to not buy my two yr old any birthday presents?

[spottymog]

Dd will be two soon and I cannot think of a single thing to buy her. She loves drawing, painting, cars, trains, reading, playing outside and teddies. We have hundreds of pens, books, teddies and cars. She has a train and car track already. She has an older sister so has inherited lots of happyland things and a kitchen, shop, dolls house etc.

I think she'd really enjoying seeing/opening presents on her birthday and older dd would enjoy helping her but I begrudge buying things she doesn't need/we haven't really got room for just for the sake of it. What would you do?

Clothes? I have the same problem. Dd2 inherits most of dd1's stuff and I struggle to know what to give her. I think new clothes is nice so she's not living in hand-me-downs. It gets easier as they get older. You can ask them what they want.

I tended to put older ones things away and rewrap them for the younger one.

I would get her something-even if it's only clothes she needs and a book. Otherwise you have the potential hassle of the older one saying at some point "do you remember that birthday when you got no presents".

Have you anything for outside? A swing, sandpit etc. Or even some chalks and paintbrushes so she can 'paint' with water outside on tge pavement. She'll get stuff from other people. I buy stuff for my DCS birthdays just to say v they've got presents. Hence I know have the house that crap filled!

Or you can quietly get rid of lots of old things that she doesn't really play with anymore and buy new versions.

Will other people buy her lots of presents?

perhaps get her something small to open and see what else she gets. At that age my DD was beginning to really enjoy day trips so maybe you could take her to the zoo or similar.

I think two is a tough one when you've got older ones because as you say they've got what they need.

Opening gifts is still fun though. Even if its a new tub of play dough, a balloon wrapped up, sneaking back some colouring books they haven't yet started and wrapping them up, a new birthday bedtime story, a pack of sweets.

This is the kind of thing DS2 and DD had at 2.

YANBU to not buy lots of plastic tat.

Could you put some money aside to pay for an activity class or a trip somewhere?
My third child has just turned two and we already have plenty of toys, clothes etc
I did buy her a new swimming bag and a colourful towel which she really likes.

How about asking her big sister to choose a few toys to officially pass on? She'd still be able to play with them as they'll be around the house, but ownership can move to the birthday girl. Your 2yo can enjoy unwrapping and your elder dd will be doing a lovely thing and helping to make her sister's day special. Maybe throw in a new story book? You can never have too many books!

we have a similar issue with DD, as she has inherited loads from DS. In the end we have plumped for some more wooden train track which they can play with together, and a toy keyboard (ELC one, but got it from Ebay for £1.50! only real ebay bargain I have ever had!) - the most expensive bit of her present has been the batteries, and I know she'll have fun with her 'new' toys!

my son choose some toys he didn't want anymore and wrapped them and gave them to his little sister when she was that age, so they are now officially hers.

She will love opening presents. You don;t need to spend much at that age - just go to the pound shop or factory shop and get her pens, pads, etc etc just so she can unwrap stuff. For a tenner you will be able to get her loads of little bits to open.

I always find a helium balloon goes down well! Or a dressing up costume? DVDs? Socks/pants with fave characters on? Her own pencil case stuffed full of pens?

Something you want,
Something you need,
Something to wear,
Something to read.

In a giant big box wrapped up or 4 smaller boxes. The giant box is always good for play afterwards.

Seriously we have at least 500 childrens books and a reading corner with more. She doesn't really like clothes and already has a dressing up box, swing, slide, trampoline, bike, pets etc. We're going out for the day to celebrate but still would like her to have some new things to open but really can't think what!

A 'real' book for much later. Like a Folio edition of a classic?

www.foliosociety.com/book/CHW/charlottes-web

Yrnbu

Buying presents for the sake of it is a waste. We have this at my DS birthday and Christmas as they are very close together. He unwraps them on the day and doesn't even open the boxes, he's got 2 big piles of toys in his room still unopened, some are even from the year before. He would much rather spend time playing the dogs, taking them for a walk, playing on his bike or ds then anything else. Seem like such a waste but you've got to get them something. Can't wait till.his older when it will be bigger things like driving lessons or a car, that will be so much easier

Just a small thing, but I saw this yesterday while browsing for bday presents for DD...It looks amazing!!! Does she have one? I'd have loved it at her (or any) age...

www.gltc.co.uk/convertible-pirate-ship-book/books/gltc/fcp-product/10002809

Does she like music? Maybe some silly songs with actions and a little CD player? That would come in useful for when she's older so that she can have some read along story books?

What about balloons? Helium and normal ones. Always go down a storm here.

I don't think we got DD anything from us on her 2nd birthday She had loads of presents from the rest of the family and we didn't want to duplicate. But having said that, we earmarked some money for things she would need/like over the year. She has a birthday just after Christmas, so we've saved the money until now when we've started getting sand table, thinking about a scooter etc.

If you really can't think of anything don't buy something for the sake of it. Just keep in mind the money you might have spent, and buy something latter in the year if they need it.

How about:

New water bottle or cutlery set
Sun hat
New crocs/sandals for summer
Flannel/sponge for bath
playdoh (this regularly dries out in our house)
A bell or basket for a bike/scooter
Tin of biscuits
Flashing toothbrush

Buy her something. Even if it's something she's a bit young for, or clothes, or s bike for her to grow into (or clean up sister's old bike or something).

If you get her nothing she may not notice but her big sister will. That's not sending any good messages about the youngest's place in the family and you will not like defending your decision to her in a few years.