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

@Elune
I always wonder if these are the same people as the competitive undereaters. Birthdays with one gift and half a potato as a birthday meal (and of course one couldn't possibly eat the whole thing).

No, I’m definitely not a competitive under-eater. But I think for a 3 year old 3-5 presents in total would be the right amount. Not more than 5 from parents alone.
I do buy crafting toys, stickers and books out of birthdays, I don’t think that clothes or Pyjamas is a gift, so maybe it ends up being similar amount.

@zurala

It's a lot. We do one gift so would buy the scooter and then suggest the other things to family to buy. Is expect my child to get that amount in total from all family and would feel it excessive to get so many gifts just from us

I grew up getting one decent gift per celebration and don't understand the big pile attitude, but I know that people who grew up getting a big pile don't understand mine either!

Having said that, if you have to ask and you are feeling pressure then it's too many for you and you should stop.

Yes. Same here. One present of something they really want. Family members buy presents too. I'm shocked at some of the SM posts. One had 50 gifts for her child!

My children don’t get anything from anyone else so that’s probably why I over compensate

@00100001 A huge variety of things. There are lots of toys out there! Everything from soft toys to musical ones to books to bigger items like playgyms etc.

@Briarshollow Of course, and she looks beautiful 🥰

I'm in the one birthday gift group. Santa is different, he bring multiple gifts but you give people 'a gift' on their birthday. Not a pile of everything they could imagine wanting. Presumably they get 'a gift' from other family members too? Kids now seem to get everything they could possibly want and it's then landfill mostly within the year. I really don't know what is 'not enough' about a (singular) birthday gift?

OP, I think the thing to keep in mind is that a 3 year old isn't going to remember these presents. I think I remember about two toys I was gifted before I was 6. Which means it's about you and other adults, not actually about them.

Is it? Toys are generally about more than just fun, they are about learning and developing and gaining either physical skills or mental development. The more decent opportunities DC have to access appropriate toys and books the better. OP can always gift or sell things on. I think the only things that have ever just been thrown away are the cheap stuff they'd be given at birthday parties until we learned to specify that no gifts were required.

Way too much!

This

How do these children ever get excited about a toy or a present, when they are showered with so much stuff.

Sounds great OP. I went a bit crazy with my DD this year as she wasn’t able to have a party for her birthday in the middle of a strict lockdown but made sure they were all things that she would play with a lot and she certainly has.

Onairjunkie I never take the price into account. I buy what I think she’ll like.

chunderwunder Yes, she’s my first and she’s still young. If she changes how she plays in future then so be it, but it won’t stop me buying as much as I want.

Good selection!

Magna doodles are awesome 👍

[quote pinkcircustop]@Somethingsnappy Yeah, I do take a photo of her with her presents and put it on SM. My SM is family only though and all locked down, and I post those photos because I know they like to see them and see their presents in the pile.

Unfortunately due to covid some of them haven’t even met her yet so these photos mean even more to them. And of course I’ll take a photo/video of her opening and playing with or wearing their presents.[/quote]
Fair enough! But you have shattered the pleasing image I had in my head, of a little tiny emperor sitting on top of a present mountain....

We usually end up needing to get new crayons/pencils for most birthdays because they seem to vanish here?! You can always get things like sticker books, or colouring books if you want to bulk it out but it's enough. My littlest just had her 2nd birthday and she got: Lego bricks(Younger sibling so they start clicking bricks together much younger), a few books, colouring book, crayons, a lotto game, outside chalk and some toy pots with spoons to play with outside. Got a watergun from grandma too but nothing from anyone else.

Totally depends on how likely you are to get things throughout the year too. Some people don't tend to treat to new toys, books etc year round except birthdays and christmas. Others pick up bits and bobs year round. That really does effect whether or not people think lists are huge/ tiny too.

@Somethingsnappy Sorry 😂😂

I think it sounds fine. It's certainly not a crazy amount as someone stated.

Can you remember being three, OP? You’d be excited by finding a specially-shaped stick or pebble. Getting a new toy was amazing and such a treat.

You’ve bought loads of lovely things for your three year old. I would save some of them for Christmas.

Is the 30-40 presents person joking? 🤣 wtf.

I would say far too much. We’ve always gone for one big present for birthdays, especially as grandparents and others will give them presents too. The scooter on its own is enough.

It's loads. Scooter and book would be plenty if there's also Grandparents' gifts coming too.

@marzipanontoast

We usually end up needing to get new crayons/pencils for most birthdays because they seem to vanish here?! You can always get things like sticker books, or colouring books if you want to bulk it out but it's enough. My littlest just had her 2nd birthday and she got: Lego bricks(Younger sibling so they start clicking bricks together much younger), a few books, colouring book, crayons, a lotto game, outside chalk and some toy pots with spoons to play with outside. Got a watergun from grandma too but nothing from anyone else.

Totally depends on how likely you are to get things throughout the year too. Some people don't tend to treat to new toys, books etc year round except birthdays and christmas. Others pick up bits and bobs year round. That really does effect whether or not people think lists are huge/ tiny too.

I know someone who gifts duvet covers, towels etc for Christmas. They have more like 20 presents each but a fair proportion is stuff I wouldn't consider presents. It really does make a huge difference what sort of stuff you gift them and if you gift things year round. There is no need for some of the judgmental comments here.

I always find these threads amusing. Saying that you only buy 1 or 2 presents, and not mentioning or drip-feeding that they get another 10+ from family. Is it OK to buy 5 presents if they will only get presents from you?

And the talk of being lower class is pure nasty snobbiness, but I bet you're the type that tells people to be kind without following it for yourself.

And yes, MN is full of competitive under gifting, undereating, anything to say they're better than others.

Crikey! My parents were well off and we still only got one present from them. Same for my now adult children. When did needing to buy 'enough' become so fashionable?
Don't tell me...since Instagram 🤣
Those presents sound lovely OP. I hope your little boy has a fun birthday 🎂

The scooter would have been enough.

What do you think that list of stuff isn’t?

Playmobil is an absolute nightmare for 3 year olds btw. Get duplo!

Totally depends on how likely you are to get things throughout the year too. Some people don't tend to treat to new toys, books etc year round except birthdays and christmas. Others pick up bits and bobs year round. That really does effect whether or not people think lists are huge/ tiny too.

Very much agree with this. Birthdays weren't a huge deal in my family growing up and I still go fairly small (Xmas is much more generous), but I tend to buy a lot of books/treats/craft kits/small toys throughout the year. DD is turning 6 and all she is getting from us is a Cath Kidston child's crossbody bag (she wants a pink handbag) and two Polly Pockets (her current obsession). I felt badly about it initially but she will love these things.

It also makes a difference how many presents the child gets from other people. DD is getting at least 9 other gifts from family and godparents including roller skates and binoculars. Overall it will likely be too much for her!

Unless there will be no other presents, it's a bit OTT, IMO.