Is this enough for a 3 year old’s birthday?

[AuntNora]

We are getting him:

Scooter
Magnadoodle
Bigjigs battery operated train
Playfoam (a bit like playdough, but less messy apparently!)
Most likely a new book

That’s it from us.

He’s getting a Tonie box from one set of grandparents and a playmobil set from the other set.
He’ll also get gifts from my brother and my DP’s brother and sister.

I always feel like there’s so much pressure to buy a lot of gifts, I don’t know why

[GreyhoundG1rl]

@Meraas

Yep this thread is certainly bringing out the hard of thinking...

This survey confirmed that 90% of the most popular toys are made entirely out of plastic. www.ecobirdy.com/blogs/news/plastic-toys

It's not me that's hard of thinking...

Hard of thinking 🤣
The absolute irony 🤦🏼‍♀️ Bless.

[CocoPrivileges]

Just to clarify, my "hard of thinking" comment was directed at @pinkcircustop...

Staggered not only that people could be so dim about what's happening to the planet but that they would actually parade their ignorance on a public forum.

[SemiFeralDalek]

RTFT

My apologies Meraas I missed the post you were referring to.

There are plenty of grossly obscene things to do with recycling, eco waste etc, carbon footprint . I don't think a parent buying their child some birthday presents is one of them.

[Chunkymenrock]

Too much. One big present from you, the rest from family. With a lovely cake, balloons and a little party. Why are you setting such expectations at such a young age? This is how children become entitled and rude. This is spoiling a child and such a waste of money.

[Hellodarknessmyoldpal]

@pinkcircustop

15 presents for a 1 year old is obscene.

Oceans are full of plastic crap.

*@Meraas* No, it’s really not obscene, and posts like this just make me want to buy more for my baby.

Nobody said all the presents were plastic anyway so you’re getting your knickers in a twist over nothing (not that it would matter if they were).

Why would someone having a different opinion make any difference to how much you buy your child for their birthday?

OP that sounds fine but ultimately the opinions of strangers on an anonymous forum shouldn't really matter here. Buy what you can afford/want to/think would be used by your DC. Eveyone has different ideas on what they feel is an appropriate amount to spend on such occasions but really only you can decide what is the right amount in your family, no need to compare or explain to anyone irl (if that is where the "pressure" is coming from).

Enjoy the birthday celebrations!

[HalfTermHalfTerm]

It’s only actually 5 presents (and one of those is a book), so I don’t think it’s too much or ‘obscene’

Yes some of them are potentially fairly pricey presents, but a 3 year old isn’t going to understand that so you’re hardly setting yourself up for years of only buying them expensive things.

[SemiFeralDalek]

I know, completely selfish individuals, raising little Dudley Dursleys and Violet Beauregardes, whilst the Ocean chokes from 8 million tons of plastic. But apparently having one non-plastic toy makes it all ok.

Is it Verucca Salt you're thinking of? Violet Beauregard was the gum chewing one not the spoiled brat.

[Direstraitsmates]

Of course a parent buying their child lots of presents is part of the consumerism that causes considerable environmental damage. Not aimed at the op but at the discussion about whether buying lots of presents is bad for the planet or not.

[Caspianberg]

We only aim to buy a couple of gifts, Ds just got a sandpit for his first birthday from us.

But then he did get other toys , some books, puzzles etc from family, friends and neighbours.

So if he didn’t get anything from anyone else he would still need toys and books so we would have to buy some and he would get more gifts for birthdays and Xmas. Children do need some toys and books and craft, from somewhere. Hardly any of his toys except duplo lego are plastic

[Nataliefrances123]

I always go overboard. I just can't help myself.
What u have is just enough I would say, if u wanted to get a couple more bits u could get some sweets and a bubble wand or something or a ball ? He will have a lovely birthday 🎂

[myotherusernameistaken]

It’s only actually 5 presents (and one of those is a book)

What's wrong with a book?
Is it not a present?

[GreyhoundG1rl]

Just to clarify, my "hard of thinking" comment was directed at @pinkcircustop...
Apologies, Coco

[Onairjunkie]

More than enough. There’s no pride or achievement in a pile of gifts. I hate it when people Instagram their kid’s ‘haul’. Ugh.
I also hate it when people spoil my kid as I don’t want him to not see the value in anything and be a brat tearing things open amd dumping them, before ripping the paper off the next thing.
I’d much rather he had a couple of lovely things that he’ll focus on and enjoy, and not always be looking for ‘what’s next’?

[Meraas]

@SemiFeralDalek

I know, completely selfish individuals, raising little Dudley Dursleys and Violet Beauregardes, whilst the Ocean chokes from 8 million tons of plastic. But apparently having one non-plastic toy makes it all ok.

Is it Verucca Salt you're thinking of? Violet Beauregard was the gum chewing one not the spoiled brat.

Sorry, brain fart 😀

[Elune]

I love these threads. Sanctimonious posters going on about the environment when most have more than one child and no doubt used disposable nappies and wipes and plenty of other horrendous things for the environment but have conveniently forgotten about that when someone wants to buy their child an extra couple of birthday gifts. Is there an equivalent to champagne socialism? Performative environmentalism ...

[byvirtue]

I’m amazed people saying that’s too much! I think it’s fine

We only buy presents at Christmas and birthday (summer) so will be fairly generous then. I often see people buying children dolls houses, mud kitchens etc through the year which we don’t do.

We do buy books and consumable type toys eg, drawing/craft stuff throughout the year.

We have zero family and the family we do have ask us to buy the presents.

[gogohm]

That's lots. One tip I can give you is that at 3 they like the unwrapping so crayons, colouring book etc wrapped up separately is great for birthdays and Christmas. Check out charity shops too, they really do like the boxes as much

[Scarby9]

How can it not be enough?
Enough for whom?
A three year old has no figure or quantity in mind by which to judge gifts.
Some would still enjoy the cardboard box most.

[Onairjunkie]

I will get absolutely flamed for this, but I think it’s common and dare I say tacky to buy a shit load of presents for a child. All it does is spoil them.

If people added together the value of the absolute toot that they buy, they could probably have a meaningful amount of money to do something valuable for their child, rather than feel oddly superior because their child can’t see over the pile of wrapped shite they’ve been given and made to stand next to for the obligatory social media shot, and which they do not value and will probably overwhelm them.

[GreyhoundG1rl]

It's definitely a lower class thing.

[Elune]

Oh dear, now the class stuff is coming out. You people really are gross (not envy).

[SemiFeralDalek]

@GreyhoundG1rl

It's definitely a lower class thing.

You're only showing yourself up here.

And I disagree.

[Onairjunkie]

@Elune for sharing honest opinions? Isn’t that the point of the forum? Would you rather everyone lied?

[Elune]

If I'm from an upper middle class background but buy my daughter more than five gifts, am I automatically assigned to the lower classes or can I neutralise it because I buy organic kale and earn over a certain salary?

[ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba]

yup.
that's enough