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 bday is week before christmas. This year she'll be two.

Her first Xmas she was a week old and a bit poorly and we were shellshocked. I can't remember who gave her what or how much.

Last year for bday from us she got books and a lovely cardi, more expensive than I would usually buy (about £20) and also a charm as I am going to get her one every year and put in bracelet when she's older. For Xmas she got stocking of small things and new pyjamas and a train set from us. But huge amounts of bday and Xmas from both sets of grandparents and aunt and uncle. Was way over the top.

This year no 2 expected between dd's bday and Xmas so who knows. I imagine she'll be showered with gifts from all sides. I've given up trying to control it but we don't go overboard ourselves.

I usualy get carried away but am trying to be sensible this year

We do pj's and book on christmas eve, main present and then 20 (ish) smaller things (ranging from £1 an item up to £10), this includes a small stocking which contains chocolate coins, bubbles, trump cards and a new tooth brush.

They dont get much from family (just something small from my mum and something from my dad).

I'm trying to establish a rule that DD gets one big present (last year a scooter) from Mummy and Daddy under the tree but lots and lots of things from Santa in her stocking, so that if DH wants to go overboard, he can, but only on things that don't cost more than a fiver. She has very generous GPs and aunts and uncles, so she should have plenty of things to open.

I'm quite hot on DD understanding who gives her things - I wouldn't want her to think that the presents from Grandma are actually from Santa. And also that, while Santa might bring her some bubble bath or a small book, he doesn't do 'big' things like scooters or mini-computers. And also that, while Mummy and Daddy don't mind splashing out on a big gift for her, we're not going to buy loads and loads of tat - so if she wants to ask us for something when she's a bit older, she has to be quite discerning.

My dd birthday is Xmas week. This year she is having a party and will be getting a mobigo as her main bday present and a kitchen for Xmas. I will then wrap lots of bits: pjs, socks, my little pony, play dough etc. personally I think it's daft to go mad dd will be 3 this year and got very overwhelmed last year so I have learnt my lesson! I think I have many years ahead where I will have to buy more expensive gifts! She is also the only grandchild and child in my social group so she gets ruined by friends and family.

Hmmm, dd is three two days before Christmas so we are always going to be in danger of going into present overload in our house
This year she is getting a tiger fancy-dress costume from the animals (long family tradition this one) and a bicycle from us for her birthday. I know that her godmother has got her a ukulele and the grandparents a set of puppets

For Christmas we have got her the theatre to go with the puppets, she'll get a Victorian stocking from father Christmas and books from the animals.

There will be plenty of other bits from the family too so a fair mountain in the end I'm sure.

I am planning a bit of a Christmas fest leading up to the day, our elf on the shelf will arrive on the first of december and there is a Christmas book for each night leading to Christmas eve (gotta love nct sales), we have a cloth advent calendar ready to be filled too. Christmas pjs are needed (tho I got the Next stag dog ones for me and am wearing them already lol!)

Pjs, hot choc,bubble bath, christmas cookie and a DVD on Christmas eve.

Stocking - about 10 little things - all wrapped to take longer to open (while DH and I wake slowly). Chocs, fruit, pencils, Hair bobbles, toiletries.

1 'main' present and about another 7 or so smaller ones, inc something to wear for Christmas day. Usually aim to spend about £100 in total, but this gets harder each year. Out of this, there is always a gift that is earmarked as being from Mum and Dad and one from their sister. I decided early on that Father Christmas wasn't going to get all the credit.

I reckon I have another year or 2, tops of FC and although I'll be sad to see the tradition go (reindeer food.... cookies and milk etc) , I look forward to seeing the back of it all too.

I grew up in a family that had a stocking and a sack of stuff from FC, then another load of presents from my Dad's side of the family, then on boxing day a huge sackful of gifts from my Mum's parents too. To be fair, there wasn't any buying of toys or gifts except at birthdays and christmases and no pocket money.

My family all give a present or two to each other and my MIL and her sister go MENTAL with the gift buying and shower the DDs with loads of stuff when they see them at new year.

I have to admit mine get loads, not only from us but from the extended family. I just love Xmas and make a huge deal of it, planning from sept really!

Dds aged 5&7 are getting iPod touches this year plus say 15 stocking fillers each (£5-£15 each) I also get a stocking of tat such as tattoos, stickers, hair bands etc. I also do the Xmas eve hamper but that's for all of us inc myself and dh.

They do get too much but it's what I was brought up with, we are not well off, neither were my parents but we always got loads at Xmas. I just love it! We also don't do presents other than birthdays and no pocket money.

Their grandparents also spend about £100 each on them plus loads of extended family so it's difficult for us to cut down as I feel they should get more off us and Santa than from other people!

We are off to Lapland this year so am spending more on making this their best year- in a few years the belief in Santa will go and we can hopefully cut down on what we do but I love all the effort my parents put into it- I'm not talking money wise as my parents were both skint when we were kids but still made a huge effort.