off big time, although I did take everything they requested just to keep the peace.  This was my DH's best friend's wife.

I would be careful with how you request specific things.  At the minimum, you might be able to find a small board book for $5.  That is still more expensive than a card.

 

I can see how being asked to bring a bunch of stuff would be annoying- that's why I wanted to ask!

 

I guess I will skip out on the book thing. Thanks.

northtamarack

While I don't give this the side eye, it is something that I dread seeing on an invitation for a variety of reasons.  I agree that a card does not equal a book, especially since I make all of my own cards. 

Maybride2

northtamarack:

While I don't give this the side eye, it is something that I dread seeing on an invitation for a variety of reasons. 

Ditto.

And I'm guessing that you haven't purchased a children's book in a long, long time.  For a basic board book, you're looking at spending at least $5 - more if you want something nice.  I can get a card for 99 cents. 

 

humpforfree

I actually just bought a bunch for them for Christmas. They were around $5, but that's how much cards usually end up when I buy them anyway (except of course for the PP who makes them)! It seems like all of the cute/pretty cards are around the same cost, but if people DO get the 99 cent cards, I don't want them to feel put out.

stpetegirl

If you still want to have some sort of literary theme you could ask people to bring the name of their favorite book as a child. It could be a game to guess who liked which one. If they are mostly people who have kids you could ask them to bring one book from their collection to recommend for the mom to be. Many of them may still leave it for the mom-to-be. I don't know, I've never tried either, I'm just grasping a bit to find an idea to that might work.

Kernel14

i just got an invitation in the mail for a baby shower with this same idea in it. it had a regular invite with the registry information on it and then an additional card that said this:

although cards are nice with their sentiment and prayer

they're read once or twice then tucked away with care.

a book is a treasure, words and pictures unite

read over and over to teach a delight.

so instead of a card for baby and mother

please give a child book with your thoughts on the cover.

your book will be cherished; god will watch from above

when its read to the baby, they will remember you with love.

 

dior79

I agree that a book is not the same cost as a card. I went to a shower where there was an insert that had a poem asking everyone to bring a book in lieu of a card b/c the cost is the same. I wouldn't inlcude wording like that if you do ask everyone to bring a book. I did a shower for my SIL & did an insert in the invite to ask everyone to bring their favorite childhood book to help build the baby's library. It was a huge hit! Everyone loved it & thought it was a great idea. And my SIL loved it. She reads the books to my nephew everynight & he loves it. Most guests probably will just include the cost of the book in their budget when buying a gift. It's a request similar to a wishing well for a bridal shower. I personally don't think there is anything wrong with it as long as you don't ask for them to bring a bunch of other stuff too. If you think the cost of the book will be an issue, then you can always do an insert "rub a dub dub, please help fill baby's bath tub" & ask everyone to bring a bath toy or product & put everything in the bath tub. I also did onefor a co-worker where I bought the diaper bag & asked everyone to bring something small to help fill it. Again, similar to a wishing well.

sydlc88

Kernel14:

i just got an invitation in the mail for a baby shower with this same idea in it. it had a regular invite with the registry information on it and then an additional card that said this:

although cards are nice with their sentiment and prayer

they're read once or twice then tucked away with care.

a book is a treasure, words and pictures unite

read over and over to teach a delight.

so instead of a card for baby and mother

please give a child book with your thoughts on the cover.

your book will be cherished; god will watch from above

when its read to the baby, they will remember you with love.

THIS!!  I think this is more common in some areas of the country that others.  DH's family up in Michigan, they don't even have to insert anything, everyone up there just brings a book instead of a card.  When I have gotten invitiations that say to bring a book instead of a card, it is always in poem form like PP shared.  I don't mind it.  If I know ahead of time I need to bring a book, I spend $5 less on the gift from the registry so I end up spending the same amount of money.