AIBU about DS's birthday present?

[Bubbinsmakesthree]

DS turns three in a couple of weeks. He's train obsessed and when I have asked him on a number of occasions what he wants for his birthday there is a very specific train set he keeps mentioning.

I could buy this for him but MIL has got a similar set (same make, so would be compatible to make bigger layouts etc) that used to belong to DH. She has been very excited about giving this to DS for his birthday.

DS would no doubt like MIL's train set very much but I know he would be utterly thrilled to get the specific set that he has been talking about. It would however steal the excitement from MIL.

So WIBU to buy the train set for DS?

(If it matters, MIL is a lovely woman who dotes on DS).

I'd buy the train set and then make a big deal about how brilliant it is to be able to fit the sets together and have a bigger set.

Tell MIL first though.

You could get it and put it aside for Christmas?
If your mil is lovely why don't you ask her if she would mind?

Is the train set he would like something he could buy from a shop rather than online? Maybe you could give him money/vouchers and tell him he could use them to go and by his train set

So he gets the train set from your mother in law and an exciting trip to spend his money on the set that goes with it.

Could you just buy the train from the set he has asked for then he can use it on the set mil gives him?

To be honest at 3 he would just be thrilled to get a train set

If I asked MIL she'd say it was fine, even if she was actually a bit gutted.

I could save it until Christmas, but it's unlikely to still be the number one thing his heart desires in six months' time.

Lilicat that is either a genius idea or utterly idiotic, I can't decide! .

I think it depends how you think he would respond to MiL's gift. If he got something else from you guys, is he going to be over-the-moon excited about getting the train set, or is he going to be visibly sad that it STILL isn't the set he wants?
Ditto, if you've already given him the set he wants, is he going to be really excited about getting MORE trains, or all "Whatever, it's not as cool as my other set"?
Also, is there something else he wants that he'll be pleased about getting from you? I mean, is birthday morning going to be, "Yay, I got a new bike!" or is it going to be "But I wanted a train set!"?
Cos it makes a difference.

Who knows really cheerful - he's a toddler, there's every chance that what he really loves is some random pound shop tat from one of his nursery friends!

I suspect if MIL's set is the only train he gets, then it's going to be the star attraction and he's unlikely to complain about it not being the one he really wants. But if we do give him the other set, it'll knock MIL's firmly into second place.

Could he keep mils train set at her house when he visits, and the one you buy at your house? I like dd having some toys at her grandparents, as it's always more exciting and we don't have to bring so many with us.

personally, let MIL give hers first and then market yours as an add on for it (as long as they both fit together) so that the kid can build super awesome tracks in any shape.