How much to spend on a toddler at Christmas

Vbree · 2021-10-24T21:21:35+00:00

I was thinking no more than £30. Budget isn't really an issue, maybe I'm being a bit stingy. What do you usually spend on an 18 month old at Christmas?

SmallProvincial · 24/10/2021 22:24

There is such variance in the responses to this question.

Bottom line: 18mo don't really understand gift giving or Christmas. So you could get them nothing and they'd be fine.

Also they'll probably receive presets from other family members, so you'll get to see them opening presents if that sounds like something you'd like to see.

For DD we probably spent around £150 on her second Christmas (14mo old), largely as she was on the brink of growing out of a bunch of 'baby' toys, so it made sense to stock up on toys for toddlers.

idontlikealdi · 24/10/2021 22:31

Depends what you can afford and what they 'need'. Our toddler presents were quite expensive, mud kitchen, scooters etc but we could have bought them at any point during the year, Christmas was the right age.

Hairwizard · 24/10/2021 22:34

Yea i think i spent around 100-150 on each toddler last year. I got toys in deals so like 3 for 2 or 2 for £20 sort of thing so they had a fair bit to open. Couldnt see the floor for all the toys and wrapping paper. (Dd was 2.5 and dtw around 18mths last christmas. )

OneGlamMama · 24/10/2021 22:38

I didn't.

Everyone else went mad so we didn't bother.

UndertheCedartree · 24/10/2021 22:39

How long is a piece of string?! Obviously, an 18 mo won't mind if they have a couple of toys from the charity shop or loads of very expensive gifts. It really comes down to what you want to get and how much you want to spend. As babies change so rapidly they are often changing their needs for toys and for clothes etc. At that age most people look at the next stage of toys and get those. It also depends if anyone else gives gifts - if noone else does you might want to get more.

At 18 months I'd look at Duplo and Playmobil 123, as well as tree blocks and wooden animals. They are things that will be well used.

lochmaree · 24/10/2021 23:29

I think we spent approx £150 on our 1 year old last year. we got him a quadro set which will last for years. this year we haven't really got anything in mind so not sure yet but unlikely to be as much.

Lockdownbear · 25/10/2021 00:41

Bit of string really.
Depends on what they need, who else is buying for them, do you stock up at Christmas or wait and get outdoor toys in springtime?

The other question is siblings they will question why did Santa forget the baby.

1stTimeMama · 25/10/2021 00:52

I budget £100 for each child, I'm already over that for the 12yr old, but the baby will be 17m at Christmas and I'll probably come in under for her.

Fallagain · 25/10/2021 03:59

Last year we bought a pikler triangle for lockdown so that was expensive. If budget isn’t an issue then I would focus on a few good quality toys to meet her developmental stage rather than the price.

Jumpingintochristmas · 25/10/2021 05:56

If budget isn’t really an issue I would be just thinking with does the DC really need/would benefit from?

We didn’t set a budget but usually got 1 large gift (micro scooter, swing set, trike, balance bike, dolls house, teepee etc) then a few smaller toys and a bath toy plus a few books.
Christmas stocking.
New pyjamas.
New outfit.

It soon adds up.

DockOTheBay · 25/10/2021 06:01

Will other people be buying for her?
My daughter is a similar age but we have a big family so she will get things from relatives, so I'm budgeting £20 for stocking and £20 for big present (doll cot from aldi and doll feeding set)

Twinkle1989 · 25/10/2021 06:29

If budget / money isn't really an issue then you're being stingy.
My DS will be 5 months old at Christmas and I've spent £200 for far. Some of the toys he will be too little for but they'll last until his fourth birthday.
Do you buy toys and gifts throughout the year for no reason?

Twinkle1989 · 25/10/2021 06:29

@Twinkle1989

If budget / money isn't really an issue then you're being stingy. My DS will be 5 months old at Christmas and I've spent £200 for far. Some of the toys he will be too little for but they'll last until his fourth birthday. Do you buy toys and gifts throughout the year for no reason?

*first birthday

Caspianberg · 25/10/2021 06:34

Ours will be same ish age. We ( and family) will have spent a fair bit but on a few items

Us - pikler triangle climbing set. Then I will do a small stocking
Family - clubbing together to get indoor tent/ tunnel

So for me I wouldn’t spend a set amount of money just for the sake of it, but happy to buy less but long lasting.

This years gifts are basically hoping he will be entertained climbing during winter if we are stuck indoors when it’s dark early or raining hard

TasteTheMeatNotTheHeat · 25/10/2021 06:36

Sounds fine to me. At 18 months old they don't need loads of expensive stuff to open.

