How many presents?

[change132]

I've read many threads recently regarding presents. Just wondering how many presents you buy for each dc? I don't buy them much at all apart from Christmas and birthdays but I love them coming down in the morning to a massive pile of presents so I tend to buy between 30 and 40 each. Anyone else or just me???

[Nicpem1982]

My dd is 2 and having checked her spreadsheet she's up to about 20 tree presents and her stocking which will be from santa and once filled will be about 5 or 6 bits (bobbles, slides, chocolate, craft set etc)

Family will buy her probably 5-6 presents more

[DragonMamma]

Mine probably get around 30-40 presents that aren't stocking gifts.

I'm cutting down because quite frankly, they don't use most of it. I'm aiming for 20 each this year.

[Nicpem1982]

Last year my dd came down to so many presents (50/60) but it was too many and most ended up getting donated to children in care after a short period as she had so many she didn't spend time playing with each toy she just flitted between everything.

This year we've reduced dramatically for this reason

[Juanbablo]

So far dd has 11 for her Santa sack, there will probably be another 10 in there once I get the chocolate, bubble bath, book, dvd etc. Ds's have less at the moment but I will make sure they have the same amount as dd. They will also get a present from us and one from each other so that's 3 on top of the Santa presents.

[BernardsarenotalwaysSaints]

Well mine are 6,5,3 & 17 months. They get a stocking each off Father Christmas that contains around 3 small things (think chocs, book, puzzle type things) & an outfit for the day. Then they have probably up to 6 maybe 8 presents from us. We have a large family. We do buy them bits throughout the year away from birthday's but not huge amounts.

[ThoraGruntwhistle]

I've never counted but definitely less than ten each. 30-40 sounds like a huge amount, they would just be unwrapping each one and throwing it to one side without really paying attention to what it was, to get to the next one wouldn't they?

[Nicpem1982]

Thora - that's exactly what my dd did hence the dramatic reduction

[whimsical1975]

Shiny, my goodness, those were quite a few assumptions being made there...

Mine get about 10-12 each and then stockings.

[Bumbumtaloo]

Just checked my lists and our DD's have 7 each that will be in their Santa sack and one large joint present (it will be put together for them). We will do stocking bits too.

Eldest DD's birthday is 3 days after Christmas, so far she has only got one present but it's a big one (bike) so she will get bits to go with it.

They get presents from my DM, MIL, my DF, BIL, my cousin and my two closest friends.

Although I panic that they don't have enough and seeing some pics that others post DH points out that they have a lot and it's stuff that they will love and not stuff that I have panic bought

[ChampsMum]

I'm glad I have come across this thread. My 5 year old wrote his list to "Santa Claus & Family" today, he has only asked for two things.

Which were Lego Starwars and a Lego Puzzle, instead of spoiling him with unwanted gifts like previous Christmases I'm going to book us a Ski Trip and keep it as a surprise until we get to the airport

[HeCantBeSerious]

The average child has (apparently) 253 toys. They play with............ 12 of them regularly.

30-40 presents is completely over the top.

[winnybella]

DD(7) will get 3 bigger gifts ( large Lego set etc), a board game and few colouring books under a tree plus 6-7 in her stocking ( toys/card games/ books-we don't do flannels etc) plus chocolate coins, Santa etc.
She doesn't get gifts throughout a year, except books and art/ craft stuff and she buys stickers etc with her pocket money.
Seems a pretty good amount to me plus no way would I be able to cope with lots of tat all over the place- perhaps it's different if you've got a playroom to store it all.
DS (14) this year asked just for art supplies and ( if possible) money, so that's what he'll get plus a stocking.

[NerrSnerr]

So far I have bought 4 presents. I will get a couple more things and stocking fillers but she's only 2. It took her 4 days to open her birthday presents (about 20 from us, family and friends) so imagine Christmas she'll have about 20 from everyone.

[winnybella]

HeCant I wonder if people get lots of small and/or useful things and wrap them all up separately, though? You know, a packet of knickers, hair clips, pens etc? Because if it is all toys then yes, does seem excessive and overwhelming for the child.

[MaddyHatter]

i dont work on amount of presents, i spend about £120 per child.

They get a main present of about £50, then i spend another £50 on smaller stuff and then £20 on stocking fillers.

So HOW many, depends on the price of what they asked for.

[lapsedorienteerer]

30-40

DS (14) will get a stocking with maybe 8-10 small items and then one or two main presents.

[BrianMolkoismyPlacebo]

We're very simialr to bernard I've just counted dcs and they have 6-7 each. I haven't sorted out which are stocking and which are tree present yet.
I need to sort chocs and wash bags out yet then done

[BrianMolkoismyPlacebo]

winny I have always found it odd that people give toothbrushes & hairs clips etc as presents.

[BrianMolkoismyPlacebo]

I struggle with that concept maddy as ds got a new boke last christmas which cost £350. I couldn't imagine not biying him another couple of things to play with too. So we go on amount..... No more than 10 each, which includes their stocking & chocolates. So last year we spent £400 on ds, but only £69 on dd. It's evened out a bit more cost wise this year at approx £100 each

[BrianMolkoismyPlacebo]

Bike*

[CaesiumTime]

30 to 40!

1 or 2 gifts and a small stocking

And a lovely long holiday abroad.

[Fantasticmissfoxy]

I'm feeling a bit stingy now...my two (5 & 8) probably have about 10 'stocking' presents (video game, action figures, pyjamas, chocolates, books etc) and then one main present from us (basic laptop for DS1 and a guitar for DS2). To be honest by the time they get from grandparents / aunties and uncles etc they have so much it's crazy!

[GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER]

30-40 - heaven help us! Do you have a huge house to keep it all in?

Mine used to get one big present - from us, not from Father Christmas - and maybe one or two smaller things, and other presents from family. Only the little things in their stockings came from FC. It was the same in my family when we were small - FC brought little things in stockings only, not that that stopped it being exciting! It stopped us asking for anything too expensive or out of the question that we were never going to get - otherwise I'd have asked for a puppy every time!

It's no wonder parents struggle so much when money's tight, if kids think everything comes from Father Christmas.

[Twoevils]

Blimey!

Mine get one present from us plus stocking fillers from Santa. Then there are 6 family members who will also get them a gift each. It seems to be plenty. This year they are getting bikes so we've spent quite a bit, but more normal year would be around £50 each on their main present.

I know this sounds a bit 'holier than though'. It's really none of my business what other people do for their kids. I must confess I'm a bit aghast at the though of all that waste though (they surely can't appreciate it all with opening 30-40 gifts?)

[thesockgap]

It all depends on what you count as "presents".
30-40 items to wrap up is easily done... I often get my kids this amount by getting them a main present (eg. big Lego set), a couple of medium sized ones (eg. a few books, DVDs etc) and then loads of little things like shower gel, sweetie tubes, pens etc.
So if that's the kind of thing you're talking about, then I don't think that's at all out of the ordinary.
If however you're talking about 30-40 toys/games etc, then I think you're going OTT.