Is a 16th birthday extra special and if so…

[Toosoonforahotcrossbun]

What on earth are you buying your teen girls?

DD is 16 next month and hasn’t asked for anything.

She is a girly girl. Likes make up (though doesn’t wear lots), doing her hair nice. Likes nice clothes.

Im stuck and any help would be very much appreciated!!

What about a led bulb vanity mirror if she has a dressing table / desk? My teen nieces love them. Example below.

https://www.therange.co.uk/home-furnishings/mirrors/hollywood-mirrors/vanitii-mary-hollywood-vanity-make-up-mirror-15-dimmable-led-bulbs#5528881

No 16 isn’t a special birthday

Not particularly in the U.K. Those with a vested interest try are trying to sell the concept of sweet 16 but hasn’t taken off probably because British youngsters are more interested in sneaking off to the park / beach / fields (depending on where you live) with cider or other alcoholic drinks of choice, a wholesome party really doesn’t cut it.

When my DD turned 16 she wanted a party, so that was her main present (plus a few bits and bobs).

Well, it's the first birthday they get a few 'adult rights/responsibilities' so often seen as important.

18 is seen more as 'the big one' in England & then 21 (though that's just tradition!)

im crap at presents, so no idea, sorry!

I think it is and I'm terrible at celebrations usually.

Nice necklace or something?

No, 16 isn’t a big birthday.

In our house every birthday is a special occasion. No matter what age you are going to be.

It’s a privilege to grow older . Many people don’t get that privilege .

im sure my daughter got a Pandora bracelet for her 16th.

@2chocolateoranges to be honest I agree and we make a big deal of every birthday

I just wonder if I need to do more for this?

We are organising a small party for 6 friends. I’ve booked a party limo for them. And we will have a family birthday party too. We do this every year.

It’s a gift I am struggling with.

She does live jewellery - a necklace is a good idea @Chatsbots thank you.

Always jewellery. Even if it’s something small, she will likely enjoy it all her life.

We got this for our DD for her 16th as we wanted to give her a keepsake that she’ll hopefully have forever. She loves it.

https://www.libertylondon.com/uk/9ct-gold-ruby-pip-pendant-necklace-R705909006.html?utm_term=705909006&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20031110607&gbraid=0AAAAAD4IbFHzc9c2RLJ_mTqC9DdBDaXuz&gclid=CjwKCAiAtq_NBhA_EiwA78nNWBoHgJ2ZdmXiBqLek45BKzDOUv7RMjAITMNom0EmOiXgS3uV69ydvBoC3_sQAvD_BwE

It's my daughters 16th next week, mainly asked for hair & beauty products.
What about a nice perfume?

We’ve got my daughter a new(to her) phone(no way can we afford a brand new one). Not as special as jewellery, perhaps, but she will get more use out of it and it’s far less likely to be lost.

I can't abide buying presents just to buy something. If she doesn't want or need anything and you don't have an idea of something she'd love either take her out or give her some money to go out with friends.

I think it’s a special birthday if that is what you want for your family.

I will be 60 next month and look back with a lot of fondness to my 16th birthday. My parents took me to London. This was a big thing my mum had suffered with anxiety, OCD and depression for years . Despite living so near the capital we rarely went as Mum was too afraid of the IRA bombings. We ate at Garfunkel’s burger restaurant and bought tickets from
the Leicester Square kiosk to see No Sex Please We’re British. My special present for being 16 was a new sewing machine and a wooden cabinet for it. I still have the cabinet but the sewing machine was upgraded a long time ago.

There is probably lots she would want she just isn’t greedy and wouldn’t ask for anything expensive even if she would love it.

She got a phone for Xmas and would never have asked for that.

It’s a nice trait but makes buying things harder!!

This is a lovely story ❤️

I would get her a nice piece of jewellery so she has a keepsake of her 16th - I do think it's a bit special ☺️ I remember waking up on my 16th, my mum was blasting out 'Happy birthday sweet sixteen' by Neil Sedaka and crying saying my baby's 16 😂

Maybe get her some Sephora vouchers and have a shopping trip and lunch out so she can choose some bits for herself as well?

My DD is also 16 next month. I don't think onitsha as being a particularly big milestone but will try and make it special.

She loves jewellery and is very happy with cheap and cheerful and loves trawling through a charity shop. But I'm buying her a Pandora ring for her 16th that I know she'll love, along with a few other gifts. She is also having a day out with friends and a meal with family.

This.

I think its a special birthday, ex did not, maybe its a Scottish thing (ex was english)

I think it's certainly significant in Scotland. At 16 you can get married, leave school, vote in Scottish elections, etc.

This was exactly my experience as well and I’m now the same with my children. I didn’t celebrate milestone birthdays any more or less, every birthday was a big deal, I’m still the same now at the ripe old age of 39!

We are actually in Scotland

She takes care of her things so I think I will look at a nice necklace.