£250 to spend on 20 mo..... help?!

[sillymillyb]

Ds is 20 mo, and his dad see's him maybe once a month ish for a few hours. He has asked what I would like for him for christmas as he has aprox £200- £250 to spend.

I have spent about £30 myself as I'm broke so this sticks in my throat a little, but I don't want to waste this financial input as I'm aware it may not happen again (if you see what I mean?!)

DS doesn't really need anything, so what should I ask for that won't be wasted?? I have so far come up with aqua doodle mat, craft stuff..... something for the garden maybe??

Any ideas? Please help, I don't want to waste this! Thank you :)

Premium bonds.

Climbing frame maybe?

Balance bike!

He's a little young but it will be great from when he is 2 yo. Islabikes do an absolutely great one.

Something for the garden sounds good.

£20 on a leapfrog drum
£10 on 2 Julia Donaldson stories

The rest into his savings account

Clothes? Money in bank account? mini trampoline, swimming lessons. happyland stuff.

Snow boots, winter coat, new duvet cover, balance bike (if he's walking well), junior swing/ slide set if you've got the space.

Put it into a savings account and keep it for when DS wants something in particular? Or save it for days out that he might like?

Something that you can sell. Gold ring? Silver rattle. If this is what he is getting, far better to have a plastic toy and a bank account. Or be straight with his Dad and suggest a small gift and, say, premium bonds.

I was also going to say the Islabike balance bike (most lox called the Rothan). They are absolutely excellent.

Voucher for shoes (always costly), new coat
Micro scooter ..... Quite young still but will always be used
Ditto balance bike

New bed?

I would try and think if things you would like, might need in the future and ask for those.

Trampoline
Garden climbing thingy
Slide
Blow up pool for summer
Pop up tent / teepee

I realise he is young, but it would be a pity to buy things you won't need, or he will grow out of.

Train set (brio)

Marble run

I would opt for practical things so you can treat him next year - next size clothing, educational toys, garden bits for the summer etc. If it is likely he will just keep the money if you dont suggest things then I would be wary of asking for money for savings as depending on how reasonable he is he might not bother.
Or what about one of the toddler magazines (storybox, okido etc) that way you would get to share it with him through the year :)

A play house for the garden. Ours has had tons of use and is used in cold weather too. I never thought that it would be such a winner but DCadore it.

Clarks vouchers to get him shoes whenever he grows out of his current pair.

Clothes in the next size/two sizes up.

This is what I've asked for DS as he's pretty catered for toy-wise.

play kitchien...

then rest in the bank.. if he wont do that.. maybe a coat clothes for sizes to grow into.

X post with luggage

Anything he will need/want in the next year:

• crayons/ pens/ paper / playdough supplies £20
• snowboots £30
• coat £30
• micro scooter £70
• few books £10
• duplo £40
• puzzles £20

I would love to suggest savings / premium bonds but in the past he has balked at that and said I would spend it on me charming and I know it would never materialise.

DS honestly doesn't want for anything as my mum has been a foster carer for 40 odd years and has a play room full of stuff He has too much if anything (he isn't spoilt I promise!)

Like the idea of swimming lessons though - the one thing he would benefit from is experiences rather than belongings. Mini trampoline / books and drum I will look at now. Oh, and he has a balance bike too..... handed down from his big nephew.

This is such a silly problem, we are so broke, but equally so lucky to have what we do!

oh crossed posts loads! hang on! Thank you all for replies!

A bed for when he's ready to move out of the cot?

Is there a cinema or theatre near you which does performances for little ones? Vouchers for that?

An age appropriate magazine subscription ( that he can grow into...Okido is good).

Could you ask for stuff like clothes/toys but make sure that you get receipts so that you can change it if it's the wrong size. Even if it means that in the future you'll have to spend the money in toys r us or m&s or wherever he chooses to buy stuff from. At least it will mean that you can spread the money out.

If you have everything stuff wise:

• swimming/ music/ gym lessons
• can he sign up for say milk and more/ able and cole and get stuff delivered each week for you?
• magazine subscription

Oooh you lot are all brilliant!!!

Love clarks vouchers, because shoes are practically bankrupting me right now! I'm wary of snow boots for that reason - what bloody size to go for is a guessing game!

DS has a cot bed so that's out (unless I'm being thick?!)

Are micro scooters that good? That is a potential avenue.

LOVE the idea of a little play house for the garden, he adores playing in them at B&q and I'll never be able to afford one myself.

Really like the magazine subscription idea too, DS loves books and reading.

I've missed loads of replies I'm sure - I'm going to write a list now. Thank you SO much. I was feeling quite confuddled about this, you've made me a bit excited instead!

I have never heard of okido, but have just looked it up, that's def a possibility - it looks fab, especially to grow into.

Milk and more don't work in my area, which is a massive shame as that would have been a huge help - but prob not the "status" gift that DS dad would be after.

Clothes are a bit of a sore spot as he feels that is what maintenance is for, so he doesn't want to get those outside of that.

Basically, anything useful or practical would prob go down like a lead balloon.....

Sorry for all the crossed posts, I am SO grateful, you lot are speedy too!