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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Do you buy your kids presents just because?

208 replies

MonstranceClock · 09/05/2019 14:22

I was out shopping with some friends this morning and picked up a toy and some books from my daughter. I got loads of questions about why I'm buying her presents when her birthday isn't till August, why would I spoil her like that, wish they had money to waste blah blah blah.
Is it really unusual? My parents used bring me back things that they had seen if they knew I would like it. I didn't see any harm in it but they really pissed me off!

OP posts:
HairyToity · 09/05/2019 19:32

I don't.

They get toys for birthdays, Christmas and they get to choose a holiday toy. Books they get to choose new to them ones in charity shops all the time.

My mum regularly buys them just because toys, and now when she calls round the first thing they ask her is what has she bought them. Blush Usually she comes prepared with a magazine each.

YouJustDoYou · 09/05/2019 19:38

It depends on the toy. A version of his most favourite character ever in the charity shop? Absolutely! Little stickers of the kind they love? Yes. Something small from the pounshop to keep them entertainedfor half a hour? Sure why not.

SimonJT · 09/05/2019 19:49

Not really no, I wouldn’t have anywhere to put it in our tiny flat, so if I regularly bought him new twos he would regularly have to get rid of something.

irregularegular · 09/05/2019 19:50

and this is why the planet is full of too much STUFF

Alsohuman · 09/05/2019 19:53

It really isn’t. Buying someone a little something you know they’d like every now and then is hardly filling the planet with stuff.

yoshismother · 09/05/2019 19:57

I love buying little extras for my kids. It gives me great pleasure to see their faces and I only buy what I can afford. Don't care what anyone else does/ thinks. We all do things differently.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 09/05/2019 19:57

Yes, quite often. Sometimes it's asked for, other times it's a surprise. I'd hate to only be able to have something new on my birthday or Christmas so don't see it as anything different to that.

They have an allowance to use themselves as and when they please.

Clothes, books, craft etc I see as essentials so they have those whenever needed.

thaegumathteth · 09/05/2019 19:58

Nothing major. One of dd’s friends recently just got bought a PlayStation because she wanted one.

I buy books fairly frequently and sometimes little things here or there - I don’t count clothes really or things like that.

Tbh though we have a big family and my kids get a fair bit of money for birthdays and Christmasses so they usually have their own cash if there’s something specific they want.

When they were littler I’d often buy then a wee figure or car or whatever but there’s nothing really like that now that they’d want.

I do buy craft stuff and outdoor stuff freely though.

Hungrymamabear · 09/05/2019 19:59

Every now and then I buy my DC little gifts here and there. Honestly recently I spent £70 on amazon ordering little silly toys for travel and garden for my DC. Obviously my DC needed stilts and a hobby horse plus a dress up set each! Lol

irregularegular · 09/05/2019 20:01

I think with some people it is more than a little something every now and again. And it's the attitude. The thoughtlessness. The "why not if it doesn't cost much"? Because if they have that attitude to children's toys it is quite likely they have it to other things too. Clothes. House stuff. Gifts for the sake of Gifts.

thaegumathteth · 09/05/2019 20:03

Actually though dh does tend to buy something when he’s been abroad working mostly food or football shirts though

Cloudyyy · 09/05/2019 20:05

Oh I’m always picking them up little treats, why not?! This week I’ve bought fancy hair bows, light up trainers, a little balloon, a sticker book and some colouring pens. That’s all I can think of off the top of my head, but I just pick things up when we’re out if I know they’ll like it, I love spoiling them as long as they don’t become “spoilt” and are always appreciative and polite.

Xenadog · 09/05/2019 20:07

I grew up having very little bought for me unless it was birthdays or Christmas. I remember once having a holographic ruler bought for me by my mum (I was about 9 or 10) and it was like the most amazing thing ever. A few more odd, little presents like that would have been wonderful but I don’t recall ever getting anything other than an odd book.

With my dd, I have a lot more money than my parents had, so I do buy her the odd present as I know how much it means. Her birthday is also at Christmas so otherwise she only gets presents in December. I am very aware that dd could grow up expecting things so I don’t regularly buy her treats.

freshasthebrightbluesky · 09/05/2019 20:15

I get them books I think they'll like but not toys because they have plenty already. We're not well off at all so I have to watch the pennies and only buy the books if they're reduced in price or on some sort of offer.

I don't tend to buy them clothes if they're not with me because I cba to take them back if they don't fit.

cottonwoolmouth · 09/05/2019 20:18

I don’t but Dh is a sod for it.

He wouldn’t think there is anything wrong with buying the dc a £100 gift because he is that excited to give it to them. Drives me mental.

MaryShelley1818 · 09/05/2019 20:28

I love buying DS little toys/presents. I buy something most weeks - whether it’s a new book, a little figure, toy car, bubbles etc
I’ve just ordered some puffy stickers and a travel Peppa Magnadoodle as we’re going on holiday next week so need something to entertain him on the plane.

WalkAwaySugarbear · 09/05/2019 20:32

I don't because they have plenty of stuff and they don't need it.
I'd rather treat to activities and cinema rather than stuff.

EnglishRose13 · 09/05/2019 20:34

I often buy a litter treat for my son. Books from The Works, usually.

My mum still buys stuff for me and I'm 30!

EnglishRose13 · 09/05/2019 20:35

Little!

Babes222 · 09/05/2019 20:45

I buy them little presents and treats all the time!! I just love them and love seeing their happy little faces :)

sideorderofchips · 09/05/2019 20:47

I do it

Never had a problem with it

Peabody25 · 09/05/2019 21:12

I do! Books I buy whenever I see something I think he'll like.

Toys not so much as he's got older and they've become more expensive. We tend to get superzings, a magazine, kinder egg toy, that kind of thing instead now but not very regularly.

He loves those H&M sequin changing picture tops so if I've not bought anything for a couple of months I'll spend a bit more and buy him one of those.

AreYouGonnaGetThaf · 09/05/2019 21:13

I do. And I will 100% not apologise for it.

I don't buy within a price range either. If I see something I know DD will like, I buy it. Same goes for my DDad.
My DDad also buys bits for me and DD when he's out and about.

It's things like DDs monthly magazines, toys that she keeps talking about, educational games, books, arts and crafts.

DD, DDad and I are always extremely grateful (and most definitely aren't spoilt in any way.)

I used to love the feeling when I would get home from school and my mum (God Bless her) would've gotten me some sweets and a magazine or some makeup/toiletries. It was the knowledge that throughout the day (while she was going about her business) she was still thinking of me. Just our family way of showing that their always on our minds - the same as leaving little notes on DDs mirror in the morning or warming her pyjamas on the radiator or cooking my dad his favourite dinner.

Planetian · 09/05/2019 22:04

My Dh does, I don't really. Well I try not to, simply because they have so much stuff it stresses me out adding to the chaos, especially since I'm the only one who will be tidying it up.

I do get books though, I will never stress about them having too many books!

harrietkatie · 09/05/2019 22:08

Yes too often but I can't help myself!