To ask if you’d be happy with these gifts for your child’s birthday?

[presentconundrum]

Child is under 5, and in my family.

I’ve got:

a peppa pig art set - this is the main present, it’s a decent size.

Four colouring books, a sticker book and some crayons

a large puzzle

a little “pet care” toy - just a little dog and some accessories

all are within the appropriate age range. Is this enough??? Looking at it now it seems quite small and I might need to raid their Christmas presents to boost it.

total cost is probably about £45

It’s plenty! Whatever happed to buying a present for a child, rather than a whole pile of them?

That was another poster. I drip-fed for weeks, as I said.

The point of birthdays is to acknowledge them turning another year older on the anniversary of the day they were born.

Now I'm not religious but the point of Christmas is celebrate the birth of Jesus.

How you celebrate each of those is individual. 🙄😬🤣

Honestly it's far too much! If he gets that from you, then more from parents and other family members then he will be awash! For presents to children who are not your own £10-15 would be my limit.

I am not sure why you are asking .... are you expecting some judgement from other family members?

Too much, I don't think it is good to give so much. I have only ever given a book (one book or one book set) as a present, irrespective of age, from age 1. Tiny child, usually a tactile book, bigger child, alphabet books, then stories, etc. etc. Up to one year of age I gifted useful basics I would ask the parents about - like - what do I buy - and if they said 'tights' or 'baby grow' I would buy a baby grow or tights, maybe two packets, but not ever more. None of the recipients were poor.

I make a point to give books at Christmas :)

I just can’t imagine giving a gift to a child and saying “you can use this in six months when it’s not cold and rainy anymore”

It's something to look forward to though. The trouble with Christmas birthdays is that they get everything at once. Surely it's nice to have something to look forward to. Toys get boring. Chances are there will be repeats/similar items.

So this isn't your child? I assumed that was your gift to your own child - which would be perfectly fine at their age.

You've gone overboard. So much so that you're swimming away from the boat.

One gift is enough.

Why are you checking? What is the context?

I never really know if I’ve done enough

More than enough

We give 1 present to our own children birthday, I would annoyed for them to receive 5 presents from a relative.
We already had to tell them my in-laws to calm down with Christmas as we have nowhere to put all the stuff they buy. Usually cheap stuff - not saying it's your case OP.

Honestly think quality over quantity. If you can afford £45 for a birthday, you could have 1 amazing present for a 5 yo.

I was just talking with a friend yesterday about how much kids expect - or parents give - nowadays. Growing up in the 60s and70s, for my birthday I would receive one big present and tat was pretty much it.

we were affluent, and I had ponies, but basically all the gear I needed was either birthday and Christmas presents combined or paid for by my pocket money.

You’re giving your child far more than enough!

then the kids are missing out

Experience, membership to a local farm with a big playground, yearly pass to a softplay.. they made wonderful presents and so much better than even a toy.

Anything that takes the kids out of the house at the weekend is a good thing

They have all these things already though

Well you asked the question. You’ve been given the responses. Up to you now.

I think it depends because it’s too much for a niece/nephew but fine for a grandchild. So I’d depends on your relationship to the child. We spend about £20 on nieces or nephews of that age, and grandparents spend between £40-50. My niece was 5 last month and I got her 2 bluey craft sets that normally cost £20ish but we’re £13 in the Black Friday sales. I didn’t add more to it because it’s still enough stuff and I know she will get the same amount of items from multiple family members. I would give just the art set and puzzle.

No it’s not the entire point. Plus from a parents point of view if everyone buys the child a pile of presents…. Where are they all going? Just end up as clutter

I spend £50 on my own children.
£45 for a child who is not my own, is excessive in MY family. I don't know anyone who would think it was on the low side, if anything it reads like a stealth boast tbh

Very thoughtful, I'm sure the child will really pleased with your gifts.

People on this site are unnecessarily mean about anything.

Also, I know what you mean about spending a fair amount on gifts for a child, feeling you have plenty and then when you look at them again it seems like so much less! I often do that, I so relate.

Far far too much for a small child. They will be completely and utterly overwhelmed. We now open presents at different times (so in front of the person gifting it) as it’s the only way they will sit and play with the items. One colouring or sticker book or art set and a puzzle or a toy would have been enough. As a parent I also just hate so much stuff hanging around, the kids never play with.

I'm sorry but as a parent I would hate someone else in the family to give this much to my child! It's overwhelming. One present is perfect 👌

Probably more than I bought my own child for their birthday at that age. They would get toy, book and sweets. Nieces/nephews got 1 gift.

To spoil them with attention, to make them feel special. To play games, to give them a day which feels ‘given over to just them’
Its perfectly possible to do that without a mountain of presents!
Consumerism is an absolute curse. It’s led people to believe that the only way to treat or spoil a child is to buy them a shedload of stuff they don’t particularly want or need