Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5

Original poster

Help! Gone overboard with DC's presents

115 replies

whyohwhyohwhyyy · 08/09/2019 15:07

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??

OP posts:

HollowTalk · 08/09/2019 17:27

I would give most of them to a women's refuge or to a food bank. Your child will be overwhelmed otherwise.

Imustbemad00 · 08/09/2019 17:29

Why do people say children will be overwhelmed? Mine never have been. I thought all kids loved presents

SoyDora · 08/09/2019 17:54

Great, that’s your children Imustbemad00. Mine get overwhelmed with too many presents. I have noticed over the years that they are happier when they don’t have piles and piles to open and can concentrate on playing with them.

silver1977 · 08/09/2019 18:00

I probably went a little overboard for my 1st DC at Xmas, the trouble being I discovered was when I had 2 more and I couldn't afford to buy that amount for each of them and actually you do run out of ideas

You need to bear in mind that regardless of whether you can afford it now or not, your child will be expecting that amount every year! They don't particularly know the value of things so tend to go by the size/amount when they are little.

Does your DC have a birthday before xmas did you mean OP? If so, give some then. I would then be telling relatives who normally buy for them to not go to the shops this year, buy off of you instead! At least then you know it will be stuff they will like rather than the random tatt my IL's get my DC's

Give some as presents to other children/relatives.

Return what you can to the shops.

The other option of course as others have said is to donate to charity.

But yes, in answer to your original post, that is definately too many to give just at xmas imo.

Chocolatepumpkin · 08/09/2019 18:06

Exactly @beanbag7 asked an opinion, with responses mainly consisting of ridicule and the I only get x,y and z. Christmas doesn't stay magical for long so let children enjoy it while they can. Do my kids get 30 gifts? no. But if someone told me that I need to go to therapy because I got them however many presents I saw fit I would tell them where to go. To be truthful I don't know why the op even cares about others opinions but I can guarantee she wishes she hadn't asked after the response received. People are always in a rush to judge! for all we know this could be the first Christmas they can afford gifts ( not saying this is the case ).

PinkJam · 08/09/2019 18:41

@Chocolatepumpkin I agree. OP has already said she’s gone overboard, she doesn’t need to be made to feel bad over it. It’s an age when they are starting to properly play with toys so easy to get excited and a bit carried away.

Rubicon80 · 08/09/2019 18:46

@Imustbemad00 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.

Perhaps OP doesn't want to end up with teenagers who are massively materialistic and greedy.

@Chocolatepumpkin Exactly @beanbag7 asked an opinion, with responses mainly consisting of ridicule and the I only get x,y and z. Christmas doesn't stay magical for long so let children enjoy it while they can

Do you really think that 'magical' = 'spending half a grand on overpriced TV-themed tat'?

Cherryrainbow · 08/09/2019 18:46

It might be worth donating a few (I know our local Tesco has the Mr x Santa appeal drop off thing) or keeping some smaller bits aside for birthday parties, always handy to have a stash for short notice invites and stuff like that x

Chocolatepumpkin · 08/09/2019 19:43

@46Rubicon80 I would have when I was 3 years old! Tat to us, definitely! But Peppa pig is something just short of a god to a 3 year old. Plus I imagine it will be played with all year round. Some people spend thousands and don't even think twice others spend £20, you spend what is right for your family. I'm saying that if op can afford and knows her child will love it then it's really up to them alone. I spend dependant on my budget and what I feel they want/need. If that's £50 or £500 I will not be made to feel guilty by keyboard warriors who only appear capable of shaming people for wanting to give their kids what they want to. That's part of the parenting journey you learn along the way.

ineedaholidaynow · 08/09/2019 19:51

Will they get parents from anyone else?

DS used to take ages to open presents, he wanted to play with something before opening anything else. His birthday is in early January, one year he took until his birthday to finish opening Xmas presents! He would open something new each day

ineedaholidaynow · 08/09/2019 19:52

presents not parents obviously

CodenameVillanelle · 08/09/2019 19:58

Do you have a shopping addiction? I don't mean that in a judgemental way but it's not usual to buy so much anyway and especially not 4 months in advance. Does buying thinks make you happy? Does it give you a buzz? Does it make you feel like a good mum?
I really think it would be good for you to reflect on why you're buying so much. It's not good for kids to have that much stuff in one go.

Rubicon80 · 08/09/2019 20:21

@Chocolatepumpkin But Peppa pig is something just short of a god to a 3 year old. Plus I imagine it will be played with all year round.

