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Original poster

Dd wants a (in my opinion) rubbish present for Christmas.

367 replies

Florencenotflo · 21/10/2021 09:02

Dd is only 5 and already doing her Christmas list. She asks for the (attached) present every time we go into the toy shop and has even asked to buy it from her own money.

I am usually quite happy for let her spend her money on things she chooses, but I think this is really rubbish! And I know it will be top of her list again this year. Our budget this year for Dd is around £100 on presents for Christmas so to spend £40 of that on one present seems daft. The reviews of it are terrible, the case is pretty flimsy (not really usable as a suitcase) and the contents are mainly paper.

But at the end of the day, she's 5, it will make her happy, do I just suck it up?

(Plus, I can now see why my parents never bought me a Mr Frosty for Christmas when I was a child, although I'm still salty about it 😂)

OP posts:
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Lockdownbear · 21/10/2021 15:43

@Ormally

Age 5 I wanted a little plastic pram with a hood that had ladybird spots on. You could flip it from end to end. It was a better size for a child a couple of years younger. I was happy with it being the only thing on my Christmas list.

Kind relatives got me an elegant, larger pram that looked like a real one. I remember how disappointed I was, and how I knew I shouldn't be because of this grand gesture. Disappointment plus guilt is a big lump in the throat on Christmas day. It was so far from what I'd hoped for.

Looking back, if you were in your mums shoes, would you buy the pram that's too small but cute or would you buy something age and size appropriate?
Justmuddlingalong · 21/10/2021 15:43

It sort of makes a mockery of the whole "letter to Santa" thing. It's not like she's asking for a sibling or a real, live pink unicorn.🦄

Oblomov21 · 21/10/2021 15:45

It's fine. Please buy it. It's what she wants.

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Lockdownbear · 21/10/2021 15:50

God that’s fucking miserable, she’s asking for a £40 toy, which in the grand scheme of toys is a small drop in the ocean.

You say that like it's nothing, it's nearly half the kids budget, and it doesn't look like it will have any elongevaty, esp when she doesn't play with the matching hand bag . It's the sort of thing that will be played with for 5mins.

BananaPB · 21/10/2021 16:15

Just looked this up and this is what it's like inside. It's a shame that it's not a real suitcase that could be used for overnight stays. I bet you could get an actual Disney Princess suitcase that can be filled with whatever she likes

The brownie points on Xmas morning when she sees the gift that she dreamed of is hard to resist though. Tough one

Dd wants a (in my opinion) rubbish present for Christmas.
MesChiensSontBeaux · 21/10/2021 16:15

You say that like it's nothing, it's nearly half the kids budget

Exactly. It’s the kids budget. The suitcase is within budget so she can have it.

Staryflight445 · 21/10/2021 16:17

It’s her most requested item and it gives £60 for other stuff.
In the grand scheme of toys, I think £40 is nothing. Especially when the child could’ve asked for anything. £40 is a reasonable price for a toy.
Like I said before, she’s not asking for a barbie dream house is she.

Sadly toys are expensive and £100 doesn’t go very far for a 5 year old. That doesn’t mean £100 isn’t a lot of money, it is. But it doesn’t amount to much at all when it’s for children.

haggisaggis · 21/10/2021 16:17

op says she DOES play with the handbag though, and has done for over a year.
I would get it for her.

TwinsandTrifle · 21/10/2021 16:52

Looking back, if you were in your mums shoes, would you buy the pram that's too small but cute or would you buy something age and size appropriate?

DS aged 3 asked for a tea cup and a worm. I got him stuff that I "knew" was better as well. He was so happy with this daft tea cup and worm.

We will never know why. He doesn't know now. But he loved them, it's what was important to him, he's a teen and still has them.

Mangosmoothiesprinkles · 21/10/2021 17:00

My dd (similar age) would love this!

BuckEmOrf · 21/10/2021 19:43

We will never know why. He doesn't know now. But he loved them, it's what was important to him, he's a teen and still has them.
Worm must be a bit dried up by now!

TwinsandTrifle · 21/10/2021 19:45

@BuckEmOrf

We will never know why. He doesn't know now. But he loved them, it's what was important to him, he's a teen and still has them. Worm must be a bit dried up by now!
It's been known (not so) fondly as "spitty worm" because the damn thing can't be washed and stinks Grin
Jujujuly · 22/10/2021 11:06

@Ormally

Age 5 I wanted a little plastic pram with a hood that had ladybird spots on. You could flip it from end to end. It was a better size for a child a couple of years younger. I was happy with it being the only thing on my Christmas list.

Kind relatives got me an elegant, larger pram that looked like a real one. I remember how disappointed I was, and how I knew I shouldn't be because of this grand gesture. Disappointment plus guilt is a big lump in the throat on Christmas day. It was so far from what I'd hoped for.

