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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To not get my baby anything for Christmas this year

155 replies

Mommmytobe19 · 15/06/2019 08:34

So I’m due December 1st and I’m debating whether or not to get my new born baby some
Presents for Christmas this year. The youngest he or she would possibly be is 2 weeks old roughly. I’m telling myself that I should save the money and baby will have all of its new things and gifts from the baby shower but one half of me is saying buy it a personalised dressing gown or my first Christmas gifts! It is my babies first Christmas and I’ll obviously never be able to buy anything with ‘first Christmas’ on again and I don’t want to miss out on the magic (albeit baby won’t know what’s going on) and I don’t want my little one to miss out.

I was thinking of getting the following:
Personalised dressing gown
My first Christmas Eve box (soft toy, pjs)

And that’s where I’ve got to.

What do you guys think?

OP posts:

BananasAreTheSourceOfEvil · 15/06/2019 08:54

Honestly, save your money. You’d be buying gifts for you rather than him/her at the age. They’ll have no problem spending it for you once they’re older 😉 Get a nice decoration or something that you can get out each year to remind you both of their first Christmas

TheGoogleMum · 15/06/2019 09:00

A lot of posts suggesting baubles and Christmas outfits.... we actually got about 3 Christmas outfits and 2 first christmas baubles from family (November baby). I was going to maybe buy a play mat for her but already had some gifted to us by then so I ended up not getting anything

Tawdrylocalbrouhaha · 15/06/2019 09:01

The bauble idea is nice - you'll have it forever, but it won't take up space.

If you're short of money I wouldn't waste more than that. I understand it's nice to plan these things, but better to focus money on the essentials.

qj17 · 15/06/2019 09:01

It wouldn't even be crossing my mind let alone posting it on here.

Skittlesandbeer · 15/06/2019 09:03

It’s very sweet of you to be concerned about this, it reminds me of my ‘first time mum’ attitude at the same point of pregnancy.

You really are the very best present a baby could want. Your skin, your milk, your voice, your time, your smell. Priceless.

I’m not sure I’d have been convinced, when I was where you are. But in retrospect I’m very convinced.

jennymanara · 15/06/2019 09:05

Your baby won't care. If you would enjoy getting something for your baby for Christmas then buy it.

DonkeyHohtay · 15/06/2019 09:06

IT IS JUNE.

There is a special Christmas board for people who want to chat about this nonsense all year round.

Kel801 · 15/06/2019 09:08

I didn’t get either of my babies pressies for their first Christmas one is Dec 21st the other Aug. They are obviously non the worse for it x

mynameiscalypso · 15/06/2019 09:09

I'm due in August. My plan for this Christmas is a 'present' like an annual membership to the zoo or something (which isn't far from us) which we can then use throughout the next year. Plus I will inevitably buy some themed my first Christmas stuff...

MrsMoastyToasty · 15/06/2019 09:10

Buy him/her some premium bonds.

HoldMeCloserTonyDanza · 15/06/2019 09:12

I was due at Christmastime and I bought a lovely Stieff teddy bear with the idea that if baby came before Christmas morning it would be there, and if not, it was the sort of sweet thing you’d have for a baby anyway.

DC is now 8 and I had to rescue said treasured heirloom from a puddle yesterday

Pascha · 15/06/2019 09:12

There's no reason at all why you can't get some stuff for the next year and dress it up as for Christmas though. A highchair, jumperoo, push along block trolley, 'That's Not My...' book collection etc. Obviously some won't be used for 6+ months but then next year, when you are considering Christmas again you won't also be spending money on stuff baby is using at that moment because you'll already have sourced it.

WishIWasABaller · 15/06/2019 09:13

How about a personalised soft toy/comforter or blanket "my 1st years" do some nice stuff although pricey, you can probably get cheaper elsewhere but just to get an idea. Then that can maybe be the item your LO sleeps with and still have/use when they're older. I wish I used something while my LO was sleeping, they say it helps them to self settle later on.

