So who throws "sprinkles"?

[kristie]

I know it is stupid, but I am kind of sad I am not having a shower this time. Not because I want stuff, but because I want a party for this baby too. Lol. I mean, dd #1 is a girl and is four and a half and with the holidays I really didn't expect anyone to do one. My mom and MIL both mentioned throwing one, but I didn't feel like that was right. So can I or my mom throw a sprinkle at my house after the baby is here. Just so I can have all my friends together and have cake and celebrate baby #2? Or does that still seem like gift grabbing?

[AmeliaBedelia]

I've heard of those being called "sip and sees". People come to see the baby, hang out, and have some cocktails and apps. I'm sure you'll get some gifts, but I wouldn't view an invitation to that sort of thing as inherently gift grabby.

[mcmel]

Anything with a title makes me think I need to bring a gift.

If you really don't want people to bring presents just say, "hey, we're feeling up to some entertaining and we're wondering if you wanted to stop by on Saturday around 3 for some drinks."

[kristie]

Oh, good, I didn't know what sprinkles were. Lol, I just knew they weren't showers. A meet the baby invite makes more sense.

[8675309]

See? This is where I fell that every baby deserves a shower. Same sex or not. My mom threw a shower for my second and I'm so appreciative. Gifts or no gifts there's just something about celebrating this new life ya know? I hate the taboo 2nd baby shower shit.

[starlily]

What if you technically had a sip n' see for your 1st kid, because your baby was born before the scheduled shower date, but guests still brought gifts as if it were a shower? And then someone mentions throwing a sprinkle for your 2nd kid? What is the etiquette here?

[bugandbibs]

We are having a Welcome Baby open house for 3.0. I'm sure some people will bring a gift, but the point of the gathering will be to celebrate his birth- not our parenthood.

[stealthmom]

Dec 15, 2013 1:20:06 GMT -5 starlily said:

What if you technically had a sip n' see for your 1st kid, because your baby was born before the scheduled shower date, but guests still brought gifts as if it were a shower? And then someone mentions throwing a sprinkle for your 2nd kid? What is the etiquette here?

If someone offers I think it's fine. I had three friends offer to throw me a shower for my second. It's actually tomorrow and I'm super excited. But it's very small and low key.

Sprinkle vs. Sip n see I don't think they 're very different so I don't think it matters which one is thrown. One is just before the baby and one is after.

[Jalapeñomel]

I know I'm in the minority on ML, but I don't see anything wrong with having a party for this baby too.

[ECB]

Dec 15, 2013 6:43:02 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

I know I'm in the minority on ML, but I don't see anything wrong with having a party for this baby too.

To me, though, there is a difference between a "meet the baby" party, where the party really is about the BABY, vs. a shower (or sprinkle, which really is the same thing) - which is a gift-giving event that's really about the mom.

Someone choosing to having a child shouldn't require their friends and family to buy them something everytime.  Showers "require" gifts.  While I actually expect that many people probably show up to a meet the baby/sip and see w/ a small gift - it's just simply less gift focused.

[Jalapeñomel]

Dec 15, 2013 7:12:27 GMT -5 ECB said:

Dec 15, 2013 6:43:02 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

I know I'm in the minority on ML, but I don't see anything wrong with having a party for this baby too.

To me, though, there is a difference between a "meet the baby" party, where the party really is about the BABY, vs. a shower (or sprinkle, which really is the same thing) - which is a gift-giving event that's really about the mom.

Someone choosing to having a child shouldn't require their friends and family to buy them something everytime.  Showers "require" gifts.  While I actually expect that many people probably show up to a meet the baby/sip and see w/ a small gift - it's just simply less gift focused.

Until ML, I always thought showers were about the baby and not the mom. However, to me, it wouldn't matter. I would happily go to a shower for a second time mom, and I would happily bring a gift. It would be no different than what I would do for a FTM.

[sweetday]

[/quote]Until ML, I always thought showers were about the baby and not the mom. However, to me, it wouldn't matter. I would happily go to a shower for a second time mom, and I would happily bring a gift. It would be no different than what I would do for a FTM.[/quote]

Ditto

[cleo29]

I would. My friend is pregnant with her third. If she is having a girl, she will definitely get a sprinkle. If it is another boy, I think I will put together a celebratory dinner out. It's not about getting gifts, it's about celebrating this new little life.

[stealthmom]

Dec 15, 2013 7:12:27 GMT -5 ECB said:

Dec 15, 2013 6:43:02 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

I know I'm in the minority on ML, but I don't see anything wrong with having a party for this baby too.

To me, though, there is a difference between a "meet the baby" party, where the party really is about the BABY, vs. a shower (or sprinkle, which really is the same thing) - which is a gift-giving event that's really about the mom.

Someone choosing to having a child shouldn't require their friends and family to buy them something everytime.  Showers "require" gifts.  While I actually expect that many people probably show up to a meet the baby/sip and see w/ a small gift - it's just simply less gift focused.

see I don't see how a shower is about the mother at all. I've never felt it was about me at any of my showers. I've always felt they were about the coming baby.

And I wwould never show up at a sip n see w/o a gift if the mom hadn't been thrown a shower which is why I said there is really not much differerence between the two parties in my mind. At least showers aren't given by the mother.
And I woul

[adhdfashion]

My Mom threw me a Sprinkle for DD#2. It was after she was born. I didn't want to do it at all. Lol but you bitches told me to be grateful and shut up. So I did, the party was nice fun low key lots of food and baby passing.

