To think my 2 year old deserves a proper Christmas even if I’m on a budget

[ChooseNight]

So I’m trying to be organised and I’ve nearly done all my Xmas shopping already and I’m honestly quite proud of myself because I’m not made of money and I’ve got everything from charity shops pound stores or Facebook marketplace and I don’t see the point of spending stupid money on toys when you can get loads if you shop smart

So far for my 2 year old I’ve got

big plastic ride on digger from Facebook marketplace 8 pound
12 bath bombs shaped like Xmas trees
4 different tool sets (one has plastic nails and hammers and screws)
huge bag of sweets from Home Bargains
Crayons
Sticker book with 900 stickers
3 soft toys (Cocomelon lion and a random blue bear)
finger paints
playdough set
bubble machine
glow sticks (a whole tub only 3 pound)
one of those microphones that echo REALLY loud
sippy cup with dinosaurs
dinosaur slippers
pack of marbles
face paints
a kids gardening set
plastic tea set
light up bouncy ball
2 stocking fillers full of chocolate coins and candy canes
kids tablet case (I dont have the tablet yet but will get on payday)

All this only cost me about 42 pound altogether which I think is amazing. I still want to get him more for his stocking so maybe some tiny toys from the pound shop, they had bags of bouncy balls for 99p and also small party bag toys which I think he would like

My sister keeps saying I’m over doing it and that he won’t even remember Christmas but that’s not the point is it I want him to have a MASSIVE pile to open so it feels magical. I didn’t have that growing up and I want it to be different for him. I don’t get why people spend like 200 pound on one thing when I can get loads for cheaper

AIBU and should I get MORE or is this enough. I just want Christmas to be proper and special. I don’t think anyone can say I’m being stupid when I’m literally saving money. He will love it.

I'm with your sister, but you should do what you want.

A tablet for a two year old? Christ alive.

Sounds lovely 🎄

Are you just looking for congratulations? You have a budget and shopped accordingly.

That’s way more than at kid, particularly a 2yo, needs or can even appreciate.

Good for you for finding bargains by honestly, in the nicest possible way, this is for you, not for your child.

Just ten percent of what you got would’ve been more than enough. Playing with you (and let’s be honest, the boxes…) is what will make Christmas special for him.

I have a 5 and a 7 year old. Your two year old will probably open about 3 or 4 presents and then not want to open any more as they will want to play with their presents. If you have some spare cash why not save it for a day out over Christmas?

The price and budget is great, tablet idea is ridiculous and you need to actually research how much damage screens cause. He's 2, he needs toys and play supplies, not technology

I think you’re crazy. At 2, my kids didn’t need a huge pile. No child needs a huge pile. You should save your money

I have no recollection of Christmas or what I got at that age. I imagine you dont either.

This isnt about your child wanting deserving a pile of stuff for Christmas its about you wanting to waste money for what reason I dont know.

Take your child to a Christingle service at your local church.
That's magical.

If you can afford it (plus a tablet) then great. But honestly - he’s two. He’ll not need all that stuff so don’t put yourself under pressure. I’d maybe keep some of the sweets for another time too. Seems a lot for such a small child.

My brother is an a and e doctor and my advice would be for a 2 year old do not give the marbles or bouncy balls. He warns us so much about these items plus anything with button batteries too

I think you've done amazingly well to get all of that for £42 and it's obvious you've really planned and thought about it, which is so lovely.

I don't think you need to get more. Speaking from experience, little children can find the volume of presents at Christmas overwhelming. When my eldest was that age he got a bit fatigued from opening things, and a few bits didn't really get played with because there was too much for him to get on with.

I think you can now relax, content that you've done brilliantly. The magic of Christmas is partly in presents, but it's also in being calm, present and happy with your family. You're obviously a really loving and thoughtful mum and that, more than additional gifts, is what your son will look back on so happily when he's older.

That's loads, he'll love it. Probably wouldn't need any more though?

Way over the top! They really won't remember it. They are likely to be completely overwhelmed by the sheer amount of stuff and won't appreciate any of it.

I certainly wouldn't be giving a 2yo marbles!! So dangerous.

