Birthday Present Traditions?

[October2020]

My baby is turning 1 soon and in amongst all the inevitable baby tat, I'm wanting to buy something that has a bit more meaning and longevity.

Ideally something that starts a theme, something I could buy every year? I thought maybe a classic book for each year but I'm not sure that's quite right.

Really keen to hear any ideas you might have...?

My daughter’s godmother bought her a charm bracelet and now buys her a charm every birthday and a book every Christmas. Now she’s 10 she has a full charm bracelet and a lovely collection of books.

I was going to say charm of a girl.
A boy? Maybe a nice die-cast car like in the cases.

DS had a train set for his first Christmas, and every year after got a new train for it or a new piece of scenery. It's now taking up the box room and he and his dad used to spend ages in there together

Signed book by an author or one of a series that’s relevant for that child’s age or that they’ve specifically enjoyed in the last year.
We’ve got quite a few of them now (as they’re teenagers), such as a few Julia Donaldsons, Michael Morpurgo, Nick Sherratt, Lauren Child’s from when they were little. Some we’ve met at in store events or theatre tours. For a signed copy of a very specific favourite book that year I’ve also contacted an author.
Takes some planning to get them ahead of time, but Waterstones are a good place to start as they give advance notice of signings/signed copies being released.

These are good ideas. I've bought her lots of books and have bought her 'nice' copies of her favourites as we go through. Signed is a good idea but I've left that too late now 😫 I thought about jewellery/a charm bracelet but I've no idea if she's going to grow up to be someone that likes or wears jewellery (I don't!!).

The train set idea is very sweet! I did wonder about starting a hobby/collection for her

I don't know about this. Would you want a sentimental collection of things to keep somewhere when you were older? As well as all the other stuff parents collect. I would take a photo with the cake .

Terramundi, because if you fill them with £1 or £2 coins, when they're full there's a couple of hundred quid in them!

A savings account?

A photos book of each year of her life?

@Sleepingdogs12 I agree, I don't want her to get saddled with a load of crap I thought she'd like. I thought about experiences, like a voucher/IOU for when she's 18, but I know at 18 I wouldn't have wanted to be required to go to 18 different things with my mum 🤣 and in a practical sense, cash will be useless then so no point taking it out and keeping it and we already save a lot for her.

@DonLewis definitely going to make a photo book for her/us

@Sleepingdogs12

I don't know about this. Would you want a sentimental collection of things to keep somewhere when you were older? As well as all the other stuff parents collect. I would take a photo with the cake .

This. She's 1, you've got years to accumulate stuff for her. And that's all it is, just stuff. This is more for you than her. Just get her something she'll play with and save the sentimental bits and pieces for when she's older and you know she'll really want them. And I'm saying this from experience as my mum hoarded loads of sentimental things for me and having to sort through it deciding what I do want to keep now I have my own house has been an absolute emotional slog.

@mrsrichardsglasses that's helpful, thanks. I just really want her to know how much she is loved and cherished and thought about... which a load of rattles and shakers and baby clothes doesn't seem to do.

I originally loved the idea of classical children books but DD has a very different taste and while an avid reader, doesn't like the writing style of books like Peter Pan or Anne of Green Gables. At least not at the age she was interested in the stories.

They look good on a shelf but I think it is more the hope that as an older teen/young adult she may enjoy them.

I think most children would be bewildered if they unwrap a present they don't know what to do with or is taken away until they are older.

My PIL prefer to give small gifts, think £25 mark, and put money into an account she will access when she is 18 or when we think she needs the funds. She knows about it, knows it is for a driving license/car or towards a big dream in the future.

I've been writing my two sons a letter on each of their birthdays. I write about what they are like, what they have done over the last 12 months since their last birthday, what we are doing to celebrate their birthday etc.

I try to keep them lighthearted rather than emotional. I've put each one in a sealed envelope, so even I can't remember what they say! I'm not sure when I'll give them to them - 18 or 21 maybe? Hopefully we can all open them together and it'll give us a good laugh and reminisce as well as being something they can treasure if they want to. At least they won't take up much space, plus they are free!

Another thing I'm doing is to give them a new Christmas decoration each year. They have their own tree in their playroom, so they go on there. If you want to build up a collection of something maybe do that instead of at her birthday.

When they move out and have their own tree, they'll have their own collection of decorations. None of them will be matching or follow a colour scheme, but I'm hoping that as they are boys they won't care!

I make a photo of book of the previous year of my favourite photos and any milestones/funny things they have said, a couple of pics shes drawn ect

I include a photo of her birthday cakes too!

If you want to start a collection of lovely toys take a look at ostheimer, grapat, Holztiger, beautiful wooden toys (expensive!) You could gradually build up a farm or zoo with them, or if you get a celebration ring then the items you choose to put in them can reflect your baby's interests as they grow.
The upside is these toys retain their value, so selling on when baby is 16 would be good- or they would easily last for grandchildren.

I do the Christmas decs already (lovely idea!) and I already have a journal for her that I write her letters in. Agree about the book/writing style maybe not being her style.

She has lots of those toys @Queenfreak but I've never heard of a celebration ring so I'm going to look at that now!

I second a pp idea of making a photo book very year with drawings, silly things said, precious moments and little descriptions of the contents, add a little letter to accompany it and it will be a lovely treasure of her life when older for all of you. Easy to do too if you put time aside every month to add to it, lots of the online photo places let you download and work on a book before buying the finished product.

Thanks, I already do this so maybe I'm doing enough already. I just want her to know she is so so loved.

I think you're doing enough, it doesn't need to be so intense.

Hate to say it but most children never perceive the lovely things we try and do in the same way. She might not be a reader, have the space for books, or as you said wear much jewellery.

If you're already doing sentimental christmas decs and a journal, you risk burdening her with your own emotions and a whole load of 'stuff'.

Being a supportive and loving parent is worth a thousand gifts.