How many presents are enough?

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Every year I end up going over board on the dcs gifts but this year I want to cut down alot, but I dont want the tree to look too empty. How many gifts do you give your dc and are they all toys or lots of little things like books, dvds etc?

DD's stocking has the Victorian thing (something you want, need, eat, read) and we open that in the morning. Along with whatever present Santa brought her (usually only 1 large or 2 medium things).

Under the tree, the presents are only opened in late afternoon when we get home from visiting. There is 1 thing for DD from us there, we each buy the other something, DD is now buying things for us. And there are usually at least a few presents from wider family there either in advance or that we've been given when we're visiting and we open at home. So our tree has a few things underneath but only gets really full when we are about to open everything.

DD's birthday is the next day, so she gets another load then too.

Her stocking has lots of little things in it, but otherwise we don't get her loads. And she is still spoilt rotten between us and wider family. Different things suit different families, and this is what suits us. We don't get each other loads either - there is no need. Christmas is not supposed to be about piles of presents under the tree, it's supposed to be about celebrating a birth.

Pinot - I agree totally. I hate generalising as don't know what people's circumstances are, but sometimes I think people that spend a lot lot lot are subconsciously trying to make up for a lack of time spent with the kids. I'm not talking about anyone on this forum here btw, just some friends I know. I think the more material gifts we give kids (obviously they should get some pressies!!), the less they appreciate each one. My happiest memories of Christmas are not so much of pressies, but of the fire, the dinner, the laughing & playing games, feeling sick from too much sweets & chocolate, and just before bedtime my Dad coming into me asking did I enjoy the day & even at a young age being delighted when I saw the joy in his face as I told him "ya, the best EVER"!!!

We have stockings full of little bits. In general they cost about £1 -£2 each. Little bits does not include £6 books and dvds, they are expensive. I start collect early to find the bits. We usually have an orange and 50p in the toe of the stocking. It usually includes a bag of choccy money and a chocolate santa figure. Also toothbrush (the character ones that I refuse to buy the rest of the year) sometimes knickers - again if they have favourite peppa pig etc on them. We try and make sure there are things to play with.

This means lots of opening, lots of wrapping paper, and in total about £15 per child for the sticking (our stockings aren't that big either!)

Then under the tree there is a big present, plus 2 or 3 smaller ones. Again very important there is something they can actually play with now, even if it is one of the smaller ones. Total under the tree about £50 per child.

I find it very important to limit the christmas gift giving. We focus on great day, lots of games and lovely food. They get presents form other people too, how much do they actually need? We do use ebay for things so they get maximum for the money, eg cheaper lego, but they are old enough that it is important it doesn't look second hand now.

If there is a bigger gift we want to get, eg a bike, then it would be birthday. I would never spend more than £100 then either (so no ipads or wiis here!)

remember hearing a mum say that she had no money and didn't want the tree to look empty so she bought a packet of balloons and blew them up and filled the room with them, so they had to fight through the balloons and find the presents. She said it was the best fun they had all day.

Well, mine certainly won't be getting any more than four each. There's something a bit vulgar and meaningless about loads and loads of presents imo. In the past I will admit that we did go overboard when my oldest daughter was tiny and she got really stressed out. So since then I've been more sensible.

I over buy but he doesn't get anything else other than a couple of token gifts from his cousins which are usually a pack of pants or a pack of socks or a book. I but various things secondhand and then get him a main present.

It's dd's second Christmas and I'm worried I've gone overboard. She's getting 2 big presents (one from us, one from Father Christmas) and at present (if I can manage not to buy anything else) 4 smaller presents, plus stocking stuff. Almost everything's secondhand, but I'm a bit worried she'll be overwhelmed.

And I've done an advent calander with animal figures in .

I'm not sure if I'd be better off just giving her some of what I've got and giving the rest before or after Christmas.

This is interesting! DD will be almost 14 months at Christmas so we need to decide what to do about presents/Santa/traditions.

So far when I bring it up with DH he just looks that last year was his last stocking...he's 32!

We've done a price max for each of us but when I think of doing a stocking and maybe starting a Christmas eve pj tradition too I worry i haven't budgeted enough.

Do people think number or total budget is a better approach.

At home stockings were the only think from Santa and contained things under £5 so no books/DVDs. Mine always had socks and Sellotape along with satsuma, chocs and a few little bits like nail varnish.

