When i dont want to go to huge amounts of effort for niece's christmas present?

[PinkChick]

because every year, every present for birthday or christmas ends up on ebay!

i actually ask them what we should get and they tell me exactly what she wants and i know children 'grow' out of things, but we are not talking baby tos here, expansive toys, to use for long time, even put away and swap so dont get bored?

But no, i spend ages chossing right thing, fining out from them ideas and then it go's on action few months later

could you get her something a bit personailised so more difficult to ebay?

something with her name or photo on? or a painting or something? what about one of those books that does a story about your family?

she DOES know that i know she sold at least one, as when i was looking for a particualr type of toy for dd, ebay brought up other items in this brand and one was in her user name(which she told me) and it was something id bought only months ago upon request for her dd!

i emailed through ebay to say hi, doesnt x play with these anymore?? i thought she still liked them seeing as though shed asked for it and that my dd still loves them..i got back that she needed the cash!1 and was making space for birthday rpesents..dont get me started on the space they have for all the toys and the 2 playrooms she has!

Seems really odd to sell something even if it is something you asked for. Very ungrateful - I would give her the money or a voucher and let them do the shopping, save yourself your time.

We're in a similar position over my DH nephews. We go to the trouble of finding out what they want but they can't return the favour. We even babysat one of the nephews for the whole weekend at very short notice so they could go and do something and they still couldn't be bothered to send DS2 anything for his birthday and it was only 5 days afterwards. Makes me not want to bother as well or at least take the easy route as there is no reason why the children should suffer for the parents bad manners.

i like that idea about adopting something and buying a cuddly version to go with it!, esp as it doesnt cost fortune!..hmm..glad im not being arsy

nappyaddict, thats good too...t-short with her and dd on or from one of her hols or something?..like those studio cards jobbies?=towel with xxx embroidered on

yep studio cards do loads of personalised stuff. i got my godson a bath robe and a swim bag for his birthday with his name on. they do personalised ballet bags too if you went for something like dance lessons.

i got ds some wooden puzzles, a chair, pjs, cutlery and a throw for his bed that was all personalised too.

i think i remember seeing a girly canopy for her bed if she'd like that.

have a look on their website

Nappyaddict is right - Studio can personalise almost everything! That's a great idea! (chortle!.... you'll have the last laugh that way!! )

I would buy her a toy for a £1.00 from Poundland (or similar) and then if it ends up on ebay, it won't bother you so much

great ideas guys and made me LOL too

Totally agree with getting nothing, or if you MUST, then make it as personal as possible; good ideas like adopting an animal, or taking her to a show. I think that's what I'd do; give her an experience that can't be taken back

Ah - I see she says she's short of space for toys... so get something for the garden, ie something to grow as I assume thats not ebayable either.

FAB!..the dressing gown with princess tiara shaped hood would be fab!and as she starts school in jan, maybe some pencils/pencil case with her nam on would be good too??

glad there's some suitable stuff for you. also who is it on here that does character paintings and drawings of names to put on bedroom walls?

hmm?, dont know??..saw som sketches/paintings recently which were fab but couldnt afford one for dd, so wouldnt be getting niece on..beautiful though they were!

i think its loopyredangel and purplemonkey

I like nappyaddict's idea; or what about something she can decorate herself, like a T shirt, a mug to paint or something. Neither would be expensive; if you want you could add something perishable like a nicely wrapped bag of her favourite sweets or something. Or if you live in an area where there are children's cookery classes, how about a session there making little cookies or something (perhaps for when she turns 5).

What a rude sil. That would pee me off.

A 4 year old wont know how much it cost, and sometimes even the cheapest of presents can bring great joy. Just dont go to any expense at all. Like a recorder from ELC, or just one book.

do you have a place near you where they can paint their own pottery?

Take the niece out to a paint your own pottery place in the Christmas Hols.

a) its a fun thing to do and b) I'd like to see her mum e-bay her painted efforts quite so easily.

her mum set an 'amount' about 2 years ago on which we should'spend' on our respective daughters!

no, no where that arty unfortunatly, id have dd there if there was

if she has already said to you she is 'making space' buy her tickets to zoo or something

smile sweetly and say "I know you've said before that you've got no space for a lot of toys"

Get it personlised from studio wth her name and NOT FOR RESALE on it.

LMAO Cocolepew

I don't blame you for being cross! I would be - ingrates.

How about a subcription to a kids' comic (Cbeebies etc). They wouldn't ebay those every issue, surely?!