How many presents are enough for your dc?

[avalu]

All 4 of my dc are getting 16 presents. I'm worried it is too much but they don't get anything other than on there bdays and xmas so its really to last them. They are getting toys, pyjamas, books etc. How many presents do you feel is enough for your dc?

I do ten each, ten toys and two books. They also have a Christmas stocking of little things.

If you think it's ok then go with that. I know from experience with my two that they're better with fewer presents, otherwise they get overwhelmed, and it's just a race to open them and they don't really get played with. I also felt horribly guilty once when I did go crazy and buy lots of presents, but this is just me and my boys. I tend not to give clothes as presents, as I buy when needed.

Sorry, meant to say eight toys and two books making the ten, it doesn't make sense otherwise!

I am getting mine one or two each, plus about 10 smaller things in their stockings.

We will be staying with family, so they will prob get another 5 or 6 things each from various aunt and uncles and grandparents. So I think more than a couple of things from us would be too much - my DC are quite young.

DS is 9 and The Only Grandchild, a special and privileged position to be in at Christmas :o
Eventually my DPs have begun to calm it down but I think that's more because his gifts are more expensive than when he was younger :o
We buy about 8-10 items plus a stocking but lots of these things are practical eg. This year he needs new AstroTurf boots for hockey so they will be a gift albeit one I would have bought anyway :)
He is also having a big (for that read expensive ) present this year but it is the first in about 4 years so can't complain really much

I'm going with this 4 idea:

• Something they want
• Something to read
• Something to wear
• Something I want to play with too

The right amount is what is right for your family. So if this is 16 like you op (prob same amount my dc's get) or 1 under the tree, either is 'right' imo.

Hope that makes sense

My DD is only 2 but the last two Christmas's we only bought her a few things, maybe 5 because she got tons of stuff from friends and family it was ridiculous. Last year she was so overwhelmed with all the stuff she stopped opening things (i know she was only 1.5 so quite young).

I think for the time being we will continue to only buy a few things because of the amount she gets from other people, I remember growing up we would only get 1 main big present and few small things and we would get so excited about our main gift. I think some children these days expect 100's of presents and don't end up appreciating them at all.

My dcs will be getting 1 main present each and a stocking each with little bits and bobs in.

I have also got a joint present for all of them of 3 board games that they can all play together on Christmas Day/boxing day.
3 of the 4 dcs also have birthdays in nov and dec so they get 1 present for their birthday and a little party.

Other family members get them little bits (my mum always buys them each a pair of pjs for Xmas).

Mine each get a main, approx 17 presents (range from £5-£30 each) and stocking with 6-8 smaller items (lip balm, stickers etc).

They get £50 worth of present each from each of the grandparents and aunts and uncles.

Our DDs generally get one main present, some books, some art/craft stuff, a game to share between them and a stocking filled with a mix of tat I know they'll like and useful things like toothbrushes, bubble bath, etc.

Oh I go a bit mad... DD gets about 5 or 6 'large' gifts (ranging from £15-£40) and then her stockingy bits which are usually cheaper and some things she needs. I spend what I can afford, if I can afford more, she gets more!

We have an elf that brings activities and xmas dvds etc periodically throughout december so she doesn't get these in her stocking.

And then the grandparents bring the usual grandparent waffle and my mum tends to put some money in an account for when her school trips start getting expensive :)

My DDs get (from us)

15 items in their sacks

Plus 5 larger presents under the tree.

Plus smaller bits, like pjs for Christmas Eve etc.

They also get lots from family too.

This includes a lot of clothing - a year 'a supply of socks, pants, vests, new pjs and a few new outfits too. They get most of their clothing at Christmas!

It's impossible to compare, unless you also look at what they're brought during the year. Anything I see during the year that I think they'll like, I tend to put away for Christmas, so they get more then and less during the year iyswim.