Mine had a big pile. I wrapped creatively, split up multi packs and mixed cheap things with a few nicer things.
As you say, you don’t have to spend a fortune to make a great Xmas with a big pile.
Be wary of stuff that will break or not last long though. Sometimes it’s worth spending more for a bit more quality.

I think at age alot of Christmas involves doing and seeing things. Seeing reindeer, donkeys, going to a fair and going on a roundabout, Christmas lights, even just a visit to a garden centre that goes OTT selling Christmas lights and decs. Check.out events in your local area - churches, cathedrals often have lovely events.
If you go to toddler groups, nursery there's bound to be a Christmas party.

I think it's about the vibe. I remember the fun and games from our childhood Christmases and my children have said the same.

Perhaps use some present money for doing stuff?

This is for you really OP, not the child - you say yourself you didn’t get to experience a big pile of stuff at Christmas, so you want him to have that.

He won’t remember it, but you’re free to do it if it makes you happy. Just be honest about why you’re doing it.

And a child of that age doesn’t need a tablet. It’s quite sad that you think they do; I feel quite sorry for them.

OP, seriously, please set some of these aside for birthday or New Year presents. He is too young to appreciate them all in one day and ti could cause overwhelm. He might then get upset which would distress you after all the effort you have made.

Put away the marbles - he is too young. Choking hazard. DS swallowed a marble at that age, given to him by my irresponsible mother! It was a nightmare.
Put away the garden set too - save it for Easter - a lovely present for planting some seeds in Spring.

If the bath bombs don't irritate his skin (they might) you could use those in advent. Same with sweets - one a day during advent.

Dino slippers could come out at advent too, to keep his feet warm in the run up to Christmas.

I think you can stop now, OP. It sounds a great Christmas.

I think our Christmasses are magical but I don’t go overboard with presents. Some are new and whatever I can get second hand is second hand - more for the environmental guilt than money tbh, I just think it’s a good habit to get into. I think what makes the presents the best is for them to be really well thought out (which it does sound like yours mostly are) rather than just mounds of tat. We have stockings but we don’t do and will never do stocking fillers - whatever fits in the stocking goes in the stocking regardless of monetary value and I don’t buy filler presents.

Maybe save the tablet cover and get a tablet in a few years?

I think you can do exactly as you wish with your DC and it's not your sister's business. It's not like you're spending money you don't have and you know your DC best. I will say though that when mine were 2, it was painful waiting for them to open their presents and they weren't too bothered about the size of the pile (still in the phase of the empty box being more fun). We felt glad we hadn't got too many presents and ended up having to save some to open the next day. So I'd say what you have got already is definitely plenty. I always do a Christmas eve present of PJs and a book or similar which is nice and draws things out a bit too and they get the excitement of putting new PJs on ready for Christmas day. It also helps them get into bed as they have exciting new PJs and a story to read!

I was going to say this about the marbles too.

OP, I think you could get away with putting away some of this stuff for another time. When my elder DS was 2 and a half, he became aware of Christmas for the first time and came home from nursery announcing what Santa was going to get him. But he'd have been overwhelmed by a big pile of presents and wouldn't have got as much pleasure out of each one. I now have younger DS who will be 2 and to be honest, I wouldn't be getting him much for Christmas except that his older brother needs to see him getting equivalent presents so it looks fair.

If I were you, I'd probably take out and save for another time anything that's a duplicate (he'll get as much pleasure out of one tool set as he would out of multiples), and not give the gardening set because it's winter - if his birthday is at a time of year with better weather, you could give it then. Also remove marbles, bouncy balls, and some of the sweets. Then you've got stuff to give him as a treat another time, when there will be less going on and he'll enjoy it more.

A tablet ? For a two year old
should be a law against tech at that age
jeezzz

Christmas isn’t just about presents OP. You’re teaching your son to be materialistic and grabby, and will face the consequences of that when he’s older.

A lot of your list will be quickly disregarded and binned which is awful for the environment. And maybe read up on the impact of screen time on developing brains before getting a tablet for a two year old…

It’s a big pile of age-inappropriate tat really - marbles and bath bombs and a tablet! Why not get him one or two really good things instead of a load of sweets and plastic junk?