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?

It's not mean towards your daughter (many kids get too much these days anyway) but my 3 year old would def remember.
And I thinks it rude towards those who gave the gifts in the first place. If your daughter truly has too many gifts then donate them to a worthy cause....

Did your daughter not thank the givers for the presents at the time?

My DD also 3 remember everything - i mean scarily everything she remember her old house we moved out over a year ago and then reminds me of things I have forgotten ( so no way could I re-gift presents) I dont think its mean

Go for it - why waste money on new stuff when she's only 3 and won't remember any of the items.
Not mean at all - do it!

Personally I'd re-wrap some of them (and drip feed the rest over the next few weeks after Xmas), buy a few additional gifts, and then I'd stick the balance of the money I'd have spent on the additional gifts in a bank account for her. She's likely to be far more grateful for that money in 15 years time, than mentally scarred because you re-wrapped some gifts she's not previously played with!

Would absolutely go for this idea. Annoyed I didn’t think of it when mine were young. At three, guessing they haven’t calculated every present. And they have too much stuff!!

Buy a really big toy box

I think it's mean to take advantage of a child like that, especially as these were presents chosen for her by her friends' parents. Taking the credit for other people's generosity is not a very savoury thing to do, is it?

Taking the credit for other people's generosity is not a very savoury thing to do, is it?

Again this is the basis of Christmas

Again this is the basis of Christmas

Not in our house. Father Christmas brings one small present. Otherwise how do you justify the fact that some Father Christmas brings lots to some children but not others? Is it because they’re somehow more worthy? Everything else is bought my friends/family and my children thank them as is appropriate.

At 3 mine would have said 'I got one of those for my birthday' and gone to look for it. They wouldn't have minded getting another one, but would have been bemused about where the first one had gone !

If these are new unwrapped toys and you don't want them/think there are too many toys/clutter, hospitals always have collections for toys to give to children in hospital over Christmas

It's not mean, just sensible - I have done this. My DTs have an April birthday so lots of time in between. I don't think at 3 mine would have remembered generic craft sets etc - though obviously anything unusual or especially popular would have been kept and not put in the attic in the first place. Re-wrapping them allows the DCs to have loads of fun stuff from FC, and if they really don't need it then take it to the charity shop after they've had the fun of opening it (again).

My problem is now the DCs are 9 they don't want much - so FC will be bringing them school socks, boxes of tissues, school drinks bottles, backpacks and stationery etc etc..... It's just nice to have lots of stuff to put under the tree, and unwrap on the day!

How will giving her the toys gradually over weeks produce any less clutter than her having them all at once in her birthday? If you don't want clutter then don't get her lots of gifts for Christmas spend the money on experiences, days out, pony riding, indoor ski slopes, aquariums etc what ever there is to do near you and create memories instead of mess

I would definitely do it, if those presents came from you and not from 1 of the 15 kids that came to the party.

I'd do it. You aren't saying they're from you, are you? Just leaving them under the tree.

If she asks, just say Father Christmas was reminding her of all the lovely things she got for her birthday. Make sure you put a couple of surprises in there too though, so the Magic isn't lost.

My daughter is 3 and can tell me what we did last year, who bought her what and when. If your DD was younger I would say go for it, but at 3 I think she will remember opening them on her birthday.

Nothing wrong with it. I did this due to the same reason as you, too many toys and worked a treat. With the money i saved, i put into a saving account for my dc. This year my dc is 3 and therefore this is the last time i can do this as she will probably remember the presents. Instead my plan is to get her to chose which toy she would like to give to charity in exchange for the new one. I'm hoping she will understand that she's helping children who are less fortunate.

If I rewrapped presents 3 y/o DS got for his birthday, Christmas ,morning would go something like this: 'Oh but I have this already mummy...'

My initial reaction is - it's a bit mean. However, to be honest, she won't know, it will save you money, save clutter and she won't be getting new toys from the loft just before Christmas. I say go for it. If you are embarrassed about it, just don't tell anyone you are doing it.

How did you explain the disappearance of the gifts initially? My dc would have been disappointed with the loss of gifts and what are you going to do with the same amount of gifts for Christmas? My dc would have cried and been hurt and angry. After the excitement of opening gifts, there is the glee of a pile of new toys to discover. What about thank-you notes?

I would be angry if I had given my niece a gift only for it to be given by my sil later. How do you explain that? Here is your gift that you unwrapped from Aunt November?

Also, birthdays and Christmas are lots of gifts days. It takes away the luster of gifts if you give the same quality gifts every week.

I think the entire activity is cruel and exceptionally selfish. There are ways of controlling clutter that do not include head games with dc.

It does seem to be a bit mercenary to hold a party and keep the guests gifts hidden to present as your own for Christmas.

Plenty of other ways to do Christmas without resorting to that.

Of course you're not being unreasonable! What could possibly be unreasonable about trying to deceive and cheat a 3 year old? In fact why give them to her at all? Keep them wrapped and wait for her to go to parties and use them for presents then and see if they notice they're the same....
In case you're not sure ....Yes I do think this is wrong!

Do as you see fit this time but for future birthday parties, write Please, No Gifts on the invitation.

"For many people Christmas is a religion" this made me chuckle...what is it actually celebrating?!