It won't be if it's one of twenty or thirty presents. *

If that's £50 or £500 I will not be made to feel guilty by keyboard warriors who only appear capable of shaming people for wanting to give their kids what they want to.*

No three-year-old wants £500 worth of presents. If they are given £500 worth of presents every year, then yes, by the time they're nine or ten years old, they will probably be a horrifically spoilt and materialistic child who expects a grotesque glut of branded rubbish.

What children want, above all, is love and attention from their parents. Yes, they also love getting presents, but within reason - one, two or three presents that will be cherished and played with all year. A mountain of stuff will just be overwhelming and most of it will be ignored/broken. There is nothing 'magical' about pissing money away on consumer crap.

Rainbowx2 · 08/09/2019 20:25

How judgemental people are!! So what you bought too much stuff for your child at Christmas, I've done it myself before, it's easy to go overboard. Now I keep a list on my phone so I can see what I have bought and then check the list before I pick anything else up, well that's the plan My family always ask what my DC want for Christmas so maybe sell them some. Could keep a few back for birthday or any friends or young kids in family with birthdays coming up? Don't beat yourself up over it, theres alot worse things you could be doing! Maybe in future keep a track of what you are buying and learn from the mistake, no big deal.

Imustbemad00 · 08/09/2019 20:48

The crap people sprout on threads about Xmas really gets on my nerves. People openly judge people who buy lots of presents and it seems there’s some sort of smugness around people saying they only buy 3 or 4 presents.
Well, aside from people who are struggling financially I actually judge people who only get a few presents. I’ve never said it before, and don’t actually care what people do in real life, but I’d never do it personally.
In my experience kids don’t get overwhelmed or bored of opening presents, nor are their presents less special to them.
My kids spend best part of the day opening presents slowly and playing with them. They love them all and they all get played with all year round. My son still plays with toys from years ago as well as the latest ones. I’ve got better at choosing things they’ll get use out of instead of just buying for bulk.
They are not spoilt either. All my teen has asked for is a pair of trainers for her birthday. But I know she really wants a new phone and other bits, but she’s too polite to ask for expensive things. I’ll get
Them for her because of that.

Imustbemad00 · 08/09/2019 20:49

Also my kids don’t get much throughout the year, we do lots of days out and things instead, and no family but for them apart from one set of grandparents.

Smurf123 · 08/09/2019 20:53

Missing the point of thread completely but whered you get the octonauts toys? Current favourite here too

Original poster

whyohwhyohwhyyy · 08/09/2019 20:58

@Smurf123 a lot was eBay second hand and I think some were from and Bargain Max and Toy Game Wiz do them

OP posts:

Rubicon80 · 08/09/2019 20:59

@Imustbemad00 Well, aside from people who are struggling financially I actually judge people who only get a few presents. I’ve never said it before, and don’t actually care what people do in real life, but I’d never do it personally.

Oh dear. You've really bought into the consumerist ideology, haven't you. Well done.

Original poster

whyohwhyohwhyyy · 08/09/2019 21:00

Thanks to all of the people who gently told me that yes, it will be too much

Will be donating some to charity, will keep things I know she'd love and hopefully won't set a precedent

OP posts:

Smurf123 · 08/09/2019 21:18

Thanks I'll have a look 😁

Chocolatepumpkin · 08/09/2019 21:21

@21Rubicon80 just because kids get presents that does not make them spoilt! That depends on how they are raised my children as I have said many times do not get a giant pile of gifts they get what I feel is right for them, get plenty of love, time and attention and above all do not judge other people for thinking differently. I teach my children respect and tolerance. Clearly something that's missing from this thread. you can buy presents and give time it's not one or the other!

twinkledag · 08/09/2019 21:34

I got a bit like this when DC was younger - anything he was into I'd buy everything in that range and would tell people to get him that character / tv show if they asked what to get him. The results? A loft full of peppa pig, paw patrol and pj masks and he's grown out of them all!

Much better to try and buy stuff that has longevity and get the character stuff on pjs, clothes, jigsaws, water bottles etc - useful, cheap and small stuff so it doesn't matter when they're no longer into that character.

Def agree with PP about donating to charity or saving for birthday or gifts for other children.

PhantomErik · 08/09/2019 21:51

Others have already said what I would say, maybe hold stuff back. Mine definately got overwhelmed with too many presents so I'm a lot more careful now.

Barbie would be a good thing to save. My dd is 10 & still loves her barbies & chelsea dolls.

PinkJam · 08/09/2019 22:05

@whyohwhyohwhyyy Please don’t be harsh on yourself - plenty of us have done the same in the past let it go and don’t keep thinking about it. I hoe you and your family have a lovely Christmas

Flip

1 2 3 4 5

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.