. . . if I buy my in-laws a bottle of wine instead of a gift for their 1 year old?

[Iconfuseus]

Hello All,

I have no idea what to buy.

Last weekend we were supposed to pop down to DH's DB and SIL party for their 1 year old daughter. Unfortunately my DS and I were sick with a nasty cold and we couldn't go. I'd planned to get a gift the day before the party but this didn't happen due to illness.

We are going down this weekend instead and will drop off a gift then. Problem is I have no idea what to get. The factors are . . .

• They have an older DD so they already have more then enough toys for DD2 and probably feel they are drowning in a tidal wave of pink plastic and I don't really want to add to that burden.

• As a family we've agreed a 10 pound gift limit, which I whole heartedly approve of - but it does limit our options a bit.

• They have loads of books and if I buy a book it will probably be a repeat.

• What does a 1 year old DD really need anyway? I had to get rid of loads of unused toys and stuff from when my own DS was one.

• Our DN is going to have no memory of this birthday and will have no idea whether we buy her a gift or not.

I'm seriously tempted to just get them a nice bottle of wine and say this is for you in honour of her birthday - because I'm totally stumped for ideas.

Suggestions welcome

Can you not ring them and ask if there is something they would like you to get?

What about a book or some Duplo that's not pink? Seems a bit odd to me, wine would be nice in addition, but not instead of.

Put the tenner in a card and they can put it in her bank

Get a £10 voucher for the toy shop then they can get what they like.

Flex I could ring them but I feel embarrassed because I should technically have already of bought something by now.

EduCated They already have tons and tons of books/duplo etc. You name it they have it.

I might be projecting but I feel like all our kids are drowning in crap. I'm already dreading my own sons birthday and Christmas because I have no idea where we are going to put the inflowing stuff.

I was looking online at some nice children's art for their bedrooms, but it's all way over the 10 pound mark.

Voucher for soft play or petting zoo or similar?

I'd get another book, but try to make it a more obscure one that they might not already have.

Or clothes. They'll presumably have loads of hand me downs, but it's nice to have something new (disclaimer: I don't give clothes to children old enough to be disappointed).

What about a nice outfit? You can get some lovely things for £10 in the supermarkets.

I frequently buy clothes for kids birthday presents, especially younger children as I agree they often have too many toys.

Get something but give them a gift receipt?

what about this...

www.livingsocial.com/deals/1244668-personalised-children-s-story-book

Was on the site earlier and thought about getting it and stashing it away for DDs Christmas.

Ah actually you probably wouldn't receive it in time.

Pyjamas are always needed.

Yanbu - but make it prosecco & tell them to toast surviving their first year of parenting two!

Or how about a wee backpack? Or a nice lunchbox type bag?

I always appreciate nice 'basic' clothes, I would buy the nicest pair of tights that you could for £10 - or fancy legwarmers.

Buy a fun thing that gets used up eg giant bubble blower.

Definitely put the tenner in a card and ask that it gets saved for driving lessons or some such.
The 1 yr old will have no concept at all at the moment that there isn't a 'gift to open' from you, but the 17 yr old will really appreciate a small fund when they have to start forking out for driving lessons.
(Speaks as Mum to a ds having driving lessons who has been very appreciative of all those tenners I put away for him as a child).

Personally if I gave money I would absolutely no way specify what it was to be used on.

Just get the child a pressie, its her 1st birthday and although the points you make are logical, I think its a bit off not to make the occasion for her. There is a log you can get a 1yr old for £10. An adorable outfit for 18-24 size if you want to be practical? Some lovely books because they start to get v interested in books at this age. A tea set? Something that involves categorising and putting shapes into a container? An etch a sketch (she will love that when she's 18 mts or so). A pretty nightlight?

Make=mark, log=lot....sorry.

Buy something that's targeted at boys, a brio train track or similar.

I always do that when faced with a family with lots of the same gender!

Just give the money in a nice card - we used to get so many presents for our child that we were over whelmed and really, really didn't want any more - if they want to buy something specific for the child they can choose - if not it goes into his savings account.

My DS (13) has already saved several £100s towards university/leaving home .

A one year old has no 'concept' of a gift.

TeWi - but not everyone wants brio - the number of Lego gifts we had over the years was horrendous - and my DS had absolutely no interest in Lego but it seems to be the default gift for boys .

Just buy something u think the child would like. You're massively overthinking this.

Just buy something u think the child would like. You're massively overthinking this.