How many presents did your dc get from other people?

[HotChocolatemarshmallows]

My 1 year old got 5 presents from other people and a few from me.
I thought this was ok until my friend sent me a photo of her babies millions of presents. I've felt guilty ever since.

My 4 yo got 4 gifts from us and about 10 other gifts. It was too much. He didn't want to open half of them. I can't imagine how overwhelmed he'd be with more. He's slowly started playing with some but I've put half in the cupboard for a rainy day. A 1 year old would have no concept of how many gifts they had so you have nothing to feel guilty about.

At 1 they will remember nothing and care nothing.

DSs had stockings a big Santa present and then a couple of presents from us and one to each other each. One from each of my DP, DPIL, each of three aunts/uncles. Then each have seven thank yous to write for small presents from other people.

I don't get it. Why would you feel guilty? What other people choose to do isn't your responsibility.

My kids get from us and that's it. They ah e never been disadvantaged because of it.

My DC's had 4 presents from me and a stocking/present from santa (DD had a stocking, DS has a present as he has severe ASD to asks for a present and anything else sends him into meltdown).

They got gifts from 3 other people in my family. They have yet to see STBXH or his family (his choice).

To me its about quality of gifts rather than quantity. MY DC's did not get hundreds of gifts but what they got were well though out and will be used/read/worn etc.

My DCs only get presents from me and DH. Sad but just the way it is.

Around five people gift them, we don’t have a large family. They get plenty from us though so it evens out.

At one, they won’t know or care about the number.

Why would you feel guilty? a huge pile for a 1 year old isn't needed. You bought something, a few others bought something, thats fine.

First baby due here, they will likely in future get a stocking with small bits from us/santa, a couple of gifts from us, and then probably about 5 max from various family members also (we only have a small family). I think thats plenty, any more will be overwhelming and we wouldn't have space

My DC are 7 and 14. They got one 'big present' from me and a few small ones plus chocolate/sweets. They got a few presents from their grandparents and one each from their auntie. So they haven't had millions of presents either, but they are extremely happy with what they got and what they got was what they requested or we'll thought through.

They got a couple of presents from me and their grandparents when they were babies. I thought my friend's who spent hundreds on stuff for babies were absolutely nuts!

My children got lots from everyone. But my dd is only 9 and her pike looked huge but only had a few large presents ( our generation doll sets) yet my ds is 12 and had more items but smaller.
When they were young I used to worry do much but then I realised it was only me comparing to other households. The kids are not bothered, they were so happy with their gifts ( 3 each from me) and lots of family have gifted them a day out this year which is actually what they want from relatives and friends...time with them.

1 from grandparents

I feel better now, I don't know why it made me feel guilty but it did. I think experience guilt quite regularly now I have my own baby! Mum guilt is real !!
I think she was probably showing off anyway 🤔

Your friends baby will ignore at least half of those presents and care even less. Dreadful waste of money some times. At times mine have got more presents than justified and they end up donated to some one a year later, hardly touched. It's a boasty thing to do... it carries on all through primary years ime

Absolutely no reason for you to feel guilty... it isn’t your fault or responsibility who buys presents for your children. My best friend has 4 brothers all with their own families, and her DH has 2 sisters. Her DC get loads of presents from other people.
My brother is dead, DH has a sister who lives abroad and doesn’t ‘do’ presents, so mine don’t get as many. It’s not my fault they get fewer gifts from other people, what can I do about it? 🤷🏻‍♀️

My DC got cash from my dad and a present from my friends mum. That was it. I overcompensate a lot as I’m very conscious that their friends get a lot from family

My 10mo DD got way too much but I did cheat a bit and wrap some clothes and books up that is have bought anyway. My SIL bless her went totally nuts (first baby in the family!) and got about 15 things! But some of them are clothes and stuff that will be useful.

DD obv has very little idea but she does like some of her new toys at least.

Nothing, not one single present. We both have large families but none of them give our kids anything (their children are all much older and got plenty from us when they were young).

DS who is 13 got one present (value £20 ish) from his grandparents, and £20 in a card from my parents.
We buy more than we might do otherwise as he's never had much from anyone else

Honestly, this is something that bothers parents much more than the kids. I don't remember being aware of how much my friends did and didn't get as a youngster (I know your little one isn't at that stage anyway) but all kids have one or two presents they love and that's what they will say when asked 'so, what did you get?'.

I've felt guilty ever since.

Comparison is indeed the thief of joy.

If you baby is fed, warm, clean and loved, you are doing a great job. Don't bother comparing yourself and your baby to anyone else, you will save yourself years of unnecessary, absolutely pointless heartache.

Start as you mean to go on, enjoy these precious years together.

My dd(4) got 5 presents from Santa. None from us😂.
I have a large family so she got lots from them.
People who buy lots of presents for small children are mad. Dd hasn't played with everything she got yet.

My 2 got a paperback book each from my mother. Everything else (about 3 things each under the tree along the lines of rugby boots, new slippers etc and a few very small 'Santa presents') was from me. They are 11 and 8.

They were happy and grateful. I'm sure your DC were too, OP. Don't stress it.

It's also worth remembering that this kind of guilt often makes parents buy way more than they can afford and enter a cycle of debt. I genuinely believe that DC want family time and parent attention more than expensive gifts.. we all live such fraught busy lives these days.