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 £450 of it back and put the refund in a savings account.

@whyohwhyohwhyyy - oh okay - it was a plastic thing when I bought it! Peppa and family have gone all posh!

It’s easy to overexcited isn’t?! 3 is a great age as they finally have a decent understand of Christmas! I wouldn’t give all of that to your DC; it’s too much and they’ll get overwhelmed. If you have friends with small children or young family members you usually buy for then I’d give them some of the smaller items. I’d also take the opportunity to donate to one of those amazing charities that give presents to kids who otherwise wouldn’t get anything. Save anything else for birthdays, either your DC’s or any that they might be invited to.

I agree it’s way too much for Christmas. Just too much to open and enjoy. My children all opened the first thing or 2-3 then wanted to play. Not keep opening!
How soon is DC birthday? You could save some for that. The Elsa and barbie toys shouldn’t age too much.
You could also pop a few aside for party presents over the next few months. Most of those characters are popular with kids that age.

A ridiculous amount of presents and a lot of them sounds pretty crap/samey. How many of them will actually be played with after Christmas? How many of them will she be actually interested in beyond "oh I like Hey duggee and this has a picture of duggee on it"?

Sorry to be harsh but this sort of thing winds me up because it's so wasteful.
You must have a lot of money if you can afford to spend £500 on presents and not return them because it's a minor hassle.

Donate them to a local charity which gives presents to local unfortunate children. Most places have some sort of toy bank/collection around christmas time who will probably be very pleased with your donations.

Completely OTT and l love Christmas!! I certainly wouldn't be buying it now either for exactly the reasons you've said about them going off it.

Take some back and in future save each month into a separate bank account and buy nearer the time

It really is too much. It's a good thing that you realise how ott this is.

Pick some and return, or keep the others if they will still be age appropriate.

Btw, its sex, not gender! You are trying to not out the sex of your dc, i.e. male or female.

You are soooo ahead of Christmas! I am worried now. I haven't even thought about it yet! I'm still busy with birthdays!

@RosesAndRaindrops - OP has explained, it's the wooden house apparently! Not the cheap plastic tat we bought our children!
Maybe Grandma pig died and left them inheritance to upgrade their home

To be fair to OP she knows herself she's gone OTT and has suggested she might give some to charity. If you can afford to @whyohwhyohwhyyy that'd be a lovely thing to do. Getting closer to Christmas there will be charity appeals for gifts for children in care, low income families etc. There are probably plenty of dc for whom just one of those play sets would make Christmas.

Then next year remember this thread, stay well away from the Christmas bargains threads until at least September and don't let yourself get so carried away!

I think it's easy to go a bit mad when they're little. I'd keep Elsa and Barbie for next year and if any family members ask what she'd like you could sell them something from your stash.

I’d give the Peppa pig house and play sets and the Build a Bear reindeer, then send the rest back. Maybe get parents/relatives to buy a couple of the smaller bits off you to give to them.
Seriously this is why I don’t get it when people say ‘I buy them loads but I can afford it’. We could afford to spend much more than we do, but at this age it is too much. It’s overwhelming.

Honestly, I'd take most of the character stuff back and instead get good quality things that they won't outgrow if they go off the character.

Eg Instead of the Peppa Pig house, go for the IKEA wooden dolls' house - much cheaper and more versatile. A set of Peppa figures alongside that would work nicely.

In all honesty, I'd do that and one other "big" thing, and then something like a jigsaw, a board game and some books, and then as stocking fillers some chocolate coins, craft things, new outfit etc.

If you start small, they won't expect as much in years to come. I find our two are much happier with fewer presents and more time to just play with them.

Put any money you save into a bank account, they'll be glad of it in a few years' time.

Everything below the reindeer put away/ give away /return.

There might be a birthday from nursery or friends between now and Christmas and you can give a play set away.

The most important thing here is that you realise that you are done! no more.

I am a bit gobsmacked at your list but have to confess when I just had DC1 I went WAY overboard the Christmas she was 3. I've spent each year since scaling it back and I think I've got a good balance now for my 3 DC. They get around 10 presents each, which includes books, and things that are useful but fun like bedding or room decoration, rainbow wellies for the smalls and Dr martens for the older one. I try to avoid character toys, in particular play sets and plastic figures. Only acception is Cars diecast cars and the odd Thomas train that has been well played with. The plastic fogure character crap has all been a waste in years gone by. Poor play value. Look at more open ended stuff, Duplo, good quality art supplies, a dolls house that isn't branded with a character she will grow out of in 2 years max. I think 3 is a bit young for Barbie too.

It's September...

Don’t feel bad OP. That’s really too much though, DC will be overwhelmed on Christmas Day.

Send a few back, put the refund in DC’s savings account. Give the reindeer a week before (it’ll be a fun pre-Christmas activity). Put a couple of small items aside for friends’ birthday presents. Put a couple more items aside for a Christmas charity toy drive.

One / two of those is enough, maybe get some therapy as to why you have done this and why in September???

Bit harsh @Nofunking

It is really easy to go overboard when buying for little ones, everything looks so fun! But I have realised my DS who will be 3 at Christmas plays much better and gets more engrossed in his toys when he has less. So an making an effort to buy less. That said I've already managed to buy £60 worth of paw patrol as I realised the set of vehicles that he already has one of were being discontinued so I bought the other pups to complete the set at Christmas.

I'm also terrible at picking stuff up throughout the year but not wanting to keep giving stuff to him so put it in my cupboard to sort out later, I have a few puzzles that I think might still be beyond him at Christmas so may end up being kept back for longer. I've got a few puzzle book thingies that I bought before last Christmas that were too old for him so got put away and I still think they are too big for him, maybe he'll get that for Christmas 2020!

Jesus, it's judgemental over here! I'm glad the majority only buy 1 or 2 gifts and feel that they can now tell other people how many presents are appropriate for THEIR CHILDREN! A bit much probably but if you are like myself and only buy toys for Birthday and Christmas, Am I only buying 2 toys? Not a chance! You buy what you feel is right for your family. And as for the it's September squad we have calendars and it's in the Christmas Chat so shuffle on and pass your judgement elsewhere!

@cccameron I think it's easy to go a bit mad when they're little.

A 'bit mad', maybe, but this is just ridiculous. It doesn't even sound like this child has any preferences or favourites - the OP just seems to have bought everything between pages 827 and 943 of the Argos catalogue.

OP I think it’s a lovely idea to donate surplus gifts to charity. There are lots of children that you could benefit from your generosity over Xmas.

To be fair I don't believe your child will have outgrown a lot of these by next year so I'd just save half for their birthday. At that age they'll be happy whatever they get at birthday time. You learn to buy less as years go on. I remember going a bit overboard with my first at that age cause they are finally old enough to enjoy the toys

@Chocolatepumpkin
...feel that they can now tell other people how many presents are appropriate forTHEIR CHILDREN!

The OP asked if it was to many presents.

Take it from someone that has always done this... your child will not get bored of opening presents. They love opening presents. The more the better. My kids piles get smaller as they get older though. Teen now wants gadgets and expensive clothes and jewellery.