How much did you spend on birthday presents for a two year old?

[Juniperjunojunijune]

If two year old isn't having a party (living abroad without family where birthdays aren't really a 'thing')?

DH has got a bit overexcited with the present buying and I'm not sure what is a normal amount to spend so wanted some ideas of what other people do!

(If relevant most presents, although fun, also have educational benefits or would he great for outside play and exercise, so not just wasteful stuff. If presents are useful and could have developmental benefits, is it more acceptable to spend a bigger amount?)

Depends on the child my DS I've spent £50, my niece and nephew £30 each. toddlers we've met at playgroups etc probably £10

About £50 for my own 2 yo or £15-£20 for a niece or nephew.

About 30 quid for nieces & nephews, same for christmas.

We are in this exact situation right now. I have been eyeing a doll house on amazon for approx £60 - £80 but then decided to wait and get that for her for Christmas so she will be a little older and enjoy it more. So I got her a £3 Peppa Pig bubble bucket toy and a bottle of replacement bubbles. I'll also get some cupcakes for her actual Bday. I feel bad for not spending more and I usually like to go all out for special occasions. But she honestly won't know the difference and being the 3rd child she already has more toys than she knows what to do with. So I think spending only a few quid is totally fine.

Just buy them what you want to buy them. As long as you aren't getting into debt I don't see the problem. You can't really compare with others as it will depend on so many factors. Some may spend nothing (or a few poinds) and others thousands!

Pounds

For my own son? One big present (a scooter) and a few smaller presents from the rest of the family (all of whom live on a different continent). Ours was about 70 pounds, the rest would be a total of 50 pounds.
He has a big brother so there is no shortage of toys.

About £60 probably I didn't really count but she got a slide as a main present and some little bits and bobs. I also bought clothes and wrapped them up so she had more to open but that was more for my benefit
as her present pile looked measly

Just get what you want within your budget. I ended up getting quite a lot at that age because I didn’t have many toys. Child number 2 will not get as much. What is normal will vary so much family to family and between social circle. You’ve got the stuff now, why do you feel you need to ask it it’s acceptable or not? Just enjoy it.

For our 3 year old's birthday we got a bicycle which was around £100 but that's the only thing she got from us. She's out on it pretty much every day so getting good use out of it and exercise

No right or wrong here. One year she got a big play house which was £250ish! Other years she got a second hand wooden toy. If it’s all stuff that will be used what’s the harm?

about £25 if that on little gifts and we went on a family weekend away for £350 but if we didnt go away i still would have spent the same. They havent a clue at this age

With my ds, so 11 years ago. I was very stupid. And because he was given some take along Thomas. I felt I had to add to it..but I went ott. I'm talking 100s. Plus a kitchen and loads of random shite. Reality was he never played with it. His favourite was some. Pj's and wooden building bricks.. It was such a stupid waste as I didn't learn for a few yrs after that and kept.buying for the sake of it... Again went to Waste.
I have learned by that and whilst dd got lots. For her birthday I put thought into it and got what I know she'd Use, books Bath toys etc. Everyone else gave money which we brought a peppa pig world annual pass she loves it have had well over moneys worth in just a couple of months we go weekly.
Were Hoping to move to a house from A flat just before her birthday so we Prob will get a lot but will be garden toys which I expect family will get too

About £30 on a ‘main’ present then another £30 on little bits, most of the little bits were things she needed anyway like PJs, or educational (books and puzzles)

When DS was 2 , his one set of GPs ( I know you re not GP ) sent him a nice toy ( but not v expensive ) & stuck a few pounds into a children's bond for him. Many years later he really appreciated that. That said if you are the ones who can afford the bicycle etc - yes do it, but 2 a bit young ? But I would not worry too much. Whatever your budget is. But if budget is bigger rather than smaller - I can only say that many years on DS appreciated having a bit of savings rather than the 4th bit of Lego. ( I appreciate 2 - too small for Lego but I use it as an example , merely ) At two they will be happy and excited with any present IME

When DS turned two we spend £200 getting him an awesome playhouse that was wooden and raised up with a slide on it. Money well spent and still gets played in most days 2.5 years later!!
Depends what you are buying... he also got toys he could play with on top of this, probably about £50
Worth

20-30 own child
15-25 niece or nephew
10-20 friends child

We bought too many presents for DC1's second birthday he was overwhelmed. WE learned and after that but one or two nice presents that he would like and it was perfect. I certainly didn't have an idea of how much I'd spend (we just bought a brio train and a book I think).

There's no real answer, it depends on your budget. You can buy a proper playhouse as a present, a balance bike, or just toys.

For the kid who has everything, I like to offer a yearly membership to a farm kind of thing- the ones with soft play and playgrounds.

As long as I can afford it, I prefer to buy nice toys that will last instead of a pile of cheap tat that will be binned within 2 weeks.

Even with similar budgets, some people prefer to buy only for birthdays and Christmas, whilst other are happy to buy throughout the year. No right or wrong answer, but I think you need to spend a fortune for it to be too much if you buy the right thing.

Thanks for the replies! I'll stop stressing about it then, as it seems like there's no right or wrong answer

I spent over £300 on a big outdoor climbing frame which my kids will play with for years to come. I've also bought bikes from charity shops costing less than £5 before. Last year, I didn't even buy them a present ( GPs had bought nice things and they didn't need anything) it all depends what they need at the time. Just don't get into debt!

£20. Unless there's something big you actually want to buy them (balance bike or playhouse or something) I really think that little birthdays only need little presents. They will enjoy those just as much and honestly, I don't know any children who actually need more toys.

Errrr about £70-£80 I think it was.

This year it will be about a £100 because we're buying her a bike. Her birthday is very close to Christmas so I think I might over compensate for that a bit. I don't want them to merge into one of you see what I mean.

About £100? Kitchen, accessories, scooter and helmet. But we tend to buy her stuff through the year as she needs it/shows an interest.

My ds is 2 and we have been talking about this too. We will probably spend £150- 200 for his bday on presents as we are not having a party this year. We are getting an electric 2 seater car so dd can play with it too and some musical instrument type toys as well as some new clothes. I realise some people don't include new clothes in birthday spends! If we had a party it would likely be £50-100 on a present. We do not buy toys outside of birthdays, religious festivals apart from books or bubbles. Also not in any debt, if we were I would spend accordingly. Do what you feel is best and enjoy your lo's birthday.