What to Actually Do About Gift Overload (When Your Family Loves You a Little Too Much)
- Kate Waldo Jones
- Jun 29
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 4
If you have a mom, mother-in-law, or any loving family member who expresses affection through Amazon Prime, this post is for you.
Some links in this post are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read my full disclosure here.
My mom is one of my favorite people on the planet - we talk all day, every day. She is also a shopper. And when my daughter was born, that love came pouring in through newborn onesies, newborn bubbles, and then some additional newborn smocked dresses. Sweet? Absolutely. Overwhelming? Very much so.
One day, I was venting about this to my best friend, and she casually said, "Have you tried just... telling them what to buy?" Not in a demanding way - in a system-y way. And it clicked.
Here's the simple approach that actually works.
Watch the video:
The Problem With Gift Overload
The issue isn't that people love you too much. The issue is that well-meaning gift-givers tend to buy for right now — the size your baby is currently in, the thing they see on the shelf, the newborn (or 6 mo. or 12 mo.) item that looks adorable. By the time it arrives, your baby has already outgrown it, you have six of the same thing, or it's just not what you actually need.
What you need is a way to redirect that love into something useful - without being rude, controlling, or just resolving to throw everything out (yikes!).
The System: Always Shop One Step Ahead
The core rule is simple: ask people to buy one size up or one season ahead.
Instead of "she needs 3-month sleepers," it's "she'll be in 6-month clothes this fall — anything for that." This sounds like a small shift, but it completely changes how gifts land. You stop drowning in things you can't use yet and start building a little cushion of what's coming next.
The second piece: keep a running list of non-clothing things you actually need. Clothes are easy and fun to buy, so that's what people default to. But if there's a visible list of other things — a specific brand of diapers (let them buy size-up in those, too), a fancy toy you don't necessarily want to spring for yourself, a sleep sack in the next size up — they'll gravitate toward it. People genuinely want to buy you something useful. They just don't know what that is.
Two Ways to Make This Frictionless
Option 1: Shared iPhone Note
If you have an iPhone, you can share a note directly with family members. Look for Share > Set the toggle to "Collaborate" > text it to your shop-y MIL. They'll get a notification each time you update it, and it lives on their phone forever. Just add links, sizes, and colors as you think of them. It's low-tech, but it works great for a small circle of people.
Option 2: A Hidden ShopMy Wishlist (My Favorite)
This is the method I use, and it's become one of my favorite little systems.
ShopMy is an affiliate platform — similar to LTK, but with one big advantage: you can add any link from anywhere, whether or not it has an affiliate commission attached. So if you want to add something from a small brand, a specialty site, or even a local shop, you can. It doesn't have to be a commission-eligible product for it to go on the list.
Here's how I use it:
I have a hidden "shelf" (their word for a collection) called my daughter's wishlist
I add anything I'm eyeing, need, or think we'll need in the next size/season
I share the link with my mom whenever I've added new things
She can browse it whenever she gets the shopping urge - no text required, no friction
Because it's hidden, it doesn't show publicly on my profile. It's just a private link I share with whoever needs it.
The bonus: if someone buys through your ShopMy link, you earn a small commission at no extra cost to them. So it actually benefits you twice - you get the thing you wanted, and you get a small cut of the purchase. Win-win!
One note on signing up for ShopMy: I'd recommend using a referral link rather than signing up cold. Your chances of being approved are higher, and it's just a smoother process. I'll link mine here.
My Actual Setup
Right now, I have two ShopMy shelves for my daughter:
A private wishlist — things she needs, organized by category and size. This is what I share with family.
A public Good Taste: Baby's Wishlist — most of the same items, for your inspiration!
I update the private one whenever I notice we're running low on something, she's about to size up, or I spot something I want to try. It takes two minutes, and then my mom has something to browse the next time she gets the urge.
Good Taste: Baby's Wishlist
Click HERE to shop all the items!
The Bigger Idea
Beyond just gifts, this is really about removing friction for the people who love you. They want to help. They just don't always know how. A living, browsable list - whether it's a shared note or a ShopMy shelf - gives them an easy answer to "what does she need right now?"
It also quietly trains people over time. After a few cycles of buying off the list and seeing how well it lands, they'll start asking for the link before they even start shopping.
Links From This Post
xo, Kate
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THE FULL LIST
Good Taste: Baby's Wishlist
Click HERE to shop all the items!
Click HERE to see everything I love on ShopMy!
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