How to tell friends politely not to buy Made in China toys?

madmadtoo · Sep 2nd, 2007, 11:01 AM

I am going to have 1st mth celebration for my girl when she pop. Where relatives and friends will all come and cooed

at the new baby. The only problem is that most will come bearing gifts like toys. My peeve is most of the toys are Made in China nowadays! How to tell the guests in advance not to buy toys? Especially those made in china

Janos614 · Sep 2nd, 2007, 02:25 PM

She's only 1 month old- would they bring toys so soon? And if they do, can't you return them? If it comes to it, keep track of who gives what and ask for receipts later.

mona_danya · Sep 2nd, 2007, 02:40 PM

Yeah, I wouldn't say anything.... Just return the ones that are not up to your standards later.....

madmadtoo · Sep 3rd, 2007, 01:31 AM

Sadly the place where I stay doesn't do returns.

I stay in Singapore. So I am still like cracking my head up, hoping to find a solution to it. Without sounding rude. It is tough.

Janos614 · Sep 3rd, 2007, 01:32 AM

Can you create a gift registry and send links to it? Or have close friends and family spread the word to the other guests about gifts?

Sternchen · Sep 3rd, 2007, 03:56 PM

A 1 month old child does not need plastic toys...

Say that if they insist on brining toys, let them know you prefer either toys made out of wood or cloth.

I don't think that these findings will stay "within China"...I think that more toys will be found containing harmful things that weren't made in China

vanojr9 · Sep 3rd, 2007, 04:12 PM

I once read a similar complaint (on an environmental site) by a mom who didn't want her daughter's friends and family to bring her lots of toys for a birthday party because it seemed wasteful (her daughter already had nice playthings). It wasn't the point of manufacturing in this case, just the volume of toys and trash. She came up with a very clever plan I thought - she bought her daughter 1 or 2 really nice things for her birthday, and then asked all of the attendants of the party to bring a perennial flower instead of a toy that they could plant in a garden designed just for her little girl. You might try something like that, for instance, you could gently tell your guests that you have plenty of new baby items, and request instead that they donate a few dollars to a tree to be planted in your daughter's honor. If you're not really the gardening type (or don't have the space), you could request duplicates of another specific thing (blankets, etc), maybe individual pieces of a china teaset for your daughter when she gets older, a personalized scrapbook page to be assembled into an album for your daughter, etc. You could even request that each guest buy their favorite book for your daughter (and write a short inscription/rationale in the inside cover) so that you've built up a mini-library for her when she gets older.

Sternchen · Sep 3rd, 2007, 05:02 PM

^ loving the book idea!

merika · Sep 3rd, 2007, 06:35 PM

It's a Chinese tradition, I think? And for the 1 month celebration the babies are dressed in these cute traditional costumes and everyone gives them gifts.

It's hard to say books because not everyone will 'get it'. Asian societies are rather traditional and most of the time you just take a gift that the invitee gives you and make no conditions upon it.

If I were you, I'd be really honest about the reason I don't want toys made in China. You could maybe let some people (relatives and friends) see the news reports about all the toy recalls and other incidents and say you don't want toys made in China for that reason.

TammyD · Sep 3rd, 2007, 11:05 PM

Madmadtoo, if you live in Singapore, you don't have to worry. Most people will give you money/voucher gifts, not toys.

madmadtoo · Sep 4th, 2007, 11:15 AM

Hmm.. I am starting to spread the word around. Like I am concerned about those made in china toys blah blah blah! hopefully they will all get it

and be more selective. I will keep U guys posted

IntlSet · Sep 4th, 2007, 06:34 PM

There is no polite way to dictate what gifts your friends are kind enough to bring you. Period. Throw out any toys you are too afraid to let your children near or donate them (since odds are they will be perfectly fine).

Charles · Sep 6th, 2007, 11:47 AM

Wait..what's the deal with toys made in China?

mshel · Sep 6th, 2007, 11:52 AM

^^^Big recall (3 now) for Mattell toys due to high levels of lead.

I would say nothing to anyone, unless of course, you're good friends and you can just say upfront what yiou're thinking.

Otherwise, I'd graciously accept each and every gift and then you can sort through and decide what to keep or give away.

Sep 2nd, 2007, 11:01 AM	#1
madmadtoo Member	How to tell friends politely not to buy Made in China toys? I am going to have 1st mth celebration for my girl when she pop. Where relatives and friends will all come and cooed at the new baby. The only problem is that most will come bearing gifts like toys. My peeve is most of the toys are Made in China nowadays! How to tell the guests in advance not to buy toys? Especially those made in china

Sep 2nd, 2007, 02:25 PM	#2
Janos614 Member Location: NYC	Re: How to tell friends politely not to buy Made in China toys? She's only 1 month old- would they bring toys so soon? And if they do, can't you return them? If it comes to it, keep track of who gives what and ask for receipts later. __________________ On my wish list: 1. Damier Tate PM 2. Damier Neverfull MM 3. Palermo PM

Sep 2nd, 2007, 02:40 PM	#3
mona_danya Personal Shopper Location: Ottawa, Canada	Re: How to tell friends politely not to buy Made in China toys? Yeah, I wouldn't say anything.... Just return the ones that are not up to your standards later..... __________________ www.luxurypersonalshopper.com BONANZLE Obsessing over Chocolate Paraty!

