What do people buy their children when their birthday is so close to Christmas?

[Stillmonday]

He's only 2 so I know it's not a big issue whisky he's still so young but I found it hard enough buying him presents for Christmas now I've got to try and think of something else to get him for his birthday.
Any ideas gratefully received!!

*whilst not whiskey!!!

DD is 5 in a few days. It's always tricky. What about something for the outdoors like a bike etc that they will grow into for the spring / summer?

DS2 is 13 in a couple of weeks, and it is hard. Relatives have always just given him money, but he doesn't spend much, so it just sits in his bank account.

When he was small, I just bought extra stuff before Christmas and split it between Christmas and Birthday.

When he got older, I started to buy him a trip out instead. Trip to the zoo, or theatre.

Can't even do that this year.

It is hard because you don't know what the rest of the family have bought for Christmas, etc..

At 1, 2, 3 - it didn't really matter. As he got a bit older it got easier. Gameboy and a game for Christmas, scooter from grannie 1, helmet from grannie 2 and some more games from us sort of thing. Once he was at school we always said it's a big present from us or a party - he always went for the party which was always first weekend after going back to school and got a pile of presents to open from his chums.

His birthday is Christmas day. He is 26 today and it got easier the bigger he got. It's the additional organisation that's the killer. We used to skip pudding after lunch and have birthday cake at 6pm. This year we had pud and are doing the cake tomorrow.

Dd was 1 a couple of weeks ago. For her birthday we got toys for now and for Christmas we got/asked for toys that would suit her at around the 18minth mark and summer stuff for the garden. I think it's easier now as they change over 6 months, but dreading when she is older.

I just don't want him to miss out just because his birthday is so close to Christmas. Summer toys is a good idea. I just don't want to end up buying stuff for the sake of it.

DS1 is 10 and has a birthday within the week preceeding Christmas, close enough that I'm not venturing to the shops in between.
With DS 7 as well and them having a lot of overlapping interests, it is hard thinking in triplicate.

The timing is awkward as for example this Christmas they have a joint Switch between them so I couldn't get DS1 games for it for his birthday. Outings are also awkward as everything is Christmas themed.

It probably beats mid-Jan though!

Our local zoo will be open in tier 4. So, annual passes

We have a similar issue, although helpfully both our children have similar timed birthdays and so we have just scaled back birthday presents for both of them (they get some, but not vast amounts, at least not from us). Instead we buy them more going into summer, despite it not being an occasion- scooters this year for example. As they get older I’m anticipating it being less of an issue.

My DS is 14 January, we split his Christmas list between Christmas and his birthday, usually folk ask is what to get him so we can steer them in the right direction. It’s hard though he’s no sooner over the excitement of Christmas that he’s on to his birthday and has two piles of presents in the space of 3 weeks.

In the primary years I found it very easy to buy for both and then some. At 2, there’s a whole host of toys to choose from.

Harder as they got to teens but they have year round wishlists to help with it.

DD will be 6 a few days into the New Year. We usually get her a small gift for her birthday and then in the spring get her something larger like a bike or garden equipment. As sod all is open in January we also make sure she has a ‘half’ birthday treat in the summer.

My ds will be turning 3 on the 1st March. While it’s not very close to Christmas, he does get an awful lot of toys for Christmas so for his birthday we tend to buy experiences. Last year we took him to Butlins for a week. He has a soft play membership and we all have merlin passes so not sure what we will do for his 3rd. I would like to take him to butlins again but worry that if it is open, it won’t be the same experience with all the Covid measures in place.

As one who's birthday falls between Xmas and New Year the usual answer was "They didn't bother." You git a "combined" present at Xmas. Thanks for nothing you tight bastards. Still rankles.

My Dc have birthdays on 15th and 22nd December
We always find something nice to but them for both Xmas and bday.
Both got new PCs for ther bday and DD got jewellery and DS got some trainers
Then for Xmas DD got a treadmill and some perfume and a few other bits and DS got a weights bench with weights and a watch
Never have any trouble finding things to get them, bit some people just give them money (they are 12 and 16)

Dd2 turns 5 in 4 days I have no bloody idea what to get her although she has been eyeing up a colour changing barbie so I’ll probably go with that

My Birthday is the 3rd December, my siste is the 4th and my mum the 2nd January.

Her childhood is the reason my sister and I always got proper presents for both occasions.

I had to write a wish list for both and as far as I remember it worked well. I think we got more expensive ones for Christmas but otherwise it always was as generous as what I remember my friends got.

My mum also made sure that family would treat it as two events, often she bought something for them or later I got some money for my birthday.

DS has his birthday on Dec 21st. He's 17 now. We've always celebrated his birthday with a party and cake etc. Sometimes he gets something big for his bday and something smaller for Christmas. Eg once he got a bike for his bday because that way he was able to come with us to the shop and choose it.

Both children always have money for birthday as Christmas is close by. when they were younger we bought garden toys but nowadays they can chose what they like, this year ds2 has decided to buy a PlayStation

My daughter is the start of January. We didn't buy her anything the first few years but bought her a "half birthday" present in the summer. As she's got older she's wanted to continue this as she barely notices not getting something from us in Jan amongst her other presents but is delighted to get a proper present in the summer. Her half birthday is a couple of weeks after her little brother's birthday which also reduces the jealousy.

@PetertheWalrus totally agree 30th December birthday here... Christmas/birthday presents are a massive no as is wrapping it in Christmas paper! It sucks really everyone sick of eating crap and for going out... everyone is saving themselves for New Year's Eve.

Every year I suggest moving it to June /July kinda like the queen

I have a 12, soon to be 13 yr old dd. She's had a new phone for Xmas, also wants airpods (can't afford both for Xmas), so she gets the airpods for birthday in 2 weeks time.

I always try to get her something she really wants for her birthday, rather than Xmas left overs.

My whole immediate family have their birthdays September - January. It's bloody hard work but at least it makes me organised. You have my sympathy. Make sure you plan better if you have anymore so you don't end up like me!

My birthday is on Jan 4th, so the first thing is definitely get him two separate presents!

And yes - completely agree with the suggestion to celebrate in the summer as well.
The summer before my 50th, I had a "49 and a halfth" barbecue - it was lovely and I will definitely be doing that again

My DS is early Jan, having a birthday after Christmas is better than before I have to say.
He got a console today, will get more games for his birthday.
Also outdoor stuff (I think one year we got a second hand bike that we'd booked with a family upgrading their DCs bike at Christmas)
Things we don't want to give DD just now (can't remember if this was birthday but a Google speaker, DD doesn't need one).
And things that didn't arrive in time!