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Original poster

Do you buy toys throughout the year?

36 replies

Caspianberg · 03/02/2022 07:08

I think we have been pretty good with not going over the top with Ds toys and things so far. He’s almost 2.

I just bought him a few books and a tool set as we are in the middle of major renovations and he keeps wanting the actual tools, and I’m bored of some books so need some new bedtime reading for him ( and me!)

My mother has told me that’s appalling, he shouldn’t get anything until his birthday etc.

Isn’t it better he just gets a couple of main things for birthdays and Christmas he wants, and then other bits throughout the year?

As an adult, dh and I don’t wait for every item we want until Xmas . Ie I would just buy a kindle book now.

OP posts:

Cam2020 · 03/02/2022 07:11

Yes, I agree with you, OP. I don't buy things every week or anything, but sometimes I say yes and never say no to books.

123feraverto · 03/02/2022 07:12

Small things throughout the year

Bigger things birthday and Christmas

User135792468 · 03/02/2022 07:13

Yes, I get things as and when they need them or want them really. The big things I save until birthdays and Christmas and maybe the month or so leading up to either.

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Gertrudetheadelie · 03/02/2022 07:18

I agree. We do little things (mostly books or toys that reflect a current interest) throughout the year. I'm quite discerning about what I agree to though and most things I tell them to 'put on the birthday/Christmas list'. My parents never said no to books though and I don't either. I'm grateful for them to that

RussianSpy101 · 03/02/2022 07:19

I agree with you OP. Your mother IBU. Appalling?? Her reaction is ridiculous.
Completely normal to not only receive things twice a year!

004aga · 03/02/2022 07:22

Maybe pop to the library for books if you have one near you, with the hindsight of 4 children and never saying no to books 😂 to answer your question we too uaed to buy little bits throughout the year, and would also love a chsrity shop bargain.

DSGR · 03/02/2022 07:24

When my kids were under 5 we bought throughout the year - for the variety etc and we always got books. Now they are older they want bigger things and so it’s birthdays and Christmas only.
What you’ve done is not “appalling” in any way

HoliHormonalTigerlilly · 03/02/2022 07:27

Your Mum is being odd OP. Ignore her.

Skyeheather · 03/02/2022 07:28

I buy books throughout the year as I do bedtime stories and they get boring after a while (we go to the library too but it's a small library and we struggle to find books we haven't had). If it's the school holidays I might buy them something small each as a treat or if I see a good/special offer, they also get occasional magazines which aren't cheap at £5/6 each.

Morgan12 · 03/02/2022 07:28

I buy toys all the time for my smallest. My eldest isn't into toys anymore. So he gets pocket money for online gaming purchases.

Original poster

Caspianberg · 03/02/2022 07:28

Thanks. It’s nice to see its relatively normal.

We are overseas so no local library, or in English at least. I have picked up a few local language books in the charity shop though, but not quite the same for reading together atm.

I guess over 5 it makes sense that they start using the same things for longer so can keep things more in between, but the small presents he had for first Xmas and birthday were basically ‘baby’ toys, which he’s outgrowing

OP posts:

MangoM · 03/02/2022 07:29

I agree with your way to buy the odd thing here and there. Especially with such a small child, if you spot something they would enjoy or benefit from shortly following christmas/birthday, developmentally they'll likely be completely different by the time the next occasion comes round.

A few friends of ours do it your mum's way and their children have far more toys and books than we do as they go a bit overboard at Christmas and on their birthdays.

For books we use the library regularly so we can plenty of variety without having to buy too many.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 03/02/2022 07:30

With little ones you need to follow their interests. A tool kit when he's seeing lots of building jobs being done makes sense.
As they get older you can wait more. But you buy stuff they need for school, extra curricular etc that can't wait until Christmas or birthday.

ChipsAreLife · 03/02/2022 07:31

No it's fine ti buy throughout the year. Like PPs I don't go crazy but they do get books or crafting bits maybe a toy on holiday or as a treat for something.

Surely it depends when their birthdays are too? One of my has a Christmas birthday there is no way I would make her wait a year for anything!

NYnewstart · 03/02/2022 07:37

I didn’t want to detract from the specialness of Xmas and birthdays, so no, we didn’t as a rule buy things in between, but I’d have bought a toolkit as you did if we’d been doing work on the house.

Howtotameyourtoddler · 03/02/2022 07:43

Yep, I buy things through the year. Mostly just small things when she's earned enough stickers on her reward chart, very occasionally bigger things if I see them at a good price (I try to buy most stuff second hand).

Both my children (three years old and a baby) have birthdays around Christmas, so it would be both a bit unfair and totally overwhelming to only allow them new toys around that time of year. Also - possibly controversial - but I don't want their birthdays or Christmas to become solely about getting new toys, nor do I want them to expect lavish or big presents. In fact, we're buying a playhouse for the garden and I specifically want it to be a random surprise rather than a Christmas or birthday gift.

BertieBotts · 03/02/2022 07:46

When they are little it makes sense to buy them when you think about it as they change so quickly so might have quite a liited window to enjoy something, it makes sense to capitalise on that and buy ASAP rather than waiting several months just to pin it to a certain date. Plus they aren't fussy on big days and are happy with little cheap or second hand things so Christmas doesn't need to be a spend fest.

Past about age 4/5 they become harder to buy for at birthdays/Christmas so I do tend to hoard ideas instead.

Agadorsparticus · 03/02/2022 07:47

Mine rarely get toys throughout the year but they get spoiled at Xmas and birthdays to compensate.

pompomseverywhere · 03/02/2022 07:52

I think if you wait you miss the developmentally appropriate window. I've made this mistake and stashed stuff away for Christmas and when they've had it they've been too old. When they are young they need things when they need them. Young children's needs can change by the week.

Greydogs123 · 03/02/2022 07:54

DD’s birthday is in November, so if I only bought things for birthday and Christmas she would have had long periods when she had outgrown or got fed up with stuff. I will always buy books, but will buy secondhand if possible. Toys - she has had pocket money since she was 4 and knows to save up for toys she wants. If it’s very expensive I might put some of the money in and we look on Facebook or eBay first.

Bakewelltart987 · 03/02/2022 07:58

Yes small toys throughout the year then if they ask for bigger expensive toys they get them for Christmas/birthday.

Cornettoninja · 03/02/2022 08:03

I’m another one with a dd who has a birthday within weeks of Christmas, it’s becoming less of a problem as she gets older but they develop so quickly that toys received at one end of the year would be way too young nine months further on.

I never came across them when dd was small but those toy subscriptions look like a great idea to rotate toys when they’re younger.

mizzo · 03/02/2022 08:09

At that age we didn't spend much on birthdays or Christmas and did buy bits and bobs through the year. I'm not talking about new toys weekly but their interests and abilities change so quickly it made more sense to buy in line with that and meant the special events weren't too overwhelming.
Once they got to school age we bought only bought things bigger than pocket money toys as a rare treat.

SartresSoul · 03/02/2022 08:11

Occasionally but not often because they get so many for birthdays and Christmas, we get quite overwhelmed with them. I never stop buying books though, we happily have hundreds.

YouCantBeSadHoldingACupcake · 03/02/2022 08:14

When they get older they get pocket money/an allowance to buy stuff with, so I tend to put away the same amount for the ones too young (or don't understand money due to autism) and use that to buy stuff they want throughout the year.

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