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Christmas

Would you buy babies under the age of 1 Christmas presents? Do they understand?

30 replies

Babysealion · 27/11/2013 08:52

Not relevant to this year as am still cooking DC1!
But whenever we go to baby shops/toys r us etc and we see all the baby toys DP talks about coming next year to buy presents for baby's first Christmas.
The baby will be just short of 11 months (and that's if he arrives on EDD). DP wants us to be putting money away all year for the baby's Christmas (which we do anyway otherwise we wouldn't be able to pay for other people's presents if we left it until November!) and then go crazy with presents.
I personally do not think an 11 month old baby needs a mountain of stuff to open on Christmas Day. Do they have any idea at that age what is going on?

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DipMeInChocolate · 27/11/2013 08:56

Completely agree it's pointless til they are 2/3.

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rainbowfeet · 27/11/2013 08:57

Well no they obviously don't understand it all but I wouldn't have left my ds out!! He was 10 months old last Xmas & yep I probably enjoyed buying him presents way more than he enjoyed opening them (or assisting dd opening them)! But to my Christmas is all about children!!

I got him an activity table, couple of ride on toys, cars, books etc... & his birthday 6 weeks after a v-tech garage & a smart trike!!

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Doodledumdums · 27/11/2013 09:00

My DS will be just short of 1 this xmas, and we've got him presents! His Birthday is on the 1st of Jan though so I don't think we'll buy him much for that as it is so close to xmas and we're having a big party.

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LadyMetroland · 27/11/2013 09:01

Utterly pointless. They don't get Christmas until at least 2/3.

But no harm in buying things your ds needs anyway and wrapping them up

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heidihole · 27/11/2013 09:01

No they don't understand and they don't have the motor skills to open the presents anyway probably. DS is 18mo this Xmas and we have bought him just one gift. However the next baby (due in 2 months) will have to have something more for his Christmases as this time we will have an older first child who might notice if Santa leaves the baby out!

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Babysealion · 27/11/2013 09:05

Agree with what everyone's saying. Of course we'll still have a few presents wrapped up under the tree from Santa (also agree Christmas is about kids)

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hallowisitmeyourelookingfor · 27/11/2013 09:08

If money is tight, I wouldn't bother.
I have always done for mine though, a few toys and then practical things they would need throughout the next year. Things like a bath seat and a door bouncer when ds was 2m at his first Christmas.
Of course they don't know so you don't have to.

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randomAXEofkindness · 27/11/2013 09:12

It's pointless at the time, but I've always gotten stuff to put aside for them to enjoy when they're a bit older. I like to take advantage of Christmas to stock up. But if you haven't got the money/inclination don't bother, I don't think they'll hold it against you!

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noblegiraffe · 27/11/2013 09:16

My DD will be 11 months and will be getting presents, but not as many as her brother who will be 4. She is getting the vtec musical tree, a couple of books (that's not my...), a name plate for her bedroom door and some clothes that she'll need anyway.
A big pile of presents would be silly, especially with her birthday so soon after.

My DS has asked what he got when he was a baby so we could point out his name plate, cuddly dinosaur etc. They might not know at the time but they might wonder when they're older if Santa brought them nothing!

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MinesAPintOfTea · 27/11/2013 09:17

ds got a stocking (with small teddy, outfit, book) and a walker. Cost about 50 quid and all stuff he's used loads. I made the stocking with his name on so that's his for life. No need to go overboard.

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impatienttobemummy · 27/11/2013 09:17

I've bought my DS a mixture of second hand and new bits that I know he'll love no need to go mad though

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pinkandsparklytoo · 27/11/2013 09:18

On my DS2's first Christmas he was four days old, I think I got him a set of ducks for the bath. The next year he got a few bits so DS1 wasn't suspicious then last year he got loads. He spent the day in hospital and didn't unwrap anything.

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pinkandsparklytoo · 27/11/2013 09:20

Forgot to include that in my experience they don't really understand what is happening until they are at least 2.5

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girlywhirly · 27/11/2013 09:24

No they don't understand, and often like the boxes/wrapping paper better than the presents! However, it is a good opportunity to purchase 'big' toys and things to aid their development such as push along walkers and ride on toys. Family and friends usually give lots of gifts so you don't need to buy a mountain of presents, which you will have to unwrap and the baby won't understand that either. You could put some money aside instead of gifts, to buy toddler garden toys for example for use in Spring and Summer.

