How much to spend on DD?

[l0stmummy]

It's DDs birthday at the beginning of December, and then Christmas too. She will be one. DH is saying £50 all together because she's not going to remember it and family will go crazy. But I don't think that'll get her anything, let alone two separate days worth of presents. Christmas was a flop last year (living with my mother with DH and DD in a tiny box room, in a house of 10 people). I really want our first actual Christmas as the three of us to be memorable, and DD will only have 1 first birthday. AIBU to want to spend more than just £50 for her gifts? DH really thinks it's irrelevant.

Helium is a scarce and precious gas, that can't be manufactured! It's vital for MRI scanners etc There's a real lack of awareness about the problem. Please avoid helium balloons!

My DD is a December baby too. For her first birthday we got her a big hatbox and put some baby musical instruments in - maracas, jingle bells, tambourine, kazoo (oh god, the kazoo!). We added to the box every year and the DC ended up with a great collection which lasted years.

She's 12 this year! Now she doesn't get a main birthday present as such, she gets an experience or day out instead, otherwise it's just too much stuff all in one go.

Agree that £50 is plenty, get her somethings you want for her - books, clothes whatever and she’ll play with the wrapping!
Definitely agree with a helium baloon!

I have friends who have mounds of presents for their children who have zero idea what’s going on - what’s the point.
You aren’t being mean by not spending.

And they’ll get tonnes of stuff from friends/family.

If it makes you feel better then buy the big present but it's a real shame to measure a birthday or Christmas by the amount you spend or the amount of presents received, it honestly doesn't matter. Family, a little cake and candles and a box DC can open will still get happy giggles, they don't have to be opening presents all day to be happy

Cake, helium balloon in a box. Enough for one year old! Your family will buy presents - you'll soon be wishing she had FEWER toys I think...
Why not spend the rest, if you want, on a family photoshoot, then you'll have something special for all of you!

Op... With 50 you could buy a mountain of stuff second hand.

Our Ds1 was a December baby. For his first birthday we got a few small odds and ends and a swing for the garden which wasn’t hugely utilised until the warmer weather.

We did the same for a couple of years and also got family to consider the same so he got an equal amount of indoor and outdoor toys.

But above all consider the space and budget you have and avoid stretching either with crap plastic tat. Your baby won’t care or remember.

Children that small get completely overwhelmed by huge piles of presents. Much, much better just to give them a couple of immediate-fun things (bubbles, a doll, etc), and something that will last (set of books, for instance) and that's it.

Best 1 year old present ever:

Take a cardboard box (free).
Blow up 2 light up balloons (2 for £1). Put them in the box.
Realise you can’t shut box lid properly. Instead cover with loosely stuck down wrapping paper.
Turn off light.
Take box to 1 year old.
Watch face of 1 year old.

Seriously. Much better than anything else.

For DD1's first Christmas we got her a high chair as it was the next "big" thing she'd be needing. Saddos that we are we put it beside the tree on Christmas Eve and took photos of her sitting in it for the first time on Christmas morning. Tbh I can't remember what else we bought her but the pile of presents from everyone else took up most of the living room. Your Dd won't be hard done by OP if you limit your spend or stick to practical presents

Put the money you wanted to spend into an account for her for when she's older. Then get her some cheap novelty stuff and a box as presents. All you're going to do with the stuff is throw it away eventually so it doesn't matter.

DC will be nearly 10 months at Christmas and I’ll be spending around £100 - not because the price matters but developmentally he’s quickly outgrowing the toys he has so far. I’m not giving them all on Christmas Day though, going to keep two to open on the day and the rest I’ll be giving when I pick them up.

I have to disagree I'm afraid, even though I know she will never remember it, I simply couldn't stomach the idea of not getting her much. It's her first ever birthday!!!

I don't think we got anything for the first year.2nd year we blew up loads of balloons and sneaked them in her room.She thought it was magic as when she closed her eyes there were no balloons and then she opened them and there were balloons!We have photos of here sitting on the sofa surrounded by them.
Mist years she had a stocking and 1 main item as other relatives sent so much when she was small.

There’s a huge development change between a 1 year old and a 2 year old so just get a few things that you’d need to buy anyway! Maybe have a chat with relatives about it openly in case they say what they might buy to avoid too much if you’re worried but shape sorters, books, block puzzles, sot on toys and walkers, blocks are all perfect ‘one year old’ presents which you’ll be buying anyway!

Nobody, adult or child, remembers their first birthday/Christmas present.

They do, however, have photos of the cake-blowing-out, the stories from the family party and the 'Baby's first Christmas' keepsake ornament.

Focus on the things that will last, not stuff she'll grow out of and toys you'll eventually bin.

my dd will be 5 m9nths at xmas and I will only be spending about £50, and for stocking fillers getting things she will need eg socks, weaning spoons, teething toys. and then plan to spend abit getting clothes in the next size up in the boxing day sales.

Hi Mothercare usually has a half price toy sale in November as do others. We did this I bought £100 worth of toys for £50 and split them over the 2 days (more for Christmas) and I also bought some clothes he needed and wrapped them too. But we did bake a cake and make a fuss and that is the main thing.

Too many presents will overwhelm a one year old and you will end up with a fractious overtired toddler/baby. I think one nice present up to £25 each for birthday and Christmas is fine. Save your money for when she is older and she needs expensive stuff like garden play stuff or a bike/playhouse. She will appreciate that more when she is three or four. She will get lots of stuff from other people too I am sure. My advice is keep some back for other days rather than open presents all at once unless of course people are there and want to watch your DC open her gift.

DS1 was two and a half last Christmas, so was old enough to put his stocking by the tree, next morning he was so excited to find it again and so happy with 5 cheap small plastic dinosaurs, a piece of fruit and a small bag of chocolate buttons inside. It was lovely seeing him feel the magic of Christmas for the first time and it would have been enough for him. He was a bit overwhelmed and bewildered then by all the extra presents from family and friends and his main present from us and we had to spread it over a few days.