When they want the same kind of thing for presents over and over and over again

[HuwEdwards]

DD1 (6) loves and adores soft toys - always has done since a baby. She gives them all names and goes to sleep with piles of them every night. Me and DP bemused as neither of us can remember being like this.

Now, given her choice for Xmas, she would choose more soft toys (not solely, but there would definitely be a couple on her list).

DP has stated that he has no intention of buying more 'soft toy crap' (says this to me, not her obv) and wants to make some alternative choices for her (not on her list). I otoh, think, well if that's what she really wants (and it's within our budget), what's the problem?

Views from the world of MN, please.

interesting dilemma, my dd1 aged nearly 7 always asks for more barbies, yet we have 10+ none of which are played with, she just doesn''t do that kind of play and yet she ahs asked for a barbie for christmas - i am not buying anymore. i wonder if we put too much subconcious pressure on them byasking what they want so they say the thing htey know best. last year my dd's santa letter read " dear santa ... i would like chocolate and a barbie and somemore chocolate", not very imaginative an dwhen i suggested things to her she went " oh yes and that ..." so maybe your dd is requesting more new soft toys because it is a little over powering having to come up with some new exciting thing. rahter like mums always end up saying " oh you know, i don't really want anything just smellies or some new pjs" and afterwards we always think of loads of things.

My ds2 is the same. They have so much stuff anyway - why should it matter if she has another crappy soft toy if it pleases her? I got mine a polar bear from Costco when he was about 7 - it was as big as him! He still loves it now and he's 11.
Even ds1, who is 13, has a couple of favourite soft toys that he takes to bed - though he wouldn't dream of taking them to a friend's house and if he has a friend to sleep over then the soft toys are well hidden!
I think it's great that our children aren't pressurised into growing up too soon. Mine are very mature in most ways but if they want to sleep with soft toys till they're teenagers that's fine by me.

ps Mine can never think of what they want for Christmas, either! And ds1's b-d is 27/12 so that's even worse.
ds2 - when asked what he'd like, replied 'Oh, anything really, I like surprises and whatever you get me is always lovely!'
No pressure there, then!

DS2 asks for Playmobil every year. For him, Christmas is Playmobil. Weaning him off now as he gets other ideas. Maybe suggest other things and produce a soft toy or two as well. My DD also loves soft toys and has never played with dolls. Once travelled all the way back from Germany with a lifesize 'retriever' she had bought shedding its 'fur' everywhere and taking up a seat.

Sherbert37 - when I bought the polar bear home I strapped it sitting up in the front seat - got some very strange looks!

I think you should get them what they ask for ,providing you can afford it .

We got ds a massive box of lego for his christmas and birthday for about five years running. It all looked the same to us but to him it was very different and very precious.

lorina that's what I think - she's very specific about the 2 soft toys she would like, so I know it's not just that she's lacking imagination in respect of ideas for Xmas.

But buggery bugger...more soft toys...!

Ho ho ho

Dd2 is a bit soft toy bonkers and I've been irritated by it at times, like your dp. Partly because soft toys are taking over the house, partly because she has asthma and I make an effort to reduce dust-gathering things around her bed.

Things I have done:
1.give her a catalogue/take her to another shop and maybe point her in the direction of some things I think she would like, 'cause sometimes she will find something she wants more.

1. Tell her she's got to put lots of her soft toys in a covered box under her bed to make space before she gets any others. (She will forget about them for stretches at a time)
2. hit home hard about how bad soft toys potentially are for her health - but I'd lost the soft toy battle in my head at that point and was starting to rant so I wouldn't recommend that.

Finally. If she still wants the sodding toy after all that, I let her have it of course. Unless it's really ugly [smile. Our last such battle was with her summer holiday money and she was so utterly miserable when she thought I wasn't going to "allow" her the bear in a swimsuit that I gave in very soon.

Sorry - what a long tedious post that was.

dd2 is 8

Ds1 is the same over Lego Star Wars sets. I think he just wants them all . Was all set to buy him one from FC (he is already getting one from grandparents) until my mother said she thought it was a bad idea. Thing is there are much worse things he could be asking for and it is well within out budget so I'm not sure I see the problem.