How many presents roughly do you buy for a 2.5/3 year old?

[evensteven]

I know most people don't have a set amount, but how many do you buy/did you buy for this age? I think I've gone way too far already. I've bought (so far 😩) 23 presents. I don't know why I started this early, I don't know why I've bought so much. Will definitely be putting some away for her birthday but there's still a few to get that she'd genuinely want, rather than me just buying something on a whim because it was on sale. I think, excluding stocking, she'll end up with about 20, with some being kept for her birthday for next year. Aside from us, she'll get about 8 things from family. Will 20 be far too much? I would keep a lot of it until next year but most of it are character toys from programmes she likes and I can't guarantee she'll be into them next year.

20 presents

My daughter is about to turn 3 and this is what I had in mind:

Toy car garage
Bubble machine
Mini basketball hoop

Her stocking will be things like, little racing cars, a small Peppa Pig playset, novelty items such as giant balloons etc (stuff that is really just to play with on the day) and one or two books, plus the standard - in our house at least - chocolate coins and satsuma).

I know @Limpshade , I know

I think she'll be overwhelmed, can you return any of it? The stuff that you bought on a whim maybe?

I've made this mistake before but last year I cut right back and both kids (5 and 12) said they preferred it because they were able to focus on what they genuinely liked/wanted/needed rather than feeling pressured to open and "like" stuff that they weren't that into at all.

We don't do numbers of gifts but in general the dds gets for around 100£. This year I think dd that is 3 years old will get a couple of playmobil sets, an asian doll and a doll bike.
Dd who is going to be 5 years old is getting a spy bot, programming board game, playmobil school.
As a "stocking" they get a craft box together...

23

Of course she'll be overwhelmed. Return some stuff ASAP.

To compare my 3yo ds is getting a castle and knights. Probably new pj's Xmas eve and a new book.

He'll probably get 10ish presents from elsewhere. Hopefully mostly clothes! That's plenty for them.

That is ridiculous!

I buy 1 or 2 presents, then family get her lots so i tend to give them ideas so all bases are covered

Can I say- I KNOW it's ridiculous. I know I don't love my kids anymore than you do yours. I think it's due to having another baby this year and DC1 being so well behaved and that I didn't get a lot etc.

I follow this method for Christmas & Birthdays.
1 to wear (new dress/outfit)
1 they need (socks, shoes, coat etc)
1 they want (new toy, hobby, crafty things etc)
1 thing to read, except I buy a lot of books as I think reading is important.

And then at Christmas a stocking with bits of tat in that she likes like hair accessories, jewellery, trinkets, sweets, crayons etc.

@StarlightCeleste how old are your dc?

Evensteven why not spread them out from now until Xmas?

Are any of them multiple parts of a set you could add to weekly? Eg Happy land, or dolls House?

If you really can't return them, then I'd definitely give them out across multiple occasions. Also keep a couple for friends birthdays.

Are you counting clothing and books?

I bought two or three toys, then other close relatives would buy them a present. Then pyjamas or a new set of clothes if they needed them as well, and a book.

@Teachermaths I just feel like if I give her 'big' presents now, she'll expect it all the time? And it'll cause tantrums etc when I say no?

All toys @WindsweptEgret

OK.. then overwhelm her on the day?!

You know you have too much stuff. Yet you don't want any ideas of what to do about it.

DD is 3. Max of 4 gifts plus stocking otherwise she gets overwhelmed. My mum brought about 12 gifts for her last year and she didnt know what to play with so she ended up looking ungrateful. I'm also funny about plastic stuff so I buy character stuff second hand (they get bored of it so quickly anyway)

6 x toys from favourite programme
3x enchantimal dolls
Elsa doll
Anna doll
4 x playmobil toys
Barbie Chelsea & playset
1 x pillow
Barbie big purple car
Duggee toy
Baby shark singing teddy
The grinch toy
Mickey Mouse & Pluto figures
3 xTeddy
3 x Happyland toy

@Teachermaths yes I do. I'm worried if I give her these 'big' toys randomly beforehand, I'll be setting myself up for expectations and tantrums when these aren't met/agreed too.

That's an absolute shit load OP!

Can you return any of it?!?

And a Peppa pig playset 😩

I can't return any of it for a few reason BUT I could donate it onward?

Gift some of it.
Charity shop some.
Break down happy land and give gradually.

Save playmobil for when she's older?

Put it on marketplace or gumtree OP! Honestly do you even have room for all that stuff?! My DD will only play with a doll for about 3 minutes (barbie type, she will play with a baby doll for hours)

The playmobil is 1.5+ (123 sets) but if you think she'd use it for her birthday next year, I'd give it to her then?

That is too much, isn't it? My list I mean

Why don't you keep the toys and let other family members give them on Christmas? Saves them the thinking/buying time and you know she will like them. Maybe ask for a donation and put the money for days out etc.

Really good idea @user1471601801