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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To not buy my son anything for his birthday

29 replies

mummytasha11 · 10/01/2013 14:52

Its my ds 2nd birthday tomorrow and I cannot think of one thing to buy him!

He was a lucky boy at Christmas and got way too much!!

What do I do?

OP posts:

Flossiechops · 10/01/2013 14:55

I have had this with my ds whose birthday is 27th December! Iirc we bought him very little for his first and second birthdays, little things like books and a garage set from elc. Yanbu! Now he has just turned 8 however he wants the earth!

noblegiraffe · 10/01/2013 14:58

Buy him a trip to the zoo or aquarium etc. And a balloon!

nickelbabe · 10/01/2013 15:00

i second a balloon.

or some clothes?

ScooseIsLoose · 10/01/2013 15:02

Money in a bank account for him?

Cat98 · 10/01/2013 15:10

yes, a trip out and a balloon! definitely.
At 2, my DS would have been thrilled with an empty cardboard box...

HoratiaWinwood · 10/01/2013 15:12

Rewrap some of the Christmas things? then put money in savings.

fosterdream · 10/01/2013 15:23

How would you feel as a child to not get a present for you're birthday?

If you get him a present please don't wrap it in Christmas paper it his birthday not Christmas.

KobayashiMaru · 10/01/2013 15:34

He's two. I think the crushing disappointment won't scar him for life

He doesn't even know what a birthday is. Give him a cake and a blow up a bag of balloons, thats plenty. Don't buy more crap just for the sake of it or because fools on here tell you to.

Whatdoiknowanyway · 10/01/2013 15:36

Oh for goodness sake. He's going to be 2. It's not mandatory to buy birthday presents for children who are not fully aware of the concept of birthdays. He certainly wont be aware of the distinction between Christmas and birthday paper. Save the money for the years he will need it. Give him love, hugs and a candle to blow out on his cake.

houseelfdobby · 10/01/2013 15:38

Be like the Queen and give him an "official" birthday in the summer when he may appreciate different stuff (eg a garden swing or some such).

TheSurgeonsMate · 10/01/2013 15:39

Was it on here recently that I read about a family who play bat-the-balloon-with-the spoon? Sounds fun. Any excuse for a balloon...

Bakingtins · 10/01/2013 15:41

Helium balloon and an IOU for a present in the summer.

Cortana · 10/01/2013 15:41

YANBU.

DS is 9 tomorrow. He isn't fussed. He's asked me to bake him a cake. That's all he asked for. We got him some bits and bobs. I am also breaking the rule of not using Christmas paper, I have Christmas paper left over, I have no money. He knows he's loved even if his Mother is a pennypincher.

Age 2 I reckon balloons and singing happy birthday is fine. Save the money for a day out.

Original poster

mummytasha11 · 10/01/2013 16:46

Thanks everyone. Going to take him to the zoo at the weekend and make cakes with him in the morning.

Bought him a cars balloon and a few banners and going to have a quick look in the early learning centre after work for a little something so he has something to open

OP posts:

ebersneezer · 10/01/2013 16:55

Sounds perfect.

MsPickle · 10/01/2013 16:59

An idea I heard recently that I'm pinching for future birthdays is to put (inflated) balloons into a big cardboard box then wrapping the box. My ds would have loved that at 2!

AndABigBirdInaPearTree · 10/01/2013 17:03

You can buy books. You can't have too many of those. Buy clothes that he needs but fun ones. Buy an experience gift. Buy some bath toys if you don't have a bazillion. Make some nice smelly homemade play dough.

Startail · 10/01/2013 17:05

DD2 loves finding old birthday pictures and seeing how she's grown.

Cake picture, zoo more pictures.

No earthly point in more toys, toddler toys are out grown too soon.

More Lego, playmobil or Brio when he's 3+ yes. DD2 often got adds to her Christmas sets of playmobil as her birthday is not that long after Christmas.

mrsjay · 10/01/2013 17:09

buy him a balloon like others have said and some sweets and take him out for the day

threesypeesy · 10/01/2013 17:42

the zoo and baking sound lovely some nice quality time together

though people that said a balloon wtf thats eh crap! presents shouldnt be something needed its a present,all kids should get something imo

but i do agree with a wee trip somewhere like zoo if nothing can be thought of as a gift

oldebaglady · 10/01/2013 17:45

YANBU, I didn't buy mine anything for his and spent it on having a lovely day instead - much more memorable and enjoyable for him than more stuff

mrsjay · 10/01/2013 17:46

we used to take ours out for the day when they were younger for birthdays especially if you couldnt think what to get them and got them something to open was lovely, now they are teens they just want 'stuff'

leelo · 10/01/2013 18:39

i would give your child an adventure instead. my little ones on special occasions got a trip on train, followed by a trip on underground train, then maybe a boat ride if weather permitted, ending with a trip to a museum with lots of interactive stuff to play with.

juniper904 · 10/01/2013 20:30

The bane of the January birthday! My presents from my 'd'p were wrapped in cheapo old Christmas paper and MY very nice paper from Paperchase don't you know

mrsjay · 10/01/2013 20:33

dd2 is a feb Birthday it is a PITA trying to think what to get

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