Mine get about 25-30 but this includes useful things and a lot of cheap (under £5 items), they don't get much else from the rest of the family (unless we are going to their granddads, then they give them about 10 small gifts) so I feel the need to get them quite a bit to open. Its getting harder to find cheaper useful things now they are getting older though so they probably wont get as much this year (we have budgeted for £150 each), they usually get pj's/onesie and sometimes winter boots, books, craft bits and then a couple bigger things that they have asked for, I get quite a bit for my money as I never pay full price for anything .

We have: a stocking each (chocolates, a flip book (a friend makes them for a job, and we get them for free from her) one useful but cheap thing from poundland, an IOU for a game they want or whatever, a small note from FC, and then another poundland one, so total cost is £4 per stocking).

Then, they get two small presents (again, from poundland or the local sweet shop or charity shop, so very cheap). Then they each get a larger present (this year it costs £5 each for them) and a shared larger present (this year it costs £10). Then they have a Christmas treasure hunt for presents (when older, it will probably go under the tree too, but for now, it's a treasure hunt) with small gifts and chocolates.

So in the stocking, there's one (actually probably more, but grouped under 'chocolates'- so about three?)for food, then two paid for, then one physical (they each choose a game or a meal or a day out or whatever) and another one is also free (the note). So five.

Then a further three of their own. Then they get six things from the treasure hunt (all costing £1 or less). Total is fourteen (so quite a lot) plus a shared one, and total cost is, this year, £17 each.

For birthdays, they get one main present and then one small present, and the rest comes from what they are given by other people.

My DDs tend to get about 8 under the tree and about 20 items in their stocking.

I say each to their own, I go a bit mad at Christmas and like to spread it out over December so we do lots of activities as well as lots of presents.

Do what's right for you and your kids

Last year I think mine had about 13/14 plus stockings and loads from family and it was madness. Way over the top, far too much.

I don't tend to give clothes as presents as they are young and only care about toys (!) and I have to buy them clothes anyway so it doesn't really feel like a gift, although I do put pants and socks in their stockings.

This year I have plans for three large presents each and two or three smaller ones plus stockings because I know they are going to get piles of stuff from friends and family and I will have to find somewhere to put it all. This is my fifth Christmas as a parent and I think I wise up a little more every year. Although whether I stick to this remains to be seen. Am guessing the piles get smaller and more expensive as they get older.

beaver im intrigues at what youv got them now :D sounds lovely the treasure hunt.

i do tend to go over board last year they had about 15-16 under the tree then 3 -4 under their tree in their room (we dont do stocking but they have a 4ft tree in theri room that santa leaves their presents under)

this year they have 4 medium presents (any where from 5- up to 15 pounds) and one shared present which was £40.

im really strapped for money this year.. plus they have a birthday in november and the end of december.

im going to spend more time doing decorations and family fun stuff this year insted of stressing over money ....well thats the plan.

About 12. I don't do a stocking so this also includes smaller items.

Wow, that's quite a lot!

But as above, if you can afford it and you're happy with it then go for it.

I don't ever think of a certain amount we usually set a budget of beteern £400/500 per dd we end up spending between £600/700 on them each though and we both have very large families. last year our full dining room was covered, it was actually ridiculous, but to us Christmas is about mountains of presents and family, we would never get into debt over it or spend more than we are comfortable with so it can change a little year to year.

I think people need to stick to their means and not feel the need to be preseured into keeping up with others as it's clear on theses threads that everyone has a different priorities for their children at Christmas.

We do an xmas eve present (contains new pjs, slippers and onesie, Polar Express dvd, Night Before Christmas book and one of those snowman hot chocolate things) which they open after their shower.

We have a snall stocking which had random plastic tat and a few bits from Hawkins Bazaar and Poundland - and always a CHristmas activity pack :)

They then have a santa stocking which has anywhere from 10-20 presents in it, ranging from £5-£20 (more of the £5 probably only 1 of the £20) usually. Last year they got a joint present of a Wii (preowned), this year I am unsure as to what the joint present will be