Did you buy your baby loads of presents for their 1st birthday?

[McSnail]

I'm considering having a wee get-together for the baby's first birthday, but I don't REALLY see the point in buying her presents. She's only little, and she has quite a lot of toys already.

Does anyone else feel the same about presents for babies, or is this a bit mean?

Implications have been made by other mothers (not on here, I'm in touch with some women who had babies the same time as me) that it's a shame (for my baby)

I think it's common-sense...well, compared to some of them who've gone mental gone all out with the purchases...

Why can I never 'strike out' words? Boo.

noooooooooo!! i bought one or 2 little things, but everybody else went overboard and bought loads for them though! The way I look at it is it will cost me more in teh long run anyway when they get to teens and want new phones etc so I will make up for it then!!

No, we spent about a tenner on some new toys and a bit more on some nice clothes (useful). Family didn't really bother with presents either. Fine with me. In fact I think my parents gave us the money for a new highchair for his 1st birthday.

I bought DS a book. DD was different as DS old enough to know what was going on but children don't need anything at one.

My ds3 was one just before Christmas, I bought him two small gifts for him to open but to be honest his sisters got more enjoyment out of them than he did. We did have a small family get together as it was a good excuse.

I don't really see the point of lots of gifts at one, your not being mean. An annual pass to the zoo would be better so that you can have lots of cheep days out.

what about getting her a couple of new clothes?

YANBU, your baby will love opening and playing with the wrapping on presents so you could maybe ask for people to get her a card and an outfit or somthing. we just had family round for a buffet tea so we didnt have people in and out all day and took our DD to a soft play area in the morning and she had a few presents (books and jigsaws mainly) and some clothes. IMO big parties and shed loads of presents are a bit pointless as they are still babies who need feeding and naps and baths. Lots of photos tho

We certainly didn't go over the top for DD's first Christmas (8m) or birthday.

Christmas was a blow up thing she could push and crawl after plus a couple of little things.

Birthday was a small sit on and push car; I can picture it now - bright blue with a red lift up seat.

We didn't buy much for ours when they were small, they got bought so much. If they seem keen on something - cars, for example, or horses, we made sure they got one of those. But otherwise, they got very little.

When we did buy things, they tended to get used more when they were older, so we got, for example, a rocking toy that they both still sit on to watch TV (school age now!). So although it felt a bit wasteful and extravagant at the time, and they had to be propped up in it to to start with, over the years it has been used a lot.

Thanks - I think these other mums think I'm not excited about my child's birthday (well, I'm not really. It'll be nice to have a party as such, but hey-ho. I'll be far more excited when she's old enough to know what's happening.)

I agree. They're way too young to appreciate it at that age and wouldn't know the difference between a present that costs £5 and one that costs £100. I just bought my DD something small for her first birthday but she still spent most of her time playing with a balloon.

Those chairs are cute!

We're not buying anything for ds' 1st birthday, I don't see the point as he'll get loads of presents from family anyway. I think we'll probably put some money in his trust fund instead.

ou need a large box filled with sparkly shredded paper, twinkly bits, battery operated fairy lights so it 'glows' and 1 helium balloon.

Et voila, 1 happy baby.

Oh and the balloon goes in the box too obv so it floats up when the box is opened.

"You need a large box filled with sparkly shredded paper, twinkly bits, battery operated fairy lights so it 'glows' and 1 helium balloon.

Et voila, 1 happy baby. wink"

I quite like the sound of that!

Goodness, this is how bad I am - I can't even remember what I bought DS for his 1st birthday, and he's only 2.8 now!

Hang on, might have been the 7in1 trekker from mothercare - or was that Christmas - anyway, no, didn't buy loads. Just one big thing.

No - there's no point. We bought dd1 something little (can't remember what) in a big box plus a clock for her bedroom. Can't remember what we bought dd2 but as she was obsessed with putting things in boxes, probably a Useful Box!!

The grandparents spent more than we did - I think they bought things like: slide for garden/push along thing etc.

No I dont see the point. I dont see the point in spending loads on clothes either for babies and toddlers because I think its a waste of money. The money I saved from not buying lots for 1st birthday and 1st year I have put in a savings account for an 18th birthday present. I think that makes more sense at the age they grow so fast and dont remember whats going on.

I bought her a bike for the second though as I knew that would get a lot of use.

The baby will too McSnail

We STILL don't buy ours presents, and they're 4 and 2.10! I make them a special cake, usually, and we host a party (family only). Family buys them stuff, anyway, so they don't miss out. I don't see the point, and I don't want mine to be 'stuff' people.

We didn't buy anything as I recall. It seemed pointless as he wouldn't know about it, had everything he needed, was over-run with pressies from GP etc and was totally happy with a choccie cake.

Yanbu.

Best reaction I ever saw was when a friend filled a pop up tunnel thingy with crisp packets, tinsel, pine cones, shredded paper etc,It led into a pop up house filled with more of the same (both £15 in tesco sale) oh my god the mess !!! Baby went wild tho

That was my idea too [preens]