Help! Gone overboard with DC's presents

[whyohwhyohwhyyy]

DC will be just 3 for Xmas and so far I've accumulated over 30 presents (one DC). Problem is, they're related to things they like now and I'm worried if I give them for birthday, they'll have found other characters from programmes that they like- I've spent £500 not including their stocking fillers which come to about £58 (small toys!). What do I do with them all, I acknowledge I overspent but I think that'll be way too much for one day?? Or will it be okay??

Take some of it back. They will be overwhelmed on Christmas Day and won't be able to appreciate it. Put the money into their savings instead.

Are you talking about one or multiple 3 year olds? Sorry, the "they" is a bit confusing. 30 is a lot for one, 15 each for twins spread over birthday and Christmas is different .

Rather than taking it back (all online and the hassle of it etc), I could donate some of it to charities needing gifts at this time of year if that really is too much?

I take you you're saying they instead of he or she? That's a crazy amount of presents. At that age half a dozen is more than enough, then maybe socks, a chocolate Santa and a character toothbrush in the stocking. Seriously they'll just get fed up unwrapping it and won't know what to play with. Take half back.

Sorry @CantSleepClownsWillEatMe one DC (didn't want to specify gender in case it was outing) and for one occasion. I have actually got 33 not including stocking fillers. About 10 I could save for next year as they're not character related (or if I need a bribe for something!) but 23 are mainly character related and I don't want to risk her going off them in a year!

33 presents and 13 stocking fillers I mean

What did you actually buy?? I mean have you really spent more than £500 on tv character merchandise ? Don't get me wrong, we spend a fair bit on our two dc but for tv character toys for a 3 year old it must all be very samey.

Do you have any nieces, nephews, friends dc of similar ages with birthdays coming up in the next 6 months or that you'd buy Christmas gifts for? If so I'd probably put some aside for them.

If your family would usually buy them gifts you could let them buy some of these from you to give.

It's a lot for a 3 year old imo and they could get very overwhelmed on the day plus for some dc the sheer volume of stuff can actually mean they struggle to know what to play with.

You are falling into a too much too soon trap. It’s only the beginning of September and you are thinking of keeping some presents fir next Christmas already. 23 presents all related to one thing is quite a lot. Unless it’s Thomas the Tank Engine where you need quite a good amount of stuff and it will get played with for a few years.

I would see if any family are looking for gift ideas and sell to them, maybe donate a couple and give gifts for others bdays Christmas if you have friends/family with children into similar things

@CantSleepClownsWillEatMe I know, it's roughly this:

Peppa pig house- £100
Peppa pig playsets-£26
Paw patrol pillow- £10
Ben and Holly toys- £60
Duggee toys- £35
Octonauts toys- £50
PJ masks toys- £30
Build a bear reindeer - £30 (not branded but Xmas themed?)
Barbie (and Barbie Chelsea toys)- £60
Baby shark £12
Mickey Mouse toys- £45
Elsa doll- £25
Dinosaur toy- £10

Seriously!!!??

You need to get a grip.

That's an absolutely ridiculous amount of presents.

Are you trying to compensate for something? Do they spend a lot of time in front of the TV and you feel guilty about it?

The Barbie, Elsa and Mickey Mouse toys can be put away for at least a year if not more.

Offer any to relatives to give to him for birthday or xmas, keep few small ones for other's birthdays for parties etc, our local hospital always has an appeal for kids wars for xmas presents, food banks/charities are always happy to have extra treats, could sell or return some

You risk Christmas present opening becoming a chore rather than a pleasure.

Personally I'd go for 1 theme or less of lots of themes.

Maybe the peppapig house and toys for Xmas because they will get use out of them.

Return the rest. It's easier online than you think and if you've bought online but it's also a high street retailer they'd usually take them back. I would consider returning £2-300 of duggie, paw patrol etc and dependent on location do a family weekend to peppa pig world (paultons park) to see father Christmas instead. Very up the street of a 3yo.

Peppa, paw patrol, pj masks, octonauts - those are what I'd say tend to be samey by which I mean they're generally 'play on the floor, pushing characters along' iswim?

Honestly I'd probably pick out the top gifts, the ones you know dc will love and keep those for Christmas. I'm guessing the peppa house and some of the other peppa stuff? Does the Barbie/Chelsea stuff work with the house?

Build a bear reindeer could be a 1st December gift possibly? Keep a few smaller items/sets for the stocking and earmark a few as 3d birthday gifts. Then consider what you can gift to other dc (if you'd be buying for them anyway) and ask family if they want to pick some as their birthday/Christmas gift to dc.

The first two would be enough and she might get use out of them.

I know it's hard when you've one, as they don't play on their own (unfortunately), so you're going to have to play with them. Then the stocking fillers.
The rest God knows, have you nieces/nephews/neighbours/obviously charity/save some. At three things won't go out of flavour for about 2 years.

Wow! £100 for a Peppa Pig house?! Did they win the lottery and move to a mansion cos when my DD had one many years ago it was £30!
That is alot of presents especially if family/friends are buying too. I agree with Cornishmum00, ask family if they want to buy some off you and maybe donate a couple of smaller ones to a charity. At Christmas there's lots of appeals for Children's presents who don't have much.
But at the end of the day, it's your money and you should do what you feel happy with.

It's the wooden one @Livebythecoast

That's crazy
My eldest birthday is a few days before xmas and he still didn't have anything like that between both days

My youngest will be 3 this Christmas and will get 4-5 presents and I'm aiming to spend less than £100 on him (save the expensive Christmas for when they actually understand it all)

It is far too much. Chances are they might go off these characters between now and December, or start to like something else that you'll want to get! If I were you, I would:

Distribute some of the gifts to various family members to give to your DC (they can give you the money back and will be happy that they don't need to go shopping!)

Pass a couple on to local charities/salvation army/woman's refuge (maybe some of the Peppa Pig stuff, as I think this is that your DC will grow out of first?).

Don't buy any more!!

Bloody hell, how does a Peppa Pig house cost a hundred quid?!
Bought the George's Castle Peppa Pig set a few years back and that was less than 40 and it came with a throne and King George and everything!
You've been robbed

You have gone overboard lovely. Are there any cousins of DC who'd benefit? And charity is a fab idea, especially women's hostels for young Mums or DA families.

Also... lots of fun role play indoor toys but nothing physical or educational?
I'd swap/sell some of it. My kids had a lot more fun from a bunch of play dough or Duplo at that age, or a balance bike... but honestly I'm probably setting you up to buy more!!! 😂 Please don't!