DD3 birthday guilt!

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DD3 turns 3 next month.

I've only got her 4 presents (total £70) and feel awful. She will get other bits from family and I'm getting her a big balloon, cake, decorations etc.

But 4 presents?? That's shit isn't it?! I've been so tight the last month or so to pay off credit card which is now done.

We just can't afford anymore 😔 Please tell me I'm being stupid and that she won't care!!

At 3 one dc asked for candles. That's all they wanted - to blow out candles on a birthday cake. They honestly couldn't care less about presents. It was the best birthday ever apparently.

Honestly, 4 gifts or 40 is meaninglessness at that age. 4 is actually more appropriate because they'll be more aware of what was a birthday present rather than just "stuff".

£70 is loads! Stop worrying OP.

Agree. Mine turns 4 next week and he's most excited about the balloons and blowing out the cake. @Rtmhwales

Mine turns 4 next month and is exactly the same! Also excited about the fact he's having a happy meal on his birthday as a treat. We'll only get him 3 or 4 presents - a Playmobil police station and a couple of smaller bits

My kids got a ton of presents for Christmas. On pur boxing day walk they found and brought home a stick each. The entire next week was spent playing with the sticks and totally ignoring new toys. Definitely no need to buy more at that age.

OP it’s only her 3rd birthday, I’ve gotten my boy 3 presents for his next month and the biggest one is tickets to a kids stage show, an £8 pair of headphones and a pack of story dice from tiger. That’s it. They don’t need loads of stuff at this age.

DD turns 11 next week. She's getting one present. Am I shit?

Birthdays are generally one present from each person. They don't expect more than that, so better to keep the expectations down.

If you want to make it seem bigger you can give her a treasure hunt to find them. At 3yo, you give her a picture of the window, she goes to the window and you have a picture of the tree outside, so she goes there and there's present #1 hanging on the tree and the next clue etc.

My daughter loves fruit (she’s 21 now and does eat junk but still loves fruit). She still says her best birthday was when she was 4 and we put candles in a watermelon! I’ll never forget her huuuuge smile. She would have no recollection of what presents she received, but she still talks about her watermelon! Just slice a bit from the bottom so it doesn’t wobble on the plate, and stick the candle holders in the top - bobs your uncle 😂

Your little girl will be thrilled with her balance bike, and you’ve done really well to pay off your credit card

The PP who made the smug comments about the OP not knowing the value of money should keep her miserable opinion to herself