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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

December baby having fake birthday

174 replies

ratussbaguss · 09/08/2022 12:48

So DS2 was born in December and I just feel like it's so hard for him to wait an entire year between presents, and then of course to get birthday and Christmas so close together, especially because his sibling gets presents conveniently around halfway through the year.

Has anyone done like a fake birthday in June time for December babies? Or is that mad? Or any other solution?

OP posts:
Original poster
ratussbaguss · 12/08/2022 12:28

GoodThinkingMax · 12/08/2022 06:27

So daft. And lying to your child. Please don’t do it.

Well, at no point have I ever suggested lying to my child so Hmm

And equally if I had two kids with December birthday that would be different. Its specifically the issue of one sibling having gifts half way through year and not the other.

I think way I've taken from this thread is that I won't make it a formal party or fake birthday, but I will make a time possibly at the start of summer where they get an "early birthday present".

OP posts:
Original poster
ratussbaguss · 12/08/2022 12:35

Also there seems to be a lot of people on here who absolutely love to think that trying to make life slightly nicer for your kids is a bad thing. I feel sorry for your kids tbh. Having consideration for your childrens experience of life and thinking about possible solutions is not spoiling them (I'm trying to do the opposite so there's a reason for them to get an early gift not just random presents). No one was suggesting it was a life and death issue, so yes it is a first world problem, a bit like 99% of the rest of mumsnet threads, it's literally the point of a parents forum Confused

Thank you to everyone who has made sensible and kind opinions.

OP posts:
Hidingawaytoday · 12/08/2022 12:36

I had friend at school who's birthday was Christmas Day, no idea what they did for family but they always had her friends birthday party in the summer. No big deal.

Hidingawaytoday · 12/08/2022 12:39

ratussbaguss · 12/08/2022 12:35

Also there seems to be a lot of people on here who absolutely love to think that trying to make life slightly nicer for your kids is a bad thing. I feel sorry for your kids tbh. Having consideration for your childrens experience of life and thinking about possible solutions is not spoiling them (I'm trying to do the opposite so there's a reason for them to get an early gift not just random presents). No one was suggesting it was a life and death issue, so yes it is a first world problem, a bit like 99% of the rest of mumsnet threads, it's literally the point of a parents forum Confused

Thank you to everyone who has made sensible and kind opinions.

This is mumsnet! I'd just do it OP, it's not weird, it's nice for your son, and there will be more options for birthday parties than in the winter.

FatBettyintheCoop · 12/08/2022 13:10

My friend (40's) has a Christmas time birthday and has always had a second birthday celebration in June since she was tiny. Similar to a summer family party rather than expecting friends to get involved.

I think it's lovely that they've kept this tradition going all these years and didn't stop when she went to Uni.

MaryShelley1818 · 12/08/2022 20:27

My DS has a December Birthday. No issues at all around it, he absolutely loves his Birthday and has done lots of exciting things like Disneyland Paris, Winter Wonderland at CenterParcs, Pantomime Birthday Party.
He totally understands that some people's Birthdays are summer, some are winter and that's the luck of the draw! Why on earth does it matter to the extent you need to create an entire separate celebration at the wrong time of year, utterly ridiculous. There are other ways to make your child happy.

LuciferKitty · 14/08/2022 10:34

The sun has picked this up and run an article on it..... shock! Journalists - get a real job!

Foxgluv · 14/08/2022 10:50

We have a December birthday. We don't have a fake birthday as such but we do have a garden party with inflatables etc in the summer. No gifts.

The birthday is celebrated as normal at the time but the time of year is consumed by Christmas. It's dark early, they have to be indoors so we like to do something fun in the summer.

Go for it.

bluberries · 14/08/2022 10:53

No you get one birthday.

SunnieShine · 14/08/2022 10:54

londongirl12 · 09/08/2022 12:56

I'm a Dec baby. Never been an issue ever. It's just one of those things

Yep, that about sums it up.

WeAllHaveWings · 14/08/2022 10:56

Ds has an early Feb birthday. We have a big Xmas turn dont go over the top with birthday presents (£50 ish) as it is so soon after Xmas, but will buy summer toys mid year. They are not linked to his bday at all.

