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Original poster

3yo wanting £175 Barbie dream house

134 replies

Sunshineandclouds11 · 20/11/2023 20:03

DD has seen advert a few times for Barrie dream house and keeps saying she’s going to ask Santa for it. 🙈 I don’t want to get it on the basis I think it’s too expensive (would spend that kind of money on something like a good quality bike) for a load of plastic and also don’t really want it cluttering up my house as it’s quite big.

Anyone with older DC have any clever tips for handling this? I was thinking about saying it’s too big to fit in his sleigh 🤣

OP posts:
Luxell934 · 20/11/2023 20:34

Try eBay, marketplace, vinted etc

Is there another cheaper doll house that she would like?

Gophergoesham · 20/11/2023 20:37

My DD got one from Santa last year and loved it - if you can afford it, buy her it I’d say!

Snugglemonkey · 20/11/2023 20:40

Pooooochi · 20/11/2023 20:21

DS1 (7) is after a PS5. I've already explained the elves lack the tech ability to make those!

How on earth does he even know it exists? The only tech my 7 yo is aware of is Nintendo switch. He commented the other day that an older kid at school wanted an xbox, and then asked what it was - he had no idea. He's got older cousins so is not living in some weird bubble but you can keep this stuff off younger childrens radar if you try.

Only if you ban them from talking to other children or going on playdates, or goodness knows what else. We never have ads or anything on, but my 7 year old knows all about consoles from school.

Loveandloveandlove · 20/11/2023 20:41

SophieB0012 · 20/11/2023 20:26

I think if you could afford and would consider spending that much on a bike (etc) that your child really wanted but instead she really really wants a barbie dream house then get her the barbie dream house.

They’re only little once!

I’m bracing myself for a whole heap of trouble after this comment 😬😂

I agree! 🤣 My daughter bloody loved hers.

Sandalholidays12 · 20/11/2023 20:43

Cheaper dolls house. The barbie will get reduced end of Jan most likely

ThirtyThrillionThreeTrees · 20/11/2023 20:44

Someone please tell me I'm not the only one thinking this is insane and that if the OP can't manage to not give in to a 3 year olds wishes, that she'll have a very very long road ahead of her.

Snugglemonkey · 20/11/2023 20:44

Re the dream house- if you can afford it, I would buy it. Any I have seen bought had long lives and provided much joy. My niece has one that 3 of her cousins used first. I would also check Market place and anywhere doing second hand toys as they last well so are good for selling on. You might even find an older version, which is grand as she will love it anyway!

ArticWillow · 20/11/2023 20:45

My DC used to write/ drraw a list and Santa would choose one or two items from that list.

The thing is, there is limited space on the sledge as well as limited capacity for the elves to produce the toys. (A toy car elf or a dolls house elf isn't any good at making teddy bears...) So they really need a list of 5 items to ensure every child gets a present they want....

MNGal1987 · 20/11/2023 20:46

My 7DD has requested demanded numerous times for the Barbie Dreamhouse. We have told her that Santa and his elves have stopped making them as it’s all plastic and isn’t environmentally friendly 😅
Instead we have bought a KidKraft wooden dollhouse (perfectly but enough for Barbie). Fingers crossed she will be happy on Christmas morning 😌

Bigroundpear · 20/11/2023 20:46

ThirtyThrillionThreeTrees · 20/11/2023 20:44

Someone please tell me I'm not the only one thinking this is insane and that if the OP can't manage to not give in to a 3 year olds wishes, that she'll have a very very long road ahead of her.

Agree with this - many won’t be spending that much on Christmas altogether, food included! It’s an obscene amount for a gift for a child of three.

DGPP · 20/11/2023 20:46

Well I’d buy it because she will probably play with it for years.

CandleWick4 · 20/11/2023 20:47

I agree with some of the previous posters, try and get one on vinted/Facebook.

we got DD one (new) when she was 5, she’s now 13, and it was used by her and her sister for years. We got our moneys worth and I’m not one for big/expensive gifts but I don’t regret getting this at all.

3luckystars · 20/11/2023 20:49

Get a second hand one and put stickers all over it.

Melonandfalafel · 20/11/2023 20:51

Do you think your child will play with it?
Was it in your Christmas budget?

If the first two I would buy.

When I was little, I received a big playmobil Edwardian house one Christmas, and played with it a lot! My parents bought the house and every member of my family and extended family bought little pieces / figures / cars. My Dad made it all up for me. I have very happy memories of that Christmas. Is this something your family could do, rather than it being from FC?

Mini worlds are great for children’s imagination. Plastic tat in my mind is plastic that’s not used, thrown away after little use(I still have my house).

If affordability is a restriction, go for second hand. I have done this at Christmas and mine have never known. I’d buy locally so
you can be particular on reviewing it. It will also save you time on having to re-assemble it!

scrivette · 20/11/2023 20:51

It's SO much money. Although the good thing is that if you bought it now and she used it for years then price per play will work out to be good value!

yetanotherdaytoday · 20/11/2023 20:52

Cornettoninja · 20/11/2023 20:13

write her a letter from Santa apologising that it fell off his sleigh over Romania and the elves couldn’t find it but he really hopes she’ll enjoy xyz.

Don’t feel bad, it’s a rite of passage not to get a much desired toy. Do a search and see how many Mnetters have bonded over never getting a Mr Frosty!

WTF?! No!

Every child has to accept they can't get everything they want (fully expecting DD to put pony on her list again this year).

Not getting everything they want is fine.

Telling them they were going to get it but it got lost en route is weird and cruel! If someone told me that when I was little and I believed it I'd be way more upset than just not getting it.

miniegg3 · 20/11/2023 20:53

If I had the money and would have spent it on a bike, I would buy it..

Maybe I'm a sucker, but they're only small once

DaphneMoo · 20/11/2023 20:54

Get her a 2nd hand one if you can. I loved my Sindy houses and played with them for years. My mother refused to get me a cabbage patch doll ( as she didn't like them), I've never forgotten that she was happy to spend on what she thought I should get and not what I wanted and this has always soured my memories of her ( she died several years ago). Yes if you can't afford it, it is reasonable to not get something but not because you think your child should have what you want them to have and not what they want.

SylvieLaufeydottir · 20/11/2023 20:55

Whatever you do, you won't always get it right with presents. Stuff that you thought they would love will languish on the shelf and random tat you would have sworn they'd hate will be played with for years. So don't get too hung up either way.

Original poster
Sunshineandclouds11 · 20/11/2023 20:58

@LaurieStrode not sure - any ideas? 🙄

OP posts:
Melonandfalafel · 20/11/2023 20:58

As long as you can afford it, being a ‘sucker’ is not always a bad trait.
It shows you are kind and relaxed about spending money rather than being miserly.

Freshair1 · 20/11/2023 20:59

Santa brings stocking gifts. Sorted. You could also try, 'no.'

Divebar2021 · 20/11/2023 21:02

It’s such a boring adult trait to dismiss things kids like because it doesn’t meet the adults idea of what’s good . I bet people don’t dismiss Lego as plastic tat. I’d buy a second hand version if she has actually shown an interest in playing with Barbie and isn’t just repeating something that a friend wants or that’s she’s seen in an advert.

WaitingfortheTardis · 20/11/2023 21:02

I get my dd to do a list of ideas for Father Christmas and we say he will choose the one he knows that you will over the most.

For me though, I don't consider it tat as it has lI think that role playing with dolls is just as good for children as riding a bike, just in a different way. I always try and think about what dd will love and play with the most when deciding what to get her from FC, rather than what I as an adult think she should have. If she will love it and it is in budget I would get it for her.