To buy one present between twins?

[Tailtwister]

I'm struggling to think of decent presents with DS having had so many parties recently and we have one coming up for twins (a boy and a girl). I would like to get them something decent and usually have a budget for around £10. I've seen a magazine subscription (Okido) which looks really good and is £20 for the year (5 issues I think). You can get a voucher thing for it, so they could order it themselves and have it delivered to their address.

WIBU to give them a joint present like this? I would give separate cards of course.

I have a friend with twins and a SIL with twins. I have always gone down the route of buying them something "the same but different" eg both get pyjamas but different designs, both get craft kits, but different contents etc - so that they can see that the presents are equal, but individually thought through.

I think the magazine idea is really good! The DC will be overrun with presents especially as their birthday is so close to Xmas. It will be lovely to get something coming through the letterbox throughout the year.

Hammer and pin shape sets are good, or construction straws. Making sets, item of clothing each (boring for the child maybe but always useful).

Okay, X-posts and disagreed with everyone. I think before I had twins I would have said separate presents - and I still would if you were the only one bringing a present and expecting them to share it.

I stand by my claim that my guys wouldn't notice and would love the gift (they are 3.7 - I appreciate this may change), but perhaps going down the "same but different " route would be safer!!

My sister and I are 2.5 years apart and always got one shared present (amongst many individual ones) at Christmas. I don't remember any issues with that.

I think 4 is a bit young for okido personally, though it is a fab magazine.

I wouldn't be offended if you did get a joint present if it was something like a board game that they could share. Otherwise, separate is best. Something like a magazine subs, I would have to get them one each, or there would be rows over who read it first.

I'd always buy two presents, one each from my twins when they are both invited to a party, wouldn't dream of turning up with one, so I would kind of expect a present each from invitees if they had a birthday party too.

YADBU! They need to be treated as individuals. As a twin, being treated as a "joint person" who didn't even have her own name (just called the twinnies) was really annoying - I am a person in my own right.

I like the crafty ideas...I hadn't really thought along those lines.

I did wonder about the age for Okido Chops, but DS gets it and enjoys reading through it with me. They develop so much between 4 and 5 and start asking lots of questions which I've found Okido useful for. However, I do think you're right, it doesn't do to give a joint present.

I have 2 "boys" aged 13 and 20 so not twins but I have done joint presents on occasion - last time was 2/3 years ago when they got an Xbox for Christmas.

As long as not every single present is shared then I don't see the problem.

Could not have afforded or wanted an Xbox each.
But as I say no twins experience so what do I know?

I'd go for separate present that could be played with together if they wanted to. I've a 4yo, 2yo and 8mo twins. The older two have both been given Lego over the years. Gets chucked in one box so they can both play if they want to, rather than arguing over which bit belongs to who. I'm sure as they grow and the twins get bigger, there will be even more going in there.

I don't have an issue with presents to be shared. But at such a young age it's probably better to get one thing each for the children to open.

Argos are often very good for their half price stuff. You could get a gift for £5 each which is the equivalent of £10 if you get lucky.

Last year WH Smith did lots of 3 for 2 offers so you could get something extra for your other presents.
I have not been in any shop for months but expect they will have something similar.

One present each, as others have said.

I have twins, and when they both get invited to a party they EACH take a present for the party boy or girl.

'Same but different' is good. What about an Annual - lots in the shops at the moment because of Christmas.

how about a gift voucher for a day out somewhere? that goes down well here!

I would not buy the subscription between them, it only opens the door to them squabbling about who gets to read it first etc.

"I'm struggling to think of decent presents with DS having had so many parties recently"
I did the same when DS was around 4, and frankly I didn't know most of the children well enough to have a clue what they would like. So I just hedged my bets and bought the same present for EVERY child - pads of drawing paper, and colouring pencils. Unimaginative on my part, but always well received.

NO! Always 2 presents. My friend has twins and I think we would no longer be friends if I treated her babies as one.

Can you not recycle present ideas? Do you have to give a different presents for each birthday party?

Dd had 2 parties last week and both birthday children received the same bead set as it was on sale.

Also, why would people split the present budget between the twins? I know it seems like more money to spend out but no more than if they were invited to two separate parties is it?

I can't believe nobody has suggested books. The epitome of "equal but different", and you can't have too many.

I bloody hate joint parties which pose the same problem really. The two parcels have to look identical!

I would get the same but different eg there are cheap craft kits one gets make a penguin, one make a polar bear or christmas annuals or story cds.

Pyjamas each.

I do like the idea of books Horatia and that's what I would have given in the past, but I do find when they get to about 4 it's hard to know what they do and don't already have. Also, it's tricky to know what books they're currently into. My 4 yo still loves picture books and so do I, but I've heard from parents with similar aged children that they are now 'past' picture books and onto chapter books. I did think of the Roald Dahl ones which are a large format with loads of coloured illustrations in, but again don't want to cause disappointment by giving something they already have.

It's a minefield isn't it! At least I've discounted the shared present idea, so won't mess up on that account. Still lots of room for error though.

I do sometimes recycle present ideas AllOut, but as they're in the same nursery school didn't want people to think I haven't made an effort by getting the same thing over and over. Mine love a game called 'Zingo' and I have bought that a few times, but don't want to risk it too often.

I think I might go for something arty. Along the same lines for both, but different IYSWIM.

Thanks to all for your feedback. You've saved me from causing upset to the children and parents, which would have been awful.

Do DC's really analyse their presents when they 4? My DC's are not twins but they have the same birthday (and are close in age) I know it is not quite the same as twins but they were often given joint presents, and sometimes one that was to be counted as their Xmas present too. I can't remember any occasion where it caused a problem. They also sometimes share cakes and parties but seem equally delighted with their birthdays.

Do DC's really analyse their presents when they 4?

DCs- no

twins- yes. On a bad day there is NOTHING they won't compare

here's some,off the top of my head

hair length
teeth
fastest reader
which one the dog prefers
which one the other dog prefers
who's in the best class
who has the lovingest friends
best piano
bendiest fingers

etc etc etc

I liked the magazine idea.

I don't know any twins, can't remember a thing about 4 year olds, have never heard of the magazine in question so please discount my opinion

I won't mention what boys compare...along the lines of who has the stretchiest...

the friends thing all the time. They sit and count them and argue about it. They aren't even in the same class at school!

There is a world of difference between siblings and twins, I have both. My older two (non twins) share a birthday too, only two years apart, so I have plenty of experience!

OP, you sound absolutely lovely, but stop putting so much pressure on yourself! I'd go for a couple of lego sets - you can never have too much lego.

Another mum os twins here - They DO compare, everything!! and argue, and fight, I wont go on. I agree with my mate Chops- lego every time!!