Sep 3rd, 2007, 01:31 AM	#4
madmadtoo Member	Re: How to tell friends politely not to buy Made in China toys? Sadly the place where I stay doesn't do returns. I stay in Singapore. So I am still like cracking my head up, hoping to find a solution to it. Without sounding rude. It is tough.

Sep 3rd, 2007, 01:32 AM	#5
Janos614 Member Location: NYC	Re: How to tell friends politely not to buy Made in China toys? Can you create a gift registry and send links to it? Or have close friends and family spread the word to the other guests about gifts? __________________ On my wish list: 1. Damier Tate PM 2. Damier Neverfull MM 3. Palermo PM

Sep 3rd, 2007, 03:56 PM	#6
Sternchen We're having a boy!! Location: Beauty RAOK	Re: How to tell friends politely not to buy Made in China toys? A 1 month old child does not need plastic toys... Say that if they insist on brining toys, let them know you prefer either toys made out of wood or cloth. I don't think that these findings will stay "within China"...I think that more toys will be found containing harmful things that weren't made in China __________________ My 2 wonderful girls, Nicole (5) and Julia (1) will be big sisters soon! My pregnancy blog

Sep 3rd, 2007, 04:12 PM	#7
vanojr9 Member	Re: How to tell friends politely not to buy Made in China toys? I once read a similar complaint (on an environmental site) by a mom who didn't want her daughter's friends and family to bring her lots of toys for a birthday party because it seemed wasteful (her daughter already had nice playthings). It wasn't the point of manufacturing in this case, just the volume of toys and trash. She came up with a very clever plan I thought - she bought her daughter 1 or 2 really nice things for her birthday, and then asked all of the attendants of the party to bring a perennial flower instead of a toy that they could plant in a garden designed just for her little girl. You might try something like that, for instance, you could gently tell your guests that you have plenty of new baby items, and request instead that they donate a few dollars to a tree to be planted in your daughter's honor. If you're not really the gardening type (or don't have the space), you could request duplicates of another specific thing (blankets, etc), maybe individual pieces of a china teaset for your daughter when she gets older, a personalized scrapbook page to be assembled into an album for your daughter, etc. You could even request that each guest buy their favorite book for your daughter (and write a short inscription/rationale in the inside cover) so that you've built up a mini-library for her when she gets older. __________________

Sep 3rd, 2007, 05:02 PM	#8
Sternchen We're having a boy!! Location: Beauty RAOK	Re: How to tell friends politely not to buy Made in China toys? ^ loving the book idea! __________________ My 2 wonderful girls, Nicole (5) and Julia (1) will be big sisters soon! My pregnancy blog

Sep 3rd, 2007, 06:35 PM	#9
merika Just me Location: In front of a computer	Re: How to tell friends politely not to buy Made in China toys? It's a Chinese tradition, I think? And for the 1 month celebration the babies are dressed in these cute traditional costumes and everyone gives them gifts. It's hard to say books because not everyone will 'get it'. Asian societies are rather traditional and most of the time you just take a gift that the invitee gives you and make no conditions upon it. If I were you, I'd be really honest about the reason I don't want toys made in China. You could maybe let some people (relatives and friends) see the news reports about all the toy recalls and other incidents and say you don't want toys made in China for that reason. __________________ I will also gladly authenticate your chocolates for you.

Sep 3rd, 2007, 11:05 PM	#10
TammyD Rising Star Location: the global village	Re: How to tell friends politely not to buy Made in China toys? Madmadtoo, if you live in Singapore, you don't have to worry. Most people will give you money/voucher gifts, not toys.

Sep 4th, 2007, 11:15 AM	#11
madmadtoo Member	Re: How to tell friends politely not to buy Made in China toys? Hmm.. I am starting to spread the word around. Like I am concerned about those made in china toys blah blah blah! hopefully they will all get it and be more selective. I will keep U guys posted

Sep 4th, 2007, 06:34 PM	#12
IntlSet Bonjour! Location: Chicago	Re: How to tell friends politely not to buy Made in China toys? There is no polite way to dictate what gifts your friends are kind enough to bring you. Period. Throw out any toys you are too afraid to let your children near or donate them (since odds are they will be perfectly fine). __________________ www.drinkmorechampagne.com

Sep 6th, 2007, 11:47 AM	#13
Charles Sucks at budgeting Location: Jacksonville, Fl	Re: How to tell friends politely not to buy Made in China toys? Wait..what's the deal with toys made in China?

Sep 6th, 2007, 11:52 AM	#14
mshel I Love Summer	Re: How to tell friends politely not to buy Made in China toys? ^^^Big recall (3 now) for Mattell toys due to high levels of lead. I would say nothing to anyone, unless of course, you're good friends and you can just say upfront what yiou're thinking. Otherwise, I'd graciously accept each and every gift and then you can sort through and decide what to keep or give away. __________________ "Experience is what you get... When you don't get what you wanted." -Author Unknown