To give them a present list?

[Jerseysilkvelour]

My family think they are the best present givers in the world. We are a small family and we don't like to spend loads for occasions. my DC is the only child in the family.

For Christmas, one family member gave my DC a cutlery set and another gave her a laptop bag.

DC is 5. (And no, said DC does not have a laptop!)

DC's birthday is coming up soon - WIBU to make a birthday list and circulate it to my family? It will almost cause great offence, as does everything I suggest about anything!

I wouldn't put anything expensive on the list. DC is a very grateful and polite child and accepted the strange gifts graciously, but was a bit disappointed all the same.

YANBU children are expensive and it makes no sense receiving wasteful gifts. I think a list would not only help you but also help clueless relatives who probably have no idea what to buy by the sounds of things. I'm thinking I'm going to start doing the same thing myself as me and DH don't have tons of money so don't like DS's birthday and Christmas gifts being things he cannot use.

Circulating a list without being asked is very rude. Fine if they ask for one or ideas but grasping and grabby if not.

We have full grown adults that do this...they send us wish lists and huff and puff if don't get something they 'want'.

We've been using www.whattogive.com for years now, as have my siblings and DH's siblings. When we started using it, it was because we had 4 siblings and two sets of grandparents asking for ideas for newborn DD. That was 12 years ago and we've continued updating it with ideas of what our DC are into; those who want ideas use it, those who've got their own ideas don't bother. It's become increasingly useful as our siblings have had children too...no child needs 5 copies of the Gruffalo!