[EmilieMadison]

Dec 15, 2013 13:20:41 GMT -5 stealthmom said:

Dec 15, 2013 7:12:27 GMT -5 ECB said:

To me, though, there is a difference between a "meet the baby" party, where the party really is about the BABY, vs. a shower (or sprinkle, which really is the same thing) - which is a gift-giving event that's really about the mom.

Someone choosing to having a child shouldn't require their friends and family to buy them something everytime.  Showers "require" gifts.  While I actually expect that many people probably show up to a meet the baby/sip and see w/ a small gift - it's just simply less gift focused.

see I don't see how a shower is about the mother at all. I've never felt it was about me at any of my showers. I've always felt they were about the coming baby.

And I wwould never show up at a sip n see w/o a gift if the mom hadn't been thrown a shower which is why I said there is really not much differerence between the two parties in my mind. At least showers aren't given by the mother.
And I woul

Eh, the entire point of a shower (or sprinkle) is to make sure new parents have what they need for their new baby. Obviously it is about the baby (because otherwise why would you give someone baby items?), but they are, by design, meant as a gift-giving event for the parents. Traditional etiquette says that once you have a shower for your first baby, you should have all of the things you will need for subsequent babies. Plenty of people have showers for every kid, or sprinkles, or whatever is accepted in their friend/family circle, but showers/sprinkles are still about the parent, not really the baby. 

A party like a sip and see, or a meet the baby open house, really is about the baby and not about gifts because it's not a gift giving event, even if people bring a gift. 

[hopecounts]

Dec 15, 2013 13:20:41 GMT -5 stealthmom said:

Dec 15, 2013 7:12:27 GMT -5 ECB said:

To me, though, there is a difference between a "meet the baby" party, where the party really is about the BABY, vs. a shower (or sprinkle, which really is the same thing) - which is a gift-giving event that's really about the mom.

Someone choosing to having a child shouldn't require their friends and family to buy them something everytime.  Showers "require" gifts.  While I actually expect that many people probably show up to a meet the baby/sip and see w/ a small gift - it's just simply less gift focused.

see I don't see how a shower is about the mother at all. I've never felt it was about me at any of my showers. I've always felt they were about the coming baby.

And I wwould never show up at a sip n see w/o a gift if the mom hadn't been thrown a shower which is why I said there is really not much differerence between the two parties in my mind. At least showers aren't given by the mother.
And I woul

A shower or sprinkle is about gifting the parents to be a sip n see / meet the baby is about seeing the baby and gifts are not expected though some close family/friends may bring them.

[stealthmom]

I've never actually been to a sip n see but I personally can't imagine showing up w/o a gift. Just like I would never show up to a dinner empty handed.

[lauralala]

My friends and family have always had showers for each baby, no matter what number it is. I grew up thinking that was normal, and I think it is in a lot of areas. I don't think it is stupid to want a party, especially since there is a big gap and they are different genders.

Of course, around here it is also completely normal for family members to do the shower-throwing. Clearly I am not from a classy place

[Deleted]

I would never go to any event for a new mom OR a new baby empty handed. Now I will bring something more $$$ to a first shower ( like a rnp & an outfit) & I am more likely to bring food or a takeout gift card of some sort to an event where the baby is already born. I guess call it what you want, because I think it's rude to show up empty handed anyways.

Someone on here or the other place once mentioned getting a 3 pack of plain white onesies in every size from 0-3 - 12-18 months as a great second baby gift as white onesies are always needed, versatile & often stained by the first baby, so not easily passed down. It's been my go to 2nd baby gift ( with a few packs of diapers) ever since.

[lafawnduh]

You should do a sip and see. I also feel like celebrating each baby is important, and I would take up an offer for a sprinkle or sip and see. No one has brought it up though (I'm also having my second), and I doubt I will have one. I think that it has more to do with a recent baby boom of my friends and family who are all having their first babies, and people are showered out.

[mariafromnj]

Personally I don't like showers in general. I don't hate them and i go when i am invited but it isn't high on my list of favorite things to do. I never wanted a bridal shower or baby shower. I tried to smile sitting through my shower but sitting there opening gifts for hours with people staring at me almost brought me to tears. i hate anything that makes people feel obligated to give me gifts.
i don't get the "this baby should be have a party too" thing either. The party isn't for the baby. It is for the parents. The a baby born or not has no idea what is going on. It is about the mother.

There are ways to celebrate and not have it be about the gifts. I just got invited to a girls day at my friend's house to meet the new baby and hang out with the mom. It wasn't hosted by anyone. It was a planned out party. It was just a casual gtg at a friends. It was so much fun to meet the baby and giggle with our friends. Everyone brought a little something for the baby because it was the first visit but the party wasn't put out there like it was to collect presents.

[themoneytree]

I see nothing wrong with a sprinkle, but I did raise my eyebrows when I got an invitation to a diaper and outfit sprinkle... and a request for $70 to cover the food at the restaurant.
I would actually have gone if I had been allowed to pick my own meal at the restaurant, but to be required to spend $70 on food I probably don't want, plus gifts, just didn't work for me.

[Overthemoon]

I think sips and sees are fun, if you don't mind people being around the baby. I always bring a small gift but I agree with everyone else that it's really not a gift occasion. I don't even think you should open the gifts at the party, just wait until later.

My friend had a third baby a few years ago and her friends threw her a "stock the freezer" party. Instead of baby stuff,everyone brought a casserole or freezer-ready dish with the preparation instructions. She ended up with almost three weeks of dinners for after the birth.

[Overthemoon]

Oh and sip and sees aren't gift occasions, anyone can throw them, in my opinion. Let someone else host it though so you don't have to cook and clean and host.