Active discussions

Help end medical misogyny. Sign our petition.

Help end medical misogyny.
Sign our petition.

Sign the petition

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is a 16th birthday extra special and if so…

147 replies

Toosoonforahotcrossbun · 07/03/2026 14:38

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!!

OP posts:
Sometimeswinning · 07/03/2026 21:30

Definitely a thing. I have no idea how other posters have missed it! Me and dd joked that it was probably from the Sweet 16 and legal days!! But it was special enough for expensive perfume, jewellery and a party. Her friends even knew a 16 charm was needed!

Original poster
Toosoonforahotcrossbun · 07/03/2026 21:42

I have ordered a necklace for her. She does love jewellery so she will wear it, it won’t sit in a drawer unworn.

I also know she has some items in her Hollister online basket so will sneak a peak at that and order some bits for her.

Any other ideas welcome!!

I can’t book a trip because we have so much booked for this year already. Including a trip just after her exams finishing.

OP posts:
Nomedshere · 07/03/2026 21:45

16th and 18th in our house...not 21st

Sometimeswinning · 07/03/2026 21:55

Toosoonforahotcrossbun · 07/03/2026 21:42

I have ordered a necklace for her. She does love jewellery so she will wear it, it won’t sit in a drawer unworn.

I also know she has some items in her Hollister online basket so will sneak a peak at that and order some bits for her.

Any other ideas welcome!!

I can’t book a trip because we have so much booked for this year already. Including a trip just after her exams finishing.

Edited

Ah yes to Hollister. And a wrist watch.

IMockYouWithMyMonkeyPants · 07/03/2026 21:55

I took my daughter on a (UK) city break. We had a great time and I spent more money on her birthday and gifts than any other of her birthdays up til that point. it was a big birthday to us and a good excuse to celebrate in a big way (to us- we don’t have a lot of money and I saved up).

Abd80 · 07/03/2026 21:59

I remember going to the jewellers with my mother for my 16th birthday and choosing beautiful earrings that I still have ❤️
we went shopping afterwards and for afternoon tea that day it was wonderful

Tedsnan1 · 07/03/2026 22:03

I think it's nice to mark a significant birthday with a piece of jewellery.

Mintearo7 · 07/03/2026 22:07

It’s US culture creeping in, again. 16th is a big bday over there. Our friend’s daughter has a massive party and I was so confused with it all but her Dad born in the US. Now others are doing the same for their daughters even though they are british. I would just consider you have an 18th and 21st coming up and whether you want to make a big deal for all three.

ThisDandyWriter · 07/03/2026 22:08

Mine is also 16 next month, I’m getting her a gold Pandora, some ray bans, an air fryer!!! And then I’ll get her clothes, chocolate, make up etc x

WhatNextImScared · 07/03/2026 22:10

It’s only big in America as they all get their driving licences then. Don’t make a big fuss of if it, IMO

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 07/03/2026 22:14

I wouldn’t say it’s a traditionally special birthday, but you can make any birthday special if you want to! And it might be in some families as a tradition.

If I don’t know what to get my late teens dd for any particular birthday, I get tickets to an event - so whatever your dd would enjoy.

Other things might be designer boots like timberlands (in the case of my dd) or if she’s into DMs or something.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 07/03/2026 22:15

We did have a party for my dd’s 16th, but it was a belated party and joint with post GCSEs. Which was so we could have it in the summer and use the garden - and obviously
couldn’t be shortly pre GCSEs!

Iwantsandybeachesandgoodfood · 07/03/2026 22:35

I'm in my forties and still remember the excitement of my 16th. In my family 13, 16, 18, 21 and then each decade are the big birthdays. For my DD’s 16th we had a party for her friends and a separate one for family and we bought her a 16 charm, some perfume and clothes.

Sometimeswinning · 07/03/2026 22:40

WhatNextImScared · 07/03/2026 22:10

It’s only big in America as they all get their driving licences then. Don’t make a big fuss of if it, IMO

It’s been a big deal here for years. I’m 40. My friends and I all had big parties 16/18/21 We all had the crappy gifts from the card shop!

Evergreen21 · 07/03/2026 23:05

For my 16th my mum and dad got me a diamond and gold sapphire bracelet, necklace and earrings. I got the ring the year before for my 15th and then they completed the set for my 16th. Sapphire is my birthstone and it's my most worn jewellery outside of my wedding band and engagement rings. I had a family party and was given some money to go into town with friends to go to the cinema. They saved for this and it was considered a special birthday
. I didn't ask for anything as I just wasn't that type of kid but I've always loved jewellery.

If you go for jewellery what about a lovely jewellery box to go with it?

TroysMammy · 08/03/2026 00:15

I'm taking my niece to London for her 16th, well it's a joint Christmas, birthday and end of GCSEs trip. I'll spoil her and I have the benefit too as she's great company.

XelaM · 08/03/2026 00:27

My daughter turned 16 last month. It's definitely a big birthday and her and her friends definitely do the "Sweet 16" stuff. 👑

XiCi · 08/03/2026 00:50

Somersetbaker · 07/03/2026 20:28

A big pack of condoms? She's not your little girl anymore.

Nasty

SE13Mummy · 08/03/2026 00:53

DC1's 16th was a lockdown birthday so they didn't get to see friends, never mind or celebrate with them in real life. As a result, we probably did treat as a more significant birthday e.g. special cake, age balloons and a Macbook (unexpected by DC1 and not something they'd asked for and way beyond budget ordinarily but something along those lines was going to be needed for sixth form).

DC2's 16th was mid-GCSE and their useless friends couldn't/wouldn't spare even 10 minutes after school to do something to mark the occasion. We ended up doing a family day out followed by a meal at DC2's restaurant of choice and surprised them with a new-to-them iPhone selected by DC1.

So for us, 16 isn't a big birthday per se but we've ended up celebrating both DCs' in a bigger way than we would normally.

XiCi · 08/03/2026 00:54

I think 16 is a big birthday yes. My dd's 16th is in August and ive booked a surprise weekend in Paris. Ill probably buy her a piece of keepsake jewellery and pay for a meal in a restaurant for her and her friends.

TorroFerney · 08/03/2026 07:11

Somersetbaker · 07/03/2026 20:28

A big pack of condoms? She's not your little girl anymore.

Really? You’ve let yourself down here.

Was the dopamine hit you got from posting this worth it?

CaptainMyCaptain · 08/03/2026 07:24

Nomedshere · 07/03/2026 21:45

16th and 18th in our house...not 21st

17th is special because they can start driving lessons. It was with me, my daughter and my grandchildren.

CaptainMyCaptain · 08/03/2026 07:28

DC2's 16th was mid-GCSE and their useless friends couldn't/wouldn't spare even 10 minutes after school to do something to mark the occasion. I can't believe you think her friends should prioritise your daughter's birthday over their exams.

LumpySpaceCow · 08/03/2026 08:08

I think it is special! Amongst other things, we got DD a beautiful ring - I still have my own from my 16th Birthday (means even more now that my mum has died) and wanted to have something she could keep - so any jewellery is a good shout!