All they want for Christmas...

[Jbr]

It's started already "14 weeks to go" a butcher screamed out at my local shopping centre.

Jack wants a Zippy Beanie Baby and some Turkish Delight! And that's it! I should be pleased he's not going on about this and that toy etc, but it seems strange he's being so well sensible.

His dad of course, will try and get him something enormous I suspect. Maybe we should go halfers, I can't just give Jack 2 small things for Christmas, even if that's all he wanted.

Anyone else thinking ahead or just me? Have the kids started screaming about it yet?

[Rhiannon]

Sad person here already has a huge pile on top of a wardrobe (I admit it!). When I was in the USA all the Warner Bros shops were closing down and everything was 75% off, well I couldn't leave all that Harry Potter stuff on the shelves could I?

[Ems]

Talking of Harry Potter, (keep trying to not think of Christmas, but all these lovely catalogues keep coming through the postbox), has anyone seen HP plates/napkins/etc for parties, I've looked in Woolies etc, but I dont think its out yet. (when is HP out?! - I feel I should know this and be a clued up mother).

[Rhiannon]

16th November!

[Robinw]

message withdrawn

[Ems]

Thanks Rhiannon, I was sure it was out for half term, Christmas hols instead then!

[Jbr]

It's been reported that a lot of kids (whatever that means) think the Harry Potter merchandise has spoilt it and their imagination. I can see the point in a way, because if you have an image of something and then a cup or something comes out with a picture on and it looks nothing like you saw it in your head, it's going to spoil things a little.

The HP collections cards are £7 a packet! Those sorts of things were 99p a few years ago!

[Janus]

God, I'm terrified at the thought of trying to do Christmas shopping this year. I live in London so it's the thought of fighting my way on the tube with a pram, an easily bored 1 year old, and half a million tourists to battle along with too that's giving me the willies!!
Does anyone have any fav. websites (much, much, much easier option!) that they would recommend for gifts? I need the usual, for Mums and Dads, brothers, sisters, lots of nieces and nephews, etc. Oh, and if anyone can think of what the average (??!) 13 year old girl, 11 year old boy, 9 year old girl, 7 year old boy and 5 year old girl would want please help me!
Thanks.

[Anoushka]

hi janus well i used amazon.co.uk?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21 last year and the could not be falted good service and quick if you like me leave it to the last minute they said it would take three working days and suprise suprise i came on the third day it was wounderful i will be using them for sure this year hope this is a help

[Rhiannon]

Janus, vouchers! Somewhere like Woolworths, so they can get CD's.

[Robinw]

message withdrawn

[Lorien]

Janus,

For shopping on the web, I agree that Amazon.co.uk is one of the best out there. They have recommendations for various ages and sell toys and CDs as well. I've bought loads of things there and never had a problem. Otherwise there are all those websites advertised on the mumsnet home page (various toys and clothes) What else? Jojo Maman Bebe has a good site (jojomamanbebe.com, I think) and they deliver fast. I haven't checked it out, but I know Tescos and Sainsburys do home delivery from Internet orders, so that might be worth looking at. (Either for food hampers or to stock up for Christmas)

[Janus]

You're right, I have used Amazon too and they have always been so quick and I didn't know they recommended for various ages so will be straight on to that one, soonish I guess if I want to feel better and actually start the Xmas shopping.
Thanks.

[Robinw]

message withdrawn

[Stompy]

I don't like thinking about Christmas till at least December, but now I have dd (and a lot less money) I will have to start buying presents earlier. Leonie will only be 8 months old at Christmas so will probably be content playing with some brightly coloured wrapping paper :-)

[Jbr]

I love the way they are more interested in the box and wrapping than the presents!

[Wornout]

Hi Janus,
My 5 yr old niece is really into dressing up! Maybe something along that line. Also I bought her brother a actionman scooter for his birthday and she burst into tears saying that she gets nothing! Aaah poor thing who has everything under the sun, apparently big arguments over the scooter:- who used for how long & whos turn is next.

[Rhiannon]

M & S have got some lovely dressing up clothes in. £16 not too bad. There's Snow White, Tinkerbell and a Princess.

[Chairmum]

Woolworth's have dressing up outfits for boys and girls from about 10 quid! There's a variety, from fairies and witches to police officers and wizards.

[Kmg]

Check Woolworths dressing up carefully. My son got Bob the Builder for Christmas last year. It was aged 3-6, I think, or 4-6. But he'd grown out of it by the time he was 4! He is tall, but not THAT tall! Also it is dry clean only - which is ridiculous for children's dressing up stuff.

[Chairmum]

I didn't look that closely, KMG, as I was trying to avoid having to buy said outfit for my DD! What a pity the quality is so poor as they looked really nice.

[Joe]

Asda have some dressing up outfits and of course you cant go wrong with the Disney shop. Im a little more restrained on the pressie side (a left over side effect of my previous marriage, although I am getting better), but is definetely my hubbies domain, he loves it. His work is moving him to London by the end of next month so I already have visions of piles and piles of pressies for all from all that late night shopping he will be doing there. He has cetainly shown me how much fun Christmas can be again, I dont quite like getting ready for it this early though, probably start Novemberish.

[Jbr]

I was in Asda today and they had 5 little bars of chocolate. The best before dates weren't until June next year so they would have kept well for Christmas. But, guess what? I couldn't buy them for Jack because it had 49p actually printed on the wrapper! Why do they do that?! They must realise that some things like that are going to be used as presents and it isn't the done thing to let people know how much things cost. Some of the bigger more adult sweets had the prices printed on as well. Like 99p on the Brandy Chocolate Beans.

I know it sounds cheap but 5 bars of chocolate to a 3 year old is a lot! So I can't get the Christmas chocolates now with the reindeer etc on, I'll have to get Bob The Builder which he likes as well but cost 69p! Or I could buy them and wrap them up myself and take them out of the main packet. He likes things with animals on. He likes Animal Bars, but you don't seem to be able to get them very often now except in the 4 pack.

[Chairmum]

I use stickers to cover over prices that can't be removed, such as on books. You can buy packs of stickers from about £1. I'm mean, and go for the packs with lots of small stickers rather than just a few larger ones!!

[Scummymummy]

Why would a 3 year old care how much they cost anyway?