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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU wanting to charge Christmas presents so they are ready to use on Christmas day?

63 replies

2ddandabump · 15/12/2019 19:37

I'm interested to know other people's take on this. I have 2 DDs from a previous relationship, 11 and 8, I am also expecting my 3rd (his first) with my new partner.

We've bought the girls some bluetooth in the ear headphones for Christmas (Like Airpods but without the price tag)

We were going to give them as a present from us rather than Santa (youngest still believes) I suggested we take them out of the box to charge them up first so they are ready to use on Christmas day, thinking there would be no objection to this idea. However, he thinks that kids, especially the ages of my girls, should have to know that these things take time to charge and that it's just how it is and they should wait.

I asked if he'd feel the same about a toddler who opened something electronic, like a remote control car, but who wouldn't able to use it if we didn't charge it before hand. He said he still feels the same about that.

His opinion has surprised me and made me sad more than than anything, like he's killing the spirit of fun on Christmas day, and is just being a bit of a misery. We've fallen out over it, because whilst everyone is entitled to their opinion, I think he's been a bit mean.

Does anyone else charge electronic presents before hand? Am I been soft on my girls? Or is he been mean?

OP posts:
transformandriseup · 15/12/2019 20:19

I'm another one who loved to open the packaging as a child and liked to be the first to hold new toys/gadgets. My parents often wrapped batteries separately so I would have to find them. Everyone is different of course.

JigsawsAreInPieces · 15/12/2019 20:21

I always charged, put batteries in, removed excess cable ties and made everything ready to go on opening. Much more fun for the recipient than "wait 3 hours" or "I'll get the cross head screwdriver in a minute" Xmas Hmm

MapMyMum · 15/12/2019 20:21

I think it depends on the age of the receiver. For my young dc I have precharged things. For my older dc I tend to leave things unopened, unless they need to be opened to be checked. If you buy a phone in a phone shop they normally take it out and show you the handset anyway...

LionelRitchieStoleMyNotebook · 15/12/2019 20:22

Isn't part of the fun with a new gadget setting it up how you want it and as for Playmobil and Lego, the point is the building of it preferably together, or you'd just buy a ready made castle/fire engine etc?! I'm also not sure I'd want children in earphones all day at Christmas. I'm sure they'll have some charge straight out of the box and they can put them back on charge when they are doing other things. Stuff doesn't need to be charged overnight anymore!

Babybel90 · 15/12/2019 20:31

It’s painful enough waiting for small children to very, very slowly unwrap their gifts and get them out of the box, we charge them up/insert batteries in advance here.

Once we got a Cozy Coupe and I’m so glad we put that together in advance as it was much more difficult and took a lot longer than I would’ve ever thought!

pollyputthepastaon · 15/12/2019 20:34

I have a 7, 5 & 3 year old and have already charged everything/put batteries in before wrapping. a remote control car, a brio train for the toddler, a furby for my 5 year old. All ready to go on xmas morning and then carefully put back in the box and wrapped.

your OH sounds like a killjoy

1300cakes · 15/12/2019 20:50

I wouldn't pre charge for kids of these ages. Anyway electronic things like that always come half charged, so they will still be able to turn them on and have a play straight away.

Whatsername177 · 15/12/2019 20:54

I'd charge. But, I take things out of packaging and build them in advance too. I also put batteries in etc. DH gets a bit eyerolly, but I feel like building the toys makes them look more like they could have come from a workshop in the north pole than off the the shelf of a toy shop.

mum11970 · 15/12/2019 21:01

No I wouldn’t pre-charge. Most electronics come with some charge at least and, as said before, the opening of the box and setting it up is part of the experience. Why do you think kids love watching unboxing YouTube videos?

negomi90 · 15/12/2019 21:05

One of my favourite things about new tech is taking it out of the box and turning it on for the first time. For that reason I wouldn't charge. But your dh has a mean reason, Christmas is for fun not life lessons!

christmasathome · 15/12/2019 21:20

Im with DH. Things take setting up/charging and there is no need to do this before xmas.

Elieza · 15/12/2019 21:25

Sounds like your dp just can’t be arsed. You do it when he and dcs are out. Job done.
Have a great Christmas Xmas Grin

actiongirl1978 · 15/12/2019 21:25

I check the charge -- DS's switch is already partially charged and we got him a fit watch and that was also partially charged, but I spent the time setting it up, date, time, weight, linked to app on my phone, so he can turn it on and go.

He is year 5 and would not be able to cope without some charge.

Danni12 · 15/12/2019 21:36

I would charge them up too, Christmas Day seems a strange time to want to teach a lesson....
Shame to fall out over it though

Allgirlskidsanddogs · 15/12/2019 22:36

If a gift needs batteries then I give it with batteries, but probably wouldn’t install them.

When my own children have received games consoles or other things needing charging then I charge them in advance. If they have received a games console then I set it up after they have gone to bed on Christmas Eve (even though presents are given in the afternoon usually).

Mine are having non branded cordless earbuds this year, they won’t be charged in advanced as I’ll be busy setting up the games console!

So I’m on the fence, big ticket stuff, yes charged or given with batteries for use straight away, ear buds no.

Fruitbatdancer · 15/12/2019 22:45

Last Christmas ‘Santa’ delivered a fully built ready to go Lego train set. DH and I spent most evening the week before Christmas building the damn thing. I am soooo glad. We had pancakes and Buck’s Fizz for breakfast! Not sitting knee deep in building bricks! My DS was thrilled!

Yanbu. Your DH is an arse.

Knittedfairies · 15/12/2019 22:55

I'd need to check if the headphones work; I was very disappointed when I was 8 or 9 to get a watch for Christmas that didn't work. It was from an independent one-man jeweller's shop which was closed for Christmas and the New Year, so it was almost 2 weeks before it was returned.

AlwaysThereForEveryoneElse · 15/12/2019 22:57

We've set up and updated the consoles ready and just re boxed.

Ginseng1 · 15/12/2019 23:53

Def that age consoles, tablets & the like pre set up. Ds xbox two years ago took hours to install everything he'd a been v frustrated & would have taken up all of Dh day on Christmas day! When they older teens no I u understand they prefer them unwrapped (but least they'd be able to charge & work it all our themselves by then). we ordered those cheap buds for Ds 12. Dh prob charge them n ensure they work at least! Its a funny thing to make a point about tho.

JaJoJe · 16/12/2019 12:44

my DH tends to charge and set things up, I just wrap things but honestly I dont think anything Ive bought tends to need charging (usually just batteries).

Santa has things set up ready to go in our house.

Oysterbabe · 16/12/2019 12:50

I like to have things ready to go. We'll be spending Christmas eve building and then wrapping a few different wooden toys and putting batteries in things where needed.

steff13 · 16/12/2019 12:54

My daughter got a tablet last year and I did set it up and charge it.

huuskymam · 16/12/2019 13:11

My son got a switch last year. Not only did I charge it, I set up his account and downloaded the game he wanted so it was ready to go when he opened it.

bridgetreilly · 16/12/2019 13:14

For me, like a couple of pps, it's not so much about learning to wait as it is about being the very first to open and use something. If the seal on the box is broken, I'd be sad about that, and at 8 - and certainly by 11 - I would have noticed that.

CheeseCakeSunflowers · 16/12/2019 13:17

Maybe you should serve up Christmas Dinner but not cook the turkey. I think your dp needs to learn that cooking poultry takes a long time.

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