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

[pinkcircustop]

That's utterly ludicrous. I'll bet most of those get opened by you rather than the child and most get ignored for ever. No way does a small child have enough interest to sustain going through that much. We asked grandparents and aunts and uncles to keep to one gift each, as we do, so they could actually get enjoyment out of seeing DC opening and playing with them. Anything more than 6 or 7 in total from everyone and they were totally distracted and anything beyond that gets lost in the chaos.

@DappledThings Well she’s only a baby right now so yes, they do get opened mostly by me 😂

The presents last until the next event (ie. Christmas presents last until birthday, birthday will last until Christmas) so she does get a lot of enjoyment out of them all, of course with maybe 3-4 treats a month. We like to rotate her toys for her each day so she doesn’t get bored and has a nice variety.

Nothing she’s had has ever been ignored, and of course she has a huge family too so their presents come on top of what we get her.

[grey12]

That's it?! That's a lot! DD got a bicycle. And a tea set from grandparents and some treats

We tend to do one nice gift. And then grandparents give a few more things..... we have so many toys as it is!

[5lilducks]

I think thats fine op, but I know if I got the Magnadoodle for my dd it's going to be shoved into some corner after about 2 days max. I think the colours are limited so she will lose interest pretty quickly. I prefer the good old paper and colouring pencils/crayons instead but that's just us. Only get it if you think your ds will like it and make use of it for more than a few hours/days.

[grey12]

I would leave a couple of things for xmas shopping done!

[grapewine]

@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.

Well, I agree. So I'll get flamed with you.

[Somethingsnappy]

@pinkcircustop

Because it's 5 separate presents. 5 is a lot. 5 is a massive number of individual presents to me.

*@DappledThings* I think only 5 is pitiful tbh. My parents would get me 30-40 each birthday and Christmas (and of course treats throughout the year) and I do the same for my baby.

And do you take photos of your DC standing behind his pile and pop them on social media?

[JustLoveYourselfALittle]

I'm awful for buying too much. And I vowed id lower the amount at Xmas.
Dd 3 for her birthday from us had 8ft trampoline, scooter, water table, 3 barbies, books, cars, playdoh, kinetic sand stuff, dressing up outfits. Interactive woody, buzz and jess dolls.
I look back and think how crazy it is but at the time I can't help it.

[lovelillyb]

Sounds like a lovely amount of presents op!!

I spoil my children, I won't even say on this thread how many presents I buy . Neither me nor DH got much at Christmas or birthdays and I never want them to feel like that. Oldest DC is 14 now and is very polite, doesn't ever ask for anything and everyone comments on her manners and how kind she is. I don't think it's how much you buy them, but teaching them to appreciate it. My DC volunteer and we donate things and help others. We donate to food banks, buy Christmas toys for appeals etc.

Hope your DC has a wonderful birthday!

[GreyhoundG1rl]

Well she’s only a baby right now so yes, they do get opened mostly by me 😂
. There are no words

[Terrazzo]

Omg no to the playfoam 😄 DS is obsessed but he can’t be unsupervised with it which defeats the point really. It is a bastard to clean up if it separates and gets in the carpet. Kinetic sand confined to hard floor area a much better option!

[Byeckythump]

I think it's fine, about right for a 3 year old. A bit surprised that everyone thinks it's an obscene amount. We tend to do a big present and a few bits when they wake up then keep a couple of small bits to open through the day.

I'd probably wrap up a few cheap 'usable' things like pavement chalks, bubbles and stickers that I'd be buying over the summer anyway.

[CarryOnNurse20]

@DappledThings

It's a crazy amount of stuff. We get DC one thing each for birthdays and Christmas and ask grandparents to do the same. Even so it's still overwhelming for them and stuff doesn't get opened all on the day or appreciated.

Do you really think one present for Christmas is overwhelming? I’m not for going wild but this weird mn attitude of 3 presents is too many, I never spend more than £6 is so weird.