LaMarschallin · 15/06/2019 09:15

I'm not sure whether you're asking whether you should buy anything at all (as per thread title) or exactly what you should buy (as a bit more suggested by thread content).

If the former, I personally wouldn't bother getting a present. If there were to be any spare cash (hahaha thinking back to my first pregnancy) perhaps you could set up a savings account.

If the latter, I think - again only an opinion - My First Christmas things are grim* and would prefer to get something they can keep and be told in years to come, "That's what I gave you for your first Christmas". Maybe a picture, a book (god, I'm old), an inexpensive piece of jewellery...?

*Mind you, the sight of matching father-and-son Hawaiian shirts in M&S made me a bit queasy so maybe best not to listen to me!

userabcname · 15/06/2019 09:17

I would, even if it's just a little festive sleepsuit and comforter or we got our DS a Christmas decoration with his name on that we use on the tree every year now. Doesn't have to be expensive but I think it's a nice memory for the first Christmas.

DrDentyst · 15/06/2019 09:18

I was due a few days before Xmas. I didn't buy the baby anything. I ended up giving birth a few days after Xmas. I'm only planning on buying one thing each for her bday and Xmas this year but she has an older sibling and we have loads of stuff so it seems a bit pointless buying things at this age. If she was my first then she would receive more from us.

Fwiw I have a bit of an issue about 'baby' s first Xmas' etc. It's just superfluous crap. Do you really want to spend £5 on a bauble/bib/etc to commemorates her first xmas? It will be used once then chucked in a 'memory box' (another superfluous thing designed to make mothers spend money they needn't spend).

Desmondo2016 · 15/06/2019 09:18

No no no and no. Get a bauble at most. It doesn't sound like you're loaded so this will be bottom of your list of things to buy! The baby will grow out of a personalised babygrow in a matter of weeks. Just save your money.

AllTheUserNamesAreTaken · 15/06/2019 09:18

DS was 3.5 months at his first Christmas. We bought him a cuddly penguin with comforter attached. He didn’t have it in bed with him for first few months (as advice is nothing in the bed) but it became his favourite soft toy and went everywhere with him. It was his comforter at nursery and at 5, still sleeps with it now and seems to be able to find it in his sleep, despite having loads of other soft toys in his bed.

It’s nice knowing it was his first Christmas present. So, I would buy something like that

eurochick · 15/06/2019 09:20

Get a playmat. It will be useful.

Fleetheart · 15/06/2019 09:21

Baby’s first Christmas is marketing puffery. You will be so happy that you have a new baby, you really don’t need to even think about it. Lots of people will buy Christmassy stuff for baby. He or she might be late and come after Xmas anyway. Just worry about moving house and save your money.

ethelfleda · 15/06/2019 09:21

Buy him/her some premium bonds

I was going to suggest something like this - or opening up an account for him/her to save for their future?

KNain · 15/06/2019 09:21

I'm going to go against the grain and say if it was me I would buy them some toys, but not lots.

What about something like a playmat and/or tummy time roller? They won't need it at 2 weeks but it won't be that long before they're using it.

And I'd maybe get a few small bits that can be put away for a couple of months until they will play with it (that time will come round sooner than you think!) and are handy to have ready - books, a rattle, teether, stacking cups, pushchair toy etc.

ItsAHardKn0ckLife1 · 15/06/2019 09:22

I think just a small token gift or 2 to have as keepsakes will suffice

But essentially it’s entirely up to you, there’s no right or wrong answer here.

Namechangeymcnamechange11 · 15/06/2019 09:23

Save your money for what you need to do - the house move. Your baby will have lots of presents from others. If you want to mark their first Christmas in some way - a nice photo in whatever christmassy outfit they are given. A lovely momento you can look back on.

lazymare · 15/06/2019 09:26

A three-pack of Christmas sleepsuits would do the job and could be worn for a few weeks at least.

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