Presents for a 2nd child.

[NoTeaForMe]

We have everything for a baby really. My toddler will be just over 3 and my baby will be 7 months, both girls. So what do we buy the little one? There's a limit to what a 7month old wants/needs anyway! But throughout her life what do we buy her when there will nearly always be a hand me down! I feel sad for her already!

I will have the same dilemma in the future, with No.2 (same gender) on the way! Kids (especially babies/toddlers) won't know the difference between new things and hand-me-downs. And are likely to prefer the wrapping paper anyway. I still loved getting my cousin's cast-offs when I was a young teenager - they were new to me. So I wouldn't worry about spending lots on her. Your time and hugs are much more valuable.

I have ds and then dd so different genders, but toddler toys are neutral. Dd is either getting money for her savings or we are going to save up for a playhouse for her next year, which is going to be expensive.

We are opting for some joint presents that dd2 (6 months) is too small for now but will grow into, and will be shared in the future e.g. kitchen, sandpit etc.

I'm also giving some toys to each dd, but expecting they'll get used by both.

I don't think dd2 would notice if we didn't get her anything, but dd1 would!

DD is 3.10 & DS is 15mth. Due to very generous grandparents by the time DS was a couple of months old we already had a Wendy house, trampoline, sand/water table, slide, easel, kitchen etc as well as loads of Happyland, play food & so forth.
Before DD's third birthday, we had a bit of a sort out & various bits of Happyland & such like which DD no longer played with went up to the loft, some of which re-appeared a couple of months later as DS's first Christmas present, a few more bits for his first birthday & others will be re-appearing this Christmas. We've given him a token new toy for each event but the rest has been a loft raid. For his first birthday, grandparents have him a garage & I think he'll have a train set when he turns 2. We have had many comments from the grandparents of "but we spent X on DC1, we can't spend X/10 on DC2" & my response is just that DC2 is getting to use all of DC1s stuff. I actually think DC2 has a better time of it as he's exposed to so many more toys than DC1 did. He ignores most of the age appropriate stuff as he's much more interested in other stuff.

PS DC1 has no issues seeing her toys re-appear as DC2's. When he unwrapped the farm that had been hers until about 4mth previously, she just said "I had a farm just like that. It's a very good farm. You'll like that".

Channel the money towards days out, memberships, passes, subscriptions.

Joint presents would be great but we have a sandpit, Wendy house, kitchen and dolls house! Sure there'll be more in the future?!

The baby obviously won't notice and will only want the wrapping paper but her big sister and her cousins will know! I'm tempted to get a big box and wrap it up with a helium balloon inside. Good idea or stupid idea?!

I think that's a great idea NoTea that I'm going to nab from you! My DS and DD are a year apart and I struggle to think of presents for my 1yr. I've bought a few keepsake presents like money boxes but its so hard thinking of gift ideas when we have everything already.

A balloon is a fab idea!

Ah thanks! I think I'll go for it then! A keepsake from Father Christmas maybe and the balloon from us?!