To not buy my 11 month old any Christmas presents?

[sparklyskyy]

My baby will be 11 months at Christmas with his 1st birthday a month later.

We have a large family with lots of grandparents, aunts and uncles and friends so he is going to receive a huge number of gifts.

Due to this I decided to not buy him anything because he's not going to have a clue about presents and who from. I'm not doing it to be a tight wad just because he's going to have loads as it is plus we'll be getting asked left, right and centre what everyone should buy him.

Anytime I've told anyone this they have been horrified, including DP to begin with, which has now made me think I am being unreasonable to not buy my son anything for Christmas.

What do you think?

[FreeButtonBee]

I Have the same dilemma with my twins. First grandchildren on both sides, 4 doting uncles plus a million kind and generous relatives and friends. I am already steeling myself for the avalanche. It's all so kind but if even immediate family just buy them one thing each, that's still a shit load of stuff. And I am still trying to deal with the stuff they have outgrown from over the summer. Don't even get me started on the cuddly toy mountain we already have.

And then I have to deal with it all over again in early Feb!

[HandMini]

YANBU at all. If for no other reason, you may have found that 11 months into your baby's life your house is already over run with baby toys and books and he/she just DOESN'T NEED ANY MORE. Go to a lovely carol service, sit her under your Christmas tree and take loads of photos. Lovely family time and memories. I have never even thought to ask my parents what my first Christmas present was, but I have seen loads of photos of all our family Christmases which I love.

[MisselthwaiteManor]

I think it's sad to think giving your baby a memorable and enjoyable first Christmas is all about a heap of unnecessary presents tbh.

[Weller]

I didn't buy for my dc under 1 for birthday or Xmas due to family presents I did add to grans money for dc and bought premium bonds. If they have presents I don't see that it matters there all from Santa anyway.

[sparklyskyy]

I like the idea of a stocking and I'm always into personalised things so would be lovely to get him one that we then use every year.

I was going to get him some small things like stacking cups etc and then mentioned it to my mum who said she's already got him them. She does this with everything I said the other day I was going to buy him some more sleeping bags and she turned up with 4! This happens a lot!

[WhenSheWasBadSheWasHopeful]

YANBU, he or she really won't need anymore stuff. If it makes you feel better I haven't a clue what I bought my dd for her first Xmas and she's only 2.5.

You will have their birthday coming up after xmas so that will mean yet more presents.

[MisselthwaiteManor]

I think a stocking sounds like a lovely idea

[Shenanagins]

Yanbu. Getting a personalised stocking sounds lovely and its not as though he's not going to get anything.

tbh i can't remember what we gave my toddler for his first Christmas!

[JugglingFromHereToThere]

I remember visiting a Santa who gave dd a stretchy, slinky green key-ring just before her first Christmas. She was about 9 mths and she loved it!
I have some great pictures of her playing with it in her Santa hat.

I think YANBU at all, but don't make any issue about it even to yourself ...
just think I'll probably get her some little thing at some point, and will enjoy seeing which of her presents, from everyone, she enjoys most.
A little stocking for her is a good idea too, that can be especially from you both

[JugglingFromHereToThere]

Sorry sparkly - because I got carried away reminiscing about dd I forgot you have a boy. Hope you have a lovely first Christmas with your little man

[Chopsypie]

I bought them each a my first Christmas keep sake, a book and a toy. No need to go mad, but I enjoy all opening presents together and I wouldn't of wanted them to be left out

[sparklyskyy]

Thanks Juggling We're very excited!

[themummyonthebus]

I don't think YABcompletelyU.

DC1 also has a birthday close to Christmas. I was the same as you to start with but in the end we did buy him a couple of small things and let the gps go mad. The year he turned two he was starting to show preferences for some particular toys (eg Duplo) so we asked the gps to get him some of that and told them that we were getting x as a main present so they could get something to complement it if they wanted to, to try to channel the over enthusiasm for present buying.

This all has worked quite well, particularly as the initial new grandchild craziness has died down.

[IceCreamForCrow]

I think yabu.

I hear all the practical reasons why not but...not even a small stocking from Father Christmas??

[sparklyskyy]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I think I probably was making into a big deal when I heard how horrified people were about it as if how good a mum I am is being measured on how many Christmas presents I buy him!

[IceCreamForCrow]

Please don't let the Christmas and birthday presents morph together. (Speaking as a January baby myself)

[kali110]

I dont think yabu at all.

[IKnewHouseworkWasDangerous]

Dds first stocking had a toothbrush. Kids toothpaste. A pack of 3 aeroplanes unpacked and individually wrapped. A childrens cuttlery set (i believe from the pound shop) a couple of fun bits but mainly stuff she would need anyway plus a lot of wrapping paper!

[squoosh]

I think it's a bit miserable. You don't need to spend much at all but I don't know why you wouldn't buy one little thing to mark his first Christmas.

[Emilyeggs]

My ds will be 1 the first week of jan and I we'll be getting him a Xmas present, something little but can't not get him anything.

[poppingin1]

Buy something practical that you would have bought anyway.

That's what I have done and it is far better than having an extra toy in the house just for the sake of it.

It is not sad to not see the importance in buying an 11 month old something for Christmas. Honestly it is because we live in such a gluttonous culture that many feel this way IMO.

[DoJo]

Don't worry OP - in a couple of months everyone here will have had to do their Christmas shopping in a series of sweltering shops with the same bloody Christmas music pumping out at them as they struggle around with an increasing number of bags, fighting over the last toy in the shop and fending off their annoying family members. Then everyone will be moaning about how commercialised Christmas is and how children are entitled and have too much stuff and how spending time together is more important than buying presents.

[Hulababy]

I have to buy something. It would feel wrong to me to not buy my child, especially their very first Christmas, anything at all.

Doesn't need to be expensive. Just a token is needed.

[SimplyRedHead]

It wasn't until Xmas day that I realised I'd forgotten to buy my then 6mo PFB anything. And yes, I mean ANYTHING!!

[Rachel778]

I like the idea others suggested such as opening a savings account instead . It is entirely up to you but I would do something . . I understand your baby would get lots of pressies and to be honest none of my Children have ever asked what I got them for their first Christmas .. First Birthday Yes , but never Christmas.

As an aside one of my sons was 6 months old on his first Christmas and me and my Husband had seen these elephants that walked, then stopped then roared (for want of better word) and the trunk would lift up . . we thought he would love it . . He did not love it , in fact it scared the life out of him lolol (can laugh now but it really did upset him at the time)