Baby shower gift: Silicon or amber teething necklace

I would never put an amber necklace on my baby due to choking hazard. I did receive a silicone necklace and i think it's stupid but I'm not a huge accessory person when I have a baby. Basically you're wearing a gross slobber covered strangulation device. Yes I'm aware it's break away but you'll still get yanked pretty hard. I wore it before baby came so the giver would feel happy and then i used it once with baby who kept tossing it on the floor. Gross. I don't recommend this gift unless the recipient specifically asked you for it.

This. I am not way past mothering babies and those necklaces freak me right out. All I can think about when I see them on my friends babies are that they are going to choke to death on them.

Stick to books. They'll last well past the teething stage and bring far more joy to the kids and the parents.

Babies like different things for teething, some like to chew on silicone items, some those frozen rings, some just frozen washcloths, or like my first kid, nothing. I wouldn't give anything like unless the parents specifically asked for it because it is such a hit or miss item. Amber necklaces are controversial, I wouldn't use them. Plus I doubt my husband would want to wear one of those silicone necklaces!

Regarding go to gifts versus registry items, I split the difference. I buy them items from their registry and then add a go-to gift. It used to be board books but these days I include a cheap set of precision screwdrivers for all those little battery covers or a multi purpose package opener.

I really like when people have a registry because it I know whatever I get for them it's something they wanted. A friend of mine is having a baby in April and we are having a shower for her at work, we are all going in on a big gift from her registry. Most of us usually buy something besides the big gift. I looked at the registry and almost everything on it is $200 to $300. That's way more than I was thinking of spending so I will be getting something that she didn't register for. I hope she likes it.

Keep in mind that a LOT of people only register for the big ticket items (at least it's pretty common in my circle of friends and family). It has nothing to do with them feeling like they're entitled to a big gift or expecting you to spend that on the shower. Most people really don't care which receiving blanket or outfit you choose - and will welcome whatever book you decide to give. For those who are either spending more money or pooling their money, the parents to be might have an actual preference to the carseat or stroller and so register for those items. Maybe because baby registries were slow to become popular in our group. None of us registered before the last 5 or so years and while a couple put every single random small item they could think of - I'd say still the majority only register for the big items.