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Original poster

Got scammed, now have £100 for daughters birthday, help!

59 replies

Chocolateemergency · 28/05/2021 20:34

My daughters 1st birthday is next week and we decided instead of wasting money on a proper party we’d invite all her cousins round for a small gathering in the garden.

We also decided to buy one of them pikler sets as her present so it would last her a number of years and it would be good for all the children to play with at the gathering.

Unfortunately it seems like I’ve been scammed and it’s not actually going to arrive. I’ve raised a dispute with Etsy and am waiting a resolution but in case I can’t get the money back we cannot afford to spend anymore than £100 on something else.

So wise people of mumsnet what would you buy as a present for a one year old that would be able to keep a number of children up to 3 years old entertained for a few hours?

OP posts:
GammyLeg · 28/05/2021 20:36

Oh no! Sorry to hear that.

100 is plenty though - can you just do a bunch of party games like pin the tail on the donkey and pass the parcel, musical statues etc?

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 28/05/2021 20:37

Literally anything.

Balloons, some insects, a bubble machine.

They’re easily amused at that age.

justthecat · 28/05/2021 20:38

Blow up some balloons to play with and old fashioned games like pass the parcel and musical statues

crispywaffle · 28/05/2021 20:38

Honestly I've never spent £100 on my two kids first birthdays. I could if I wanted to, but it would have been a waste.

Water table, small slide, sand pit - in fact you could get all three for £100.

NelleBee · 28/05/2021 20:39

£100 is quite a lot. I’d buy a bubble machine. We got my son one for his 1st birthday and it was his favourite thing for many years.

GravityFalls · 28/05/2021 20:40

A sand and and water tray would be great and would last a few years. Or a mud kitchen - loads of second-hand wooden kitchens on Facebook for about £20.

Changedmyname1357 · 28/05/2021 20:41

Oh gosh, sorry about the scam! Hope you get your money back.

Agree with PP though - £100 is plenty. In your shoes, I'd buy a nice gift for your daughter and then soend £10 on a roll of paper, some non-toxic paint and some chunky brushes or sponges, buy a bunch more stuff for messy play, a bottle of giant bubbles, and let them wreck your garden. One year olds are very easily amused!

ChateauMargaux · 28/05/2021 20:42

As everyone else said... bubbles, balloons, pass the parcel, treasure hunt for the older ones..

If you did want to buy something, a sandpit and then bury things in it.

EdithGrantham · 28/05/2021 20:42

Bouncy castle or soft play hire or do you want something to keep as well?

MrsPnut · 28/05/2021 20:44

Bubbles, balloons and paper roll to draw and use for games. You can draw round feet and they need to jump from feet to feet as a game.

Chunkymenrock · 28/05/2021 20:45

Teddy bears picnic.

Eggshausted · 28/05/2021 20:48

Buy a mini paddling pool, fill it with sand, and buy some sand toys.

ExitChasedByABee · 28/05/2021 21:15

Sorry to hear about that, I hope you can get a refund soon. £100 is more than enough for a child’s party.

You could make your own banner/bunting as well as the party hats. If you’d like, you can also add lots of colourful balloons. Make everything as colourful as you want, colour-coordinated or to fit a theme. It’s completely up to you.

If you’ve invited all your daughter’s cousins for a small gathering in the garden, you could do a picnic lunch and set up a drinks table. Cake can be for dessert or just have individual treat box for party guests to take.

For simple party games:

  • musical statues
  • pass the parcel
  • limbo
  • scavenger hunt with a fun list of items for them to search for

If you’re good at arts and crafts or painting etc, you could even do face painting. Or even have your own oversized Polaroid photo booth set up with some funny disguise items or silly poses with their face paint on. Alternatively, instead of a Polaroid photo booth, you could make your backdrop for the photo booth in the garden and make it as creative as you want it.

Original poster
Chocolateemergency · 28/05/2021 21:53

The £100 isn’t just for the party, my daughter doesn’t have a present now as well. I have £100 for her present and the kids entertainment so was hoping to combine the two together. I know she doesn’t know any different, but I do.

I was so set on getting her something substantial that she’d have for a long time instead of wasting it on a big party or hiring bouncy castles etc. I guess I just need to change my way of thinking.

Lots of great ideas on here that I’ll definitely be using for the party!

OP posts:
Tiggles · 28/05/2021 22:26

How about a blow up paddling pool, and then some balls so can either be a paddling pool or a ball pit depending on the weather.

HeronLanyon · 28/05/2021 22:31

Hope s am is sorted out.
Obviously you can spend as much as you want to and can afford but 100 for a 1 year ild and to keep young children occupied just sounds a lot anyway ! Good ideas above.

Arbadacarba · 28/05/2021 22:33

I've no experience of entertaining toddlers, but wanted to say, if you used a credit/debit card to pay on Etsy, you should also have dispute/charge-back rights through your card provider - talk to your bank if your Etsy dispute gets nowhere.

Similarly, if you used PayPal they have their own disputes process you can go down. Make sure you keep a record of the Etsy correspondence as you'll need evidence it's unresolved if you go down another route.

I hope you get your money back and the party goes well - happy birthday to your DD! Cake Glitterball

SomeCatsLikeCheese · 28/05/2021 22:34

A sand and water tray is a great idea for the party. I’d do balloons and bubbles (maybe buy a bubble blower as well as bubble wands), and some cheap drawing materials for the older ones.

For a keepsake present, I would look at the smaller Grimms Rainbows - we got one for our one year old and he loves it. I think it cost £25 and it looks lovely.

JerushaSturgis · 28/05/2021 22:37

A 1 year old won't give a monkey's à out a présent. What's a pikler anyway?

Thesearmsofmine · 28/05/2021 22:38

Paddling pool with balls and a sandpit. Will keep the little ones amused and your dc will enjoy it as a gift too,

21Flora · 28/05/2021 22:39

Can you rent a pickler triangle with whirli until you get your refund?

Arbadacarba · 28/05/2021 22:40

@JerushaSturgis

A 1 year old won't give a monkey's à out a présent. What's a pikler anyway?
This is a Pikler set according to Google:
Got scammed, now have £100 for daughters birthday, help!
Ratatattatpat · 28/05/2021 22:42

I have never spent a hundred pounds on a one year old. I would imagine you could buy almost any present a one year old might like with much less.

AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 28/05/2021 22:44

A one year old has no idea of birthdays and presents, there's no need to have an expensive present on the actual birthday. Buy something once you've got the previous present sorted out.

Arbadacarba · 28/05/2021 22:44

I would imagine you could buy almost any present a one year old might like with much less.

I think the OP's dilemma is that the climbing frame was meant to double as the party entertainment.

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