Do I Have To Send A Baby Gift To My Husband’s Best Friend’s Sister, If She Sent Me A Baby Announcement?
My husband’s best friend’s sister just had her 3rd kid. I didn’t know her when she had her first, she sent an announcement for her second, and I didn’t send a gift, much less respond, but I had a baby, and now I am much more sensative to parents and their needs and expectations (and I like babies more 
). Is it etiquitte for someone to send a gift in response to a baby announcement?
You are not expected under any etiquette rule to send her a gift. If you want to send her a gift I am sure she would appreciate it and you may gain a new friend through it. In fact, this girl may need a friend if she is sending out announcements to her brother’s best friends’ wives.
No to your question of sending a gift. And I think you mean is it “good etiquitte”, as there is bad, good and indifferent etiquitte. Anyway, you received an announcement, not a solicitation for money/gifts (though the sender of the announcement may see it differently, which is just bad manners). Just send a “congratulations/best wishes” card. And, if this person had a baby shower, were you invited? At a shower is usually the time for gifts to be given to the parents-to-be. And if you were not invited, then without a doubt, a card will more than suffice as acknowledgement. Go to the library and get Miss Manners’ etiquitte book(s); they are great!
Well maybe she does not have alot of family or friends so a gift would be very nice of you to send.
Was the announcement sent to your home because she knows your husband better? (Through her brother)
Acknowledge with a card, but unless you (personally) are a friend of hers, no gift is needed.
I think she’s just trolling for gifts. That’s one heck of a convoluted relationship!
Well, since it’s her third, I wouldn’t say you have to send a gift. It’s a nice gesture though. A congratulation’s card is appropriate with or without a gift card. I was recently invited to a bridal shower but not the wedding. Since these people are wealthy, it was their second marriage, and I wasn’t invited to the wedding, I just sent a congratulations card with a small gift card to use on their honeymoon. I didn’t go to the shower. I was also told in the shower invitation to “dress nicely” which I thought was REALLY tacky!
I guess the situation would depend upon how close you are to this person. If you are not close, I would send a card with a nice message. If you are close, send a small gift- maybe even a gift card ($20?).
Since you said you have become more sensitive to parents and their needs, maybe you know of a gift or a service you can send. My mom used to provide a few months worth of diaper service for my sisters-in-law when they had their babies (that was in the 80s).
We are talking about etiquette. Of course you don’t HAVE TO do anything. However you are acknowledged and recognized and made announcement to, as a part of her loved ones. So the answer is yes,
it is proper etiquette to send a little gift. Remember this is not about them needing a gift, this is about you doing the proper thing and showing your class.
Also it is good karma for you.
no, you don’t have to.. you can if you want. or just send a card.