I remember that pram! Wanted it too!
MajesticallyAwkward · 22/10/2021 11:36

If she's getting other toys you could hang on for the smyths event and save some money. I can't remember exactly but is it something like £10 every £50/60?
Or the black Friday deals in general, you might find it cheaper and less of a blow. Between me and dh we try to do the big offers to get what dd has asked for (smyths, entertainer, Sainsbury's and Amazon Black Friday).

I have a 6 yo dd and some of the utter tat aimed at kids is appalling but they seem to love it anyway, I'm lucky she hasn't seen this suitcase! I'm always slightly enraged buying LOL shit but DDs face lights up when she opens one!

Lockdownbear · 22/10/2021 12:09

some of the utter tat aimed at kids is appalling

And the only way it will change is a, when parents stop buying it and b, when toy manufacturers are forced to ensure all toys can be recycled at the end of their lifespan.

Op I'd still be looking for something with a practical side.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 22/10/2021 12:14

They so often want rubbish at that age.

Whether you want their eyes to light up on Christmas morning, or to cloud with disappointment, that is the question.

I know what I’d choose.

Lockdownbear · 22/10/2021 12:33

@GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER

They so often want rubbish at that age. Whether you want their eyes to light up on Christmas morning, or to cloud with disappointment, that is the question. I know what I’d choose.
But buying expensive poor quality toys is a bit like giving kids balloons - happy while it lasts but guaranteed to end in tears when it floats of or bursts - its got crap reviews so how long are we expecting the joy of it to actually last?
Ormally · 22/10/2021 15:26

@Jujujuly Glad it wasn't just me!

The really odd thing I remember (just wait while I rosin the bow of my tiny violin!!) is that I only ever saw it out and on display on the top shelf of a supermarket toy aisle - as in, really high up so you couldn't lift it down, and I guess someone would have to ask for it if you wanted to buy one. I have now found out it came with a soft doll in it but I didn't know that. It's definitely just the pram, not the doll, that is/was the attraction.

safariboot · 22/10/2021 15:43

Get it. The real thing not some copy-cat - kids know. Let her make her own mistakes! You have the budget to get her something else too that you reckon is better.

GreyhoundG1rl · 22/10/2021 15:46

What does it matter? Will you really be happier if you manage to change her mind to some other piece of tat?
She's 5; it's all tat 🤷🏻‍♀️

WhenZoomWasJustAnIceLolly · 22/10/2021 15:48

I’d buy it. It’s her Christmas present not yours, it isn’t a waste if that’s what she desperately wants. Don’t get her a different but similar present, that’s worse than getting something completely different because it says she’s never going to own the thing she wants and that her preference wasn’t important.

Buy this, fill her stocking with the remainder of your budget, and she’ll be delighted.

One thing if it was a whim but if she’s consistently wanting it and wanting to use her own money that’s different

butterflyze · 22/10/2021 15:48

My parents were famous for getting me a 'nicer' or what they thought was a better quality version of what I'd actually asked for.

I cannot emphasise enough how incredibly disappointed I was every single time it happened.

Just give her what she wants. Please!

WhenZoomWasJustAnIceLolly · 22/10/2021 15:53

The best lesson to teach here is you cannot have everything you want and on this occasion you're not having it.

Yeah, that’s the spirit of Christmas! Best time to learn that, Christmas morning! 🙄

That wouldn’t be the lesson either though, would it? The lesson would be ‘what you like doesn’t matter, you get what I think you ought to like, that cost exactly the same as the thing you actually wanted’

alfagirl73 · 22/10/2021 16:46

I think it's horrible... and I loathe all the "pink princess" stuff... HOWEVER... if it's something she has been wishing for and absolutely loves then please either get it or don't. It may be cheap tat - but trust me, she has dreamt of opening it and trundling it around... she has every inch of that case in her 5 year old mind and to her, it is amazing.

Please don't put together your "own version". It may be better to you... it may be better quality etc... but a 5 year old doesn't think that way. It will just be a poor substitute for what she wanted. And those who think a kid that age won't know the difference.. trust me - she will. I was the kid who's parents always got (or made!) what they considered to be the "better alternative"... I always said thank you graciously but inside I was always disappointed and just once I wanted the actual thing I had my heart set on - not a disappointing version of it... and I ALWAYS knew the difference.

Amazing the number of adults who have bought themselves a Mr Frosty or other items they coveted as children - proves that kids DON'T forget these moments.

If she's not a child who asks for much and has been dreaming of it for quite some time - then get it. I'd say watching her little face light up and seeing her joy on Christmas morning is worth £40?

jwpetal · 22/10/2021 17:31

My girls are 12 now and thinking back to the times that I put my own inner thoughts into their presents so I did not get them what they wanted. really, just get it for her. It is a drop in the ocean. And look at how much time you have spent saying no, be in guilt and still coming back to this question. at least that way me. If it is within budget and she wants it. Why not?