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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

6yo Birthday presents, who is being unreasonable?

219 replies

hollyisKey · 17/01/2022 06:51

Ds will be 6 next month and me and dp decided to get him a nice bike. The bike cost £190 and that is more than we would usually spend on birthdays.

Dp thinks that the bike will be all ds needs for his birthday. Since we have just had Christmas he doesn't need any toys, shoes or clothes.

I however, think that ds should have a couple of little presents to open too. Nothing really expensive but just so he gets to unwrap something.

We are no means rich but could afford an extra £30 - £40 for some extra presents. Dp is mostly concerned about the lack of space in our house. He saw getting the bike as one big gift and no smaller items to clutter the house with.

Aibu or is dp?
Thanks

OP posts:
IsMaeOnTheAsmae · 17/01/2022 09:42

Aw at that age its literally about quanity not quality

Id definetly get him so little wrap ups, doesn't have to be anything major

Those poppit figet things they all love, pyjamas, chocolates, paint, play dough, craft set, magnets, tiny figures,

At that age I think any would be disapointed to just receive one present

Pleaseuniverseplease · 17/01/2022 09:46

I'd have to buy a few little extras. Things hell need the coming year, like PJs, clothes, maybe a new school bag or even a new water bottle for school- stuff like that.

Restart10 · 17/01/2022 09:47

Yanbu. I don't think 30-40 is much and you could get him a few little ones. He's 6yo and still little.

winter12345 · 17/01/2022 09:50

YANBU! Get him things that will be 'used' that you don't have to keep in the house forever. Cinema tickets, sweets, some bath stuff etc. having two or three little presents to open as well isn't spoiling him.

WorstXmasEver · 17/01/2022 09:51

I gave my kid a bike at the same age, kids expect more as they have little idea at that age about prices. Hubby is wrong.

Bywayofanupdate · 17/01/2022 09:53

I would also add a few extra bits if you can afford it. Birthdays are all about opening presents at that age!

NoSquirrels · 17/01/2022 09:54

Chris Hoy has a great book series aimed at this age group about a boy who gets a magic bike for his birthday - that would be a nice add on! I think he also did a practical book for kids on looking after your new bike etc?

sunflowerroses · 17/01/2022 09:54

I'd definitely get more than one present at that age. My children love their bikes but I think they'd be disappointed if they didn't have a few presents to open.

Sausagedogsarethebest · 17/01/2022 09:58

I'd make the smaller gifts something like a book, or a cycle helmet and some stickers to put on it, so he can have fun customising it.

Sceptre86 · 17/01/2022 10:01

At that age it really is about opening the presents as they just don't understand the concept of money and cost. We've just had raised conversation as our dd is turning 6 soon and we are getting her a laptop which my dh will buy for her homework. I will buy her some smaller things that she would like eg. some barbie toys that she has asked for. Yanbu.

Pegasussnail · 17/01/2022 10:01

I would get chocolates. Hot wheel car or two (poundland). Stationary he would need anyway eg fancy sharpener or whatever)

Birdles52 · 17/01/2022 10:02

Yanbu.

Unwrapping is a massive thing at that stage. He’s not going to have any clue how much his bike was.

The idea of crafts & books & sweets is a good one.

NYnewstart · 17/01/2022 10:04

A few Poundland consumables will be enough. It’s really just for the joy of opening presents.
A couple of crafty bits and a couple of sweet/chocolate things, and a book or two, will give him the pleasure of opening things without the expense or storage problems.

NYnewstart · 17/01/2022 10:06

A couple of printed out, home made vouchers for a day at the zoo, for example would also be good.

SheWoreYellow · 17/01/2022 10:08

I would get a couple of extra bits. Not crap for the sake of it, but a book and a Lego set or some hot wheels cars.

fuckyourpronouns · 17/01/2022 10:15

If your concern is that he will be disappointed to not have any other presents to open then you should consider how he is forming that view.

If he's little then he shouldn't know any different. If he's a bit older then he is old enough to know that bikes are very expensive.

I'd go with others and let him open a sticker book/book and a box of choc. That's plenty

St0rmTr00per · 17/01/2022 10:18

I feel it would be a waste of money. Why not make vouchers for days out? Things you may already do. Bowling, beach, day on a train etc. Make vouchers and wrap them up, then he can cash them in on various saturdays throughout the year.

Stroopwaffle5000 · 17/01/2022 10:24

It's not your son's fault his birthday is just after Christmas, so that shouldn't be a reason for limiting presents. My 2 DCs birthdays are both in the week after Christmas but they still get the same amount as they would if their birthdays were in the summer.

I agree that kids love to open gifts (even if they belong to someone else 🤣), lso if you can afford it, maybe get a couple of smaller bits depending on what his interests are.

LettertoHermoine · 17/01/2022 10:31

Yes I would definitely wrap up a few little bits for him to open.

Kotatsu · 17/01/2022 10:41

Against the grain, but I think little presents will actually take away from it.

I still remember going downstairs and seeing what turned out to be my bike under a sheet in the kitchen - I was so excited, that other presents would have just distracted me. The best present would be for him to immediately be able to go out and ride it, then and there, rather than have to wait until after breakfast or something

Loveisthere · 17/01/2022 10:42

I agree with GEORGIA some extra bits for his bike maybe knee and elbow pads

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 17/01/2022 10:43

Yanbu - a 6 yr old wants more than 1 present to unwrap- colouring book, a book from the works, crayons- honestly doesn’t have to be expensive

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 17/01/2022 10:47

At 6 I’d want to get him something to open on the day. Needn’t be expensive but something like a dressing up outfit, some Lego (not a huge box), a toy to get out and play with, whatever his interests are.

You can’t keep the house completely clutter free with a 6 yo.

Your DH sounds like he’s being a bit mean spirited.

Squiblet · 17/01/2022 10:48

A good-quality bike can be sold on after it's grown out of, if it isn't too beat up by that time. So you can think of it as an investment rather than a capital expenditure.

I had serious qualms about buying £££ Islabikes for our DC, but DP is a serious cyclist and insisted they would be better. Sure enough, we've sold on several models through ebay for nearly as much as we paid for them.

pradavilla · 17/01/2022 10:50

Your dp is. Get ur ds some little presents to open up on the morning of his birthday. Some books, crafts etc doesn't have to be expensive.

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