OP that sounds great he will love them :) I tend to get about 5 or so presents for birthdays.

[lovelillyb]

@grapewine
I buy lots of presents but also do lots of activities with DC! This Christmas we are going to uk lapland and also doing a Santa sleepover at legoland. We will do a day out at London and go to winter wonderland as well as snuggling on the sofa with hot chocolates and marshmallows, watch movies and they will each pick a Christmas tree and decorate it for their bedrooms. We also help out at food banks, attend mass, see family etc

So please don't assume just because I spoil my DC that it means we don't do meaningful things as a family. I work very hard and so does DH. I will chose to spend my money on whatever I want. I don't post it on social media, it's no one else's business!

I wouldn't ever judge you for buying 1 present so don't judge me for buying lots!

[HalfTermHalfTerm]

@myotherusernameistaken Of course a book is a present. But it’s not a huge or extravagant present and probably not one that is hugely exciting to a 3 year old as books tend to be things that are (quite rightly) bought for children throughout the year.

I suppose I would compare a book to a new outfit or a nice set of bedding. It’s a perfectly nice present and a useful one but I wouldn’t count it towards present totals in the same way I would toys or craft stuff.

[pinkcircustop]

And do you take photos of your DC standing behind his pile and pop them on social media?

@Somethingsnappy No, she can’t reliably stand yet

[GreyhoundG1rl]

I don't post it on social media, it's no one else's business!
So why post it here?

[lovelillyb]

Because it's a discussion about how many presents is enough?! @GreyhoundG1rl

[Maggiesfarm]

Sounds good to me,he'll be delighted.

[VickyEadieofThigh]

Are you asking because you think the 3 year old is going to look at these gifts and say "Well, that's not enough!"

Or what?

[DappledThings]

Do you really think one present for Christmas is overwhelming?
One present from everyone who buys them presents, yes. That's us, grandparents x 2, aunts and uncles x 3, godparents x 2 is 8 minimum, realistically twice that because most people buy 2. Then add on stocking fillers at Xmas and presents from friends at birthday if there's been a party and that's a massive pile that we have to encourage interest in and spread out over a few days for them to engage with.

[Pasithea]

@pinkcircustop

Because it's 5 separate presents. 5 is a lot. 5 is a massive number of individual presents to me.

*@DappledThings* I think only 5 is pitiful tbh. My parents would get me 30-40 each birthday and Christmas (and of course treats throughout the year) and I do the same for my baby.

Did ye aye.

[Washimal]

I bet you wish you never asked, OP!
Only on MN would someone be called "crazy", "obscene", "ludicrous" and "lower class", and told that they are personally responsible for the inevitable destruction of the entire planet, for committing the heinous crime of buying their child a scooter, three smallish toys and a book for their birthday.

[Friendofdennis]

If you’ve enjoyed choosing the gifts then that’s great. I think that’s plenty

[BuffyFanForever]

Just the scooter all wrapped up with a bow and a 3 balloon! Make a big deal of the present, let it speak for itself no need to have a pile then they aren’t appreciated!

[Suspicioussam]

I think that's plenty. 3 year olds don't need many presents. Even now our son is 5 he still gets about the same amount as you listed, plus presents from family and close friends. We make sure we choose really carefully so they are presents he really wants and looks forward to for ages.
I actually think too many presents is overwhelming and can take the joy out of receiving gifts and puts far too much emphasis on the 'pile of presents'. I received loads as a child and always vowed I wouldn't do the same. My mum was wonderful and so kind hearted but I remember churning through the gifts and being disappointed with half of them! I would never have said that out loud but the fact I took the presents for granted and didn't appreciate them as there were so many, is something I wanted to avoid in my own kids.
If my son gets taken to a toy shop as a special treat, he chooses one thing and is grinning from ear to ear all day, whereas I would have thought 'just one?' when I was his age.