They do understand seeing familiar people coming to see them, and sometimes panic if they aren't used to big groups of people, they need to have their meals at the usual times and naps as well. Accept that baby may well be asleep while you eat Christmas lunch!

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Pearlsaplenty · 27/11/2013 09:29

Yes I think a few small presents are a nice way to show your love and celebrate a special time. Also it is nice having first Christmas present opening photos :)

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tortoisesarefab · 27/11/2013 09:30

They dont understand but i do and i love christmas. I have got dd a lovely ragdoll with her name on, a sophie giraffe and a tea set that she will like when she is older (she is 5 months). No harm in not getting them anything but i imagine other people will buy for them.

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rachyconks · 27/11/2013 09:30

Well I have bought DD quite a few things. She will be 13 months. Last year she was 5 weeks and got a lot too. But we always buy things she will need anyway. Clothes, bigger toys that we wouldn't buy throughout the year, pjs, slippers etc. last year she got a bouncer from GP's and a gym from us. For us this works.

Money is quite tight, but I have been buying things since around September when I have seen offers on and got discounts on everything.

I wouldn't consider having nothing for her,, no matter what her age. Maybe it's more for me than her, but it just wouldn't feel right.

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notso · 27/11/2013 09:34

Have said it loads of times on here but a lovely stocking and or Santa sack make great 1st Christmas presents that hopefully you DC will love bringing out every year.
I started with DC1 buying a Christmas themed soft toy every year we put them on the stairs when we get the decorations out although now I have 4 DC and the eldest is 13 it's getting to be a safety hazard!

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BoohPear · 27/11/2013 09:41

Dd will be 9 months at Christmas. We have got her an activity gym that can be used up to the age of 3, a toddler rocker, and then some toys for now, a swimming penguin for the bath, hide and squeak eggs just little things like that.

Grandparents have got her a walker, some building blocks and my dsis has got her books.

All things we would have bought anyway and things that can be used for months/years to come.

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BoohPear · 27/11/2013 09:43

Oh and I have had a personalised stocking made for her that she can get out year after year.

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GwendolineMaryLacey · 27/11/2013 09:45

No they don't understand but having said that I can't imagine leaving them out. Why would you? It doesn't have to be a mountain of stuff, of course, but I couldn't have one of my children with no presents no matter how old they are.

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BeansAndCheese · 27/11/2013 09:52

Our situation with dd was similar, because she was born in December. Its worth remembering that by the time the next present giving event comes along ie next Christmas, they'll be at quite a different stage developmentally. We bought a few things for when she 18 months or more, let her play with the paper and look at the box then put them away for later. I agree don't spend much though, they are just as happy with the wrapping paper at that age

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noblegiraffe · 27/11/2013 09:54

They also get overstimulated/bored easily, and if you buy a mountain of gifts like your DH suggests, you won't actually get to open them all. You'll be going 'ooh baby, look, another toy' while baby waahs or looks away because it wants to play with the first thing you opened.

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Luggage16 · 27/11/2013 10:03

I have a lovely pic of my son age 4 months sat on the bed with his stocking next to his sister and us helping him open his presents. He is really watching his sister and joining in with the whole experience regardless of if he understood or not. I think all these things are experiences and experiences are good for little ones. I wouldnt go ott with presents but 1 present in some shiney paper would be exciting for a child that age. they love looking at the tree lights etc by then too. My daughter was very 'with it' by a year and loved xmas too - she was 10 months on her first christmas and got a trampoline - she loved it, jumped on it loads and really enjoyed herself all day (she was an early walker though so very steady on her feet by then). Basically what im saying is dont spend a lot but dont miss out on all the fun experiences of christmas with your lo! they will only have a first xmas once and it is nice to make it special regardless of how much they understand or remember later :)

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SpookedMackerel · 27/11/2013 12:14

I think it can be a nice opportunity to buy then things that they will grow into over the following year. They develop so fast - at Dd's first Christmas she was mainly chewing or banging toys, couldn't move around by herself, enjoyed sucking on books rather than reading them.
At her second Christmas she was running around, playing imaginitively with her toys, doing jigsaws, building towers, could fill in words in her favourite books. ..

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