To ask Mums of December babies…

[TraitorsSandwich]

My niece was born last year just before Christmas & I’m starting to think about birthday & Christmas presents.

I was thinking of getting her a toy for her birthday present & then vouchers for a local soft play she likes for Christmas but I just wanted to check with mums of children born in December that you would be happy with getting vouchers rather than a present ?

I’ve not always had the easiest relationship with my SIL so I don’t want her to think we’ve not put any thought or effort into the present but equally I’m mindful that DN is going to be given a million toys in the space of less than a week.

I would just give her what you would give her if her birthday was in June. It’s crap enough having a birthday close to Christmas, as DD does, without people holding back.

I have a December baby and an early January one!
Id be happy. I could save them for Feb when the weather is rubbish

A soft play voucher would go down well with my Dec baby

They both sound great, I’m sure any present gratefully received for both Xmas and b days!

Don't overthink it she's too young to understand. Either ask the mum what she wants or else just get what you'd get for any kids birthday in any other month..doesn't have to be a toy. Clothes or books etc..especially when mine are little I think ahead to what they might want in 6 months time. 2 of mine are born within 3 days of christmas day 😅

I’d be very happy. The present avalanche in December is a lot in one go otherwise, IMO.

That would go down well with most parents I think regardless of when she was born. It's always good to have presents that last throughout the year.

This, as a December baby myself it made me sad as a kid when I'd get smaller things for my birthday than my siblings got for theirs because "Christmas is just around the corner and you'll get loads then!"

That said I think soft play vouchers are a good and very useable gift, the little one is too young to really get it at this point anyway!

I actually think that is a nice present, alternatively what about you shop vouchers that way she has a toy for right now and come some a new toy that is age appropriate. At this stage 6 months makes a massive difference in the types of toys they play with.
I have a just before Christmas child we would have their birthday in November to spread Christmas and birthday out when they were little. We still do this but now they often wish for a voucher or money for some presents which they save til there is something they want later in the year.
Alternatively they are a bit little now but a subscription (comic, magazine craft box etc...) is a lovely gift when Christmas/ birthday are close together.

Love activity vouchers for my kids. I have 2 close to Christmas and as there’s only so much they really want and they get overwhelmed with stuff that doesn’t get played with. We often get an annual pass to a local attraction and it’s lovely to be able to say “so and so got you this” when we visit.

I got mine personalised advent calendars for their first birthdays and we get them out every year so they’re a nice keepsake gift. Given what you said about your sil you may want to run something like that by her!

@JudgeBread @Ddakji yep this is my worry as I wouldn’t wake them to feel like we’ve made less effort than I would for someone born in the summer

My DC is 22nd Dec & I would have appreciated this! Ised to get so many toys at the one go, it made Christmas quite stressful! The vouchers will be handy in the cold dark days of January! And more thoughtful than an Argos/ toy shop voucher!

Yup I’d be happy with a soft play voucher as it’s something we’d definitely use! Maybe a small token gift too for the child to open.

So you can have birthday wrapping paper and Xmas wrapping paper

Baby is not going to know the difference anyway, she's too young to know what birthday or Christmas is! Why not message SIL and ask what she'd like you to get?

I have a boxing day baby well he's 19 this year I was just happy if people remembered his birthday and Xmas were two separate events you dont have to get toys my family have always given my son money at Xmas and money for birthday just ask your sil what she would prefer?

I’d be delighted 😃 I’m currently clearing out the loft and playroom from all the toys and things everyone keeps buyer her that she doesn’t need or bother with. I know ppl don’t like to give young kids money, well seems to be in my family lol. U just end up with so much stuff!

Fine if she’s baby/toddler but my nearly 5 year old who has a post Christmas December birthday would be upset with a voucher and not something she saw as a present because she wouldn’t understand.

I have a December baby ( born Christmas eve). I actively encourage family to give experience type gifts as there are only so many toys and stuff we can fit in the house ( 4th child).
Also, it means he has things to do over the long holidays.
Gift cards and money are also ok with us as he does tend to out grow some toys half way through the year. This way he has some birthday money to get a something new at a later date.
It took a while for my kid to notice that his birthday and Christmas were two different celebrations. He did think that the entire planet just celebrated his birthday with special decorations and Christmas food every year.

Things not to do with December babies.

• Wrap the birthday gift in Christmas paper.
• forget the birthday
• Do a 2 in 1 gift that is actually just the 1 gift you'd give at Christmas anyway.
• Promise a birthday gift at a later date and not deliver ( yes the kid remembers).
• Hijack the child's organised birthday party to give out christmas gifts to the rest of the family.

December birthdays are not the best but they don't have to totally suck.

As a December child myself, just give what you'd give if their birthday was any other time of year. It can be difficult as a child to get less than on your birthday just because it's too close to Christmas.

I'm split. What do you do for other children in the family?
I have a very late December baby (and I'm a December kid myself)

My DC used to gat a combined Christmas / Birthday present from my sibling, who had 2 July babies. Then get grumpy if i didn't get them a birthday present. Or didn't get them a christmas present. Then i gave them a joint birthday/christmes present to big moans from him. Then, since their birthdays are 2 days apart and they are 3 years apart, i gave them joint birthday, and joint christmas presents.

Sibling whined and moaned and when i pointed out that my DC only got one thing from him wittered on about how it's too much etc etc. So i just stopped all gifts and that was that.

On the other hand - vouchers that you can use later on in the winter are also good and very welcome.

forgot to add, was worse when DC2 arrived in the middle of summer and sibling thought nothing of giving them a present for birthday and a present for Christmas.

I have a December baby, I would love this, I struggle to choose gifts to buy for my son, never mind when people ask. We end up with tat then, bought for the sake of buying

Boxing Day baby here. We’re not Christian’s. We have a Christmas meal on Christmas Day but our present giving and celebrations start the next day!

My son is October born, and I will personally garrotte anyone who brings another toy into our house this Christmas. He's two, so has plenty.

However, as December born, I did still want "proper" presents on both events once I knew what was going on. Even if it's money and a token gift for one and a gift for the other.

My December born child loves getting vouchers. They struggle to think of enough toys and stuff they want for both Christmas and birthday. So they like that they can get something in the spring or summer when there is something they desperately want without having to wait months and months