Do the same with both your dc and it will work. I wouldn't mess about with half/early bday. It just gets too confusing.

Blughbablugh · 14/08/2022 11:03

I have a December birthday and have never had a fake birthday and have never felt I've missed out. In fact it just wouldn't be my birthday if there weren't Christmas decorations! I'm sorry but I really don't think it's necessary.

lastminutedotcom22 · 14/08/2022 11:38

We have a November birthday and very early January so we do birthdays, Christmas and Easter and we spread it round a bit so maybe a bike or garden toys at Easter and indoor bits for birthdays and Christmas

They don't get 3 times the amount of stuff they get the same just spread out

StanleyBostitch · 14/08/2022 11:45

My children are all born around Christmas (a week before and early January). We celebrate birthdays and Christmases as normal, no half birthdays or other unusual arrangements. If they need clothes etc during the rest of the year I buy them as needed. Just remember, this may seem odd to you because your birthday is at another time of the year, or you've seen how it is for kids born kid-year, but this is totally normal for your kids and unless you make a big deal out of it, they won't

RogueV · 14/08/2022 11:50

Wow. Ridiculous.

lastminutedotcom22 · 14/08/2022 11:58

bluberries · 14/08/2022 10:53

No you get one birthday.

Unless your the queen 👸🏼 😂

Brefugee · 14/08/2022 12:03

I'm a December kid and was always jealous that my summer-born sibling always got really cool things like inflatable boats, etc, for summer holidays for his birthday (they always shared with me though, so not tragic). I usually got things like ice-skates for birthday though, so that was fine (they had to use rental ones or get them for christmas)

What it did for me was give me a lot of excitement for December, and as a result i really really look forward to that time of year whereas sibling isn't that bothered really. I did get some shabby "joint" presents which were the same as sibling got for Chrismtas, and then they got a birthday thing too whereas i didn't - my parents always asked them not to do that but ho hum.

Wanderingowl · 14/08/2022 12:18

If their birthday is the 24th, 25th or 26th yanbu. Any other day in December yabu. I have a December birthday and think it's great. Everyone is getting in a festive mood and it's a lovely time to celebrate.

pierpoint · 14/08/2022 12:24

My daughters birthday is a week before Christmas and she absolutely loves it. Feels so special to both of us really. I wouldn't fake a birthday.

HC44 · 18/08/2022 04:34

We understand how you feel. Also outdoor gifts like bikes can be less fun in the middle
of Winter.
We solved by having a ‘half-birthday’. Then they would either have some small tokens to unwrap and a cake or if it was a year where for example an outdoor gift like a bike was planned, then our Christmas gifts would not be too extravagant. It also meant some years their party was at the half birthday instead of December which addressed the children saying they could never have an outdoor party like their friends.
We didn't spoil them but they are grown up now and say it was magical for them. Dont be put off by other replies - I also have two brothers and parents born at that time of year and they wish they had thought of half-birthdays or been allowed to have one. good luck follow your instincts xx

Original poster
ratussbaguss · 18/08/2022 08:47

LuciferKitty · 14/08/2022 10:35

Oh for goodness sake!!

OP posts:
Original poster
ratussbaguss · 18/08/2022 08:48

HC44 · 18/08/2022 04:34

We understand how you feel. Also outdoor gifts like bikes can be less fun in the middle
of Winter.
We solved by having a ‘half-birthday’. Then they would either have some small tokens to unwrap and a cake or if it was a year where for example an outdoor gift like a bike was planned, then our Christmas gifts would not be too extravagant. It also meant some years their party was at the half birthday instead of December which addressed the children saying they could never have an outdoor party like their friends.
We didn't spoil them but they are grown up now and say it was magical for them. Dont be put off by other replies - I also have two brothers and parents born at that time of year and they wish they had thought of half-birthdays or been allowed to have one. good luck follow your instincts xx

Thank you xx

OP posts:
CheesyColeslaw · 18/08/2022 08:59

You're creating an issue where there isn't one. Loads of people have December birthdays.

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