How many birthday presents do you get your child?

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I'm just being nosey really.

We have always brought one smallish present for DS. As he was growing up it was things like a Dr Who colouring book and pens. A Ninjago. A starwars onesie.as he got older, he got some decent fineline pens for his art, a graphic novel he wanted, a wok (his request!).

He also has cake and chooses dinner.

My colleague said I was being tight! But it's not about that, it's about ALL THE FUCKING STUFF.

It's not like he goes without on his birthday as he will get around 15 other gifts. (GPs, aunts, uncles, neighbour, friends etc)

I think different families consider birthdays differently. My husband’s family always made a huge fuss, decorated throne, big family meal, etc and still make a fuss even though they’re all the wrong side of fifty. My family said happy birthday but it wasn’t a big deal.
It’s got bigger and bigger and highly competitive but I think your more simple birthday celebration sounds infinitely nicer than the stress and expectation of sheer delight at yet more tat placed on quite young children who neither need, nor really want it.

I set a budget rather than a number of gifts and I wouldn't include the family meal in that even if we are going out as everyone benefits. So the budget is just for presents and things specifically for the birthday person. It has gone up as dd gets older but her main present is something more worthwhile now, for example last year she got a guitar which she loved but has used for her music lessons.

Also the onesie was about £25.

It sounds like not a lot. Bit for example this year from us he got a wok (£35) a cake, and dinner at nandos. So all in around £60 spent in him.
From other people he got

Art pad from uncle
Watercolours from aunt
Recipe book from nan and grandpa
Chilli sauce collection and Some chilli seeds to grow. From gran and grandad
Cinema tickets. From aunt and uncle 1
A discworld novel from aunt and uncle 2
A scarf from his gf.
Cycling Jersey from my cousin
Haribo box from friend
A batman keyring from friend
Rick and Morty socks from friend
Another cake from family friend
A bazinga t-shirt from friend
And a cactus from friend

And the bit like the boy goes without

Sounds like he gets plenty overall.

I think these things are very dependent on the number of presents a child will get in total - like a PP, mine doesn't get anything from others, so one present from us would be a bit rubbish.

A colouring book is the kind of thing I would just pick up in the supermarket on a normal week (when Dd was younger)
For birthday last year Dd got tickets to see Shawn Mendes, a pair of trainers & a few bits like new art stuff & cds

I’ve never thought about cost of dinner out being part of her birthday as we eat out quite a bit anyway

It is neither shit nor mean nor tight. There are DC who receive ££s of stuff and want more or are ungrateful or disappointed and it sounds like he was thrilled.

My dd is 12 next month and I've bought her a hot glue gun, a sketchpad and TWO novels. She won't want anything else because she's not that child. DS is 8 later this year and likes lots of little things to open like blind bags and bubbles and pants. Contents are irrelevant.

I used to get one main gift and 2-3 small bits, budgeting around 40-50 pounds total per child plus party for 10-12 children. Now they are a bit older and I ask them what they prefer within 150 pounds budget. The choice is: a big party+1 small gift, small party + expensive gift/cash.
To me a reasonable amount to spent on a birthday is min 80 max 200, that's including everything.
This year my 11y old wants to invite just one friend so I will spend no more then 30-40 pounds for the party and can afford 100-120 on a nice present.

I buy colouring books and pens about twice a month as mine do a lot of colouring and use them up/wear them out quickly. Doesn’t mean your way is wrong though. There’s no point buying things just for the sake of it and he gets lots overall.
My mum and dad (divorced) will each buy a gift too (around £50) so means I don’t have to buy as much as I would do otherwise.
I’ve had criticism on here before for mainly buying my 5 year old craft materials and books rather than toys, but that’s what she likes! If I bought her a doll she’d think I’d gone insane, as she doesn’t play with them and doesn’t want them.
DD2 on the other hand loves dolls/toys/plastic tat, so that’s what she gets.

