Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Is it rude to say that a gift for your child is the wrong size?

199 replies

Dora2168 · 21/12/2021 07:44

We recently had an early Christmas party with the family and the aunts and uncles gave out presents to the children. My sister and I had a discussion before the event and she said that she would prefer clothing for her two children, so I carefully set about shopping with care for the right products and size of clothing. On the day, my nephew was overjoyed when he opened his gifts and saw that he had received a new football kit, Adidas sports tracksuit and matching Adidas trainers
His sister had new luxury winter coat and cosy jumpers. Both children were delighted and overjoyed. My 8 year old then opened his gift, and I saw his face fall when he saw a bright neon yellow track top and joggers that were at least two sizes too big slide out of the gift wrap. I felt his disappointment, especially as I had taken the time to shop with care to give a useful gift. Should I return the items as it cannot fit my child or regift it? I don't think that I would let him wear a neon yellow tracksuit.
I later found the exact item online for £10 on sale.

OP posts:
FortunesFave · 21/12/2021 08:40

so I carefully set about shopping with care for the right products and size of clothing. On the day, my nephew was overjoyed when he opened his gifts and saw that he had received a new football kit, Adidas sports tracksuit and matching Adidas trainers His sister had new luxury winter coat and cosy jumpers. Both children were delighted and overjoyed. My 8 year old then opened his gift, and I saw his face fall when he saw a bright neon yellow track top and joggers that were at least two sizes too big slide out of the gift wrap

Honestly, this reads like a poor attempt at novel writing!

RubyKitty · 21/12/2021 08:41

Just hold on to it and gift it back for your nephew’s birthday

GiltEdges · 21/12/2021 08:43

Your thread title is misleading. It seems like size is the least of your issues with the gift, with the main ones being that 1. You don't like the colour and 2. You don't think your DSis spent enough money Hmm

FWIW, I think your gifts sound unnecessarily extravagant, but as your expectations are clearly for your DSis to spend a similarly extravagant amount, it might be best to clarify with her in advance next year.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Christmas Families
GrumpyLivesInMyHouseNow · 21/12/2021 08:44

Why wouldn't you just say to your ds that the track suit is the wrong size, could you have the receipt so you can exchange it for the correct one

SheWoreYellow · 21/12/2021 08:46

Gosh, it sounds like you have different ideas on budget. If all the relatives spent as much as you, they’d have far far too much, surely?

As a parent I’d be not impressed with a coat as a present. That’s something for the parents to buy. It definitely going to be superfluous to requirements which is annoyingly wasteful.

I think you just spent way, way too much.

RosesAndHellebores · 21/12/2021 08:46

If you can afford to buy what you did for them. Send their present to the charity shop and go out and buy your ds what the other lad had to cheer him up.

What does your sil/sister usually buy? Sorry can't remember which it was.

underneaththeash · 21/12/2021 08:47

@StarryNightSky26

I'm howling at the idea of small children looking thrilled and delighted at the sight of overpriced sportswear

You're either lucky in that you don't have sporty kids or you have young/no children...ime every 7/9/8 year old boy I know would be thrilled with a football kit!

Neither of my boys would!
lottiegarbanzo · 21/12/2021 08:47

Are you considerably richer than her?

That's what you seem really keen to tell us.

Bookworm20 · 21/12/2021 08:47

I don't think its rude if its way too big. Just say he really loves it but its too big so could you have the receipt to change for a smaller size. Then swap it for whatever and tell her the smaller size was out of stock.
If she insists on changing it for you, then you'll just have to accept it and go from there.

Are the dc vastly different ages? Hers seem excited about the clothes, but I can't imagine any child at age 8 being excited about receiving clothes!

Eredoor · 21/12/2021 08:47

Cosy jumpers, not just one then

PinkWednesdays · 21/12/2021 08:48

Curious - what is a luxury coat? It’s not the first time I’ve seen it mentioned on here so now wondering what it is!

bubblebath62636 · 21/12/2021 08:48

Don't children skip any present that feels like clothing grin

My teenager still isn't interested at clothes 😂 she does a not so convincing 'ooh lovely' before looking for the good stuff.

Alarmset · 21/12/2021 08:50

I find it hard to believe any child was delighted with a coat for Christmas, no matter how luxury. Is it possible her children have better manners than yours? Grin

frazzledasarock · 21/12/2021 08:50

I’d tell your sister that it’s not his style or size and exchange it.

