Presents before or after if going away?

[Doitnicelyplease]

We are traveling back to the UK for Christmas with my in-laws, not sure what to do about presents for the DD's (5+1)?

I have brought stuff randomly throughout the year and most of it is not travel friendly.

I was thinking of letting them open their presents from us the weekend before we go (so they have time to enjoy them) and just packing smallish stocking gifts to bring with us.

What have other's done in this situation? Should we leave them to do when we get back home (two weeks after Christmas)?

Assuming that the 5yr old believes in Father Christmas I would take as much as you practically can with you and then leave a note from FC on Christmas morning explaining that some other presents had to be left at home because FC didn't want mummy to have to carry tHem all back again.

I agree, if your 5yr old believes then they'll have to open some Xmas day as opening either side of that will likely lead to loads of questions in a year or two plus it will feel less special I think seeing the family opening theirs. I'd take as much as you can

We're going away for Xmas (flying so constrained by luggage allowance). Getting dc pop-up tents, dressing up clothes and inflatable pool toys so that looks like a lot of stuff from FC but actually folds up quite small/light and not too expensive either - just in case gives you any ideas for presents on the day!

Last year we flew to NZ for Xmas arrived midday on the 24th so no time for shopping, I took a suitcase full of stuff and order a bunch of stuff online to be delivered to In Laws place, MIL wrapped the bits and we just stuff the stockings on Xmas eve and hastily wrapped the few things we bought with us. Worked well for us, would your MIL help out? Argos have a 342 coming up, have a look through now and make a list, order in one hit and have it sent to In Laws??

Oh and we had an early Christmas with my parents here in the UK on the 16th of December so the bits I'd bought through the year were given then.

Another idea is to buy online stuff they will need here or that can be left here, colouring in books / pens / underwear / coats / brolly / scarf etc... depends where you are coming from tho I guess, also character bubble bath / magic flannels / selection box... things that can be used up... a fancy purse with some holiday spending money in. Get your MIL to pop to the Pound Shop a few times over the next few months and snap up interesting things, Melamine xmas plates / bowls / cups to use during their visit. Xmas bibs for the little one.

We go away quite frequently at Christmas and take a few stocking presents (& perhaps buy a few more locally, things that don't need to travel home though - chocolates etc ) and then have the rest of the presents when we get back.

We fly so it is a real pain to have to lug stuff with us, and then bring it home again, inevitably he gets given a few more gifts when we are away from the people we meet up with but with strict luggage restrictions it can be a bit of a problem.

As a family we don't go overboard with presents, our DS is now old enough to know that the expensive holiday (USA skiing) is part of the Christmas present.

We are going away for Christmas too. I have tried to buy presents with this in mind . We will take it with us, and then lug it back again. I will get rid of all boxes, packaging etc, so it takes up less space.

We will bring small gifts to family, hopefully any gifts to us will be similarly small so that we can fit everything in on the the way home too.

I don't want to give stuff before we go or after we get back, but I am not getting the DC a large amount - one or two gifts each, plus a stocking.

If I was giving them loads, I might save it (or put a smallgift in the advent ccalendar each day).

THanks for the advice. We are flying long haul so are restricted by baggage/weight and I know we need to leave some room for bringing the presents back they will be brought by family in UK.

I guess I was hoping to do away with the 'hassle' of bringing their gifts with us!

We don't do all presents from Santa in our house, he brings mainly stocking then one or two other things, other presents are from us/family. So I don't think eldest would be too confused/put out.

But think after your suggestions I will plan to bring most of it that I can and just leave the heavier games/puzzles at home. We don't go really mad so it is not too many things (also this year in particular I know the DDs will be spoiled rotten by everyone else, so i am being restrained!).