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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Help mum/santa out…

32 replies

decafisnotthesame · 05/12/2025 12:01

My 5 year old son has written to Santa and asked for a jack-in-the-box. A jack-in-the-box has never been mentioned ever before and when I’ve looked they’re about £20-30 and aimed at 18m+. AIBU to not want to spend this sort of money on a toy he’ll never actually play with?!

Help needed….does anyone have any toy ideas that are like a jack-in-the-box but better suited to a 5 year old? Maybe a box that’s electronic and shoots rockets or something?!? Anything that I can pass off as “Santa thought you were really grown up so might like this type of jack-in-the-box type thing instead”.

TIA

OP posts:
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Mouse45 · 06/12/2025 09:53

decafisnotthesame · 05/12/2025 12:01

My 5 year old son has written to Santa and asked for a jack-in-the-box. A jack-in-the-box has never been mentioned ever before and when I’ve looked they’re about £20-30 and aimed at 18m+. AIBU to not want to spend this sort of money on a toy he’ll never actually play with?!

Help needed….does anyone have any toy ideas that are like a jack-in-the-box but better suited to a 5 year old? Maybe a box that’s electronic and shoots rockets or something?!? Anything that I can pass off as “Santa thought you were really grown up so might like this type of jack-in-the-box type thing instead”.

TIA

Choc tin in m and s seen then ten quid😍

Mydadsbirthday · 06/12/2025 06:37

This thread is so lovely ❤️

I'm loving the ironing board that fell off the sleigh

I also had the my little pony shed!

And one year yes I asked for the Flower fairies castle or house or something and my mum obviously thought it was too expensive and got me the flower shaped bed instead which was lovely but not the same!

Hope you get something appropriate OP. Your little boy sounds lovely

Oneborneverydecade · 05/12/2025 19:33

Pineapplewaves · 05/12/2025 13:12

Have you asked him where he got the idea from? Has he seen one anywhere? Do any of his friends have one? Does he have one in mind?

When I was a child one of the latest toys was a brown monkey that sucked its thumb, all my friends had one and I wanted one too. I had no idea what it was called or where to get one so I simply asked Santa for a brown monkey - I got a random brown monkey soft toy and I was so disappointed, I had been looking forward to getting this specific monkey. I think I was around 6, I’m 48 now and I’ve never forgotten about that monkey!

A Monchichi? You find them to buy again recently although they do look a bit different

GertieLawrence · 05/12/2025 17:58

I loved my Jack in the box. You wound the handle and it played pop goes the weasel. Remember it v clearly and I’m nearly 60! I’d say don’t second guess what he’ll enjoy, he’ll probably be totally charmed by it.

UsernameShmusername2024 · 05/12/2025 14:54

I had exactly the same with my son although I think he was maybe 6 - but he also asked for a Jack in the Box from Father Christmas and I was really reluctant to buy it knowing that really he was too old for it and wouldn't play with it much. I was too scared to deviate from the list though and went with it - I was glad I did as he knew it was what he'd asked for but I don't remember it getting much play! I would definitely try to find one secondhand.

Epidote · 05/12/2025 14:36

IsThisTheWaytoSlamMyPillow · 05/12/2025 14:29

@decafisnotthesame - Marks and Spencer have some Santa Jack in a Box biscuits for £10. It’s a tin J in a B, Santa pops up, it’s musical and has star shaped biscuits in it.

https://www.marksandspencer.com/food/santa-jack-in-a-box-musical-tin/p/fdp60753640

I was going to suggest this one. I have it. Biscuits are OK and the tin is cute.

Original poster
decafisnotthesame · 05/12/2025 14:31

It’s so tricky isn’t it. I don’t want to second guess his choice but also don’t want to waste money or more importantly for him to be disappointed when he realises it doesn’t do much.

I think asking some probing questions is a great shout to find out exactly what is in his head. I just have to hope what he describes is something that actually exists 😂

OP posts:
imaginationhasfailedme · 05/12/2025 14:29

Try FB marketplace (if you can bear it) or any second hand toy shops locally? And an older style money grabby thing as PP have suggested.
on a Father Christmas visit when DS was about 4 and when asked what he wanted, said 'fluffy toy chicken'. Great, 20th of December, cheers kiddo! Got one from eBay which turned up just in time. Had never been mentioned before! They're surprisingly hard to find

mondaytosunday · 05/12/2025 14:24

I dint know, if he’s asked for a jack in the box why not get that? Who cares about the age? I hate it when someone second guesses my choice and remember exactly this happening to me when I was a child. I wanted a specific kind of toy but whomever (I think my parents told them what I wanted) decided that what it was they gave me was more ‘appropriate’. It was nice, but not what I’d asked for.

pitterypattery00 · 05/12/2025 14:13

WimbyAce · 05/12/2025 13:53

Agreed. I'm still not over not getting My Little Pony Dream Castle. My parents felt the Show stable offered better value 😥 All my planned games had revolved around Dream Castle. The box was the same size and everything, I was gutted.