At the other end of the scale, my best friend has just spent £500 on a party for her soon to be 4 year old and will spend another £500 on gifts. I think it’s madness but each to their own 🤷🏻‍♀️

Last birthday Dd got 4 small presents from us:
Rainbow unicorn backpack
Plastic rainbow tiara
Set of kids nail polishes
Popper beads
I also did her a "princess tea" with little cakes and finger sandwiches on the day and the requisite mad whole class party on the weekend.
Most party guests gave money, which was swiftly diverted into her savings account.
Her birthday is March though, which makes a difference as she is generally still well served by the Christmas toys. If it fell in summer I would consider giving more.
I only ever got a token present for birthdays (unsurprising as it falls in late Jan when everyone's skint!) and accepted it.
I'm on a bit of a "give-them-what-i-never-had" trip with mine though so I err on the side of indulgence.

You bought your son a wok for his birthday?!?! How old is he? Also, the cost of the cake and a meal at Nando's surely are not included as part of his birthday present??

I really think that your son's age is of importance in order for people to better answer your question.

I don't count the cost of dinner out and the cake as DD's presents. That's just something we do. Likewise I've never counted the cost of a party as her present either - again that's my choice to throw a party and spend a certain amount.

DD's always had a reasonable amount spent on her for her birthday and its increased as she's gotten older.

On the face of it a colouring book and pens don't sound much. It's the type of gift I'd send as a present for a school friends party, rather than my child's main gift from me.

But everyone's finances are different and people can afford different amounts.

If you child is happy then that's fine.

One ‘big’ gift like a bike or a scooter and then a much smaller (under £10) fun thing from the dog! Maybe a new outfit depending whether they need one/how much the ‘big’ gift was.
They also get a birthday tea if their choosing on the day and a party. So overall it probably adds up to hundreds of pounds but we don’t go crazy with presents at Christmas.

Depends what they ask for

As they’ve got older we’ve spent more on birthdays

DD2’s birthday is next week and she needs a new body protector for horse riding which is £140 so that’s all she’ll get from us.

She gets presents from grandparents and my brother but we don’t have a massive family

We usually get a cake and go out for dinner but have never really counted that as part of their present

One so far...DS has a spring birthday and loves being outdoors/active so last year he got a scooter and this year he got a bike (and always a birthday balloon!) I imagine it continuing for some time with his present being something for the garden/sporty that is big but we’d want to get him anyway.

He’s very lucky, My parents and DBro always buy him a toy and PILs and BIL give birthday money.

Plus he’s still young enough that we still go to all the NCT birthdays and we all get a little present for all the DC. This year I’ve got them all books with a little craft/art set inside.

We spend £100-£150 for presents. Usually one expensive thing, couple of moderate things and a few cheap things.
The cost of either a party or a day out and extras like cake, balloons, takeaway etc is budgeted for seperately. This budget depends on finances at the time.

My Dd turned 6 this year and got;
A watch
A book
A jewelry making set
2 LOL doll 🙄 (I hate them, but she loves them)
And A sequin top.

We could have got her so much more but I don’t see the point in overwhelming them. She was more than happy!She also had a party with her classmates.

Think we spent about 65 on gifts.

"You bought your son a wok for his birthday?!?! How old is he?" He is 15 and that's what he wanted as he's mad on stir fry and noodles. It was a fairly decent one at £35.

"Also, the cost of the cake and a meal at Nando's surely are not included as part of his birthday present??"

Going out for dinner is a treat and spending £20 odd quid per person on a meal for isn't an everyday thing for us - our bill was around £60, so yes it counts as a present! We only go out for 'occasions' and sometimes on holiday. Maybe 8 times a year? and the cake cost £35!

And that’s fine. You are obviously very comfortable with your choices and your colleague was out of order to make comment.

We wouldn’t include a meal out as part of the present/budget, but we eat out pretty m regularly anyway (weekly). I make the cakes myself so although ingredients/decorations can cost around £30 I wouldn’t tend to count that as part of the budget either. It depends on your finances I suppose.
Having said that we could afford to spend a lot more than we do on presents, but I don’t see the point or value in showering young children with gifts.

Op, does your son have things like a mobile phone/game consul? Are they bought as gifts or how are they given?

Including 1 gift and day out and cake about £100.