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??

Hi op, yes perhaps too many there, but certainly put some aside for birthday, or I like the idea of asking relatives that usually buy for your dc if they would like to give one of your gifts.
I don't think September is too early at all, I have one dc, and have to buy bits when I see them in sales etc to spread the cost. I've got dc afew second hand bits and some sale items. I've spent just under £60.00 in total,but feel happy that I've spent wisely and he will be happy Xmas morning!

Honestly, I would take some back. I went overboard when DD was the same age, although I didn't spend as much, but still bought too many presents. She got really overwhelmed opening them all and threw a tantrum!! They don't need too much at that age. Once you factor in presents from other family members, it's just too much for them in xmas morning.

Er yeah you've gone overboard £500 is a ridiculous amount of money and the problem is you've bought lots of DIFFERENT toys - they will play with each for 5 minutes and be on to the next

We had a lot of presents last year but actually they were centred around 2 main toys eg wooden kitchen and then presents of utensils and play food to go with it

You've got FAR FAR too many themes going on!

You should have centred it around the playhouse/dolls house thing and then presents or furniture and figures to go with it

At 3 they express an interest in EVERYTHING doesn't mean you have to buy it 🤦‍♀️

I think part of the joy of the Christmas period is seeing all the new toys coming in shops and seeing your DC face when they spot something special they would like santa to bring. I'd worry that your DC would be over liking certain things already bought or see things they'd prefer nearer to the big day.
If I'm honest it seems a but joyless buying everything now.

OP I’m guilty of going way over the top for my neice and nephew at birthday and Christmas BUT what I have come to realise since last year and watching my 3 year old neice open the MOUNTAIN of presents in front of her was that after the first 5/6 she was done. It was just about the ripping of the paper, not what was inside them, and then the mess of boxes from the toys, the packaging is usually more interesting than the toy.

Take a good chunk of it back, seriously you’ll feel so much better about it. At 3 they won’t remember and won’t be expecting anything crazy like this. You’re setting yourself up for a greedy expectant kid down the line who comes to want piles of presents or else they’ll feel hard done by.

Also fucking Santa takes all the bastard credit anyway so it’s not like they’ll thank you for it 🤭👀

Bless you OP but you've come to your senses now so that's the main thing.

Aim to return £300 worth and buy premium bonds with it for your dd. If you do this until her 18th birthday, you'll have at least £4,500 to give her. This is a far better use of your cash than a pile of plastic which will eventually end up in landfill.

Keep a few gifts and donate some to the local hospital or charity like the Salvation army. Bear in mind that she'll receive plenty from family and friends as well as you so she won't go without.

It is really difficult not to get carried away and sometimes less is more as it can be overwhelming for them and you'll be disappointed when they don't want to unwrap anymore.

Something to think out, which we realised in hindsight, is Xmas in the early years sets their expectations for future years, starting off big makes it hard to cutback.

If you can afford to, donate. There are charities all around the country who do 'secret Santa' for kids who won't get gifts. Win win.

DS1 is 3.5 this Christmas & I'm sticking with one theme - Paw Patrol. It’s easy to spend loads because character stuff is so overpriced. I’m getting him the look out (£35) & 3 of the characters/vehicles (total £30). Honestly, he will be so excited by those that anything else we get him will be ignored. He got so many amazing gifts for his birthday but the first things he opened were Toy Story figures & he was so excited he didn’t want to open anything else (we kept them for another time). I’d recommend you stick with one theme & Dave the rest for birthdays, Easter etc

**save

I’m all for planning but this. Can you take some toys back and put the money towards a membership for an indoor play area or something just so your little one gets out the house ?

Good idea @Gatepost1820

You're so organised.

nearer the time family may ask you for ideas and so you could divert some of the gifts through them?

OP, you've taken this thread really well and haven't let the posters who've used your thread as an opportunity to showcase what superior, worthy parents they are get to you :)

Just as an example, my youngest was three last Christmas and got a wooden play shop with products and a set of scales (bought second hand), then we wrapped a shopping basket and baskets of play fruit and veg to go with it, then she had books, sweets, a fun dress and two more small toys to open. It was plenty. The shop'll last her years.

IIwy I would put away what'll 'keep' (Barbie, Elsa), donate some of the character play sets and give her the house with some figures and one or two other things to open. Maybe return a couple of things and get her some books with the money.

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?

😂 Classic MN!! [slap]

I think it's really nice you are thinking about donating some of the toys.

I know that every family has different traditions and values around gift giving but That's far too much IMO.

We give our DC one gift each on special occasions. 33 is madness, I can't even see how a child that age would be able to absorb or appreciate that amount of toys at once.

I would return what I could, donate some, put some aside as presents for nieces / nephews etc.

Please just try to minimise the waste, there is a huge amount of plastic landfill in the haul you described.

Haha OP, you won't be the only one. The first child can make us all a little crazy. I would also keep some of the cheaper things aside for birthday presents in case she gets invited to any parties this year or next.

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

If you think that there is a fair chance that a child will have lost interest in a toy just a few months after receiving it, why on earth would you buy it in the first place? (baffled)

I buy a lot for our child at Christmas. This is because we are a very small family and there are no gifts from other people. So if you are in the same situation I don’t think it’s an unreasonable number. Those that are critical need to work out how many other gifts get added to their small number of gifts . Hope you’ve started wrapping too. Just enjoy your Christmas, your way and with your family

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

I second this ,what will happen is they will open a present , and then you will take it off them to open the next one ,but the time they get to the last one they will have lost interest and really not appreciate the toys
Plus your house will be overflowing with crap, and you will have wasted far too much money
Donate most of it

To be honest the play value is very limited in those toys.
Jigsaw
Books
Construction
Tea set etc
Would be better for play , enjoyment and development.
One character set for roll play is all that's needed.

Hey OP, don’t beat yourself up. Now you have learned that this is OTT for a 3 year old, you won’t do it again for future Christmases. I agree you need to get refunds for some of these items or gift some of these presents to other children (are there any other young children in the family or friends’ children??)

At that age I only spent approx £50 on my DD for Xmas presents because she was also getting presents from other family members. I did also spend approx £100 on Christmassy events across the December weekends (such as breakfast with Santa, a Santa railway trip, etc)

I hope you get sorted.

There is something else that your presents are doing. You are teaching her branded items are better than non branded items. She's growing up surrounded by brands. It all goes into the subconscious memory that branded is better.
A tea set without pepper pig or whatever looks just as lovely and is played with just the same. She will get more benefit making a jigsaw of under the sea etc than another scene from paw patrol.