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!!

Oh and @Plonque my DS is adopted and arrived nearly a month early so I'm not sure whether to blame his birth parents or him for wanting to meet the world but someone planned badly!

DS is 13 in 11 days and I had the same problem. He finally told me a couple of things he fancied so I went with that because usually he’s not really forthcoming. Hey has asd so only has specific interest which he already owns most of the stuff for.

I’ve never found it a problem with my DD 9.

Tend to just buy more for her and split it between Christmas and her birthday... if it’s all stuff she wants and likes then why not.

Bonus of a birthday between Christmas and new year is that they will always have the day off school so we have always had a day out on her birthday which is nice. Though being in tier 4 it looks like options will be very limited for that this year.

We usually take down all the tree and decorations too to de-Christmasify the house to separate it from her birthday.

My niece is the 27th. I usually do presents for Christmas and then a day out shopping/cinema
/bowling or something for her birthday. Not necessarily on her actual birthday, perhaps the following weekend. Obviously this year is a bit different so I put money in her card and told her to save it so when things start opening again we can do something nice (she'll be 12).

@PetertheWalrus

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.

It’s my DDs birthday on the 27th and we always go the opposite way, and make it really special. Because we’ve set the expectation early (as in her birthday is definitely a separate event), when she was tiny, I suppose is why the whole family definitely treat her exactly the same as the summer born children in the family. She’s always had a long list of things she’d like so never short of idea on what to buy her . I cook her whatever birthday meal she wants (usually a roast which is hard going two days after Christmas ). I or DD2 makes her a birthday cake, she chooses, Red Velvet this year. And we make sure she has a party with friends either before school ends or the weekend before they go back - not this year obviously

Christmas is stuff and Birthday usually events eg a big outing, party, sleepover. Obviously this isn't going to work very well this year. But never ever a combined present!
Like PP, we also always make sure the Xmas tree is down before the birthday, so we can put the birthday bunting etc up instead.

We usually take down all the tree and decorations too to de-Christmasify the house to separate it from her birthday.
We are the opposite, DS has a birthday tree!

My just turned 9 year old always has plenty of requestsnfor both 🤣

DD will be 15 on the 30th. She has been moaning a lot this year about how rubbish it is! I can't blame her! I usually do well in the sales on Boxing day but can't because we are in tier 4; buying online means that they are unlikely to arrive on time. She usually likes a nice meal out and shopping in London to spend her money. Both of those won't be happening this year!

My eldest is a Christmas birthday.

We made the decision quite early that we would scale back Christmas and make a big deal of birthdays - as like you I was worried about dc1 missing out.

So all "big" presents are now always for birthdays (for everyone, not just DC1), and Christmas everyone has an exciting, well-stuffed stocking and 3 small-medium gifts under the tree, but there is never any tech or anything massive like a bike.

Dc1 always gets an extra present from Father Christmas, wrapped in birthday paper.

I feel it works really well this way round, Christmas is still exciting but the birthday is not lost in Christmas preparations.
And other Dc can look forward to their own exciting birthday when it is their turn.

This is singularly unhelpful but when I was a teenager (birthday ,mid January) in the days when sales began after Christmas I always had things for Christmas then clothes in the sales for my birthday. It worked perfectly!

Both my girls have early January birthdays and I usually buy what's on their wish list and split it in half. They've both had big presents for Christmas this year and I haven't really addressed the birthdays yet though. DD1 is turning 13 and desperate to go back to Harry Potter world so she'll get a voucher for that. After that I don't know. Even less idea for DD2, turning 9.

My sons birthday is 22nd December.This year we got him an electric scooter.

But he knew he was getting a smaller Christmas present.
Tantrum Christmas Day when his brothers opened their presents.Lesson learned,i wont be doing that again.

Wrap the presents in birthday wrap. Birthday cards and a cake.

Because i find people dont really bother with a gift for him.

And make a big deal of his birthday.

We're all Christmas birthdays (my siblings & nieces/nephews) and one thing I'd suggest is to buy the birthday cards/wrapping paper early as it becomes more difficult to find a variety as you get into Christmas season.
The other thing is I'd discourage people from regularly buying 1 big gift for both events - as a child 2 tiny presents is better than having a big present at one event and nothing to open at the other.

DS was born 2 weeks to the day before christmas and each year except 2 he had very separate birthdays and Christmas presents. A party and a one big toy from me with a cake and his DPs. As he got older it got easier because he would know what he wanted. When he became a teenager it was usually something to open and then money for his birthday.

One of my kid's birthday is straight after Christmas. She's at the age where she wants every toy she sees on the adverts she's easy to buy for. I've got her something she's asked for which is a large toy and I've got her another few toys too.

DS is 7 today. Always tough, I basically buy a few more pressies then wrap them in separate paper.

A cake is always an issue, feels daft getting a huge cake when we've already tons in the house

It was harder when DC was younger as the house was full of toys that were quickly forgotten because too much all in one go. It got loads better at age 10 plus though, DC got a gohenry card with money on it for his birthday, and then more was added to it at Christmas. And then just little gifts so he had something to unwrap. This meant he had plenty of money to buy the big things he wanted as the dates were so close. DC definitely hated having birthday and Christmas so close together when younger, but as soon as he started getting money he saw it as a huge advantage over his siblings.

DS1 is 9 on Monday. Some years I've got plenty of ideas, this year I struggled for Christmas let alone his birthday. If we weren't in lockdown we'd do an activity (horse riding for example). This year he's just asked for some sweets and a cooked breakfast. I've bought him (another) nerf gun 🙄 and clothes. I always give separate presents for his birthday and take down as much Christmas stuff as I can so they day is about him.

My son’s birthday is today. I used to try and buy things he’d use more in the summer for birthdays when he was smaller so he had things to use later in the year. He is 12 now and it is still difficult but he is old enough now to get vouchers to spend later as well as gifts.

My DS's birthday is on Tuesday. I tend to try and get one big item for his birthday, so it feels quite different to Xmas. He likes being off school and in normal times we do "treat" activities.

I have a late January birthday and actually think a December birthday is better because people are still in a party mood and they have to buy your presents before Xmas. I've had years of people being broke / doing dry January and presents from the sales (worst one was a cracker with bath gel inside it).

Not useful when they are little but when I was 10+ I'd get a few little presents in the morning and then DM would take me sales shopping for a new birthday outfit. I really enjoyed our girly birthday shopping trips.

Oh! and don't wrap things in Christmas paper.

@Tiredmum100

DS1 is 9 on Monday. Some years I've got plenty of ideas, this year I struggled for Christmas let alone his birthday. If we weren't in lockdown we'd do an activity (horse riding for example). This year he's just asked for some sweets and a cooked breakfast. I've bought him (another) nerf gun 🙄 and clothes. I always give separate presents for his birthday and take down as much Christmas stuff as I can so they day is about him.

Even in Tier 4 riding stables are still open. Ours does single lessons and hacks plus reduced group sizes. It may be worth phoning around.