Odd kids' birthday gifts, is it just us? (LH)

[JacobeanWilson]

Light hearted, I need cheering up.

My DC's birthday this weekend. Turned 9, average size for age. Gift from one of the BFF's... clothing age 7! She has not been in that size for over 2 years! The bff's parents would know this won't fit, as their DC is the same size (not a money issue, parents in good jobs, nice house etc.) so it's just weird!

But it reminded me of a couple of years ago when another of my DC got one of those messenger bags you colour in yourself. Except the pens were missing. And the tags keeping the bag in place had all been removed with the bag slid loosely back in place ie it had obviously been opened & toyed with but decided against keeping & palmed it off with vital bits missing! (again a well off family, not a money issue).

Maybe a symptom of birthdays after Christmas & people getting rid of things they received but didn't want! So is it just us?

Note: this is about inappropriate / dubious gifting kids in any form and not about complaining re cheap gifts (the clothing example wasn't cheap so it's nothing to do with value of the item but the actual item itself). I personally spend more time than I should getting nice / appropriate gifts for people I know & my kids friends, therefore I notice blatantly inappropriate gifts at 100 paces, yin to my yang.

So... has anyone else's DC had equally random, surprising & amusing gifting experiences you care to share..?

Wonder if clothes were on the wrong hanger and thry didn't notice. Will shop let you swap it up?

DS is only little, we have the opposite problem. 3rd birthday present, dress up set in age 5-7. He's average sized. One of those fancy mechano sets with 3000 pieces aged 7+.
Age 2, Christmas present of transformee dinosaurs recommended age 5+

Its all sat in a shelf in my house waiting for him to grow into it but of course thst takes up space I don't have and is a bit shit on him

My then 4 year old had been given a knit your own ballerina doll kit. Clearly marked 6+ on the box and sharp needle included

Giver had several kids, so I think she just grabbed the first box in her birthday stash and forgot to check age.

My lot are older now but one that sticks in my head is DD being given a full sized, pastel lilac pashmina. She was 4. ‘‘Twas a bit strange

A go-kart when ds was 2. You know the black and red pedal one for 6+

My aunt once sent dd a bead set for age 3+. Dd was a teenager!!
Step dm always sent sale items in the wrong size for the wrong season.
Glad when she went nc tbh!

My mum is infamous for stockpiling presents when she sees them in the sales. So I get what she found, not what I want. Her worst was a sports bra in the wrong size. I tried to take it back but it was worth £1. That year I had bought her a digital camera!

Thinking about it, the first mum actually asked me in the lead up to the party what sort of thing my DC liked! Small clothing was not one of my replies! And I think last yr they gave a clothing gift too but that was only 1 yr too small (ie age 7 when turning 8) so my child squoze into it twice before admitting defeat.

Nowt as strange as folk.

I sort of understand people getting things for kids to grow into, especially if bday / Xmas are close, but having to wait years to grow into a gift is a bit mad!

My son who openly hates football got for his birthday last year (January bday too) a dvd of 70's league football and then there wasn't even a disc in it either so he effectively got a dvd case 😂 I assume my aunt left the disc in her dvd player lol

My aunt gave my son a sticker book good for a 3-4 year old, massive size stickers of diggers to put on a building site scene, but he was 8 nearly 9 at the time.

Packet Jelly Babies sweets for a 6 month old. I ate them so not wasted.

You have to say something about the shirt. It must be an error and if not they need to face the music.

Oh yes, definitely. The weirdest one was my DS got, for his sixth birthday, a very pink and sparkly Peppa Pig craft set thing for age 3+. I did clock that it came from a classmate whose sister had a recent birthday . I must confess that I am guilty of regifting myself, but mainly Lego sets as DS has no interest in Lego, but he gets loads of it. I only give them to people for whom I might have bought them though and they're all unopened and as-new...

🤣 Chorley did you or he ever mention the missing DVD to the aunt..?! You'd assume at some point your aunt would've found it in her house & realise her critical mistake!

Escape yes I'd forgotten we've had that too! Age 8 gifted a bumper pack of sharpies (only for older kids IMO being permanent), coupled with really basic toddler level colouring book! Two extremes, what were they thinking 😂

My DS got a set of socks, size 27-30. His shoe size is 37 😂

can't you exchange it if it still has tags on? if not id ask them if they still have the receipt so you can exchange for the right size.

I completely agree with regifting Dahlietta, no point cluttering up your house with things that don't seem their space in your house. Out of interest, do you buy a replacement gift for your child when you do this? I am inconsistent in this area!

It looks online like it's gone final reductions at M&S and they won't exchange final reductions even with a receipt from past experience

My youngest was 4 months old at Xmas and got about 5 selection boxes. Not only is he obviously too young he also has a dairy allergy 🙄

We’ve had strange gifts from mil over the years, she is always determined to be the first one to buy something for the dc.

So with this in mind, she bought ds a jack in the box when he was born and then a tool set when he was 6 months old!

When DS turned 5 he was given a very advanced/potentially dangerous rocket game - for 'ages 14+'

My 4 year old was given a 1000 piece jigsaw. (I know he's clever but.....) LOL. The same Uncle always sends his birthday present at xmas even though his birthday is in February.

SiL is a childminder. All presents she has given my DC were aimed at toddlers/preschoolers. Which was OK for a few years, but less so now that DS is 10!

A very good friend, who knows DD(7) is, and has never, been into unicorns, princesses, sparkles etc always gives her a princess/ballerina doll, dressing up princess stuff etc. In reality, her best birthday present was a stop watch.

Out of interest, do you buy a replacement gift for your child when you do this?
Depends what it is. With the socks, yes I did because we are going to give them to a friend's son. If it's a book, yes again. Especially if gift receiving child says "we can give that to X". If it's some plastic crap toy or something quickly forgotten about then no, I don't replace.

Loads.

MIL gave a intricate craft set with superglue and wire to a 6yr old. Was most out out when I said it was a bit old for her, but I’d put it away for when she will appreciate it.

BIL gave a pirate set to DD and a cowboy book. I’m all for non gender toys, but DD was disappointed as she has no interest in cowboys or pirates.

I wouldn't mind the buying for der age if birthday and Christmas was close but I have an early summer baby!!

BestFdid the opposite fro a few years, seemed TO buy DS the same as her niece who's 18 months younger but she's def got better

When DS was 4: A windscreen cleaner from a classmate.