To despair of children’s Christmas presents

[Yura]

I just packed a huge charity bag with unusable Christmas presents - why oh why do people not ask? And why do they not listen to the answers?
Loads of Lego - child likes the bricks, but not cars. It’s all cars (5 boxes)
Clothes with polyester - both kids have eczema that is triggered by polyester. Everybody around us know that as it took us ages to get wearable school uniform for the oldest. A bag full going to the charity shop with labels attached.
Warm winter clothes 9-12 months size up for the baby. He is in 3-6 months now, they would fit in summer (Polyester anyway, so can’t use them)
2 part pyjamas for the baby? Polyester anyway so he can’t wear them, but 2 parters for a 7 month old?
A book on “ scary dinosaurs” for a very sensitive 6 year old suffering from nightmares (we’ll keep that actually, maybe the baby will like it when he’s older)
I’m thankful that people give us presents, but we end up giving 90% unopened/labels attached to the charity shop, it’s such a waste.

[Toomanycats99]

I preferred 2 part pyjamas - mine had them from 3 months. Much easier for a middle of the night nappy change than trying to get a sleepsuit matched up!

[NannyR]

You don't have to build cars with the Lego, open the packs and mix in with your other Lego bricks and let them create their own models.

[Allthewaves]

If labels are on I would have took them back to the shop. Box's lego could go back to any retailer that sells them and swapped for lego he wants.

[Allthewaves]

Or keep and regift as presents when kids invited to class friends parties.

[Archietheinventor]

The baby might like Lego cars in a few years - save them. And we used to use 2 piece pjs for our babies. Don’t see the issue? YABU

[wherethewildthingis]

You do sound a bit ungrateful! Did your children get any nice presents ?? And yes Lego is Lego, just break it up and use the bricks

[strangerhoes]

You sound horrible

[Yura]

hardly any bricks in the boxes sadly, just cars and people :(
glad to know some people use 2 parters on young babies- somebody will get a bargain (expensive brand)
re gifting is out as son wouldn't want to give something as a present that he thinks is stupid, but i might try to swop the sets. thanks!

[SpringSnowdrop]

For the polyester thing I do think it might be worth asking if they have a receipt as your DC’s eczema is aggravated by polyester- that is reasonable but also a useful way to gently remind people. As even if they didn’t keep the receipt they are more likely to remember another time.
On the whole though I’d just take it all in the spirit that they have been kind and you might find things useful in a present drawer if can’t use it yourself ?

[BrutusMcDogface]

Yabu.

[TheSameCoin]

You sound a bit ungrateful TBH. I don’t get why you wouldn’t keep the Lego cars - you don’t have to make cars out of them, just put the pieces in a box and let the DCs make whatever they like. Nothing wrong with 2 piece pyjamas for babies either, just personal preference.

[ManchesterGin]

I chuck the things we definitely won't use into a box that we use as presents for parties through the year or for the present appeals next Christmas or raffle prizes for school fairs etc.
The clothing is trickier but if they have tags on then explaining they are gifts often means companies will exchange them.

[Yura]

pjs are polyester - wearing them would lead to eczema outbreaks!
there were 5 lego bricks in the pack we opened. tve rest was car and people! i don't have storage for that much stuff for several years

[JoyceDivision]

Other than specific materials triggering allergies ypu sound a tad ungrateful. Why should people ask before gifting? Back in the day people used to receive a gift, express thanks and use it as aporopriate!

Mix lego pieces up so dcs can free build, keep non allergy issue clothes in case they are useful, keepthe book, it may get read in the future.

2 parters for7 month old seemsfine, keep them for emergency day clothesin case of nappy explosions, sickness, food or juice leaving top very wet....

[SheSparkles]

I have to say that you are being pretty unreasonable. As a pp said, the Lego cars can be mixed in with other Lego, and my ds was playing with Lego till he was 10/11, so you’re being a bit short sighted with that.
You can’t expect people to remember that you had problems getting non polyester school uniform for your ds! 2 part pjs are brilliant for nighttime nappy changes-way better than having to try to pair up the studs on sleepsuits -my dd and ds both wore pjs from a few weeks old

[ManchesterGin]

Even if he thinks they are "stupid" surely he understands that his friends might like different toys to him?

[Notso]

YABeing a bit U as pp said Lego is all just bricks so any set can be mixed with rest.
Don't see a problem with 2 piece pyjamas.
The polyester thing is annoying for you but people just forget about stuff like this. One of my DC has had a nut/peanut allergy diagnosed for 6 years now and 90% of family still buy him selection boxes and Easter eggs he can't eat.
Sell the clothes and put them towards ones you can use?

[Haudyerwheesht]

Eh? Lego bricks are lego bricks. There's no law that says you have to make what's on the box!

2 piece PJs great for when nappy leaks

Scary dinosaur book isn't a DVD of the shining!

Get a grip

[ChickenPaws]

I think giving xmas presents to both adults and children has become a meaningless ritual born out of a sense of obligation. People don’t think about what they’re buying, just as long as they’ve bought it and get to tick the name of the recipient of their list.

Obviously not everyone takes this unconscious approach, but a lot do judging by the thoughtless present threads on here over the xmas season. I think it’s very sad and a total waste of resources as well as money.

[KC225]

Surely the scarey dinosaur book can be regifted or perhaps go through it with your son to desensitise him

Was there anything you liked?

[drivingmisspotty]

It does sound a bit frustrating. But I think maybe you have slightly high expectations of people's memories/how much attention to detail they have regarding your kid's lives. If they've got lots of people to buy for they could easily see some cute pyjamas and forget that 4 months ago you were struggling to find uniforms, or remember just that your DS likes Lego but forget it is just the bricks. They might not associate the nightmares with dinosaurs as so many kids love dinosaurs...

I can see how it would be hurtful as though not much thought has been put into the presents. But I just think give them the benefit of the doubt. And maybe remind them before next Christmas of your kids' allergies.

[Haudyerwheesht]

Your kid thinks anything he doesn't like is stupid? Wow

[Notso]

Cross posted about the Lego.

[Yura]

to clarify- all of the clothes are more than 5% polyester, so not wearable for us.
of course we thank the giver, but its just such a waste!
the lego is litterally all cars and people, hardly anything usable for us in there (i was surprised myself, lego has changed a lot!)

[junebirthdaygirl]

I see your ds is taking after you in ungratfulness calling perfectly good Lego a stupid present.
Adding people into their existing Lego collection adds much more opportunity for imaginative games.