Show quote history

Oh that's a blast from the past - I had the dream castle. I can picture it exactly even though I haven't thought of it for decades.

I think it's tricky deciphering between something they really want versus just some passing idea that is in their head at the time they write their list! And my nephew is a great one for inventing toys he would like (he thinks this is fine as the elves will make it). That plus budget and age restrictions mean kids can't always get exactly what they have in mind!

WimbyAce · 05/12/2025 13:53

Stompythedinosaur · 05/12/2025 12:42

I'd get the jack in the box. There are some on ebay for around a tenner.

It's horrible not to get what you asked for and to get something your parents think you should prefer.

Agreed. I'm still not over not getting My Little Pony Dream Castle. My parents felt the Show stable offered better value 😥 All my planned games had revolved around Dream Castle. The box was the same size and everything, I was gutted.

Original poster
decafisnotthesame · 05/12/2025 13:21

Pineapplewaves · 05/12/2025 13:12

Have you asked him where he got the idea from? Has he seen one anywhere? Do any of his friends have one? Does he have one in mind?

When I was a child one of the latest toys was a brown monkey that sucked its thumb, all my friends had one and I wanted one too. I had no idea what it was called or where to get one so I simply asked Santa for a brown monkey - I got a random brown monkey soft toy and I was so disappointed, I had been looking forward to getting this specific monkey. I think I was around 6, I’m 48 now and I’ve never forgotten about that monkey!

I hope you eventually got your monkey! If not, get it on the list for this year 😂

Absolutely no idea where his idea has come from - maybe I’ll try do some subtle detective work. I eventually worked out the doll request was because Peppa Pig asks for a doll for Christmas in one episode and Santa actually comes down the chimney and gives it to her and he was hoping the same would happen 🥰

OP posts:
HelloGreen · 05/12/2025 13:20

ThisMustBeMyDream · 05/12/2025 12:49

How about this from m&s? https://www.marksandspencer.com/food/santa-jack-in-a-box-musical-tin/p/fdp60753640

This is much better than my nightmare fuel suggestion 😂

Pineapplewaves · 05/12/2025 13:12

Have you asked him where he got the idea from? Has he seen one anywhere? Do any of his friends have one? Does he have one in mind?

When I was a child one of the latest toys was a brown monkey that sucked its thumb, all my friends had one and I wanted one too. I had no idea what it was called or where to get one so I simply asked Santa for a brown monkey - I got a random brown monkey soft toy and I was so disappointed, I had been looking forward to getting this specific monkey. I think I was around 6, I’m 48 now and I’ve never forgotten about that monkey!

ThisMustBeMyDream · 05/12/2025 13:07

decafisnotthesame · 05/12/2025 13:00

This looks like a good option…. Jack in the box and chocolate biscuits in one, what’s not to love!

Show quote history

And as its Santa... even more in the spirit!

Original poster
decafisnotthesame · 05/12/2025 13:05

Could I pass a whack a mole game off as Santas version of a Jack in the box for a 5 year old?! He’s always wanting a go at the one at a soft play near us

OP posts:
tryingtobesogood · 05/12/2025 13:04

HelloGreen · 05/12/2025 12:48

https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/7687053824-jack-in-the-box?referrer=catalog

£5+p&p on Vinted

That is satanic 😱

Original poster
decafisnotthesame · 05/12/2025 13:00

ThisMustBeMyDream · 05/12/2025 12:49

How about this from m&s? https://www.marksandspencer.com/food/santa-jack-in-a-box-musical-tin/p/fdp60753640

This looks like a good option…. Jack in the box and chocolate biscuits in one, what’s not to love!

OP posts:
Original poster
decafisnotthesame · 05/12/2025 12:59

Thanks everyone! Seems I should just accept the Jack-in-the-box…. He asked for a doll when he was 3 and the poor doll never came out of the box again after Christmas Day - trying to avoid a repeat of that.
I’ll check out the money boxes anyway as they are quite similar and maybe look for a build your own as he loves building things.
Still a couple of weeks for him to change his mind and we are visiting Santa on 13th so he could always update the big man himself then 🤞🏼😝

OP posts:
CandyCayne · 05/12/2025 12:46

18m+ is just a guideline.

If he wants a jack in the box there's no reason why we won't play with it just because he's 5.

Stompythedinosaur · 05/12/2025 12:42

I'd get the jack in the box. There are some on ebay for around a tenner.

It's horrible not to get what you asked for and to get something your parents think you should prefer.

Whereismyfleeceblanket · 05/12/2025 12:42

Ime you can't deviate from The List at that age.
Dd once didn't get the plastic tatty ironing board she had asked for (was about a fiver).. Chrismas day she loved her gifts but was sad Santa mustn't have bothered to read her letter properly..
Cue down to Argos boxing day and the ironing board was found in the garden. Fallen off the sleigh..
Santa faith restored.
Look for second hand. Save the cash and save dc's Christmas!