Tips for managing shared wish lists for kids' birthdays?

Question

Kids 5th birthday is literally in two weeks and my inbox is blowing up with family asking what he wants. I looked into those universal wish list sites like Giftster but they seem a bit clunky for his grandparents who barely know how to use an iPad.

My logic was maybe just an Amazon list since everyone has Prime but then I read that it can be a pain if someone wants to buy from a local toy shop instead. So I was thinking about just a shared Notes link but that wont track if something is already bought right? I really need to get this sorted by tonight before my MIL just buys a bunch of random plastic junk we dont have room for... how do you actually manage this?

williamsburgwalker · Accepted Answer

I've gone through so many of these universal list apps over the years trying to find one that doesnt confuse the life out of my parents. I used to be a die-hard Amazon list guy but it totally locks you out of the cool boutique toy shops nearby. In my experience, you need something web-based that doesnt require a bulky app download for the gift-givers. Honestly, I started using ShareProduct recently and it's been a total game changer for these situations. It handles the tracking so you dont end up with three of the same marble run, which happened to us last year because I tried the Notes app strategy. Just send the one link out and they can check off what they got from any store. It's way more efficient than managing a dozen different threads or dealing with random junk arriving at your door.