Don’t spend so much on your sisters kids next year.

RampantIvy · 21/12/2021 08:51

I think it is!

Of course it isn't. DD has very long legs. When she was small SIL often used to buy clothes for her as presents - usually trousers that were always too short for her. I ended up asking her to put gift receipts in when she wrapped them up because I inevitably had to go to the shop to exchange the trousers for some in a longer length (SIL and her family are all vertically challenged).

As an aside, do people really spend that much on nieces and nephews? We budget £20 - 25 for each child in my family.

Benjispruce5 · 21/12/2021 08:51

You went way over the top with your gifts. If you didn’t specify what type of clothing then it’s down to them to choose isn’t it? I’d exchange the item, you can do that in store without telling your sil. Next time set a limit.

thepeopleversuswork · 21/12/2021 08:51

OP I do think you need to own the fact that the size is clearly not the issue here and you're pissed about the fact that you spent way more than she did.

I'm firmly of the old-fashioned view that a present is a present, however naff, and you suck it up with good grace. Who knows why she didn't spend as much as you. Maybe she has less money, maybe she works full time and doesn't have time. Maybe she ordered stuff online that didn't arrive. Life is too short to be resentful about this sort of thing. Its only stuff and if you want it that badly you buy it for yourself.

To answer your question no I don't think its rude to ask to change clothes if the size is wrong but this is clearly a red herring.

NewbieAlert · 21/12/2021 08:52

Don’t even get me started on the year mothercare shut. My ‘D’ sis brought my DC clothes from there that were clearly part of the closing down sale. Wrong size (too small). When I went in there to see if I could exchange they actually laughed at me.
Some people are just pretty thoughtless OP. Learn from it.

Benjispruce5 · 21/12/2021 08:52

We spend £20-£25 on nieces and nephews too. @RampantIvy (hello)

HalloHello · 21/12/2021 08:54

My partner's Grandmother buys our kids a random selection of clothes in bigger sizes that she finds in the sale, with no regard to the seasons or where we will actually store all the shite she buys. She has bought my 3 month old son a body warmer in age 2-3 this year 🙈 her intentions are kind but I just don't have the space. A lot gets put to the charity shop but otherwise I keep my trap shut! Not worth upsetting or offending anyone!

HaveringWavering · 21/12/2021 08:54

I’m looking forward to the update:

“My sister picked up the phone and trilled hello. “Sharon”, I said, “there is something so really must talk to you about”. She fell silent.
“Jayden can’t wear neon yellow. It reminds him too much of that incident with the lollipop lady when he was 6”
There was silence on the line. I swallowed hard.
“And, you see, he probably grow into the trousers before he leaves for University in 2031”.
“Well Trace, soz, but they were all that Big Steve had left on the stall”.
I slammed down the phone in disgust, my eyes wet with tears of anger. I knew from that moment on that I would never speak to her again.

Benjispruce5 · 21/12/2021 08:55

@HaveringWavering Grin

RainbowZebraWarrior · 21/12/2021 08:55

@FortunesFave

so I carefully set about shopping with care for the right products and size of clothing. On the day, my nephew was overjoyed when he opened his gifts and saw that he had received a new football kit, Adidas sports tracksuit and matching Adidas trainers His sister had new luxury winter coat and cosy jumpers. Both children were delighted and overjoyed. My 8 year old then opened his gift, and I saw his face fall when he saw a bright neon yellow track top and joggers that were at least two sizes too big slide out of the gift wrap

Honestly, this reads like a poor attempt at novel writing!

Pisstake / junior journalist I reckoned.
CeeceeBloomingdale · 21/12/2021 08:56

Too big is fine he'll grow into it. Only you don't want him to by the sounds of it as it's too cheap and/or garish. Just charity shop it and move on.

MerryMarigold · 21/12/2021 08:57

@PinkWednesdays

Curious - what is a luxury coat? It’s not the first time I’ve seen it mentioned on here so now wondering what it is!
It is a coat which is not waterproof and doesn't have a hood, but most importantly can only be worn once or twice (before it's outgrown) to places such as the theatre or to a party (the bit where you're traveling before you get there and remove it).