Is it tight to give dc2 a box full of dc1's old toys for xmas?

[lucysmam]

Just the ones that aren't broken or missing bits obviously.

It seems a waste to throw them or give them to charity & I know there's stuff in there dd2 will enjoy from the few bits she's already had out of it.

We'll probably just get a few bits of clothes, choc coins and maybe a couple of bath toys that'll be new

If they are dd2's hearts desire, she won't care where they are from. I think you're wise to do this.

My cousins' younger dd wanted a Tiny Tears doll like her older sister. Her mum was reluctant to get a new one. I offered my older model one that had been packed up in the loft for some years. We sent it along with some ex con doll clothes that had also been mine, after a good wash doll and clothes looked great. Younger dd was thrilled with them, and older dd was quite envious!

The point is, things don't need to be brand new to make a child happy. There were a lot of handed down toys, especially larger items like dolls house and dolls cots etc among my relatives, sometimes over three generations.

It depends how old DC1 is. Could he become possessive, does he still believe in FC.... If both are young enough not to realise it. Or DC1 is old enough to play the game, do it. Otherwise try to swap them with somebody elses, so they seems new to DC1 too.

my oldest will be very nearly 4yo by the time we get to xmas.

She tends to be like me & remeniss (sp??) when something old comes out but she's normally quite good at sharing what she has with dd2. She's been sharing her baby doll with dd2 for the past couple of weeks until today when dp brought home a little dolly for dd2. Dd1's response was "I can have my baby Hannah back now" so I guess we should be ok.

10/10 for your green way of thinking! With so much waste at christmas this is a great idea.

Will suggest it to my sister

why don't you just give her the toys but not for christmas?

If she is young enough, you can surely just do the clothing/stocking and perhaps something inexpensive, like a new outfit for the dolly.

I can get my head round passing on the toys, but presenting them as a christmas present seems a bit weird...

Sorry.

Maybe take some things to car boot/ebay and buy something new (which may be more suitable for DD2 and her preferences) with the earnings. Or swap.

IMARRIEDAFROG - Is that an announcement?!

Hi I'm new here. I did this last year for my DS2's (right terminology?)xmas. He was nearly one and not a clue. DS1 didn't really remember toys as he's 4 years older. I say do it! I'll be doing the same this year!!

it really depends what dc1 is gettig.
If she too is only getting preloved toys then absolutely fine,...if dd1 is getting all new, then I'm not sure that is very fair.
I have 2 boys, very close in age. I've had to make a real effort to make sure that ds2 didn't just end up getting ds1's hand me downs.

I think it's a great idea.

Go for it!

OMG!!!! Congratulations!!!!!

it is a great idea.

i ahve recycled all ds1's toys. tehre are 4 years between them. ds1 doesn't even remember playing with the toys.

As a pfb and dh being an only, we too wondered about this.

Ds1 and dd2 have bikes, scooters etc for birthdays and Christmas. Ds2 (still only a baby) will inherit ds1's bike, so do you pack it away, wrap it and present it as theirs, ta-dah? And do older dcs not say, 'that used to be mine' and take the shine off?

Does not the younger sib they not get fed up of getting hand me downs?

We did this with ds's toys when he was 5 and dd was 18 months, a few christmasses ago. He had a few 'big' toys that were for her age group. After a quick conversation he totally understood that he didn't need them anymore and was happy to pass them on to dd.

I don't see a problem with this at all. Why keep the toys in the attic and buy loads more plastic tat just for the sake of it?

DD will be just turning three at christmas and cannot remember the baby toys and books that have been packed away in the loft.

The ones that are still in good condition will be wrapped up and given as presents staggered over this years Christmas presents, first birthday presents and next years christmas presents.

DC2 (due in 3 wks) will have no idea and DD cannot remember them so to do anything other than this would be madness. The effort involved in selling and then re buying the same sort of toys is daft to me.

Obviously when DC2 is old enough to understand the difference between hand me downs and new presents we will no longer do this, but for the early years it's just practical common sense.

I am doing this. DD will be one the week before Xmas she will get a token present as she is only one from us. (a doll).

Then for christmas we are getting all od ds's (7) little people sets out the loft and wrapped for xmas. Ds says they are his present to her. We will also get her a ride on toy for £20 and a few tiny stocking fillers.

She is doing better than last year....we didn't get her anything

Okay, maybe I am cursed with the amazing elephant-memory child then, but I can assure you that if I dig out something DS1 hasn't played with since a baby he will still coo over it and say how much he loves it

And surely this only works if you don't intend doing the whole 'Santa' thing? (not that that's a bad thing, but we do 'do' Santa in our house, so recycling old stuff would spoil the magic)

If you make them a present from sibling then that makes more sense, like HoneyDragon says.

I'm just perplexed by how this works with an older child who understands that you are giving away their things

BTW, I don't by tat for Christmas...DS2 will be 2 this year, but will still get stocking plus clothes/essentials. Even the stocking will be things he needs such as toothbrush, etc.

I just don't get the re-using as gift-giving. Just pass on the toys, and don't get load of shit at Christmas, no?

Aaaaah we have never been a 100% Santa household. Santa brings only one actual gift from Santa.

Santa, off course, brings all the presents in his sleigh but Mummy saves money and gives it to Santa for other presents that get collected and then redisributed iyswim.

Ds, as a result, loves christmas shopping and choosing presents and then wrapping them and putting them in the upstaitrs cupboard.... all ready for Santa to collect the week before Xmas .

It means Santa stays magical, but he also remembers Mummy and Daddy are skint!

There are 4.5 years between our DDs and so DD2, at the ripe old age of 18 months, won't have a clue whether or not presents have previously belonged to her big sister.

DD1 is a firm believer in FC so he has splashed out and bought a toy for DD2's stocking (last year he brought her a funky bib) but any other presents from us will be pre-loved from the loft. DD1 has chosen a couple of her old toys to wrap up and give to DD2 as presents too; this was her idea.

The age gap will make a difference; DD1 knows that she's outgrown some of her toys and that it would be shame for DD2 not to enjoy them but also knows that because she's the oldest child she will benefit from things that are new to her (not necessarily brand new) too. In time to come this recycling probably won't work as the 4.5 year difference becomes less significant but, whilst it works, it seems silly to do anything else!

I didn't expect there to be so many opinions about this tbh.

I might have a word with dd1 & see what she thinks about it after all. I can't see her minding though, & dd2 will be 3 days off 1 year old at xmas so won't really know what is going on.

DD2 will still get some new things, just we are skint & the toys are perfectly useable still so not much point getting rid when she could have some use out of them.

& they'll probably get passed on next year to dp's best mate whose girlfriend has just found out they're expecting twins!

Imarriedafrog congratulations

I completely 'get^ passing on the toys, I just don't 'get' the re-wrapping and giving as Christmas gifts, but each to their own