AIBU re wrapping DDs birthday gifts for Christmas

[Dec13girl]

We threw dd a 3rd birthday party for 15 kids and she got a lot of toys, some of which I put upstairs in the attic (because I wanted to bring her out a new toy each week). Now Christmas is coming up and I am wondering AIBU to rewrap some of the toys she opened for her birthday to give them to her for Christmas? Will she remember unwrapping them the first time?

My 3 year old would remember.

Unless you're really skint, no of course you can't do this.

She doesn’t have to open toys for Christmas, give clothes and art stuff or whatever she needs.
No need to have another big pile of gifts.

It's not that I'm hard up, but I just can't stand the clutter!

Then just give them to charity. She is going to remember opening them the first time - crazy idea

If you are very hard up then I guess its a sort of solution but I know my three year old would know.

There's plenty if charities looking for toys to distribute at this time of year. Donate them, plenty of kids out there would be glad of the 'clutter'. And in future, say no gifts on birthday party invitations.

If you can't stand the clutter how about helping her sort through ALL her presents and pick an agreed amount? (Our son has one big bedding box). Then put the others away, she has her box/cupboard/whatever for a week then you do a new treasure chest the following week? If you pick a set day it gives her something to look forward to, she knows she gets chance to swap and change, you keep a handle on clutter And as an added bonus you don't end up with presents stuck in an attic never played with as you're checking through each week. This is also a good way of quickly picking up the stuff she doesn't like/is too old for now so you can do a box for the charity shop too?

I hold back presents throughout the year. Grandparents are overly generous. I have told them we don't have the space etc. but it falls on deaf ears. I like to save toys back for school holidays and will put toys I know they wont use away in a cupboard to use as emergency gifts or present donations at Christmas (our council runs a scheme). This year I found some toys in boxes in the loft that were gifted to my eldest and had got knocked to the back. My youngest is getting them under the tree this year as he would love them. Seems silly to buy near identical presents. We are being careful with money right now and it means we can spend a little bit more on main presents and get them the better versions of what they want, without blowing the budget.

Totally agree with you on that

She would probably remember. My son still remembers things from when he was two over a year and a half ago.

What would happen if the giver of a present saw your DD with it and commented? That could be awkward if she thought it was from you.

I'm afraid I have no sympathy for anguish over "clutter". Life has baggage, children have stuff. It's not a personal attack on you when someone gives your DD something they think she'd like.

Thank you everyone for your input, it seems like this is not the way to go. I'm looking into alternative (non-toy) Christmas gifts now that won't add to the clutter, any suggestions would be appreciated!

I think that is mean. You could just keep bringing a present down a week and instead of buying lots of new presents for Christmas buy few and put money aside into a bank account for her.

I deal with child 'clutter' although I would refer to it as that, by confining it to three specific spaces. A pen in the living room, front room and bedroom. Boxes for storing toys are amazing

Non toy ideas;
Pyjamas, dressing gown, slippers
Clothes (maybe favourite character)
Bowls,plates,cups,cutlery (character ones)
Felts, colouring things, art & craft
Hair bobbles, clips, hairband
Toothbrush (mine love getting new toothbrushes but they may just be strange), special bubble bath, flannel, towel
Backpack
Socks, knickers, vests
Books
Hat, gloves, scarf
Dressing up things (can be hung up in wardrobe)

If you have family asking what to buy-vouchers for days out.

If she has toys she loves that you can add to, it usually means less clutter. So if she likes my little pony or something then new ones can just be kept with the old ones so not needing new space. Or if she has a toy kitchen/dolls house then new things to go with/in it.

Kardashianlove thank you for the helpful list.

Try not to think of toys as clutter. A good friend of mine, a lot older than me said "don't worry about the toys and mess, I wish I had played with my kids more and worried less about how tidy my house was". Apparently her kids had told her when they got older that they hated everything always having to be tidy and not being able to play. Lots of storage is the key.

You're welcome. I hate clutter too. I clear out frequently but especially before Christmas, mine know that Father Christmas can't bring many presents if he can see there is no room for them!

Bit mean really.

If there are things she doesn't need or want (duplicates, things she doesn't enjoy etc) among the birthday presents, I think it's perfectly fine to regift those or donate to a charity shop, or for christmas campaigns for women's shelters etc. I don't think it's a good idea to give them to her again for Christmas.

Yanbu-stuff, stuff, stuff. They don't need it all & it will save so much resources rather than bombarding them with presents-the more they have the more it devalues the stuff, & they are likely toy be less grateful.

I have things left from last Christmas which mine haven't seen but thought they had enough so kept them for this year. Save the money & use it for a nice day out or something

Oh my God. Does anyone actually ever do this? And what's the deal with rationing her birthday presents anyway? Completely and utterly joyless.

I wouldn't but I would rewrap them and give them to other people!

dishonest, tight and controlling.

I've considered this as we had a party with 40 kids thus year! However, it was in july so didn't think I'd get away with it