WWYD - Nintendo Switch for DD's birthday/Christmas

[LiarLiarKnickersAblaze]

Just a bit of etiquette/guidance - I'd love to hear what you would do and why.

DD (7) is a Christmas Eve baby. For the first time this year, she's getting a joint birthday and Christmas present (we wouldn't normally do this but a switch OLED is £££). We budgeted for a Switch OLED using vouchers I've earned through work, and both me and DH putting £100 in. Asked my parents if instead of buying DD birthday/Christmas presents can they could contribute and they've put £40 towards it (they would spend 20 on birthday and 20 on Christmas) and we can say that they've contributed to DD.

Here's the WWYD: as this is basically the main/only gift for DD to open on her birthday morning (has a few tiny bits on birthday and Christmas mornings), should we wait until my parents get here after 4pm to give it to her?

Honestly, I'd ask your parents opinion not ours.

I'd want to give the gift earlier in the day and my parents would be happy for that.

But reading threads on here not everyone's parents are like that and I imagine some would insist on being there for the opening.

So maybe just ask them?

Ask your parents if they mind when she opens it

Its her birthday so let her open it in the day otherwise she won't get a chance to play with it.

Out of interest as this is a joint Christmas/birthday present what will she have to open in Christmas morning?

Why should your parents have any say in when she opens it really? It's not like they paid for the whole thing. They put in £40, which honestly is a fairly paltry amount anyway.

The only thing I'd otherwise thing is that obviously a switch is a great gift and an expensive one. But newly turned 7 year olds don't have a massive concept of money. Is she going to feel sad/put out, that once that's opened, that's basically her birthday and christmas done with? Will she have to sit and watch other siblings open presents, when she's got nothing?

I'd give it her earlier.

@zingally she's turning eight and we have other lovely bits for her to open Sunday (including another switch game and wheels). She’s our one and only.

I want to give earlier in day and not make her wait. My parents can be funny sometimes and I wanted to make sure my frustration with them wasn’t clouding my judgment.

Is it because you think they will with want see her open it? I think it's unfair to make her wait most of the day for her birthday present but would remind her to give them a hug and say thank you when they arrive for the present.

Don't make her wait, she would surely love to have the switch to play during her birthday. You parents as grown ups would surely understand that.

Another point i would make is before her birthday take it out of box, get it all set up, with the online account etc and the do all the boring set up bits and pieces that are require these days, you wont want to do that on the day given to her. Then put all back in box and wrap up.

Wheber you give it to her, make sure you've charged it first! The year of "is it charged yet??“ every minute for 3 hours is etched on my memory!!!

No, I wouldn't make an 8yo wait until 4pm to get their main present on their birthday.

Your dp's feelings aren't more important than her feelings

Yes definitely take out of the box and do the necessary updates, these can take ages so we did before wrapping up.

Can you Skype with your parents before they set off so they can see her open it?

Keep the other Switch game for when your parents arrive. Let her open the actual Switch in the morning.

Thank you whattodo1975 and motherofawhirlwind - will do that so she can play on it straight away!

No - you can ask if they'd like a video callnwnem she opens it