I know this has been discussed before, so I need you mama's opinions. My babe's first b-day will be in May, and I'm trying to figure out how to word his invites. I'd love to encourage people to bring books or pool toys (my parents have a pool, so hopefully he'll have lots of water time this summer). A part of me thinks it's tacky to ask for specific things as gifts, I mean, it's a gift, not a right. But another part just says to hell with it. I don't want a house full of crap toys that overrun his room and the rest of the house. My DH's mom already has a pile of shit for his b-day she's been saving up (which we'll have to have a talk about before x-mas comes). So he won't need any more from anyone else. We are only getting him a book, his first float, and a cool wooden toy.

How could I tastefully word it on the invite, or should I just let people ask and tell them then? I'm torn, any advice?