AIBU to feel a bit put out by ILs' gifts to DD?

[PeachPantaloons]

ILs have always been a bit strange with gifts - just to give a bit of background, some classics they've given me over the years include; an industrial size can of sweetcorn months out of date (SIL), a mini JCB branded spade on a key ring (MIL), a Tesco bag for life (MIL), a complimentary pot of jelly beans (the type you get at conferences) already opened and half the beans eaten (SIL) and many, many old/random bits with huge red clearance stickers left on them.

Since the initial confusion at our first Christmas together, it's become a bit of an affectionate joke between DH and I and we have a bit of a giggle over them.

However, I was hoping that they'd put the bizarrity aside for my DD who's 8 months old, this being her first Christmas. She's a very small baby (still in 3-6 month clothes) and was prem so about 1-2 months behind developmentally.

They got her an adult size duvet cover, two boys' two year old size onesies, an activity pack (the very cheapest you can imagine - two 8 page grey paper colouring books and standard four crayons) and a bear you feed with a toy bottle, neither suitable for under 3s, a Something Special game with buttons to help four year olds learn to spell dated 2011 on the back and (suspiciously?) not in any packaging, a very cute dress, top and leggings but aged 36 months, two very cheap books (prices left on, 50p for two) aimed at 5 year olds, an enormous white chocolate dog, a bag of kinder chocolates, a bargain bath tidy net and some small soft toys (DD isn't bothered about soft toys yet, she likes things with colour and different textures and stuff she can chew). All in all, nothing we could really let her have and nothing to show that they'd thought about her personality at all.

Obviously she doesn't know anything about it this year but what if it continues for future birthdays/Christmasses. I can't imagine it being any kind of fun for a little one to open their gifts and have them put away straight away until they're age appropriate...

Just to put it into perspective, SIL's 13 year old daughter was given a PS4 this year (Wii U and tablet last year), SIL got £500 worth of cooking equipment (bought for her by BIL) so we know they know how to do decent presents and that it's not a money thing.

DH and I struggled massively for money this year (mat leave pay) but still put the same thought and as much money as we could into each gift and while we don't care for ourselves, I feel like no real care or thought has gone into DD's gifts. My family got things that match her interests (lifting flaps and touchy feely stuff) so she did get some lovely presents in addition to the ones we got her.

I am grateful she got any gifts and thanked the ILs properly. I don't want them to spend loads of money on her and I'm not upset about the gifts but AIBU in being disappointed that not more thought had gone into baby's first Christmas gifts?

Have your DCs ever gotten strange or inappropriate gifts which have left you a bit ? Any good stories out there?

I would be suspicious too OP - these sound nicked from several houses then wrapped up & given to yours?
I would prefer to get nothing than have to go through that every year
Perhaps they are trying to get you to agree no gifts to avoid their crap?
Either way don't stoop too low and get into re-gifting

2016 alternatives:
A - circulate a 1 small/1 large present gift list in Nov - limit the ask to that family member and don't let the little one expect it
B - agreed amount/ vouchers - Argos/ John Lewis best for young age
C - Clothes with short sleeves 1 year older than current size (not current age)

OR
My top option would be to ask for a Book voucher from their nearest book store. Explain dd loves books and you'd like to collect vouchers for her future book choices. Send them a list of 30 suitable age books for them to pick from.
Offer to send happy pics of her reading her chosen book.
eg. Whsmiths, Waterstones
www.nationalbooktokens.com/spend-everywhere

Hello OP

I am not sure it IS deliberate though. It depends on their age/own upbringing. My MIL loved car boot sales and charity shops and thought nothing of buying bundles of assorted babygros for her granddaughter. We are talking pink linen stretched ones that would have suited George Dawes, ones with trains on, outlandish purple snowsuit etc etc
It did not upset me...what did my head in was knowing that it all added up to £££ that could be used for a couple of naice things ;-)
I explained gently I would rather she spent cash on herself as it all added up. But she bought them so I used them, took photos, acted grateful. I once took back an ELC inflatable boat ball pool thing she bought as for £25 for a tiny tot, I knew I could buy loads of small!led age friendly toys for that kind of money. But in hindsight I shouldn't have done that. I should have bought some balls, blown it up and left it in the spare room and let DD play with it when we visited.
Your IL might love what THEY perceive to be a bargain. You need to rise above and give to Oxfam anything safe but inappropriate, keep the older clothes stored away, the boys stuff keep for d+v episodes/vomageddon-apoocalypse, cuddly toys if new keep (you can get toy hammocks for ceiling storage), if not wash and keep or give to charity, the crayons give away or chuck or put in your handbag to gift to a stressed mum with toddler who has forgotten hers in a cafe, but above all, smile and wave OP smile and wave.