# Etiquette regarding foster babies and gifts.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-regarding-foster-babies-and-gifts/427088>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [November 19, 2007, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-regarding-foster-babies-and-gifts/427088 "2007-11-19T21:46:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![xanthous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/53a042/32.png) [@xanthous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xanthous)\
**Post date:** [November 19, 2007, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-regarding-foster-babies-and-gifts/427088/1 "2007-11-19T21:46:59Z")

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My friend and her husband are foster-parenting a newborn, who will stay with them for at least 30-90 days, if not longer. This is their first foster baby, and they are very excited to have him.

I’d like to send flowers, and thought a gift for the baby would be nice, too- something they could either send along with him when he leaves their care, or that they could re-use with another foster baby, like a blanket or stuffed toy.

Is there any etiquette that speaks against giving a gift in a temporary care situation?

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**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\
**Post date:** [November 19, 2007, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-regarding-foster-babies-and-gifts/427088/2 "2007-11-19T21:48:17Z")

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I think they’d be glad of the help. Diapers, baby wipes, stuff like that.

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**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\
**Post date:** [November 19, 2007, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-regarding-foster-babies-and-gifts/427088/3 "2007-11-19T21:56:20Z")

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Something they can send with baby is great - when baby moves to his adoptive home, having something with a familiar smell will be very helpful. However, they may wish to provide such a thing themselves.

Consumables are always welcome with a baby (Target gift certificates!!!)

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**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\
**Post date:** [November 19, 2007, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-regarding-foster-babies-and-gifts/427088/4 "2007-11-19T23:10:46Z")

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I’d probably opt for either the consumable-type item or the type of thing which could be reused on future babies–maybe a book or something, but I’m not sure why one wouldn’t give gifts to (especially) a new set of foster parents.

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**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\
**Post date:** [November 19, 2007, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-regarding-foster-babies-and-gifts/427088/5 "2007-11-19T23:20:03Z")

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How can a gift be a bad thing? I would probably go for either a gift card or a toy or outfit for the baby.