Child wants a “6 pack of Labubu” for Xmas and I haven’t got a clue

[Geranium879]

I’m just starting my Xmas shopping … I know I know… my 6 year old has put this on her xmas list. They’re ugly little dolls right? A six pack… she must mean small ones. I can only find keyrings. She’s also written “Labubu pencil case”… why aren’t there any Labubu things on Amazon?! Please help!

I agree. I feel like I want to thank you for taking that stance - even though I know it's silly of me. And it's so hard to do - you want to make them happy and when you're 10 you want to be the same as your friends. But yeah, I totally agree with you and when my (currently 6 year old) says the same to me in a few years time I'll say the same. (I hope!)

There's stuff you can get for kids skin so they feel like they're getting involved with it. Doesn't have to be drunk elephant 🤣
You could just return regular emollient creams or natural stuff from lush. There's always a compromise so they don't feel like the odd one out amongst their friends group. They'll just use their friends on the sly otherwise, or yours 😂

If asked for skincare at 10 or 11 I wouldn’t say no, peer pressure to be doing skincare is strong. I’d get a gentle cleanser, a moisturiser with sunscreen and a lovely lip balm and explain that this is a good routine which we’ll revisit when she’s older. Then I’d hide my Tret.

I’d rather try and get her into good habits when she starts asking about this stuff than have her saving up her pocket money, getting her hands on Drunk Elephant and damaging her skin.

I say this as someone who did just that with Aapri apricot scrub back in the day and was sent home from a sleepover because my mate’s Mum thought I was coming down with something 🫤

Ah really - I don’t think that’s universal at all. From what I’ve seen among daughter’s friends and the girls at cubs who want to try skincare it isn’t out of any perception there is something wrong with their skin or that there will be. My youngest loves that sort of stuff but it’s a bit of a game. She had a foot mask and eye mask in her advent calendar and I was asked to play spa with her. She cracked me up telling me how you have to be quiet and relax at the spa then chatting merrily away about how slimy her feet felt and the lavender smell and the warming up from the mask and speculating if she could use it to warm her hands up too. Her friends all mainly have the Sol de Janiero creams and honestly I think they like the bright packaging and the scents more than anything else though the name (bum bum cream) also appeals to their sense of humour.

what a crock of shite they look.

The 'Sephora tweens' thing is interesting. There is a lot of stealthy marketing going on to that age group within games like Roblox apparently, on top of tiktok etc. I was listening to Marina Hyde talking about it a while ago. My 11yo is only semi-aware, but the hormones are already kicking in so I want her to get into the habit of taking care of her skin. We've compromised with the gentler Byoma/Bubble cleanser/face wash and moisturiser. Absolutely no acids or anything harsh.

Her 12yo cousin is getting up at 6am to do a full skincare routine already, and her Drunk Elephant habit is being indulged by her mother. I am judging from a distance. She also has an older sister and social media, which does seem to make a difference re: the interest the younger girls show in this stuff from what I can tell.

That is really interesting. We don’t allow social media as I just feel like it can get really unpleasant and it’s tricky to regulate what they access in it but you are right that the interest emerging does seem to correlate with lots of the kids getting their first smart phones when they moved to middle school and started walking home independently. I’m guessing a lot of kids more hit that stage at 11 starting secondary.

Well I don't have any, I think that's part of the problem. I think I just struggle with the concept, even though as you say these things can be just basic emolliants and stuff. I fundamentally don't think 9 year olds should be giving any brain space to how their already perfect skin looks. This idea that girls are hyper aware of how the look - and how to look 'better' - at such a young age is so sad to me. It's just so passively accepted that younger and younger girls should care about this stuff. I know that's the way of the world these days but I wish it weren't.

If it's a game, lol ikr a role play, then maybe I can get on board with it. But I'd rather they be playing something else.

😂😂😂

I feel for you, OP - been through this ‘mania’ type situation with each of my three children at similar ages with various trends - it’s a horrible feeling because you’re so torn - wanting them to be happy with what they get for Christmas but now prepared / able to spend the sort of money that’s being asked for the tat stuff!
What I did was buy one (cheapest!) genuine item, then bulk it up with themed bits and bibs (t-shirt, pyjamas, stationary set, etc) and that’s done the trick… and without fail, these ‘must have’ items become ‘don’t want’ items dishearteningly quickly!

Not sure where you live but that sounds like a wealthy area.

My friends and I had cabbage patch kids for years. I only parted with mine in my 20’s.

My mom made a business for a few years selling cabbage patch clothing and accessories.

I still remember their names. No one I knew was rich enough to toss new toys out after a few months no matter what they were.

A few weeks later?

I don’t want one but they’ve already been around for over a year and adults were the original consumers.

Adults were lining up for hours for themselves. Not for children.

And if any of your children are ditching new toys they begged for a few weeks after Christmas that’s a parenting issue.

I don’t know any children who ditch toys that fast. If they did they’d have nothing left to play with.

Everyone saying kids are too spoiled and that these toys wouldn’t last more than a few weeks or months in their house? Your kids are spoiled. Most kids don’t move on from anything that fast.

I almost bought one for myself. lol They look fun!

They look like the biggest load of crap.
But then I suppose so were my sons Biker mice from mars, Turtles and original power rangers over 30 years ago

Just think of the Letter as a wish list, it is not a legally binding document and they should gracefully accept that they can’t get everything they ask for. Mine used to ask for impossible things that you could just not buy or didn’t exist and yes, there were some disappointments but also lots of nice surprises they didn’t expect so it all usually worked out in the end… a bit like life itself really!

Not really a choking hazard for a six year old, is it? Not many six year olds would see a toy fall apart and instantly try and swallow the bits?!

The point is that parts shouldn't be falling off at all.
A product should be fit for purpose.
Parts falling off mean it isn't fit for purpose.

Well, of course. But not sure why people are getting up in arms about choking hazards when it's primary age and above who are interested.

Hundreds of pounds to buy kids cheap nasty plastic that will end up in landfill in a year or two

Well no, theyre collectors items, they run limited lines, when your kid doesn't want it any more someone else will. Just sell it. The literal target market is adult toy collectors. Have a look on popmart. Literally everything they sell is designed for adult hobbyists. Kids just happen to have been taken by this particular product. I wish I had space to collect and love this kind of stuff myself tbh. But I'm happy to live it though my kids 🙈

I saw that home bargains are selling labubu pyjamas and Stanley style cups