Did anyone ever really overdo it when DC were small?

[areyounow]

My 2.5 year old DD has been so good since her younger brother (3mo) has been born, I was so pleasantly shocked but I'm worried I'm going to be massively overdoing it for her Christmas. I've already bought her 12- yes, 12 presents. I'm returning some of them, some of them I can't but did anyone else really overdo it when they had smaller DC, if so what happened?

If you can afford it I can’t see the issue , if you are having to borrow or penny pinch in other areas then don’t do it . I’m fairly sure that lots of people would think that we overdo it most years and mine are now 26 and 20 , totally not spoiled and both actually prefer the giving , dinner , socialising aspects of Christmas than the receiving part .

In my opinion it depends what the 12 presents are. Are they all toys or do they include books, mazes, play dough, paint etc?

I think that's a valid consideration. There is a difference between everything LOL/Barbie/latest hatching or shitting fad and a selection of gifts that will be enjoyed and used by a child in different ways.

Often on MN posters are shocked by those who give more than two or three items but we've always included things like crafts, books and board games that will entertain them through the wet winter evenings and will often still be taken out years later. Toys too of course but we've never felt like every gift had to be an immediate wow item. That craft kit or art set that gets put aside until New Years might give many more hours of fun than the gift they were most excited about on Xmas morning. The quirky photo frame or throw for their bedroom is often still a favourite 3/4 years later.

It is absolutely pointless buying so much for young children.

I have however failed to stay within any sensible realm of what my son needs for the 2 Christmas days and 2 birthday we have celebrated.

Me!

I had to have a stern word with myself.

Mine get lots from other people too.

I've spent the last two months selling everything the kids don't play with (which is a LOT).

This Christmas they are getting:

One main present - max £50
A book
A new water bottle
Socks
One or two craft activities
Pyjamas - Christmas Eve
Hand luggage suitcases (which they need anyway)
Selection box/chocolate
Candy cane

That's it - that's everything from us, including the stocking.

We are also asking other people for vouchers, as the kids won't play with most of what is given

I used to well and truly overdo it. Loved it. Included a lot of useful things and clothes.

Everyone I know in real life buys their kids one present each at Christmas, maybe three at most, plus stocking fillers. I've never experienced this concept of "a pile of presents". Is it genuinely commonplace? Are my friends and family weird?!

Not judging, by the way - I think you can do what you like for your own kids! I just honestly haven't heard of it outside of MN.

We did overdo it - but only once. Poor DC was so completely overwhelmed it was hard to watch. We ended up just taking away half of the unopened presents and spread them out through the year - the last of them to be given out was the following September!

To be honest DH and I find opening loads of gifts quite overwhelming too (his parents go absolutely mad every single year with huge huge bags for everyone) so we recognised straight away when DS was overwhelmed and had gift fatigue.

I now have a strict 10 present limit from us (ie Father Christmas) which includes stockings. I've really enjoyed doing it that way as it makes me think so much more carefully about what I'm buying, every present counts. I've found even 10 presents is absolutely plenty to be opening on Christmas morning, they get tons more from family and friends later on the day/boxing day.

It's nothing to do with affordability for us, I'm not sure the 'if you can afford it why not?' argument really holds much water for me.

I did, spent thousands to over compensate for his paternal family not giving a crap. Nothing happened, he doesn’t remember how spoilt he was and I’ve reigned in the spending and no longer feel guilty about being a single mum.