Unsuitable presents for kids

[Dalooah]

AIBU for being annoyed that my in-laws always give my kids age inappropriate presents?
18 month old has just received a bag of assorted craft items and a box of Lego! I'm not expecting anyone to go out and spend money on my kids but if they insist on giving presents maybe realise that something labelled 3+/4+ is not suited to a one year old? This was received from someone who also has young children (albeit older than mine)

Even before we had children, I've always made an effort to make sure presents we get their children are at the very least suited to their age.

Just getting annoyed with this behaviour as it's not the first time! I don't think I can say anything as everyone is ridiculously 'sensitive' 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

My estranged nan asked my mum if an adult sized darts board, complete with actual sharp throwing quill things was ok for my brothers birthday. Mum said no, of course not, he is 6!!! Nan said, well, too late, I've already bought it!!!!

@Elouera oh gosh!! Totally get that it could be so so much worse!

Sounds like regifting to me .

My SIL was the opposite, my son is majorly in to Lego. When he was about 7 years old SIL gifted him a big baby Duplo set it even said ages 1-3 years on the box.

Yep. Regifting. I remember getting a big bag full of random things from a friend when DS was little. At first I thought how generous they were, it seemed very over the top. Then I realised they had basically gathered up everything they didn’t want to keep from their son’s birthday a few weeks previously

Could be worse. Could be a drum kit.

My mum does this. Buys my DDs presents that are far too complicated for them to play with and which have eg 6+ labelled for DDs 2nd birthday. So frustrating. Has actually made me realise that she's generally crap at present buying and just a personality quirk I think.

I did think it might be regifting especially considering their kids are older. Ugh
I'm all for regifting when your kids have something similar etc but if I wouldn't normally buy it to give as a gift, things just make their way to a charity shop

What's inappropriate about the craft stuff?

I assume its the small lego? Annoying but I'd keep it in the attic or wherever fora few years. We have a massive mechano thing that DS got age 4. He was also behind developmentally and was 7+. It'll get used eventually. I guess if yoi think its malicious / PA or not

My ILs had just retired when our kids were little and were spending a lot of time travelling to far flung places. They liked to bring back toys that definitely wouldn’t have got passed trading standards here (small, hard plastic pieces that resembled sweets, or broke easily into sharp pieces etc). A lot of stuff went straight in the bin.

@Dalooah my MIL does this too...for my 9month old 😓 Left her in the lounge with him once when he was 7m while I was making his lunch and came back to find him chewing on plastic toy cars that she’d given him while I was out the room 🙄
Bought from Amazon, battery compartments that dont screw or lock with button batteries in, wheels that pop off and tyres that pop off the wheels 🤯🙄
Explained the dangers to her and she told me I was being “over the top” 🙄 found them on Amazon to check the age recommendations- 6years+ 🙄 even after showing her an article about a child having died from swallowing a button battery she gave me major attitude when I said he couldn’t have them at 7m old.

Next present for their dc, get something delightfully noisy? Drum kit, stunt car which has flashing lights & plays music, something that buzzes & talks like Boppit? Kids will love you for it.

that something labelled 3+/4+ is not suited to a one year old?
I always found there was a bit of a gap between baby toys and toys which said they’re suitable for 3+. (DD is 9 though, so maybe it has changed.) It’s a really awkward age to buy for and I suspect in many cases it’s a legal arse covering issue rather than the toy is not suitable for under 3’s. DD was 2 and 6 months when she discovered Lego. I’d advise against introducing it so early simply because we are now drowning in the stuff!
And using craft stuff at that age is surely heavily supervised else they’d eat it all?

YABU

A pair of boxing gloves given to DS when he was about 10. From a friend. who thought he needed toughening up
Luckily he showed absolutely no interest in using them.

I always added 50% to DS's age when considering whether a toy was appropriate, always worked out about right. I think the ages are set quite high to be safe. Though Lego at 18 months is certainly too young.