To buy a fire engine or not to buy a fire engine?

[attheendoftheday]

In a bid of organisation I did a large amount of my dd's christmas shopping earlier in the year (as I tend to buy secondhand, and ebay is cheaper then). Dds are 3.5 and 20 months. I have bought plenty for them already, and I am sure they will like what I've got them. However, dd1 has a new keenest on fire engines. We currently only have a little dinky - size engine, which she plays with all the time.

Really I would like to buy her a fire engine in addition to what I've already got, but I'm worried it will be too much and she'll find it overwhelming. Getting it wouldn't be a problem financially. She has at present: a wooden castle with assortment of playmobil figures as a joint present with her sister, a tea set, a playmobil pool, a frozen dress, a bucket of schleich dinosaurs, a jigsaw and 4 books.

It's too much isn't it?

If it's something you think she's going to remember asking for, I would try to get it (without bankrupting yourself though!). Is there any chance you could put something you've already bought away for her birthday, so you won't be any worse off in the long run, although it'd mean forking out now.

Oh I'd get her it definitely. Playmobil do one so it would fit in with the playmobil theme!

Just don't get one that makes the nee naw noise.

If you can afford it, get it. Being "overwhelmed by presents" is a peculiarly Mumsnet condition. I have never met a real life child who suffered from it!

If it isn't a problem financially I would definitely get it. Imagine her little face when she sees it!

Buy a Duplo fireengine. My DS is 4 and still plays with it and it's components despite having moved up to Big Boy Lego. More flexible that a fixed toy.

Asda half price sale tomorrow has the playmobil fire engine in it :)

Hooray! I was so hoping everyone would say to go ahead. I've been eyeing the playmobil one on line, shall check out asda tomorrow.

I know she doesn't really need another toy, but she would love it and it would get used I think.

When dp looks aghast at the pile of presents I shall point out that a group of internet strangers felt it was ok - he did agree to me doing the christmas shopping!

It actually looks like a very small pile of presents to me. But you've got another 6 weeks to work on it.

Hakluyt I think I love you. I may have omitted to mention the at least 10 stocking fillers I've got and the 4 gifts she'll get from family

The playmobil fire engine is fantastic- my DS adores his (he got it for his 3rd birthday). May I suggest that if you get it, you open it and put it together, then wrap it, as it is hard for small children to wait to play with their new toys (as you have to put on stickers, wheels, doors etc etc, and have a 20mo too!)

One piece you may wish not to assemble is a little plastic piece that goes at the end of the aerial- my DS has pulled it off hundreds of times now, and that one is small enough for a 20mo to pop into her mouth very easily.

No it's not too much, I thought it was normal to get a sacks worth of presents from Santa.

Yes, looks like a fire engine shaped gap in that list to me too

I agree on here it sometimes seems people are in competition to buy as little as possible, but all the kids I meet irl have a lot of toys, whether new or second-hand, maybe it is actually all from Father Christmas.

I think under-2s might need stuff spacing out a little, but at 3.5 she will be quite capable of enjoying all of that I would think.

I love you all.

I think people should tell me what I want to hear every time I post.

Went to Asda toy sale on a quest to fill the fire engine shaped hole, sadly no playmobil at all, so if anyone sees.a good deal let me know.

You can never have too many fire engines.

I was going to suggest Duplo one too, but playmobil fits well.