Etiquette advice needed- should I get a present for these people?

[pozzled]

A couple I know always buy my DD Christmas and birthday presents, they often go to a lot of trouble and spend a reasonable amount. They're not really close friends, I think they do it because they love children and their own children are grown up, so they like having someone little to buy for.

My problem is that I'm never sure if I should buy something in return- we would never exchange presents with the couple ourselves as we're not close enough, but it seems rude to take the gifts without giving something in return. DD is only a toddler so too young to give something in return herself, and of course we do send very nice thank you cards, with a photo of her.

Should I just get a small token gift, bottle of wine, box of chocs, that kind of thing? What I don't want is for them to start feeling that they have to buy for us as well!

[pozzled]

Sorry for long post, have rambled on a lot.

[zandy]

I'd just give them a Christmas card that toddler child has sprinkled some glitter on and marked her 'name'. It will be sufficient, I think.

[ItalianLady]

A token gift would be lovely.

We have a similar situation and have bought return gifts over the years for them. Feels wrong otherwise.

[alarkaspree]

I don't think so - I imagine you're right in thinking they are buying presents for her because they enjoy it. I'm the nice thank you card and photo is all they want in return. And maybe a christmas visit? When she is older she could bake them some biscuits or something.

[pozzled]

Thanks for the opinions. Still a bit undecided but you have reassured me that I won't look too bad if I don't get anything.

[ConstantlyCooking]

DD has this and is now old enough to make presents. When she was younger I would either buy the school/nursery fund-raising tea towel/calendar/mug and give that or do a home-made Christmas card with DD. Cutting out a fir tree shape and getting her to sprinkle glitter and draw type thing.

[Rosebud05]

A 'signed ' card with photo sounds great.

Give it year or so and you'll be swimming against the tide of your dd's handmade creations/cards that you can give them .

If I was the 'giver' in this situation, I'd much rather this than feel that I'd inadvertently pressurised people into giving me a token gift by giving one to their dd iyswim.