Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5

Original poster

WIBU to buy my son a bed for his birthday?

104 replies

CategoryIs · 19/06/2018 20:39

DS is turning 4 next month and is all of a sudden very long and tall, and I often find him with limbs hanging out his toddler bed.
Would it be mean of me to get him a new bed as his birthday present? I would put it all together as a surprise for him with nice new duvet covers and balloons, but I can't decide if it is actually not very exciting for him, or dare I say it... a bit tight. We don't have much spare money so would have to wait a good few months to buy him a new bed. He doesn't need anything for his birthday and has lots of toys - I feel like just buying more tat is a waste of money.... but also don't want to be mean.

What do you think?

OP posts:

Fabricwitch · 19/06/2018 21:41

Sounds nice, especially with a duvet with a character he'd like on! And maybe a new cuddly toy in there too!

missymousey · 19/06/2018 21:44

I once got a new bed as a birthday present from my parents when I was a kid, I was thrilled to bits! I was about 8 I think and it was a cabin bed with a desk under it. Another year they redecorated my room and I got to choose the wallpaper and curtains. Again, thrilled to bits. I'm glad you have reminded me, I will remember to do this for DS in years to come

missymousey · 19/06/2018 21:45

Dahlietta That is brilliant!

PieAndPumpkins · 19/06/2018 21:46

A cheap bed FRAME will make zero difference to a child's spine development or comfort...

iliketosmellcandles · 19/06/2018 21:50

@CategoryIs I think it's a lovely idea to give DS what will essentially be a whole new bedroom for his birthday!

WinkyisbackontheButterBeer · 19/06/2018 21:51

Something like these would be awesome!

WIBU to buy my son a bed for his birthday?

PoodlesOfFund · 19/06/2018 22:24

We did this for Christmas for all of them. They were THRILLED.

BigDamnHero · 19/06/2018 22:29

I think it depends on the child.

It doesn't sound like your DS has any particularly high/specific expectations so a 'grown up' bed with new duvet set and some cheap presents to open may well be exciting for him (as long as he gets his cake, too!).

My kids are autistic and I'd be worried about their reactions to something like this just because they (especially DS1) can have quite specific expectations. They would possibly love it but I wouldn't take the chance, IYSWIM?

However, all kids are different and this thread proves a lot of kids would love it!

Starlight345 · 19/06/2018 22:30

Op . My Ds asked for a rubix cube for his birthday once nothing else . He mostly got some books as well not all kids want stuff for the sake of it .

Kids do love s new bed . I would sooner spend a bit more on a bed than a bit of plastic tat.

At that age my ds’s Gifts came from a car boot

QueenOfMyWorld · 19/06/2018 22:33

We did for ds 4th birthday he loves it

e1y1 · 19/06/2018 22:36

I wouldn’t unless I absolutely had no other option. As practical as it is and as much as I wouldn’t have an issue buying an adult a thoroughly practical gift, childhood is the one time presents and birthdays/Christmas should be about wants (and at the risk of sounding wanky) bring “joy” and be “magical”.

Enidblyton1 · 19/06/2018 22:45

Great idea - both of my DDs would have loved this when they were 4.
I like the idea of tying some balloons to the bed and wrapping up a couple of small toys under the duvet or pillow.

Enidblyton1 · 19/06/2018 22:46

I honestly think anyone dismissing this idea has forgotten what it feels like to be 4 😉

mogloveseggs · 19/06/2018 22:55

Do it! Ds got a big bed recently as he’s finally dry at nighy. Best present ever apparently 😊

Tertiathethird · 19/06/2018 23:00

I don’t think any of my children would have been particularly pleased with a new bed for their birthdays. I would tread with caution!

MyKingdomForBrie · 19/06/2018 23:00

I think it totally depends on the kind of bed, if it’s just a metal/wooden frame type thing then it’ll kind of suck.

I see loads of great fun looking second hand kids beds on Facebook selling sites/market place that would make a really awesome birthday present.

MyKingdomForBrie · 19/06/2018 23:01

And wouldn’t cost much I meant to add!

gillybeanz · 19/06/2018 23:07

We did this for ours, especially when we couldn't afford presents and parties too.
anything at all you can do to make it special and memorable.
Is he starting school in September, we did a new big bed for a big boy going to school and bit by bit got a bedroom school friendly.
Sort his room too, maybe new bedding, character pj's etc, he'll love it.

MyOtherUsernameisaPun · 19/06/2018 23:08

Bit tight!!

HRMumness · 19/06/2018 23:11

My Mum did up my bedroom for my 5th birthday. Everything was freshly painted - walls and furniture including a new bed - plus she had sewn a duvet set and curtain herself in fabric covered in strawberries. I can still remember now how excited I was and what it looked like. I couldn't tell you what toy I might have received for any other birthdays around that age but I sure remember what my bedroom looked like and that is more than 30 years ago!

Long story short, get the bed and new duvet etc. I think it's a lovely idea.

Tringley · 19/06/2018 23:13

Can't you just go secondhand all the way and buy him a great bed and the toy of his dreams? I have a tiny income but DS5 lives a child's fantasy of a life as I get secondhand everything. I found him the most amazing bed frame for £100 last year. It is a midsleeper pirate bed with a tented cabin underneath, a tower covered ladder to climb onto the bed, a tunnel over the bed and a slide out of it. It was actually brand new as the previous owner was overwhelmed by how complicated a flat pack it was. For his birthday, I usually buy a secondhand bundle of his favourite toys for less than the cost of one of the toys new. I sometimes divide the bundles across several years of birthday and Christmas surprises, or even give some of the toys to my family to give to him if they ask for suggestions. He gets everything he could possibly wish for but I spend far less money than I would on a fraction if I bought new.

throwawayagain · 19/06/2018 23:30

My DDs asked for bunk beds for their birthdays.
The little minxes have their own rooms, but want to be together, bless them.
They love their new bed!

Perfectly1mperfect · 19/06/2018 23:49

I think I would if it was a one of those beds with a slide and tent but not if its just a standard bed. It sounds like you would have to buy one soon anyway and I don't think many children would be excited by a standard bed as a birthday present.

If money is tight then I would just get him what you can for his birthday, maybe wrap up character bedding, blankets, cushions as well but not use the actual bed as a present as its a necessity.

gillybeanz · 20/06/2018 14:24

I don't think a standard bed would be a bad idea, you can buy things to dress them up as you like.
My dd had a standard single bed, we bought her canopy and a frame that you put a cover over, think hers was arrabella or something similar.
She absolutely loved it and played inside the tent bit for hours.
Friends came round and played in it.

Before this the ds had bunk beds and they also had lots of stuff to make it a den.
It's how you sell it to them.

DailyMailFail101 · 20/06/2018 14:40

it sounds like a grand idea, nice new duvet cover, balloons, new book on pillow and a handsome bear tucked up with his head poking out! I’m jealous sounds perfect for a four year old.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5

Swipe left for the next trending thread