We're flying to visit family for Christmas, so won't be able to go overboard, as we've got to fit everything in our luggage allowance.

So the 2 girls will have one "main" present from us (which will be as light and compact as possible!), a stocking with 5 or 6 small, lightweight things, and a (paperback) book or DVD each. Plus something from each other (although 15 month old is too small to choose anything for her sister, so I will choose it this year).

They'll doubtless receive gifts from family too (hopefully nothing too big and heavy!)

I work on 6. Thats enough, I spend a lot of time and thought buying what is needed and will be worn/played with. I'm not one of those who has a budget and just buys everything just to make the money up.

I am shocked when I see other pics on FB, it just seems ludicious that a child has some much tat.

Better buying 6 quality presents than 30 crappy ones. I love to see them playing with them in the morning and the joy of showing the grandparents. I also request clothes rather than more toys not played with from relatives.

A Jigsaw is a must! I may also pick up a couple of second hand toys too.

The DS's have one big present and a stocking filled with bits and pieces - games, puzzles, books, socks etc.

They then get a big present from us and a sibling present.

We normally get a family board game from Santa too.

Why is it his last stocking, SG?

DH and I did them for each other when we first got together (and advent calendars - I'd never had an AC as a child so DH got me two on the first year!)

We kind of fell out of the habit especially once DCs came along as the focus is on them, but we've decided to start doing them for each other again this year as well as the DCs :)

My family does 3 presents. Started by my grandma since she had 4 kids. One toy, a book, and clothes or something homey. Santa brings the big present and stockings and of course there is usually more from family and friends. My mum used to say if 3 presents was good enough for baby Jesus its good enough for you!

Mine get a stocking from father christmas which is about £10 total then one main present from us. Last year it was a sand pit to share.

I really like the idea of something to want/need/wear/read.

"4 presents in total ? I hope not, poor mite." by that comment.

I think four presents is very sensible. Children get loads at Christmas when you include relatives, visiting FC etc.

I knew a woman with six children who was on benefits but spent £200 on each of her children at Christmas including the newborn and 1yo. I thought it was really sad and I'm sure her children went without things they actually needed during the year so that she could fill the house with plastic tat on one day.

What if there are no relatives? Not everyone has family.

My Ddi is 12. She still has a stocking from Santa - usually socks, choc coin, hair stuff. She normally has lots of pressies from us under the tree, but it includes many things she needs. I put off buying clothes & trainers till Christmas, also a new dressing gown. most are smaller bits, shower gels, knickers and a few books etc.

I think whole rooms full for tiny children is too much, but 4 or 5 too few!

Mine are allowed to ask father Christmas for 3 things. We then tell them that FC often knows that there are other things that they will like too, but so far this has meant that they aren't expecting loads.

So last year they both got the 3 things they asked for ( thankfully easy things like games) and then we topped up with loads of art supplies, a few toys and some books. Family then got them presents too which were opened as and when we saw them. They had plenty but wasn't obscene IMO.

Mine get one present each from us.

I don't want them to miss the whole point of Christmas.

Loads over here. Love seeing his little face when he sees the big pile Santa has left for him. I love Xmas

Normally loads and loads, about 30 each just from me and dh, they are 9 and 6. This year i have totally reigned it in, dd1 only has 12 - will probably be end up being 15, one of which is an ipod so expensive. dd2 will probably be the same and her most expensive so far is a Fliker Scooter.

I will save hundreds this year.

I get 1 each for under the tree. They also get a "generous" stocking with things that they'll love / play with for ages since they have to wait 'til about 3pm to get to the tree. Plus their gps go overboard and it's too much stuff for them. Dh has been known to feel sorry for eldest (so far) and do a last minute dash to Tescos.

Not this year as we?re trying to keep things cheap due to a big move but usually it is a stocking and a joint present from father Christmas and a few presents from us.

Stocking usually has 10 small things. Between £10 & £20. Joint present would be something like train set with table.

Then £50 each from us.

This year there will be no joint present but they end up with 4/5 presents to open.

My ds1 is 3 1/2. He?s been asking for a pink camera for months (coming up to a year actually) I?ve got him one from eBay for £10. It won't matter if there's 2 or 20 presents under the tree, once he opens that camera he is going to be over the moon, other presents will probably bee cast aside for a few days hours.

A fairly substantial stocking - (but not tat - toy, book, jigsaw, pants, craft, sweets, chocolate, fruit etc.) and one main present from us.