Appropriate amount for contributing to a "sprinkle" gift?

[jent]

So, the mom's group that I've recently joined is throwing a combined baby shower for 3 of the moms that are expecting. It's supposed to be low-key, because it's second babies for all of them, and they've all said they don't really need anything. The mom hosting the party suggested contributing towards a gift card but left the amount open. (She also suggested bringing diapers, but 1 of the moms is cloth diapering, so she has a cloth diaper registry, which makes it a little complicated, so I'd rather go with the gift card.) I have no idea what's appropriate since I haven't been to a 2nd shower/sprinkle before, plus this is for 3 people. What do you think is a good ballpark amount? $10? $15? $25?

[luckytwenty]

I spent about $25-30 for my friends' sprinkles--but they are among my best friends. If you're not as close, maybe $20 or $15?? I guess it depends on what people in your circle spend.

[SnuggleBuggles]

Minimum $25, imo. I would feel kind of tacky only spending $10- I spend more than that on b-day presents for random kids in ds1's class at school. Babies are a big deal. I usually buy a gift for any baby, regardless of what # it is, and spend $30-40.

Beth

[citymama]

I think $10 each is fine - so $30 total.

[MamaMolly]

How many moms are in the group? If there are going to be 20 people giving, then I think $5-$10 each is more than enough. But if it is only 5-6 people giving I'd probably do $20.

The most I've spent on non-first babies is for a very good friend and I'm thinking around the $50 mark. But she was incredibly helpful and kind when we were TTC DC2, and watched DD1 every day when I had to get blood work done. So I'd really like to get her something very, very pretty for herself.

[jent]

The group is fairly large- about 20 I think. Though I'm not sure if all will attend the party. They are not close friends-- just a group I've gotten to know over the summer. It's not exactly a formal mom's group, it's a group that's been loosely meeting for playdates over the summer.

Thanks for the input. As I said, I just don't know. My immediate reaction is actually to spend on the higher side, but then I thought, well, this is supposed to be low-key, and it's not people I know well. I don't want to look cheap but I don't want to be the strange person who outspends either!

[hellokitty]

Originally Posted by jent

The group is fairly large- about 20 I think. Though I'm not sure if all will attend the party. They are not close friends-- just a group I've gotten to know over the summer. It's not exactly a formal mom's group, it's a group that's been loosely meeting for playdates over the summer.

Thanks for the input. As I said, I just don't know. My immediate reaction is actually to spend on the higher side, but then I thought, well, this is supposed to be low-key, and it's not people I know well. I don't want to look cheap but I don't want to be the strange person who outspends either!

If there are about 20 mom contributing, I'd just contribute $5 per expectant mom. Chances are there will be many more of these, "informal" sprinkles to follow and that will add up to a lot of $ for moms who aren't exactly super close friends of yours, kwim? Our moms group started out like that too, but then everyone got burnt out on all of the, "sprinkles." By last yr, nobody really did them anymore.

[citymama]

Jen, can you ask the organizer of the sprinkle how much most people are chipping in?

[jent]

Originally Posted by citymama

Jen, can you ask the organizer of the sprinkle how much most people are chipping in?

Yeah, maybe that's what I should do! It seems that there's a wide range of norms.

[SnuggleBuggles]

Ah. that many? I'd be good with $10-15 then. Curious what the organizer says!

Beth