I started spending more when DD was old enough to start asking me for specific things that she wanted.

Temple29 · 25/10/2021 06:53

I have a 13 month old and a 2.5 year old and have spent around 150-200 each I’d say. Main gift is a pikler triangle for both to share so that used up most of the budget. Then I’ve gotten developmental toys that should last throughout the year plus a small stocking. 2.5 year old has suddenly outgrown a lot of toys so most are aimed at him plus lots of books for both.

SickAndTiredAgain · 25/10/2021 07:01

We probably spent around £30.

DD has all sets of great grandparents (and this is 5 sets due to DH’s grandparents divorcing and remarrying), and grandparents. She gets a lot of gifts from them - not an excessive amount from each person, just combined it’s a lot. So we shop accordingly, especially as our house isn’t that big and toddler toys take up quite a bit of space!

psuedocream3 · 25/10/2021 07:11

I don't think I spent much at that age maybe £40-60, I found with my children anymore than a handful of gifts when they were little would be overwhelming. My 3 year old hasn't had alot spent on her this Christmas, our newborn will probably have a much higher spend as we do need things like clothes, swing and playmat but they are things that are needed anyway.

TheWayTheLightFalls · 25/10/2021 07:15

Not christian but have a lot of holidays to buy for in Dec. Basically aim for one proper (fun) present - we're fine financially so the consideration is playability, longevity and ideally not a zillion pieces - and then a stack of books and clothes for the coming year.

Original poster

Vbree · 25/10/2021 07:22

@Twinkle1989

If budget / money isn't really an issue then you're being stingy. My DS will be 5 months old at Christmas and I've spent £200 for far. Some of the toys he will be too little for but they'll last until his fourth birthday. Do you buy toys and gifts throughout the year for no reason?

£200 so far, wow! He has so many toys already, and being the precious first grandchild both sides I don't feel we should be spending large amounts at Christmas as he will get ridiculous amounts from others. Toy box literally spilling out with toys mainly from family members despite me saying he doesn't need much.

OP posts:

Original poster

Vbree · 25/10/2021 07:23

@psuedocream3

I don't think I spent much at that age maybe £40-60, I found with my children anymore than a handful of gifts when they were little would be overwhelming. My 3 year old hasn't had alot spent on her this Christmas, our newborn will probably have a much higher spend as we do need things like clothes, swing and playmat but they are things that are needed anyway.

Sounds reasonable. We have clothes etc already and grandparents are likely to spoil him rotten.

OP posts:

Original poster

Vbree · 25/10/2021 07:26

Really interesting to see the difference in spends. He has plenty of clothes and I wouldn't really want to give them as presents anyway when I see them as necessities. Grandparents will spoil him rotten and go crazy so I think £30ish for some educational toys at this age seems about right. I do buy him toys now and again throughout the year too.

OP posts:

Original poster

Vbree · 25/10/2021 07:32

@SickAndTiredAgain

We probably spent around £30.

DD has all sets of great grandparents (and this is 5 sets due to DH’s grandparents divorcing and remarrying), and grandparents. She gets a lot of gifts from them - not an excessive amount from each person, just combined it’s a lot. So we shop accordingly, especially as our house isn’t that big and toddler toys take up quite a bit of space!

Yes both sets of grandparents divorced too and they like to spoil him.

OP posts:

SophieHatterPendragon · 25/10/2021 07:38

I’ve got a 1 year old (will be 2 by xmas) and a 3.5 yr old … max budget for both is £100 because they already have so much! Like you OP toy chest is spilling out.

We have an older DC as well so have a lot of the big ticket items like scooters, bikes, dolls house and wooden kitchen. If it was my first I’d be tempted to spend a bit more on some of those but in our case I’m keeping it low key.

Experience has taught me that spending loads and mounds of presents just ends up being wasted really

Lockdownbear · 25/10/2021 07:46

@Vbree

Really interesting to see the difference in spends. He has plenty of clothes and I wouldn't really want to give them as presents anyway when I see them as necessities. Grandparents will spoil him rotten and go crazy so I think £30ish for some educational toys at this age seems about right. I do buy him toys now and again throughout the year too.

You come across very smug in your post. Why bother asking if it already seems right and you have GPS who'll spoil?

You admit you buy stuff through the year, other people restrict new toys to Birthdays and Christmas. Not every child will have GPs buying for them either.

So £30 might seem OK to you. To others it may seem very tight. If they are looking at a scooter or balance bike / few books / other toys / craft stuff. And don't buy during the year.